Motorcycle Radar Detector – Stealth Street Bike
“SML was so impressed with Radar Roy’s arsenal of speed counter measurement equipment installed on his Harley and its ability to completely jam police laser and with its success in detecting police radar from over two miles away, that it was dubbed the “Stealth Hog” – American Iron Magazine
Motorcycle Radar Detector Review: Updated: 12/29/2013
Installing a radar detector or laser jammer on your motorcycle presents several challenges.
There has been several radar detectors designed specifically for motorcycle use, however with the exception of the TPX Motorcycle Radar Detector from Adaptiv Technologies I wouldn’t recommend any of them because of their poor performance.
Radar Detector
My #1 choice for a radar detector on a motorcycle would be any of the high performance radar detectors Escort; including the Escort 8500×50, the Escort Redline, or the Escort 9500ix and then accessorizing it for use on your motorcycle. One advantage of using one of these high end automotive radar detectors is that when you’re not out riding your bike that you can easily install it into your “caged” vehicle.
However there are several concerns that you have to consider:
1) These automotive radar detectors are not water resistant; therefore I would recommend carrying a clear small child’s shower cap with you when you ride. When it rains just place it over your detector.
2) The audio and visual alerts will be hard to distinguish while you are riding, therefore you should also consider accessorizing your radar detector with a H.A.R.D. heads up display.
3) The suction cup mounting system that comes with your radar detector will just not work on your bike, you will need a mounting system specifically designed for your radar detector. There are several mounting systems you can choose from such as a stem mount that would slip into your stem hole, handlebar mounts and control mounts.
Because of this I recommend Techmount’s motorcycle radar detector mounts.
4) You will need to hard wire your radar detector using a direct wire cord, connecting it to a 12 volt power source.
Installing Your Motorcycle Radar Detector
Installing a radar detector on a motorcycle is a pretty straight forward project and should take you less than an hour.
The first step is deciding where to place your radar detector and the mounting system that you will use.
Again, I would recommend that you find a mounting system specific to your motorcycle.
The next step in connecting the power cord to a power source on your motorcycle. Each bike is different but I would recommend connecting it to an accessory that powers up when you bike is running so you don’t forget to turn off your detector when you park.
If your installing the optional H.A.R.D. system follow the directions, they are pretty straight forward and take only a few minutes.
Laser Jamming on a Motorcycle
Police lidar enforcement is becoming more and more popular each day so if you want to have 100% protection on your bike you should also consider adding a laser jamming system to it.
The target area that officers aim for on motorcycles is the front headlamp and in some cases the riders helmet.
I do not recommend the TPX laser jamming system as they are using the older Blinder M-27 platform that has not been updated for several years.
Instead, I would recommend Blinder’s new HP-905 system.
If you would like more information on the products I recommend, consider downloading my FREE radar detector buyers guide eBook.
18 Responses to “Motorcycle Radar Detector – Stealth Street Bike”
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Does the clear shower cap over the RD affect it’s effectiveness at all?
The shower cap will not have any effect on the radar at all
Would placement of the detector inside the fairing (and out of sight) have a large impact on the sensitivity of the detector? When I was in the Navy, our RADAR systems would easily sweep through light material like that, but those are also very high power systems. A windshield, for instance, won’t affect the sensitivity and the plastic fairing seems like it would a similar medium.
@Mark, radar would not have any problem passing through the fairing, however laser, “beam of light” would not pass
Roy,
I’d like to get the best system possible for all detection mediums including all speed and red light cameras. Need to have mounting adaptation for a 2010 Ultra Classic Electra Glide Screaming Eagle CVO. It has the factory GPS on left dash. Can you tell me what to order from you to meet these needs? Thanks.
@ Merc I would recommend the 9500ix with the HARD system but right now the Hard System is out of production. Been in contact with the manufacture to see exactly when these will be coming back
Can i wear the shower cap instead?
Yes, but it will not keep your detector dry
Thanks for the useful information on your website!
I am thinking of mounting a Passport IQ on my bike to replace my old GPS and add radar protection at the same time. My old GPS is an early Garmin Zummo and while it is not much of a GPS, it has been able to handel the vibration and has proven to work in all but the heaviest rain. Any idea how the Passport IQ will handle the vibration and water? A
Thanks
I wouldn’t recommend it:
1) The mount that Escort developed for the IQ will not hold it securely to your bike
2) I would be concerned about the vibration
If you do mount it I would love feedback from you on how it works
Thanks Roy,
I was thinking of mounting it in a Ram AquaBox for a GPS with a touchscreen pane. In the plastic AquaBox the laser detection won’t work, but I think the X, K and Ka will, is this correct? My other concern is if I mount it behind my fairing looking down on it, that it may not be oriented correctly to get a good view of the road for radar detection. I am not sure if the until works omindirectionally, or if it has to be pointed a particular way.
I don’t have a good answer for the vibration concern. The bike I am wanting to mount this on is a BMW, and it does not vibrate near as much as my HD, but it is a higher frequency vibration.
If I try it I will give you a full report.
Roy, one more question, I thought the IQ had Bluethooth, but I see comments that says it does not. I use a Scala system in my helmet and was planning to hear the radar warning my connecting the IQ to my Scala, but if the IQ does not have Bluethooth that will be a dealbreaker for me.
i have a yamaha r1 and a solid black windscreen. if i placed the radar detector behind the windscreen, would i still pick up radar signals? also since im placing it at the forward most point of the bike, would i get any rear coverage?
thank you
sean
Radar is radio frequency and will penetrate everything but lead
Thus yes your radar detector will work on your bike and receive radar from the rear
I just bought the Passport IQ with hopes of mounting it on my Harley for the GPS feature. Does anyone have any updates on this?
Thanks
Let me know how it works out for you and how you will be mounting it
I WOULDN’T recommend using the windshield mount
Roy:
I have an Escort 9500xi and love it…Using headphones and when I have detection I get a great deal of static noise. I am afraid I am damaging the detector by not having a clean power source. I ahve it grounding directly to the battery with the positive tapped into a source close to the mounting location. would running the positive directly to the battery elimante the noise or dirty power source?
Would be a cleaner stream of voltage but unless you are getting a lot of falses I wouldn’t be that concerned