OK. Here's what I've bought. A new Valentine One. Its going in my cage and the one from my cage is going on the bike (I checked and the older one is still up-to-date according to Valentine). I have all the mounting and remote operation crap from Valentine. I also bought a Autocom system that I'm going to mount under the bodywork as well. My question is where is the best place behind the fairing to permanently mount the Valentine? Obviously at the front of the bike somewhere, but where? Do I take out a headlamp (maybe a high beam) and put it in there? In back of a meter panel? On the side fairing? I know the rules about as high as possible, and I know that the laser detecter part isn't going to work, nor is the rear facing part. CHP don't use laser yet, and getting zapped from behind on a bike just isn't going to happen. After seeing Reg Pridmore mount a camera through his headlamp, I'm intrigued by that idea. I don't ride at night a lot so high beams aren't terribly important to me. I figure it will stay pretty dry in there as well.
I wouldn't mount it behind anything. �I mean the V1 is great (far better than anything on the market) but mounting it behind something will reduce its effectiveness. �Not to mention not having the directional arrows which is the best part!
I mounted mine using a StemStand. �It's a quality product that's incredibly easy to install. �I used the velcro that came with the V1 and there's no way that puppy is coming off. �I tapped into the electricals on the left side of the fairing and ran the cord to the top of the clutch reservior where I mounted the remote audio adapter. �I ran the power cord down and around the handlebars then up the StemStand. �Works like a charm and it has full functionality with arrows visible, even with my tank bag on. �I did it a while ago and the next time I have the fairing off I'll take some pics (unless you guys need them now).
I'm bouncing several ideas around right now about how I might mount a RD on my VFR - maybe some of you could lend a hand (or head)... there are some things I'd like to achieve with the way its mounted: 1) Out of sight when bike is parked 2) Visible to rider when riding (to be able to see display, etc) 3) No permanent changes to the VFR
I'm thinking about a battery powered unit, with a velcro mount to quickly take it off when not in use. Whaddya think??
I can just inform you on what I'v done. I'v got a battery powered version. Went to a hardware store and walked around until I had a device figured out. It cost $7.00 and consisted of 2 washers, 1 long bolt, a nut, 3 pvc plumbing type pieces, and 2 metal pieces that had holes in them. The bolt goes through the hole in the midle of the stearing piece and is held in place by the washers and bolt. A female plastic piece was incorporated into the bolt. The metal pieces serve as a base to mount the radar detector to, and as a place to hook up a male plastic piece. The male plastic piece (which is connected to the radar detector) just screws onto the female section that is attached to the bolt that is fixed onto my bike. Quickly on and quickly off, and very secure too. The setup does not look professional but still looks good if you choose good looking plastic pieces. It was easy.
You guys have really got to be careful with battery powered units. The way they keep the battery life usable is to power down most of the detector. There's a wakeup delay asociated with turning the whole thing back on and giving you a chirp (oops, too late!). I'd definitely go with a corded version. I'm of course partial to the V1 and once you try it you'll never go back. I can understand the $$ issue though. The next best thing is the 8500 and it too is corded.
Here's my latest thought. I'm considering removing an entire headlight assembly and replacing the high beam with the radar detector. It will be watertight and have a good view forward. Backward view is useless. With the remote controls I should be good to go. I just hope I can get the assembly apart. I'm going to read the service manual later on this. I saw that Reg Pridmore had mounted a camera through one of his headlight lenses (drilled all the way through) and that gave me the idea. I'm pretty sure the unit will fit inside where the high beam goes. I figure I only need one high beam at most anyway (don't ride at night a lot). The V1 says it will operate up to 158�F. I wonder how hot it will get inside the headlamp assembly???
Just curious but why not remote mount it to your helmet?
trick of course we be to disconnet whenever you get off but at least then you have no chance of getting it flogged, great high point, can remove when going to states that don't allow detectors, direction will not be an issue - just point your head....
Maybe some bright spark can invent a blue tooth adaptor to eliminate wires all together?
This of course why I am a factory manager and not an IT wiz.....
Can anyone out there post a few pictures of their V1 or other corded RD installation?
In addition to wondering about going with RAM mounts, or a Stem Stand, I'm wondering how people wired up their RD's for quick removal when not on the bike, and avoided having the wires interfere with steering!
I just bought a V1 (!) and I'd love to be able to mount it along with my (currently battery powered) Garmin Etrex Legend GPS.
I'm concerned that using the stem stand solution, I won't be able to see the tach or the speedometer very well.
Thanks in advance for your time, I"ll be sure to post whatever I end up doing for future reference.
Please see the attached photo for an example of my concern about a dual stem stand blocking the gauges....does anyone have a photo of what this looks like from the rider's point of view?
Here's my stem stand, V-1 and Valentine Amp. Despite the way it looks in the pic the V-1 blocks the bottom half of the tach but thats OK, don't need it below 3000RPM.
I use the brake reservoir mount Stem Stand. It can occasionally vibrate a bit, but I've only seen that when crossing Nevada at relatively high speeds. Other than that, it's perfect.
I can't use the steering tube Stem Stand as I have a Jastek Powerlet installed there, which is what powers the tank bag and V1.
I went for Bel 975 Remote after learning that the California Highway Patrol found themselves out gun in the radar wars and broke the budget upgrading to the latest digital Ka radar...
Back in the good ol' days, when I owned just one bike (my '90 VFR750FL), I mounted a small Uniden detector inside the bodywork. On the '90-'93 bikes, there is about 5/8" space behind the fairing just above the headlight unit, so I popped it in a plastic bag and mounted it there. I had to replace one of the metal connectors (nut and bolt) that holds the two halves of the top fairing with a plastic wire tie, and remove the possibly metallic "HONDA" letters on the windscreen to reduce the possibility of blocking the ingress of RADAR waves, though. (I should add that this was pre-laser, so I didn't have to make an actual "window" for the laser detector.)
These days, I can't really get away with bike-specific installs, so I'm working on a custom tankbag-mounted console to house my current electronics package (V1, Pro-7, MP3, voltmeter, HID ballasts, etc.). I'll probably use some sort of plastic to make the box (machining Delrin from billet is a bit beyond my capabilities!), but I'm still working out those details.
