Mounting an Escort

[MassGT]

Does the escort need line of sight to work? I was thinking of mounting it under the tupperware.

[JamesTexas]

Its Better if it has line of sight.

[Bobmws]

What are you riding? I have an Avant Guard mount for a K12RS/GT for sale.

[MassGT]

06 K1200gt

[eljeffe]

I used a panavise setup in the unused mirror boss on the left handgrip.

http://www.k-bikes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4977&highlight=panavise

[steelheadherb]

Will detect radar mounted under fairing. Will not detect laser. Needs direct sight to detect laser.

[Oregon_Rider]

Laser schmazer...
IMAO when your detector says "LASER!!!" it means "pull over dumb ass... you've been had".

I mounted my Escort X50 under the tupperware on the left side. I zip tied it to the airbox intake. I added a switch to the fairing so I could turn it off. I stole this idea from Rick Mayer who posted a "how to" in the last BMW ON magazine.

I took some photos and will post them when I get home.

[rhhall]

The first rule in mounting an escort is to wear a condom.

[MassGT]

O Rider keep us updated as to your sucess or failure with the LEO's.

[Oregon_Rider]

O Rider keep us updated as to your sucess or failure with the LEO's.

Will do.

Another advangate to having the detector hidden is that LEO's don't see it. I don't think that they are fond of seeing one on a vehicle that they have pulled over.

[Oregon_Rider]

Bunch of photos here (http://www.bdnobles.com/gallery/escortradar)

The detector is zip tied to the airbox intake. It is "sealed" in a ziplock baggie. The excess baggie is rolled up and taped off... that's the tail looking gray thing on the right. The small looped zip tie is to keep the to major ones from slipping off. Inside the baggie is one more zip tie. This one keeps the earphone from coming unplugged.

See photo link above for more comments on the install.

http://www.bdnobles.com/gallery/albums/escortradar/radar01.jpg

[Erik]

That will work fine but I expect you'll loose some performance from the right side. Metal will block radar. I have done my V1 several times in hidden locations. The best was on a 98 KRS had it mounted in the left hard bag, with audio feeding an Autocom, and the remote visual display flushed into the side pod ( where the mirrors would have gone) worked great. I also did a remote setup with the V1 in the pocket of an R1100RT that worked well too. If I had a new GT I would consider mounting in the lockable pocket. I think that would work well assuming no metal is in front of the detector.

[Oregon_Rider]

Radar can't clock you from a perpendicular angle so I think I'll be okay.

[Oregon_Rider]

I had a problem with the Escort giving false "laser" alarms when mounted here.

I reprogrammed the unit so that it does not detect laser. I put in about 350 miles this weekend. Not one false alarm.

This came as a result of placing a phone call to Escort. They said that some electronics will set off the laser detection.

I guess the unit is too close to the ECU when mounted this way but since I gave up laser detection when I put the unit under the tupperware what do I care?

[MassGT]

Has it saved you a ticket yet? Everyone in Mass must have instance on because it does not go off around LEO's at all.

[Oregon_Rider]

Has it saved you a ticket yet? Everyone in Mass must have instance on because it does not go off around LEO's at all.

It's only kicked in once for real since I installed it. I was on a straight road w/a 55 mph speed limit and doing about 75. I backed off and about a mile later passed a deputy who was travelling in the other direction. Probably saved me at least a talking to.

[fastjohnny]

The first rule in mounting an escort is to wear a condom.


RATS! You beat me to the punch....I was going to say: 1) Ask first as it is usually not included. 2) Be prepared to pay extra. Cheers.

[Oregon_Rider]

Everybody is a friggin comedian...


Where do I sign up??


Besides, I wear a condom whenever I ride because my K1200S is so much fun I never know when I'll... oh, never mind...


But I will say, my new favorite bumper sticker is: SUPPORT ORGASMIC FARMERS

[rhhall]

...
Besides, I wear a condom whenever I ride because my K1200S is so much fun I never know when I'll... oh, never mind...



Now that's taking ATGATT to a whole new level. . .

[Oregon_Rider]

Ooohhh boy howdy... that Escort worked real good this weekend.

My wife and I put on a thousand miles starting on Thursday and ending on Sunday. We had to be on the freeway for about 12 miles (I-84 in northern Oregon). We were in the left lane doing about 80 when the Escort started a-bleepin'. We throttled down to the 65 mph speed limit and soon passed a deputy who was hiding behind some bushes in the median.

The next day the occifer's got wind of the Sportbike Northwest rally we were attending and blanketed the area. The Escort got a workout.

As my wife said "that thing paid for itself this trip".

[Pete_Eshleman]

I'm getting ready to mount mine. Where did you get power?
Pete

[Oregon_Rider]

I'm getting ready to mount mine. Where did you get power?
Pete

I ran it straight to the battery.

Make sure that you disable Laser before you get it "too" mounted.

[MassGT]

Same here was riding this past weekend up on the Mohawk Trail in Western Mass. Was on Rt 2 doing the zig zag down the mountain when I heard a beep beep. I jumped on the front brake and saw a Mass Trooper flasing the other way. I thought I was bagged as he turn to chase but he got the car in front of me who was one turn ahead of me. This escort thing is awsome!!!

[GTAdam]

I ran it straight to the battery.

Make sure that you disable Laser before you get it "too" mounted.


I don't have a problem with laser detection on my bike.... I too ran straight from the battery.

[Oregon_Rider]

I don't have a problem with laser detection on my bike.... I too ran straight from the battery.

If you're mounting the Escort under the tupperware then there is no use to have laser turned on. Given that there is known interference with some BMW's and the Escort it makes sense to turn of laser.

[GTAdam]

My detector is on a gadget guy mount up nice and high and visible.

;)

[GMack]

My detector is on a gadget guy mount up nice and high and visible.

;)
Same here.

I could be wrong, but seems burying the detector under the bodywork would decrease the maximum sensing range of the unit.

Given the speeds the GT is capable of, one's range could become a factor if the unit notifies you a little too late.

[BillyOmaha]

I have the Escort mounted "line of sight", although I don't think under the fairing or in the side case is a significant disadvantage. It saved my hide a bunch of times. must be said that the Laser detection aspect seems to be of no real use except that I get frequent false alerts.

The only time I won a "performance award" with it was when the LEO went "instant on".

I use a power source that goes on and off with the bike so I can lock the unit in a rain-proof box. I highly recommend this as it is passive and effecient.With the CANBUS, you might consider using a relay and the power port.

I ride two-up a bunch and our habit is that when we are at "award speeds" and the that alert goes off, we brake very hard down to the limit. The Mrs. knows the routine and is okay with it. The need to brake so quickly is that if the LEO is clever, he will not run with the radar on all the time and will activate periodically. If he flips it on and gets a reading on me, then by braking quickly the "locked in" reading can be substantially lower.

PS Always ask to see the reading. If you braked quickly enough and he "locked your speed" real close to the posted, he may simply give you a warning because the lack of evidence is not worth the potential hassle for him.

.

[GMack]

I was just perusing the Valentine One site and found this. (http://www.valentine1.com/lab/MikesLabRpt4.asp)

Elsewhere, I find reports of metallic paints interfering with the radar signals up to 70%. If our GT's have metallic paint, then hiding them would surely interfere with the detector. If there is any metal ahead or behind it you're pretty much dead anyhoo.

I like his idea of testing a unit with the mini-market radar. One test behind the fairing; the other in the open and note the difference in signal reception.

Worse for the hidden is if mister leo turns the power down and you've weakened the detector's signal gathering ability by hiding it. I had some recent experience with one playing with his Ka power range while he was tailing me - for 40 damn miles! With him back there at the same distance, I would get maybe a 2 strength and a few moments later I would get a Max strength (5) hit. Really got annoying doing 55mph for an hour. :hypocrite

[Oregon_Rider]

I moved my photos. Sorry about that.

Here's the new link: http://www.bdnobles.com/gallery/v/escortradar/

and one sample:
http://www.bdnobles.com/gallery/d/362-2/radar01.jpg

[voxmagna]

Mine's not an Escort, but its been discreetly here for 18 months and hasn't leaked or been stolen yet. You can just about see the radar pickup horn in the centre and the laser sensor on the right. The head and GPS antenna are wired remote from the small control unit, which can be put inside a top case with only a bright warning led in the cockpit, that's is why I chose this type.

[MIK]

Mine's not an Escort, but its been discreetly here for 18 months and hasn't leaked or been stolen yet. You can just about see the radar pickup horn in the centre and the laser sensor on the right. The head and GPS antenna are wired remote from the small control unit, which can be put inside a top case with only a bright warning led in the cockpit, that's is why I chose this type.

Do you have more detailed HowTo on that setup?

[Rock]

I am currently using the Escort 8500 mounted on the brake reservoir, sure seems like it
has diminished sensitivity from when it was on the other bike where it had an unobstucted front view. I would really like to install a system that has laser/radar pick up head units front and rear.with cockpit mounted LED's. It seems that all I can do is mount
two radar units, one in front, one in back, and wire them both to LED'S. Does anyone make a unit that rates as high as the Escort, and I can install the head unit with clear view ? simple stuff, so it seems, but I am at a loss, may just have to break it open and see whats inside,
thanks for any help
Roc

[Beemer01]

I have a Passport unit and for years mounted it on the center console on my Taurus SHO. Certainly some degradation in reception, but worked for years for me - permanent mount and saved my butt many, many times.

I would think mounting it in the tupperware of the fairlng would provide far better reception than I had,,, and mine was acceptable! Heck I had a firewall, radiator and an aluminum block engine in front of mine. Still picked up radar just fine.

But obviously no Laser reception. I think the other writer was right - if you got that signal, you're probably already toast. :boom: