ROTFLMAO

Good to know that a detector *may* help. Better than not having one at all.

RED MX5

The best detector is the one in the lead car during an S2k run like SESM or Wake the Dragon. In most mountainous terrain there is a lot of scatter from RADAR and a good detector will almost always give you plenty of warning. If the cop is smart enough to sit there long enough without activating his RADAR, until he picks you as his unlucky target, either POP or instant-on can nail you as surely as laser or optical, but most cops just aren't that patient.

The last time I was on a mountain run I was carrying an Escort Solo S2. Two speed traps in two days, and PLENTY of warning for both.

9500i is more sensitive, has more informative operating modes, and eleminates the vast majority of false alarms, false alarms being the only complaint I've had against the V1. The arrows are nice, just as the portability of the S2 is nice, but getting rid of most false alarms has brought on a new era in RADAR detection. The next generation of RADAR detectors is going to have to incorporate similar technology to remain competative. That said, most any quality detector will give you plenty of warning in the mountains, unless you run up on a smart and patient cop, laser, or optical. False alarms in the mountains are rare, and usually easy to identify, so if that's the main use, any of the premium detectors will get the job done. The arrrows on the V1 can help as long as you're not driving so hard that you can't take the time to look at them, and as long as you don't run up on a smart cop that will have you clocked before you can look at the detector. In general, if you are getting an unexpected alert while travling at speed in the mountains, you need to be slowing down before worrying about the direction the signal is coming from. BUT, the arrows can be very helpful at times (and if it weren't for all the false alarms, I'd still be running a V1).

Not perfect protection, but clearly better than nothing.

Alex_V

I used to ride 400 miles a day in the mountains once a week. Mountain runs are the best on weekdays, when roads are not flogged with wankers. Ridden / driven tail of the dragon many times, you will hardly see cops on weekdays. Small town cops use older radars (not lasers) and my V1 picked them up from long ways away. Only once I got a radar warning. On curvy roads there are not many places where a cop can sit. Do it smart, and keep other drivers around you safe. best to just do trackdays. I imagine vehicle homicide will be hard to live with.

JmanS2k

oh so true.

ROTFLMAO

Interesting. Thank you for the input. I am on the fence with either the V1 or Escort 8500.

Ed_Grant

Then there is the airplane in the sky timing the traffic in Washington state. Cost me $144 last September near Spokane for 15 over.

CBR2200

Valentine 1 arrows FTW! I can't imagine going back to beep beep warnings and having no clue where its coming from. My V1 has paid for itself at lest 10 times over.

Project22a

My V1 has picked up from around corners.

RED MX5

I have not owned or used an 8500, but the 8500 is supposed to have about the same sensitivity as the 9500i (just without the advanced anti-falsing techniques and other GPS related features). Between the 8500 and V1 I'd go with the V1 but FWIW, the 9500i easily justifies its extra cost. Unless you need the portablity of the Solo, the 9500i is without a doubt the best chioce, and if you don't want to pay for the latest technology, then the V1 is probably next best. Both the V1 and the Solo give about the same number of false alarms, at least in the areas where I usually drive, but the arrows are nice. Not nearly as useful as a system that doesn't false, but not bad for a technology that's now a bit out of date.

IMO, V1 > 8500.

RED MX5

Hahaha, I should hope so. Even the old passive Fuzz Busters would pick up signals around corners. You pick up scatter from around corners, and it really doesn't take much.