Whistler Cruisader REAL WORLD TEST done

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How about an independent test by some guy who does not sell or endorse the products....


Escort 7500s w/ H.A.R.D vs. Whistler Cruisader on 2005 CBR1000RR


Whistler Cruisader:

A very nice package that’s well designed and thought out. The hardware package alone impressed me ...but that’s where it ends boys and girls.

Last night I finished the Cruisader install – wow that takes some time to do it right!! – about 3 hours total with most of the time spent deciding on wire routing and display mounting etc. The unit is not hard to install sort of on par with a bike alarm. My setup is simple with the antenna clear and unobstructed (mounted just under the nose) horizontally, just like the setup from http://www.radarbusters.com/support/...stealth-r6.asp
The HUD was mounted in the helmet – no problems …like I said this is a nice a product with quality instructions and hardware. The HUD from the whistler is cased better then the H.A.R.D setup but has a shorter cord and the on/off switch is mounted in such a way to make it more difficult to turn on and off – no big thing.


The Test:

With my Escort 7500s mounted as normal above my speedo and the 2 HUDs mounted in the helmet I started my 14mile journey to work. Wow it was 42 degrees this morning –That’s really freaking cold for people who ride full leathers in +115 degree heat 6 months of the year – anyway down the street I go, make my first left on Gilbert road. Gilbert road is speed checked in several areas with speed display signs warning people to slow down. At the exact second I make the turn my Escort 7500s goes of with a K alert within seconds I am tracking 2 K signals, the speed sign facing me and the other speed sign facing the opposite direction approx. a half mile down the road. As I approached the first sign I could see my speed of 28mph at that exact moment the Whistler fired a warning and tracked it up to the sign - immediately going off after I passed the sign. That was the last of the Whistler Cruisader even though my escort continued to track 2 signals for another half mile. As I approached my turn on to the highway I picked up the first of many Ka warnings on the whistler. I decided to take side streets to try and find some LEOs doing their favorite pastime … this is where it gets weird, the Whistler would give me Ka hits on par with my Escort giving me K hits from local stores and banks etc. Not kidding I was showing full Ka several times with no LEO’s present or activity from the Escort. Unable to find any speed traps I jumped on the freeway to make up some time. Diving off the freeway by the airport my escort goes off ***LASAR ....argh.... 81 indicated in a 45 OUCH!! ..but wait a second!! NO LEO, interesting maybe it came from the airport or something … uh wait ….Yep there he is, a motorcycle LEO sitting there as I approach …nothing on either detector, then more nothing, then BAM ***LASER warning as I go by at 42 in a 45 - Escort and Whistler both flashing spastically. Range from the Radar gun to the detectors was approx 10 car lengths.


The remaining tests - Ka with on-coming state patrol, etc.. – I’ll get this one Saturday morning on my ride and will follow up with the results* in this thread.


Conclusion:
It’s a no brainer for me …

I don’t get laser warnings that even a mid range escort gave me at ¾ mile on a flat road with no obstacles. Ka confused with K band, false Ka hits and k range that can be measured in yards not miles.
Did I get bad unit ….did I mount it wrong …maybe but probably not. The Whistler Cruisader works like ..uh.. how do I say this ...a Whistler. Falses and reduced range make this product better then nothing – but I would even hesitate to say that. The detector "works", to say it didn't, would be a lie but to call it a “Rader Detector” is stretching the truth really far IMO.


Escort 7500s passport $169.99 from Best Buy
H.A.R.D system $164.99 from Radar Roy ($75.00 Tx replacement every 3 months) Not getting a speeding ticket …still cheaper and less of a hassle then court/dmv hell.


My Background:
I am a trained Aviation Mechanic within semesters of a BAS degree in Aviation Management from ASU. I am not a total retard when it comes to assembly and reading directions. Most if not all of my friends have their vehicles and electronics fixed by me (for free - dammit). My love of sportbikes equals the love I have for my family …it’s really sad.

[SmaartAasSaabr]

I'd be cautious of the Ka falses, as generally those are due to other RD's closeby, and with the 7500S running a few inches away, that may be related. I'd do the same trip (or perhaps a little shorter) with the 7500 turned off just to see how the Whistler reacts.

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yeah ..I was thinking about interference.

The ride home was Ka falsies all over dodge (whistler) - No escort hits at all on the way home ...slow day - but the bank did set off the x on the whistler but not on the escort though.

but yeah ... I am going to run down the road here with the escort unplugged and see whats what.

I did notice some things I disliked about the headset - which don't get me wrong is really cool with remote programing from the display buttons and all ....but it sucks compared to the H.A.R.D setup. I will go into it later when I finish my testing, it will take many paragraphs to explain.

I also plan to post a few pics so yall can see what I have been talking about.

[RobertC]

Thanks for doing this. I have been considering the Cruisader. I really like the remote head style of detectors.
Performance is not a real big concern. However, it needs to be at least fair. I am one of those people for whom the RD is more of a toy and a reminder to check my speed.
Like I said, the remote head is a big feature to me, along with the external temp. However, it needs to also work for it's intended purpose.

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http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...l/DSC00042.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...l/DSC00041.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...l/DSC00040.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...l/DSC00039.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...l/DSC00038.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...l/DSC00037.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...l/DSC00036.jpg


I'll be back ...........

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http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...l/DSC00043.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...l/DSC00035.jpg

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Note*
1. As you can see ...it is a mile of wires to route x 4.

2. Mounting must take into considerations - left / right movement of the forks.

3. It takes approx. 10 minutes to remove.



Issues with the HUD and overall performance not withstanding --> Ka sorta worked --> K was the same. Falsies may have been less with the 'scort unplugged, there was less ...but still


...when I have some time to type I will detail the issues like promised.

[CactusMan]

How about an independent test by some guy who does not sell or endorse the products....


Escort 7500s w/ H.A.R.D vs. Whistler Cruisader on 2005 CBR1000RR


Whistler Cruisader:

A very nice package that’s well designed and thought out. The hardware package alone impressed me ...but that’s where it ends boys and girls.

Last night I finished the Cruisader install – wow that takes some time to do it right!! – about 3 hours total with most of the time spent deciding on wire routing and display mounting etc. The unit is not hard to install sort of on par with a bike alarm. My setup is simple with the antenna clear and unobstructed (mounted just under the nose) horizontally, just like the setup from http://www.radarbusters.com/support/...stealth-r6.asp
The HUD was mounted in the helmet – no problems …like I said this is a nice a product with quality instructions and hardware. The HUD from the whistler is cased better then the H.A.R.D setup but has a shorter cord and the on/off switch is mounted in such a way to make it more difficult to turn on and off – no big thing.


The Test:

With my Escort 7500s mounted as normal above my speedo and the 2 HUDs mounted in the helmet I started my 14mile journey to work. Wow it was 42 degrees this morning –That’s really freaking cold for people who ride full leathers in +115 degree heat 6 months of the year – anyway down the street I go, make my first left on Gilbert road. Gilbert road is speed checked in several areas with speed display signs warning people to slow down. At the exact second I make the turn my Escort 7500s goes of with a K alert within seconds I am tracking 2 K signals, the speed sign facing me and the other speed sign facing the opposite direction approx. a half mile down the road. As I approached the first sign I could see my speed of 28mph at that exact moment the Whistler fired a warning and tracked it up to the sign - immediately going off after I passed the sign. That was the last of the Whistler Cruisader even though my escort continued to track 2 signals for another half mile. As I approached my turn on to the highway I picked up the first of many Ka warnings on the whistler. I decided to take side streets to try and find some LEOs doing their favorite pastime … this is where it gets weird, the Whistler would give me Ka hits on par with my Escort giving me K hits from local stores and banks etc. Not kidding I was showing full Ka several times with no LEO’s present or activity from the Escort. Unable to find any speed traps I jumped on the freeway to make up some time. Diving off the freeway by the airport my escort goes off ***LASAR ....argh.... 81 indicated in a 45 OUCH!! ..but wait a second!! NO LEO, interesting maybe it came from the airport or something … uh wait ….Yep there he is, a motorcycle LEO sitting there as I approach …nothing on either detector, then more nothing, then BAM ***LASER warning as I go by at 42 in a 45 - Escort and Whistler both flashing spastically. Range from the Radar gun to the detectors was approx 10 car lengths.


The remaining tests - Ka with on-coming state patrol, etc.. – I’ll get this one Saturday morning on my ride and will follow up with the results* in this thread.


Conclusion:
It’s a no brainer for me …

I don’t get laser warnings that even a mid range escort gave me at ¾ mile on a flat road with no obstacles. Ka confused with K band, false Ka hits and k range that can be measured in yards not miles.
Did I get bad unit ….did I mount it wrong …maybe but probably not. The Whistler Cruisader works like ..uh.. how do I say this ...a Whistler. Falses and reduced range make this product better then nothing – but I would even hesitate to say that. The detector "works", to say it didn't, would be a lie but to call it a “Rader Detector” is stretching the truth really far IMO.


Escort 7500s passport $169.99 from Best Buy
H.A.R.D system $164.99 from Radar Roy ($75.00 Tx replacement every 3 months) Not getting a speeding ticket …still cheaper and less of a hassle then court/dmv hell.


My Background:
I am a trained Aviation Mechanic within semesters of a BAS degree in Aviation Management from ASU. I am not a total retard when it comes to assembly and reading directions. Most if not all of my friends have their vehicles and electronics fixed by me (for free - dammit). My love of sportbikes equals the love I have for my family …it’s really sad.

ASU? With an ASU degree anyone can get into a GOOD high school in Arizona. U of A !!!! Go Wildcats Bear Down.

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Final comments - test finished


Ka on-coming did work to the effect that I did get a strong signal from approx 1/4 mile coming around a turn on a 'instant on' type situation with no cars in front of me and the LEO’s cruiser hidden behind an oncoming car - the escort firing at the same time. The HUD from the H.A.R.D did light up a split second faster - big deal

Several thoughts ....


1. The cruisader hitting the Ka was almost irrelevant due to the constant false hits. Again I did run with the escort unplugged and maybe it was causing some interference but it (the whistler) still gave way to many falsies IMO in the above case I received dozens of false hits prior to the “actual” hit

2. The whistler HUD LED was to dim at its brightest setting in the day …for me anyway.

3. The frequency of blinking on the Whistler HUD seemed to increase in intensity …but would also stop blinking while a threat was still detected. I would like the HUD to blink in a consistent manner or START out intense and decrease intensity to show the continued threat, sort of the reverse of how it is designed. I played with several settings, and this could of had an effect, kind of like auto-mute but for the HUD and not the speaker (doesn’t come with a speaker – that’s extra $$). Again this was only me ‘playing with it’ and not testing it properly. Individual results with the whistler HUD will be determined by the individual’s preferences.The H.A.R.D led is ultra bright period!! – to the point of blinding me – but that RED means STOP SCREWING AROUND and it blinks till the threat is gone I LIKE IT!!

4. Signal tracking - I have come to expect ALL RADAR DETECTORS to track multiple bogies and display them. Showing two K hits when I know for a fact that the 7-11 store only shows one …hhhmmm where is he –yup GILBERT POLICE running radar a half –block past the store (and yes even the best equipped Police depts. still run K band). Had the whistler detected this I would have disregarded it until it was two late. I didn’t even think about this feature when I bought the whistler, and it's my most beloved feature on a radar detector - with false signal filtering and range detection being a close second and third.

5. Last thought ….Do I post this on ebay and let some sucker bid on it? or do I just huck it in the trash – where this product unfortunately belongs.

[A-TownNavi]

5. Last thought ….Do I post this on ebay and let some sucker bid on it? or do I just huck it in the trash – where this product unfortunately belongs.

ill take it.