Road Angel

[KrZ]

http://www.new-road-angel-gps.co.uk/

Seen the advert of this and thought to check out the detail of the product. Does anyone own and use such a device? Is it legal to use it in UK?
In the spec, it says it is motorbike compatible, does that only mean it can operate on bike voltage because I certainly don’t think I’ve seen a cigarette DC plug on most bikes.

Does anyone know any other device like road angel designed specifically for bikes?

[chazzyb]

http://www.new-road-angel-gps.co.uk/

Seen the advert of this and thought to check out the detail of the product. Does anyone own and use such a device? Is it legal to use it in UK?
In the spec, it says it is motorbike compatible, does that only mean it can operate on bike voltage because I certainly don’t think I’ve seen a cigarette DC plug on most bikes.

Does anyone know any other device like road angel designed specifically for bikes?

Legal? Yes. There's talk of the government banning (currently legal) radar detectors, but this is a GPS device - tells you where you are. It doesn't detect radar - it won't work with mobile radar traps. The GPS-based devices, being passive, usually need a subscription to keep their internal database of 'hazards', ie cameras, up to date.

[Ed]

Not exactly cheap, is it :shock:

[KrZ]

don't know how it works with mobile speed guns, and mobile camera units. it seems also have front and rear lazer detectors. maybe the gps is just added to make it legal.
Does anyone know of system that does radar as well as lazer detection and still legal to use for bikes?

Interesting they call cameras "hazzards" :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Flamin_Squirrel]

don't know how it works with mobile speed guns, and mobile camera units. it seems also have front and rear lazer detectors. maybe the gps is just added to make it legal.
Does anyone know of system that does radar as well as lazer detection and still legal to use for bikes?

Interesting they call cameras "hazzards" :lol: :lol: :lol:

Ahhh well you see cameras are all at hazard sites, so it should be perfectly alright to warn you of them :wink:

[Wiltshire7]

i dont know why things that detect cameras should be illegal. ull slow down for them and therefore do what they are there to do.

they seemed to have long since changed from a measure to stop people speeding to actually catch people speeding.

[svrunner]

if you click on the "click to buy" button it comes up with a list of options one of which is for fitting to a motorbike. Consists of bracket and hard wiring kit, and costs £20.

[Nick762]

i dont know why things that detect cameras should be illegal....

Funny you should mention that. I happen to know that the next Queen's speech will refer to legislation making the wearing of blindfolds by all drivers, riders and front seat passengers compulsory!

There will be an additional clause for bikes requiring pillion passengers to also be blindfolded in the event that any type of rider/pillion intercom is in use. This is in response to pressure from the road safety lobby and reflects growing concern that drivers are using their eyes to spot safety cameras and have been observed on many occasions to slow down thus unfairly evading prosecution for speeding offences.

Road transport groups have reviewed the draft proposals and have suggested that the widespread introduction of blindfolds is likely to have a negative impact on the ability of drivers and riders to efficiently use the public road system but a DfT spokesperson dismissed these claims as being unnecessarily alarmist...

[Flamin_Squirrel]

=D>

[exduker]

Just to add my 2 penn'th

I use a Bel 550i Euro Radar & Laser detector in my car (Alfa147GTA) and have done for about 4 years. They were once illegal based upon an interpretation of 'misuse of police communications' but this was thrown out years ago and they've been legal for ages. The govt. keeps threatening to make them illegal again but the manufacturers are smart and now sell them as 'accident blackspot detectors' rather than 'speed trap detectors'. This uses the govt's argument that cameras are only used at accident balckspots (yeh right!) against them and says that surely it would be safer to inform road users when they are approaching a 'blackspot' so that they can take extra care!

There are many different versions of these detectors, mine is quite old now and so does not detect the latest Truvelo's and SPECS systems, but it gets GATSOs and laser devices. The GPS ones use a database (with an annual subscription to download form the web) plotting GPS co-ordinates of each camera (so it can warn you as you get close) but do not tell you if they are actually armed (most GATSOs are actually empty boxes). The Road Angel also has laser detection to get handheld laser guns. Nothing will currently detect the latest generation of mobile SPECS systems (you see these sat on m'way bridges - a white van with 2 camera poles stuck out the roof!).

There's a lot of good info on the Association of British Drivers website about the different cameras and detectors that exist too!

[Rich Curtis]

I have had in the past (for my car) a Bel550 and now have a road angel (the older type).

To be honest I prefer the Bel, as exduker says, most of the gatso units are not working. The GPS systems cannot tell and warn you anyway. The warning method on the Bel is a lot clearer too. The downside is false alarms, you'll pick up every superstore (radar automatic doors) from 300 yards away. Probably be a big distraction on a bike.

Most gatsos are relatively easy to spot with your eyes and usually have warning signs. However in Wales at least most of the cameras are mobile laser units, unfortunately even with a detector it is difficult to react quick enough to avoid a ticket (only takes a couple of seconds for a lock with the camera being upto 1km away :( ).

A mate of mine has a laser diffuser on his car, a bit of kit that reacts to the laser by sending out a scrambled signal that prevents the gun getting a speed lock. These are illegal but unlike cars you'd only need one for a bike (rear plate).

The big advantage for us bikes is that all cameras can only get a bike from behind :shock: . Save your money and just keep your eyes peeled.