Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

I'~LU - --- .. -- -... ~ ~ D!'''''! !,Ie ----.._. -~- PRODUCT EVALUATION ~-~-- Fox XKMR radar detector Radar detectors. Police radar isn't much of a problem on the highway.s of California, where the California Highway Patrol White Brothers' n~w. Megalloy aluminum silencer for four-stroke singles adds up LO 5.0 bhp and IS Itghter than a sLOck muffler. The silencer can be rebuilt and sells for 94:95 from dealers. Complete White Brothers exhaust systems sell for 149.95. FOI more InformalJon call 714/895-1991 and ask for Dan. J Silkolene Pro-2 racing synthetic oil for two-strokes contains octane-boosters and is designed to run at mix ratios ranging from 40: I to 60: I. A 12.8-oz. bOllIe sells for $5.98 from dealers. For more information call 805/257-4411 and ask for Rod. Lockhart's Competition Series oil pressure gauge is available for most sj)ort bikes with plain bearing englnes~ and features a liquid-filled face LO eltmlnate needle vibration and glass fogging. The gauge reads to 100 pSI. and has a 2700 sweep; braided stainless steel connects the gauge to the engine oil galley. It sells for $~9.95 to $49.95 depending upon the bike, from dealers. For more information call 800/221-7291 (in California call 213/630-4621) and ask for Wendell. Bel-Ray EXP Extra Premium fourstroke oil is now available in convenient . resealable plastic one-gallon con tamers. It's SF,CC rated and is available in single weights SAE 10, SAE 20, SAE 30, SAE 40, SAE 50 and SAE 60, and in multiweights 10w40, 15w-40 and 20w-50, from dealers, who can order the stuff from ttieir local distributors. EXP will continue to be available in the familiar can as . welL For more information call714/ .859.:0933 and a (oLGill.. _ • __ • II has on Iy recently began experimentIng with this furtive form of law enforcement. However, a couple of our recent runs with a new Gold Wing were to cross the state line, onto some of the most notoriously radarinfested thoroughfares of the country. With an eye more to scientific curiosity than LO selling speed records, a new Fox XKM"R radar detector was !""ounted onto our test Wing. The Idea was LO get a feel of how the unit would. react LO real-world highway condiuons. The Fox XKMR is a two piece unn, composed of a receiving module whIch houses the antennas and circuitry, and a separate control module for the power, volume and squelch controls. The receiving module is totally weather sealed, and can be mounted anywhere on the bike where it has the highest and clearest view of the road ahead. The control module isn't quite so water tight, and should be mounted where shielded from the elements. Also included is a remote "beeper," to ensure thatthedetecLOf's warning can be heard above wind noise. The beeper can be helmet mounted, but is loud and shrill enough to knock your eyes out when the detector goes off. The Fox XKMR receives on both the X and K bands; the only two freq uency ranges licensed for police radar use. As ~ar as the circuit design, the XKMR IS what's known as a "passive" radar receiver. Filters are employed which screen out radio signals above and below the police radar frequencies, enabling the de- tecLOr to "listen" for signals within the assigned freq uencies. When radio energy is detected within either of these two ranges, the beeper is energized to alert the rider of imp<;nd0g doom. To improve the sensll1vlty of the receiver, the Fox unit emplC?ys a pair of plastic wave gUIdes: clalmed LO provide 17 dBI of sensitivity gain, as well as directing that sensitivity to the road ahead. Overall sensitivity can be adjusted with the squelch control. The problem with the Fox XKMR l~es with the passive design of the CIrCULI. Some electronic gadgets such as burglar alarms and microwave ovens, as well as airport communicanons and other sources, emit radio energy which is very close LO the police radar bands. More often than not, these signals can penetrate the filters of the detecLOr and set 0[£ the beeper. !\£ter hearing a few dozen false signals it's easy to become careless and ignore the detector's warning - just as that State Trooper wheels into view. The squelch control is designed to be adj usted to screen out these spurious signals, but when thIS control is set high enough to do that, you practically have LOerawl on LOp of the police car before the detector issues a warning. More sophisticated detew;>rs employ a superbeterodyne orCull to detect radar signals: an "active" design which can more accurately discern genuine police radar signals. Superheterodyne detecLOrs offer far greater sensitivity at a far higher price - than the passIve detecLOrs. In actual use, the Fox XKMR proved helpful in some circumstances. For instance, if you're really out in the middle of nowhere (no airports, burglar alarms, etc.) the sensitivity can be raised LO a useful level. If the detecLOr then occasionally emit a bleep there's a good chance of Bad New~ somewhere ahead. To be effective the Fox requires experience in selling the squelch senslllvlly, and experience 111 recognizing how it reacts to genuine radar signals. As a bolt-on panacea for the perils of speeding; forget it. The Fox XKMR i.s an aid, a security blan~et, and IS sImply designed LO provlde a clue of what may lie ahead. It IS not a hcense to wantonly disregard the law. T.he Fox XKMR carries a suggested retatl pnce of $199.95, and is available through most cycle shops. Fox also manufactures more elaborate superheterodyne receivers, which aren't (yet) adapted for motorcycle use. For more information contact Com Radar Corp., 4518 Taylorsville Rd., DayLOn, Ohio 45424. . Jim Wolcott 27

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