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H.A.R.D. Helmet Assisted Radar Detection system

Ducposer

Ducposer

Sidewalk abuser
Joined
Mar 18, 2004
Location
California, preaching on the burning shore
Moto(s)
A flock of Ducs. 2010 multi S. 1993 900’SS.
Name
Woady
Has anybody had any experience with this system? i would be using this with a valentine one. i also dont have much experience with the valentine one either. also where would the best stealthy place to stash the detector where it could get both front and rear signals out of eye view on a ducati 05' multistrada? Thanks

http://www.legalspeeding.com/products.htm#HARD

what i dont understand is this part.

"The H.A.R.D. System is activated by an electronic signal from the radar detector. When the detector’s
audible alert is sounded the H.A.R.D. System is activated. There is one exception for owners of the
Valentine detector. On the Valentine detector, the audible alert DOES NOT always correspond to the
lighted arrows found on the detector. The audible alert sounds when the initial radar signal is detected
and when there is a change in the status of the radar threat. It is possible to ride around with lighted
arrows on the Valentine without the audible alert being sounded, hence the H.A.R.D. System not being
activated. Do not interpret this as the H.A.R.D. System malfunctioning. "
 
I use it with my Escort Passport 8500. It works well, although I regularly forget to turn the receiver on my helmet off when I'm not using it, effectively killing the battery.

I kinda liked the Radar Screamer a little more, but this works well enough.

Sounds like the lights on the Valentine will turn on in certain circumstances, while no audible alert is given. Since the HARD system is activated by the audible alert, it won't be activated.
 
I've used the HARD system with my V1 for over a year now without any problems.
 
Works fine with a V1. But the battery life is a pain in the ass. You need to turn the helmet portion off every time you aren't using it, so you need to mount the unit in the helmet in a way that you can get to the power switch easily. So burying it behind a cheekpad is great up until you realize you need to remove the cheekpad and its liner every time you want to turn the device on and off. I've seen people mount the unit on the outside of their helmet with velcro, but that's pretty clunky.

If you're into music while riding, you may consider getting a device that lets you hear the radar alerts along with music, gps, etc; a number of companies make decent products (autocom, starcom, baehr).
 
I have a pair of like-new HARD transmitter and receiver (for Passport Escort 8500) that I don't mind parting for $80. I work in Marin :teeth
 
+1 on stemstand. Worked great on my 12R & R6 to mount both radar and gps. I found it here: http://www.techmounts.com/ Won't work on the 10R due to the damper design. :(
 
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i never thought radar detectors really worked all that well.

i advise checking mirrors often and riding a bit slower.
 
Get yourself a Screamer and be done with it. Here are the advantages:

1. It's powered off the bike's electrical system so there's no batteries to wear out.

2. And perhaps most importantly, the Screamer really gets your attention and does it using your ears for sensing/detecting the warning. The HARD system and other light based system depend upon your eyes which should always be focused totally and completely on the road. The Screamer, besides not distracting your vision, is also very hard to ignore. Whereas with the light based systems, I could easily see myself being distracted enough to miss the warning.

3. Much simpler installation. Since it all stays on the bike, you simply plug your radar in when you attach it to your mount and then also plug in the audio connector. You're done. No batteries to keep charged, no mounting in the helmet, etc.

Screamer rocks!
 
And if you don't like the large size of it, the piezo siren on the inside can be removed and located somewhere you can't see it.
 
I have not tried the H.A.R.D. system myself, but I could "extend" you an invitation to try another system called the Big Obnoxious Noggin Equipped Radar System :teeth
 
gsxraddict said:
but doest the screamer bring alot of unwanted attention?
Click to expand...

Nah - it's a short series of loud high pitched chirps. And you can adjust the volume with a switch.
 
The H.A.R.D system is a pain with the battery's craping out.

The real deal is the Marc Parne's Visual Alert.

http://www.marcparnes.com/Visual_Alert.htm

EscortFront.jpg


HUD4W.jpg
 
The Marc Parnes device is pretty good, he sells a version with 2 rows of LED's, I bought it awhile back and it's quite bright. But you can still miss it if you're in bright sunlight and the sun is coming from over your shoulder. I've owned everything in this thread but the screamer, and the only one I still use is audio straight to the helmet. (actually, I should put both the H.A.R.D. system and the Marc Parnes LED's up in the classifieds, come to think of it). Without a doubt, audio helps me respond the quickest to a radar alert, and if you don't respond quickly the whole idea of radar detection isn't very useful.
 
so you say that the valentine with the audio jack out is the way to go?

aciurczak said:
The Marc Parnes device is pretty good, he sells a version with 2 rows of LED's, I bought it awhile back and it's quite bright. But you can still miss it if you're in bright sunlight and the sun is coming from over your shoulder. I've owned everything in this thread but the screamer, and the only one I still use is audio straight to the helmet. (actually, I should put both the H.A.R.D. system and the Marc Parnes LED's up in the classifieds, come to think of it). Without a doubt, audio helps me respond the quickest to a radar alert, and if you don't respond quickly the whole idea of radar detection isn't very useful.
Click to expand...
 
All I'm saying is that finding a way to hear the alert in your helmet will be much more reliable long-term than anything visual. I've gotten a ticket in the past when my V1 was alerting well ahead of time, but I just missed the lights. Kinda pissed me off after spending all that time and money on the detector setup for that bike. :mad

Go with whatever you feel would work best for you; for me it is a V1 with that motorcycle accessory, audio out plugged into an Autocom system which is wired to helmet speakers. YMMV. :thumbup
 
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