fish_antlers
Administrator
The Truth is Out There
Posts: 21895
|
posted August 09, 2002 03:46 PM
Big thumbs up to Bel-tronics..
I have to give Bel a big thumbs up for a) a great product and b) excellent customer support...
http://www.bel-tronics.com/
I have a Bel 945i Radar detector... I've been using it for 5- 6 seasons now (lost count)... at least 2.5 seasons on the Ducati and 2.5 (for sure) on the ZX12R ... the radar detector is great, and highly accurate... falses are VERY minimal... it has severed me well on 3 trips to Laguna, and saved me countless $$ in tickets... NOT ONE TICKET IN ALL OF THESE YEARS OF RIDING... NOT ONE.... It has also taken heaps and heaps of abuse... being knocked, kicked and dropped over and over for years now... I kept gluing it back together, finally the glue wouldnt hold... then rubberbands, tape etc... on the way back from Laguna this season, the poor thing finally died.....
When I got home I contacted Bel, and returned the unit to them... the charge me a MORE than reasonable $65 CDN repair / replacement fee (this even included shipping!) now I have the unit back.. brand new and all fixed up...
Anyways... just thought I'd share this with you as people seem to forget about Bel amongst all the hype over the V1 ...
Thanks Bel!
   
|
22348bCVC
Zone Head
Posts: 798
|
posted August 09, 2002 04:13 PM
SPEEEEDER!!!...SINNER!!!...HOOOLIGAN!!!!...BEEZLEBULB!!!!!
____________
...just relax...my dog wants to use only one of your legs...
|
ZHooligan
Moderator
Post Whore Extraordinaire!
Posts: 3829
|
posted August 09, 2002 04:21 PM
Thanks for the info. I had 945I Bel myself. It was a failure in my case. The damn thing came out of my tank bag at about 170 mph or so and it fell apart when it dropped on the pavement. Damn thing anyway!
Up until then it was a great little unit and it actually came with an ear attachment.
____________
To those who do not count their life in years, but in how life
has touched them in the past and how much it can hold in the
future; -- Youth is forever.
|
fish_antlers
Administrator
The Truth is Out There
Posts: 21895
|
posted August 09, 2002 05:15 PM
too bad you didnt pick up the pieces and send it back to them.. they would have put it back together fer ya!
PS..... the ear thingee is why I bought it... I have it hooked into my chatterbox
|
zx12rpilot
Expert Class
Posts: 120
|
posted August 09, 2002 05:19 PM
Excuse my stupidity but where do you mount it at? Remote sensors?
|
ZHooligan
Moderator
Post Whore Extraordinaire!
Posts: 3829
|
posted August 09, 2002 05:40 PM
I put my bell in the map (clear top) case of my tank bag, or I put it in my coat pocket with the reflector component that is sold with it a s an option
____________
To those who do not count their life in years, but in how life
has touched them in the past and how much it can hold in the
future; -- Youth is forever.
|
fish_antlers
Administrator
The Truth is Out There
Posts: 21895
|
posted August 09, 2002 05:46 PM
it is cordless.... hey Z.... would you ever use a fancy shmancy mount on yer bike?
|
redelk
Moderator
Please... speak to the hand.
Posts: 3212
|
posted August 09, 2002 09:10 PM
I had quite the opposite experience with my 945im and even more so with BEL's customer support (with three different detectors). Maybe it's the "Canada thing", since that where all my returns went, after going through Buffalo, NY (both ways!). Those experiences left such a bitter taste, I wouldn't have a BEL if they gave me a life time supply.
____________
There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games.
-Ernest Hemingway
|
beansbaxter
Needs a life
Posts: 5911
|
posted August 09, 2002 10:46 PM
So is the Bel better than the V1? Which Bel is the best to get, or do the models make any difference?
|
12RPilot
Pro
Posts: 1094
|
posted August 10, 2002 04:30 AM
Uh-oh! Bel or V1? Here we go !!!
____________
If you aren't an AMA member, you're part of the problem.
NESBA #209
http://www.bikepics.com/members/12rpilot/04zx10r/
 
|
fish_antlers
Administrator
The Truth is Out There
Posts: 21895
|
posted August 10, 2002 07:11 AM
hey Redelk.... maybe they could sense yer "trailerness" and therefore treated you accordingly! .. :lol anyways... hey no tickets and no probs fer me...
|
ZHooligan
Moderator
Post Whore Extraordinaire!
Posts: 3829
|
posted August 11, 2002 08:46 PM
It depends on how the mount attaches, what it obscures, etc. I would prefer to mount my detector on the bike, hardwired in etc. So if there is a good mount I would be interested.
As for the question on which unit is better, The tests have always shown the cordless detectors as not performing as well as the non cordless units. So the Bel cordless is probably not the best in performance. It is however convenient and does work.
As for the V1, escort arguments they are just that. The V1 gives you the location of the signal (direction it is coming from) which is nice but big deal. I own several of both. My personal car and truck both have the built in Escort units (sensors front and rear). My Escort units include laser and the latest laser scrambling technology. I don't know if it works but I have it!! I can live with either the V1 or the escort. The facts are motorcycles are piss poor targets for laser, and if you use your head you can stay out of trouble. I have found from personal experience that the real issue on the motorcycle is the cop that comes up behind and paces you.
If everyone is really serious about the V1 then start e-mailing the bastards and telling them to put an ear phone jack on their unit. I have the techs at Magnolia Hi-Fi scoping my 12 out so we can install the Escort system on it. If they can come up with a good install including an earphone plug I will have them do it.
____________
To those who do not count their life in years, but in how life
has touched them in the past and how much it can hold in the
future; -- Youth is forever.
|
beansbaxter
Needs a life
Posts: 5911
|
posted August 11, 2002 09:36 PM
ZHooligan...keep us posted if Magnolia figures anything out. I would be interested to see what they come up with.
|
frEEk
Administrator
ummm... yeah
Posts: 9660
|
posted August 11, 2002 09:56 PM
well, they cant be that piss poor targets, cause i gots me a $460 ticket w laser. bastids. hmm...makes me wonder if da guy wasnt bluffin. hmmm....
|
redelk
Moderator
Please... speak to the hand.
Posts: 3212
|
posted August 11, 2002 09:59 PM
I could rant for days on things like how BEL took over six weeks to "repair" my detector, then they end up sending me a completely different unit that was a "lesser" model. They wouldn't sent my old one or "equal" back until they got their crap back. When asked if they extend the warranty since I was without a dectector for close to two months, their reply... NO!
Where I returned my V1 for warranty repair, it was gone less than a week and they sent it back 2nd day air (their cost). When I offered to PAY for next or 2nd day shipping to get any of my detectors from BEL, again they said... NO! It can't be done.
FUCK BEL! I'd rather go without a detector then to have to put up with their shitheads in customer service.
Here's another thread of what I think of BEL's customer service. Also a couple of pics of my V1 remote audio and remote display.
http://www.labusas.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=9881&highlight=valentine
____________
There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games.
-Ernest Hemingway
|
jason370
Zone Head
Posts: 589
|
posted August 12, 2002 06:11 AM
redelk,
how can that setup possibly fit under the windscreen?
jason
____________
'02 ZX12 black/gold
|
fish_antlers
Administrator
The Truth is Out There
Posts: 21895
|
posted August 12, 2002 07:11 AM
well that helped me so in return for you telling us to fuck them I say fuck you redelk 
|
ZHooligan
Moderator
Post Whore Extraordinaire!
Posts: 3829
|
posted August 12, 2002 07:37 AM
Freek,
Considering that the police are trained to try to hit something flat the size of a car license plate with the laser in order to get a good signal back. That should tell you the reliability of whether the guy actually hit you or hit the car behind you!! Or guessed your speed and told you he lasered you.
____________
To those who do not count their life in years, but in how life
has touched them in the past and how much it can hold in the
future; -- Youth is forever.
|
jason370
Zone Head
Posts: 589
|
posted August 12, 2002 10:51 AM
i have a pretty sweet V1 setup if i do say so myself. i did have to buy the fuckin remote audio adapter which just plain pissed me off. that being said, my setup saves me at least once everytime i ride.
jason
____________
'02 ZX12 black/gold
|
redelk
Moderator
Please... speak to the hand.
Posts: 3212
|
posted August 12, 2002 02:25 PM
jason, it just barely fits under the smoke ZG double bubble.
Fish, BEL treated me so badly, so many times... I won't even reply to your post.
I will say that most who actually know me are aware that I do not get angry or yell (almost NEVER!). This is especially true when "conducting business". If I had been turt, cussing or yelling (like I have in my posts) at BEL's customer service reps, I would halfway understand their poor attitude and service towards me, but I didn't. If I want to be treated like shit, I'll start buying stuff from my ex-wife.
____________
There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games.
-Ernest Hemingway
|
swft
Needs a life
Full throttle!
Posts: One MEEEEEELLION
|
posted August 12, 2002 06:00 PM
Wow, sounds like some real issues! Then again, Buffalo is a mean place.  The farther you go east on 90 (Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo) the meaner, nastier, uglier and dirtier the buildings, air and people get.
|
eddynasty
Novice Class
Posts: 89
|
posted August 12, 2002 06:10 PM
Good endorsement...
Considering the 946 but wonder if the attachments are included in the price. I'll call them tomorrow if I get the chance.
|
eddynasty
Novice Class
Posts: 89
|
posted August 12, 2002 06:20 PM
I won't discount what Redelk has said to have experienced. I'd suggest that Fish make Bell aware of this thread & especially since Bell has a product targeted for motorcycle people.
I have $ and won't take any shabby poor customer relations. I BELIEVE that UNITY can make a difference & that a issue such as alleged by Redelk should be resolved!
I want the BEST that $ can buy for a biker???
|
ZHooligan
Moderator
Post Whore Extraordinaire!
Posts: 3829
|
posted August 12, 2002 08:49 PM
Customer relations are an issue everywhere. Unfortunately it can be said that every business has issues. Unfortunately it is when the shit happens to "you" personally that it isn't forgotten. Bel, Cincinatti Micro wave and Valentine all have been around along time. They have not survived this long by making junk and or having bad customer relations as a standard.
Having numerous employees I can also tell you that not all of the employees follow the policy and or procedures, nor do they always represent myself or my company in the manner that I insist on or have taught them. Unfortunately, an employee can take a 25 year history and fuck it up in a heart beat. Also dealing in the public sector it is also pretty easy to become jaded in this era of lets ripoff the big company. I have had people tell me and or my people that we sold them a defective item that we don't even carry, and or said they have paid for something etc. that the video shows clearly didn't happen. It is in the moments and short time after that my employees as well as myself are tested by the next genuine customer. Because you can't always turn your anger off in an instant!
My two cents for what it is worth.
____________
To those who do not count their life in years, but in how life
has touched them in the past and how much it can hold in the
future; -- Youth is forever.
|
frEEk
Administrator
ummm... yeah
Posts: 9660
|
posted August 13, 2002 08:47 AM
too true zhool. as usual it all depends on what side of the fence u watch from. personally i blame the majority of shitty customer service on declining work ethic. seems most people dont give a shit about their job anymore, specially not lower paid jobs. used to b u had professionals for everything. carreer waiters, lifelong clothing salespeople. didnt matter what u did, u did it for life & got real good at it, and u took pride in doin it well. no everyone is always lookin to the dream job they will never get, & bein dismal in the job they have.
|
|
|
HOME
NEW TOPIC