Racer 2 question

[Billsie]

The Red Racer was reported to be a bit "nose-heavy", largely owing to the lower shaft connection being near the back of the coil. I gather that the placement of the connection on the new Racer 2 is nearer the center of the coil. I'm interested in the Racer 2, but my old forearm is very sensitive to detector "nose-heaviness". So, for those of you who have used the Racer 2, would you say that the new detector is (1) not nose-heavy at all, (2) that the problem has been substantially reduced, or (3) that the detector is still nose heavy.

I will appreciate your opinions. Thanks.

 

[Dave_E]

Not sure what you're comparing it to, but it's better balanced than the Ace 350 I used before I got the R2.

 

[Albert]

Number 2

 

[Tom Slick]

1.5

 

[Kickindirt]

3, it's still pretty nose heavy with the stock 8x11. Small coils not bad. I'm sure with the 5x10 would feel pretty balanced.

 

[Jackpine Savage]

The 5.5x10 elliptical balances nice, the stock is a bit nose heavy in comparison but not bad. The 5.5x10 is a must have coil IMO.

 

[horikindaguy]

3, it's still pretty nose heavy with the stock 8x11. Small coils not bad. I'm sure with the 5x10 would feel pretty balanced.

I agree, it's 3 for me with the stock coil...but I also have the small coil and 5x10 which is much better than stock, so that's what
I've been using....still a bit nose heavy but reasonable, weight on a postal scale with 5x10 and batteries is 3lb 6.5 oz....
and I don't think I'm giving up much depth as my soil is 3-4 bar and GB's at high 70's, low 80's which kills depth...

 

[Monte]

very solid '2' rating.

Your option: (2) that the problem has been substantially reduced.

Definitely due to:

a.. The improved 'S' rod grip curve.

b.. The change in standard 7X11 DD search coil with the rod-mount positioned closer to the center of the coil.

I use smaller-than-stock search coils at least 90% of the time, and probably more like 95%, because I plant myself in brushy, littered sites and sometimes they have old building rubble, too. I do use larger-size search coils when conditions allow or a need arises. On my Racer 2, the 5½" round DD coil stays mounted, but in more open areas with few metal; targets to cause masking, I opt for the standard 7X11 DD. I can easily use it 5-times longer than I could use the older standard 7X11 on my original Racer.

Is the 7X11 a little 'nose heavy?' Possibly, for some people, but for short-duration hunts the new 7X11 DD coil is working splendidly for me, even though field time isn't close to time spent with the 5½" DD coil. Also, I think some people experience a 'nose-heavy' feel with any detector when they have the rod and coil extended out too far, which is a bad habit many hobbyists fall into.

Usually I grab my FORS Relic when I hunt a site with a more open area with a reduced amount of targets, often with the 5½X10 I keep mounted, but I swap to the 7X11 DD when I have more area to cover and fewer trash targets to deal with. I find the Nokta FORS series to be more comfortable when working a medium to larger-size coil, but the Racer 2 is still good with the stock 7X11 coil using a 'proper' rod-length set-up and shorter-length sweeps.

Monte

 

[Cal_Cobra]

I have the R1 and R2 and the R2 w/stock coil feels much more balanced. I detected for about 8 hours last weekend and it never wore on me, I actually like the new stock coil quite a bit, it's a really nice improvement over the R1 stock coil in that it seems much better made (higher quality build), better balanced, and IMHO it pinpoints much better (it's pretty spot on, whereas I didn't always find that to be the case with the R1 coil).

Overall I'd say the R2 is a very nice improvement over the R1.