Garmin Varia RTL515, Cycling Rearview Radar with Tail Light, Visual and Audible Alerts for Vehicles Up to 153 Yards Away - 010-02376-00

After about 6 rides of more than 20+ miles each, I feel comfortable writing a review about the Garmin Varia RTL515. First, let me say that this Radar with Taillight works exactly as advertised and I can easily recommend it to any bike rider. That said, here are what I hope may be some helpful notes: - I use the radar with my iPhone 14 Pro and the associated Varia app - It took me less than 10 minutes to unpackage, mount, install the app and pair to my phone (note that for my rides my iPhone is attached to a mount on the handlebars) - Some have reported issues with the mounting hardware that comes with the device. I encountered no issues at all (installing or while riding) - Be sure to use the audible sounds and not just the visual (in other words, keep the volume on and up) - The radar detected approaching vehicles 100% of the time and about 85% sooner than my hearing did - I found the biggest benefit comes when I have to merge from the shoulder of the road out into traffic to make left hand turns or move out from a right only lane. As I have aged (now 65 years old) I don’t have the flexibility to turn around and look like I once had and this device helps in indicating if there is oncoming traffic and if there is, I can adjust my speed to slow down (or speed up) until it is clear. But make no mistake, DO NOT RELY SOLELY ON THE RADAR. Always use your eyes and ears! - I can say, from my limited experience, that the battery life seems solid and unless you’re doing 6+ hour rides (just my estimate), you will be fine and won’t run out of juice - Speaking of battery life, using the Varia app while using the Strava app to log my ride, I used up approximately 15% of my iPhone’s battery on a 2 hour ride My only gripe is that there is no integration with my Apple Watch. It would be very beneficial to have haptic alerts. I did find a third party app that supposedly does this but have not purchased it ($5.99). This device may not be for everyone but if you are looking for some added, reliable safety when you ride, it is worth it and, in my opinion, at a reasonable price.

The Garmin Varia RTL515 has become an essential part of my cycling setup, providing invaluable safety features that I rely on every ride. The integration with my Garmin Edge 840 is seamless and enhances my situational awareness on the road. It effectively alerts me to approaching vehicles, giving me critical information to adjust my riding position and stay safe. One of the standout features is its light patterns that dynamically change as vehicles approach. This not only increases my visibility to drivers but also helps them anticipate my presence on the road. While the mounting system it comes with is functional, I opted for a better mounting solution to ensure a more secure attachment. This upgrade has significantly improved the stability of the Varia RTL515 on my bike, providing peace of mind during rides. The build quality is robust, and the device is weather-resistant, handling various conditions without issue. The battery life is impressive, lasting through long rides without needing a recharge. Overall, the Garmin Varia RTL515 is an indispensable tool for cyclists prioritizing safety. Its reliable connectivity, advanced alert system, and adaptive lighting make it a must-have for anyone serious about staying safe on the road. I highly recommend it, especially with a sturdier mounting option, for enhanced security and performance.

Let me start off by saying, I've been biking since my 20's, now in my 50's. I'm what I consider a long distance, casual, organize touring biker. In other words I'm not a racer. I'm not sure how this device has escaped me for as long as it has. I used this radar for the first time on a 20 mile loop only due to the time of day. I must say I was very excited with the way the radar performed. For the first 5 to10 mins I still looked over my shoulder. Once I had a handle on where the car or cars were in relationship to what I saw on my phone. I felt pretty confident with using the radar. Sometimes when you have to rely on your hearing or looking over your shoulder some quieter vehicles manage to sneak up on you especially if the wind is blowing in the opposite direction that you are riding. You then have to make a split second decision on whether to avoid bad road pavement and possibly creating a close call situation or play it safe with the car and pray you and your bike survives hitting a pot hole, gravel, etc. I feel with the radar it allows you to focus more on the road ahead of you, instead of constantly looking over your shoulder. Which actually allows you to make a more informed decision on navigating the pavement, because you see ahead of time where the cars are in relationship to you. I'm very satisfied with that feature. I use the radar with the Varia app on my retired LG G7 phone. They both work well together. I'm very happy with the app. It's a very basic, lean, and clean app. It's not loaded with a bunch of unnecessary options. It does just what it is suppose to. I may be a little picky, but I just wish that I had the ability to turn off the light and continue to keep it linked to the app. I probably would not use it that way, but it would be nice as option if you need to stretch the battery life a little longer. Definitely not a game changer. Also the bracket is okay, not a big fan of the silicone like stretchy bands for attaching expensive devices on the back of my bike that could possibly brake loose and I may not know in time if the device fell off my bike. I also wish that garmin would make a bracket that allows the radar to be extended pass your saddle bag. I since have ordered a K- Edge Go Big Pro Saddle Rail Go Pro Camera Mount. I was also going to order a 3d garmin to Go Pro adapter to attach to the mount, but i decided to buy a For Garmin Varia Radar RTL510 tail light mount holder saddle bracket off Ebay. This bracket is much shorter, but I only bought it to remove the garmin attachment and attach that to K-Edge. The housing around the garmin attachment is made of medal, which I feel would be better than a plastic 3d adapter. Hopefully with the extra length that the K-Edge has it will be just long enough to clear my saddle bag. I will update when I acquire all of the above mentioned mounts. Oh by the way there are similar mounts on here on Amazon like the RTL510 that also include the garmin attachment, but it seems like they all ship from China. Which would be okay if your willing to wait 5 to 7 weeks.

I finally gave in and bought this item after reading so many great reviews -- so glad I did. This is the real deal for any cyclist who wants to be safe. In my attempt to be safer while riding, I'd added a bar mirror as craning my neck and relying on sound never felt safe, and while the mirror helped a little, it always seemed like it took a moment to register what I was looking at and how close an approaching car was. The Varia really solved a lot of that. I was concerned that it would not work well with my small monochrome Garmin Edge 130 bike computer, but it actually works really well, showing each car as a moving dot along a small line on the screen. This is very helpful when you're on a quiet road away from the city that has no bike line or shoulder. I always felt uneasy on those roads not knowing what was behind me and would ride close to the edge of the road. The Varia lets me ride on the smoothest part of the road until I get an alert beep that a car is behind me, and I can move over. This peace of mind is almost priceless. It's also nice that it was a built-in light as a flashing rear light is an absolute must, in my mind. This is a well-built, well-designed item, easy to charge, easy to mount -- although the rubber strap for the mount doesn't seem super secure, although honestly it has not been a problem, and there are plenty of third party mounts you can buy. Like so many others have said, the Varia is a absolute home run.

A rear-facing radar should be required for anyone who rides on the roads. I was skeptical at first-seemed like a lot of money for a rear light. I wont ride without it now. Works as advertised. There are a few things to understand about owning it and limitations too. 1. If you ride on a busy road with lots of traffic this may not be ideal. All it would do is go off and would be a total distraction. Also I think the rider would become insensitive to the alarm and ignore it. Best on less busy areas. Alarm for me comes from my Garmin computer and is loud enough my wife who rides in front of me can hear the computer alarm for an approaching car. You may think that you can hear an approaching car (tires are noisy) which is true. I can usually hear the car coming before the alarm goes off but if its windy my hearing the car is significantly diminished and the radar can detect several cars approaching. 2. Radar beam is wide and goes back far enough to move to the right if you need to make room. If you are riding on a bike path adjacent to a road, the alarm will detect cars approaching that are hundreds of feet away. 3. If a vehicle approaches and slows down to your speed the radar will track it for about 30 seconds and if the car hasn't passed and the distance remains the same the radar will ignore the car and give you an all clear. In my case it was a big agricultural combine and I knew it was back still behind me. 4. Purchase a different mount. The rubber band mount is less than ideal. I went with a 1/4 turn Garmin that solidly mounts on the seat post. Don't know why Garmin didn't include it with the radar. Rubber bands to attach a 200 dollar light seems really sketchy. 5. Battery life is good and adequate for a few long rides between charges. Also charges fast with the micro USB cable. Overall, highly recommended. Other than a helmet; the most important safety device I can think of for road bikers.

The radar has been life saving. It paired easily and quickly, turns on and recharges fast, and it stays in place well. Being able to visibly see cars on all sides of me as I'm cycling with great indicators for them to see me has given me a ton of peace of mind at night. I will say for the price that you are paying the mounting straps are pretty shoddy and it's the only reason this isn't perfect.

If there is one accessory for your bike you should get, it's this rearview radar tail light. There's no more important safety function while cycling than to see and be seen. The rear radar let's me know what's coming at me from behind without my constantly turning my head and taking my eyes off what's in front. The bright flashing tail light that increases in the frequency and intensity of flashes as cars get closer helps me to be seen. I've had 2 (actually 3, see below). Before I got my Wahoo Bolt head unit, my first Varia was synched to my Garmin Fenix watch. My current Varia works flawlessly with my Elemnt Bolt so there's more screen real estate to view all of the data. In between, the button at the top of my first Varia stopped working after about 18 months. Apparently, this was a known defect that becomes apparent over time for the older generation Varias. I contacted Garmin and their TERRIFIC customer service told me I was still under warranty and sent me a new unit. Gotta love companies, like Garmin, that stand behind their products. Garmin was the first with this product, but now there are others, so we all have more options for rearview radars. Garmin's treatment of me made me a customer for life.

I love this. First ride with it today. What I like the most is the speed of an approaching vehicle is accurately gaged. It helps you figure out how aggressive the person behind you is driving. It definitely makes riding much safer. A cheap price to pay for how much safer it makes your ride.

After several uses, I kept asking myself... Why didn't I get this radar much earlier? Cynics saying a mirror would do the job that the Varia does isn't completely wrong Except Varia does much more than a mirror. Firstly the Audible beeps to warn me of approaching car more than 150meters back, without taking my eyes off the road. Trying spotting a car on a small bicycle mirror that far back while keeping 100% focus on road ahead. Secondly, mirror users are partly replying on sound. The unit picks up another cyclist riding overtaking at higher relative speed to avoid collision or wheel touch. I discovered that the unit can be mounted both ways, lights at top or bottom. Doesn't appear to impact radar signal. It does send out conservative and overly cautious signal when u r on a bike path with passing cars on main part of road. Overall a great defence tool to minimize probability of being hit from the rear. Great investment.

Gostei do produto, ele funciona conforme o prometido, aumenta bastante a segurança durante as pedaladas; apenas, é um equipamento caro.

Un accesorio imprescindible para tu vida en el ciclismo. No dudes de adquirirlo. No olvides que necesitas un ciclocomputador

The potted review: In certain circumstances this gadget could be a true life saver. I won't ride on roads shared with motor vehicles without it but I don't rely solely on it for my safety, either. Think of it rather as a particularly valuable addition to the suite of hardware and strategies that you use to keep yourself safe on the roads. I'm very pleased to have it and recommend it highly but I'm not about to get rid of my mirror. The full Monty: This is my second Garmin radar. So far, it's great in most respects but it has a quirk or two common to these devices that any new user should be aware of. Yesterday, for example, it apparently failed to detect a car no more than 50 metres behind me that I could clearly see in my handlebar mirror. I worried that it had malfunctioned until I remembered (it's been a while since I last used my old one) that these devices only report cars *approaching* the rider, that is, moving faster than him or her. As soon as one matches speeds or goes slower it literally drops off the radar and is seen no more. I've often yelled "car back!" to my group when one appears on my screen only for it to clear and the car seemingly disappear - and then pop out of nowhere a little while later, blowing by at speed on the next open stretch of road. It had merely been lurking behind the bunch waiting for its moment to pounce. A slightly more worrying issue is that at one point it seemed to have been blocked by a single rider behind me, although chances are it was merely another case of the phenomenon just described. As to how it works from the rider's point of view, it overlays a narrow semi-transparent stripe down each side of whatever screen is active on the head unit. Their colours reflect the relative speed of approaching vehicles, which are shown as dots moving up the right hand edge of the screen, and range from a gentle amber to a dangerous deep red. It can detect and show a number of vehicles and their closing speeds but it's not totally reliable in that respect and should be treated with due caution. As Garmin points out, two cars travelling close together, such as one tailgating another, or a very large truck might appear as a single dot. It does takes some time to learn to translate the graphics into a sense of where vehicles physically are relative to you but it improves with practice. I still use my mirror as a double check before moving out into the lane, though. It's not necessary to be looking at the screen to be alerted; it can be set to beep, or rather squeak, whenever it detects an oncoming car or to vibrate, if it happens to be connected to the phone in your back pocket. The squeak might be irritating to others in your bunch until they realize what it's telling them. Certain data fields for Garmin head units downloaded from Connect IQ will record all the cars the radar detects along with their relative and absolute speeds, and that information can be displayed in the Connect record of the ride, as shown in the picture. The fields do not have to be actively on screen or even added to any page; simply being installed on the head unit is enough. It can be interesting, and sometimes alarming, to see just how fast that maniac was going when he just missed your handlebars. The integrated light would be welcome, even if it only meant one less gadget to be dismounted, charged, and then remounted on my bike. However, it is more than just another light. It can sense ambient light and adjust its brightness accordingly, and it has at least four different modes for various situations. But what is particularly clever is that when paired with a suitable Garmin head unit or the Garmin Connect app on a phone it is enrolled in a network that allows the user to control it from either device, which is handy when you're riding and the light is beneath your saddle bag. Any other Varia lights on the bike will be included and can be managed likewise. It can be really bright. When I was futzing with it when it had just arrived I accidentally turned it on to its brightest setting just a foot or so from eyes and they literally hurt. It took quite a while for my vision to return to normal. Let that be a lesson to you. The claimed battery life in day flash mode is 16 hours, which is far longer than I'm ever likely to need but it is comforting that I need never worry about it dying mid-ride, or at least not until it is much older and its battery is ailing.

The package arrived ahead of schedule. Works as it should. Got it for a great price. Thumbs up all the way