Your cart is empty.
Your cart is empty.See and be seen with Varia RTL515 rearview radar with tail light. It pairs with your Edge bike computer, other Garmin device or compatible smartphone to alert you of vehicles approaching from behind up to 153 yards (140 meters) away. When used with your compatible smartphone, the Varia app helps increase your awareness with vibration alerts and more. With daylight visibility up to 1 mile, motorists will be able to see you from a distance. The radar’s compact vertical design allows for device mounting on most road-use bicycles. And peloton mode provides a low-intensity flash that is kind to other riders’ eyes when riding in a group.
Wilfredo Cruzbaez
Reviewed in the United States on January 27, 2025
Great product as described
Anon
Reviewed in the United States on September 9, 2024
I routinely bike on rural roads and before getting the Garmin Varia I was frequently caught off guard by traffic approaching from behind especially in windy conditions. I installed the Varia RTL515 on my Lectric eBike using the Panmount bike saddle mount and downloaded the Varia app onto my iPhone which is mounted to the handlebar. The Varia unit when paired with the app gives highly reliable warnings, both audible and visual on the phone display. The Varia is like having an extra pair of eyes watching my back so that I am aware of approaching traffic and have more than enough time to pull further to the side of the road. In my opinion, this is a necessary safety device that offers considerable peace of mind.
katbock
Reviewed in the United States on March 12, 2024
This is the must-have safety device for road cyclists. It lets you know when a car is approaching, how far back it is and when it is clear. It makes road cycling far less stressful and much safer. It is also compatible with my Bryton S800 head unit, Ride with GPS and other cycling apps. I liked so much that I bought one for my son. It is a real game-changer.
Iconoclastic
Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2024
Varia 515 is an awesome radar, so you don’t have to always check your back for cars when you are riding on the road. Especially when you are on backroads or there is a construction on the bike lanes. Yet there are many other products that is able to do the same job, and if you are just paying for a auto taillight, I would say it does not worth 200 dollars.
Amy
Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2024
Great product! Connects with my Ride with GPS app and is extremely accurate with alerting of cars approaching from behind. Definitely worth the money! The battery life is also excellent. I haven't had any issues with it going dead during a ride. Safety first and this product definitely helps!!!
Melissa
Reviewed in the United States on September 26, 2023
I use a Wahoo Elemnt Bolt head unit. Setup was simple (literally worked first try and there is a test mode that simulates traffic).I have always been very careful when riding on the roads and fortunately my hearing is good and I usually hear cars well in advance. However, this radar alerts me well before I hear the car coming behind me. I have used it on busy roads and more rural ones and it has been spot on every time even the multiple cars alerts. Not sure how accurate the “fast approach” alert works (there is a different tone for something coming fast) as I can not always perceive the difference, but since everything else works as it is supposed to I assume this is accurate too.I was not wild about the rubber o ring that secures it to the seat post but so far it has stayed secure so I guess it is alright. It comes with multiple adapters one of which fit my Roubaix seat post like a glove. I did change my saddle bag to a smaller one so that it did not block the view (the one I had would have partially blocked the view of the light at about 10 yards which in hindsight probably would have been alright). A way to secure it to my saddle bag would have been nice but this thing works exactly as advertised.The light is EXTREMELY bright! If you buy this, when turning it on, DO NOT look directly at light. I think I saw light spots for 5 minutes after I did so lol.I hate this phrase, and I do not use it lightly, but when it comes to safety this is a game changer!!!!! Not only do I highly recommend it, I have to multiple friends. If you are thinking of buying it, it is worth every penny.
Eeyore
Reviewed in the United States on September 18, 2023
The Garmin back light and radar work extremely well, with the Varia app on my iPhone 12. The red light can be set at bright solid, less bright, pulsating or blinking. Very noticeable to come from behind drivers. The radar app detects cars approaching from behind up to 140 meters away, giving a loud alert on the phone, as well as an icon of the car or cars as they approach. There is an extra loud noise if the car is rapidly approaching. Once passed, the all clear signal is given. When someone on a bike approaches from behind, it’s only noticeable at about 10 meters, so I know if I’m not keeping pace to stay ahead. I’ve been a biker for 65 years and consider this a wonderful device……my rear view mirror and my hearing have always and continue to keep me alert to my surroundings. This Garmin and Varia app are a wonderful addition!
lmoreau
Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2023
The visual red alert is great as anything approaches from behind. The time it takes for a vehicle coming from behind is very short. Only about 3 seconds at 55 to 70 mph is not much time to do anything evasive.If a vehicle lost control and headed right at you, not much could be done to avoid getting hit from behind in my opinion. The RTL515 model I have has a very bright flashing red light. Warning!!! Do not look straight at this light !! It is visible a long way from your bike. Great when riding on roads or trails. It connects with my Bryton S800 nicely and is detected via Bluetooth quickly and automatically once turned on. Make sure Bryton is turned on first of course. I also have it connected to my smartphone with the Varia app and the warning screen is much larger and easier to see vehicles approaching from behind. This device is well worth the investment for personal safety while riding on roads or trails. With a battery life expected to be around 15 hours in flashing mode, this is plenty for a full day of riding at least for me. The one thing I find frustrating is Garmin still uses the old style charging cord, USB-mini, not USB-C. Come on Garmin wake up and get with the program, make it USB-C !!!
Recommended Products
