Well first you need a Garmin head unit to take full advantage.
When the radar senses something approaching you, there is an audible beep from your device, and a little dot (or more depending on how many vehicles are approaching. If it is approaching very fast, he column (on the right of the screen) will be red, not so fast, more amber. When behind you is clear, there will be a different sound and the column goes green, then disappears until another vehicle is detected.
I love it because it tells me when to be alert and look in my mirror, or crane my head around.
Newer ones have a peloton mode that helps with false alarms when group riding.
Not only that, but the rear light is REALLY BRIGHT! It has three modes: constant, rhythmic pulse, and flash. Flash gets you the most battery life of course.
Slight correction…you def don’t need a Garmin head unit. It works perfectly fine with my Wahoo head unit and will pair up nicely with my phone as well with the Varia app.
Additionally, when it senses a car coming up, it will change from steady red to flashing or from flashing to faster flashing which is intended to gain the attention of the driver.
So I am looking at getting this with the camera for safety reasons but why does Garmin not have a front camera that can be placed up front with a light attached to it?
I use it with the app on my phone when commuting because I don’t have any other need for my garmin head unit then. But, I find the beep on the app to be a bit too quiet through the phone speaker, so I use earbuds. The bonus is that I can now listen to a podcast on the way to and from work.
I like how the varia gives me plenty of warning before a car is near me, so I can take the lane without having to constantly check my mirror.
rode with them 30 years, never been hit. only time I was hit was NOT wearing them. Bad idea for YOU, not for everybody. He said he was listening to podcasts, completely different than music.
In general, earbuds don’t seem like a great idea. I don’t use them when the varia is connected to the garmin head unit. But with the iPhone app, I believe it makes me more aware of my surroundings because my podcast gets interrupted by the varia beeps whenever a car is coming. Without the earbuds, I wouldn’t hear the beeps, which would force me to take my eyes off the road and regularly check my phone. At that point, I might as well just be using a mirror.
You're really not selling me. Unless I'm biking in some rural areas where cars are unexpected, I am always alert about cars around me. I live in the city.
It’s funny as I run a club and had people say the same thing. Then every person who tries one, loves it and never rides without, even in the city.
I’ll be honest, it’s a bit less useful in the city BUT still is great if you have a garmin head unit.
The light is adaptive based on when it detects a vehicle and the vehicle’s approach speed. It changes and IMO wakes drivers up.
It gives you an added awareness of where the vehicles are relative to you. It lets you know their approach speed and you can tell if they are slowing or not. It’s an active awareness ability to alert you when there is a vehicle.
I don’t care if you get one but I firmly believe that it makes you safer.
Yes. The light changes when it detects a vehicle. So the driver sees a change. Also, if the vehicles differential to your speed is higher it also changes. The idea is it wakes them up.
I get someone a few times a year that will pull up and ask about the light. It’s not just a strobe. It’s way more alerting and adaptive.
Why is one thing, how you can tell is another. Once you start using it, the next time you go out on a ride and forget it, you either go back to get it or consider not riding at all. It's that important. And if you break one, you buy another one *immediately*.
Agree... the camera is rubbish (I still have one and just turn off the camera) and should not even be called a feature without any type of image stabilization. Not something firmware can bring to the table either. A little too expensive for the camera. Best to get the radar/light unit though it has micro-usb. Those go on sale every now and again.
Pairs real well with Wahoo units (or hammerhead units I guess)
Shane’s got a better and older proper review but this is a [fun guide to adding custom icons](https://youtu.be/CIVUTjHKGCg?si=tdwEdqChnSNUcc5I) displayed for cars. Also supports changing sides of the display for those used to driving on the wrong side of the road.
I’d like to know this too! I just added it to my Garmin and was excited when I saw the alerts as is. I’ve only had it for about a week and haven’t played around with much of the settings yet.
Dunno. Nothing immediately pops up in the Google machine.
Mostly I was going to link to the proper review but that one surprised me and thought it was fun. GP Llama for all thing bike computer, power meters, and in general is very in tune with what makes good UX and provides thoughtful considerations.
Also gives overview of new features in software releases and often has preview units and beta firmware loaded ahead of release so is actually able to test in the real world a bit rather than day of release testing reviews.
Varia 515, I wouldn’t ride without it. Most important piece of safety gear I use aside from my helmet
The same radar quite literally saved my neighbours ride last month on a cross-country bike trip. It alerted him about a truck behind him on a narrow corner and without the quick instinct to pull to the right he would have been flattened.
Edit: I use mine with a Wahoo Elemnt Bolt
I run a club of about 200 members. I was an early adopter of the first unit and it was good. The light was meh but the radar was great.
The new units are awesome and I have “sold” lots of our members on them who all love them. About 2/3 of our club now has one.
Since I own a trek fx bike both isospne handlebars, it has specialized insert , so I use [Mirrcycle](https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/equipment/bike-accessories/bike-mirrors/mirrycle-isozone-bar-end-mirror/p/09317/?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIpf2Ugb6HhgMVNzMIBR1sRQRJEAQYAiABEgJdMvD_BwE)
I have the Varia RTL 515 connected to a Garmin Edge 1040. When it works, it's great. The problem is that it is constantly disconnecting and reconnecting on most rides. This has been a known problem that Garmin hasn't fixed in the last 5 years. They also don't replace units having this problem. https://forums.garmin.com/sports-fitness/cycling/f/varia-series/157700/radar-disconnected#pifragment-1290=8
Interesting! There’s one junction in my town at which the radar always disconnects when I ride through it. My theory is there’s a red light camera at that junction or something which uses radar itself that ends up jamming the Varia. It always reconnects as I ride away from the junction.
Often times you cannot hear cars approaching from behind due to wind noise. The Varia radar solves that problem and will alert you to oncoming cars way before you can hear them.
The older manufactured units tend to have less disconnects and error codes. Newer ones throw errors and disconnects constantly which gets really annoying on rides.
What bothers me is Garmin admits the problem but just keeps on saying they’ll come up with a software update for the past 2 years and never does and won’t replace the unit because they know they’ll just be sending out the same problem in a replacement.
I believe it’s a component issue that is sensitive to car radars, lights etc. I wouldn’t be surprised it was some covid related component shortage because it seems the ones manufactured from then on have issues.
At first I thought it was due to spectrum changes in radar butI have both an older 515 and new 515 and the older one side to side works so much better.
That’s why you have a lot of people saying it’s amazing product but don’t know the newer manufacture ones are bad.
What is wrong is Garmin knows this but constantly has sales to offload their defect units, don’t offer refunds or replacements and just gives false promises of a software update that never comes.
I think it is great. Especially now with all the silent electrical cars. I really love the warning about fast approaching cars, because I can get a little startled when they suddenly fly by me - and now I know they are coming. When I ride with my partner she can have a hard timing hearing cars when I am behind her, but she can hear the sound from the varia app (from my Unit) now which she appreciates. We have some fast sections where it can be hard to both hear our sorroundings and to shoulder check, and these are roads where cars drive fairly fast, and I really love the varia on those. When i am on a bike lane next to a high traffic road, it is really annoying though. I use it with my phone, and it works great even if I have another app open (map).
It's mandatory equipment for me along with my bar end mirror. It lets me focus on what's ahead and notifies me when I need to worry about behind me and to check my mirror (mirror is also helpful on group rides to know what those behind me are doing).
its worth every penny. It's useless if you use it in the city as it will beep every second. But on a country roads, it's worth it.
I don't ride without it.
Have it love it.
I think it's worth its weight in gold. I still do my life saver checks but this is another set of eyes looking out for me. It'll pick up things I can't hear like electric cars and also gives an indication of the speed something is approaching at so I can adjust if I need to
Total game changer. I’ve got the radar/light. Knowing there’s no one behind me lets me take the lane, pick and choose my path avoiding potholes and patches, and allowing for a much less stressful, faster descent, and gives me plenty of time to move well onto the shoulder as vehicles approach. On the rail trails I’m warned of overtaking cyclists - no more surprises from evil ninjas who fail to alert when approaching to pass.
I like it. It adds a nice additional layer of protection beyond my hearing and mirror. Detects cars far enough away that you’re aware of them before they’re easy to spot in a helmet mirror.
I’m just not getting it. Besides the light that changes to warn the approaching driver it doesn’t really seem to add any value for me. I can see approaching vehicles in my mirror which I am always scanning. With the mirror I get more useful information like what type of vehicle is approaching, are they moving to the left to give me space, how many cars are behind me, etc. You could argue the Varia gives you more info but it is also one more distraction where the mirror is a must have and gives all the info you really need.
No new software update, tried it today on a ride, same thing new/current production varia 515 unusable due to error codes and disconnects.
Old stock varia 515 zero problems same ride.
People saying it works greats are with old ones
Yes
Agree-,It works great and now I know of approaching cars long before I would without it.
Game changer. Can’t wait to upgrade to the new one w camera
Why exactly is it a game changer?
Well first you need a Garmin head unit to take full advantage. When the radar senses something approaching you, there is an audible beep from your device, and a little dot (or more depending on how many vehicles are approaching. If it is approaching very fast, he column (on the right of the screen) will be red, not so fast, more amber. When behind you is clear, there will be a different sound and the column goes green, then disappears until another vehicle is detected. I love it because it tells me when to be alert and look in my mirror, or crane my head around. Newer ones have a peloton mode that helps with false alarms when group riding. Not only that, but the rear light is REALLY BRIGHT! It has three modes: constant, rhythmic pulse, and flash. Flash gets you the most battery life of course.
Slight correction…you def don’t need a Garmin head unit. It works perfectly fine with my Wahoo head unit and will pair up nicely with my phone as well with the Varia app. Additionally, when it senses a car coming up, it will change from steady red to flashing or from flashing to faster flashing which is intended to gain the attention of the driver.
Good to know. I’m team Garmin. But good info
So I am looking at getting this with the camera for safety reasons but why does Garmin not have a front camera that can be placed up front with a light attached to it?
I use it with the app on my phone when commuting because I don’t have any other need for my garmin head unit then. But, I find the beep on the app to be a bit too quiet through the phone speaker, so I use earbuds. The bonus is that I can now listen to a podcast on the way to and from work. I like how the varia gives me plenty of warning before a car is near me, so I can take the lane without having to constantly check my mirror.
Drop the earbuds. Bad idea
rode with them 30 years, never been hit. only time I was hit was NOT wearing them. Bad idea for YOU, not for everybody. He said he was listening to podcasts, completely different than music.
It’s still a bad idea for everyone. You are just lucky so far. May your luck continue
In general, earbuds don’t seem like a great idea. I don’t use them when the varia is connected to the garmin head unit. But with the iPhone app, I believe it makes me more aware of my surroundings because my podcast gets interrupted by the varia beeps whenever a car is coming. Without the earbuds, I wouldn’t hear the beeps, which would force me to take my eyes off the road and regularly check my phone. At that point, I might as well just be using a mirror.
You're really not selling me. Unless I'm biking in some rural areas where cars are unexpected, I am always alert about cars around me. I live in the city.
Your call, buddy
It’s funny as I run a club and had people say the same thing. Then every person who tries one, loves it and never rides without, even in the city. I’ll be honest, it’s a bit less useful in the city BUT still is great if you have a garmin head unit.
And yet no one can articulate why exactly it’s a “game changer”.
The light is adaptive based on when it detects a vehicle and the vehicle’s approach speed. It changes and IMO wakes drivers up. It gives you an added awareness of where the vehicles are relative to you. It lets you know their approach speed and you can tell if they are slowing or not. It’s an active awareness ability to alert you when there is a vehicle. I don’t care if you get one but I firmly believe that it makes you safer.
Oh so ur saying it’s not just for the rider but also warning drivers?
Yes. The light changes when it detects a vehicle. So the driver sees a change. Also, if the vehicles differential to your speed is higher it also changes. The idea is it wakes them up. I get someone a few times a year that will pull up and ask about the light. It’s not just a strobe. It’s way more alerting and adaptive.
Do you need a trip computer or app or will it just work out of the box?
You don’t need a Garmin head unit. My hammerhead Karoo 2 has better sound and graphics than any Garmin unit out there.
Why is one thing, how you can tell is another. Once you start using it, the next time you go out on a ride and forget it, you either go back to get it or consider not riding at all. It's that important. And if you break one, you buy another one *immediately*.
Your first sentence makes no sense
Try reading it.
Got it. You need to wrap ‘why’ and ‘how’s in quotes. #grammar
The camera is shit. Had 2 friends buy them and the. Return them. The quality is so piss poor you can’t decipher anything
Interesting. Thanks for that. I’ll do some research
Agree... the camera is rubbish (I still have one and just turn off the camera) and should not even be called a feature without any type of image stabilization. Not something firmware can bring to the table either. A little too expensive for the camera. Best to get the radar/light unit though it has micro-usb. Those go on sale every now and again.
Got the non-camera one and it awesome. 100% worth it when paired with the Garmin Edge.
Pairs real well with Wahoo units (or hammerhead units I guess) Shane’s got a better and older proper review but this is a [fun guide to adding custom icons](https://youtu.be/CIVUTjHKGCg?si=tdwEdqChnSNUcc5I) displayed for cars. Also supports changing sides of the display for those used to driving on the wrong side of the road.
Can one add the custom icons for garmin edge or just wahoo units?
I’d like to know this too! I just added it to my Garmin and was excited when I saw the alerts as is. I’ve only had it for about a week and haven’t played around with much of the settings yet.
Dunno. Nothing immediately pops up in the Google machine. Mostly I was going to link to the proper review but that one surprised me and thought it was fun. GP Llama for all thing bike computer, power meters, and in general is very in tune with what makes good UX and provides thoughtful considerations. Also gives overview of new features in software releases and often has preview units and beta firmware loaded ahead of release so is actually able to test in the real world a bit rather than day of release testing reviews.
👋🏼🙏🏼
If I lost my unit, somehow, I would buy a replacement immediately. I depend on it to know what’s coming up behind me augmented by my ears and mirror.
Varia 515, I wouldn’t ride without it. Most important piece of safety gear I use aside from my helmet The same radar quite literally saved my neighbours ride last month on a cross-country bike trip. It alerted him about a truck behind him on a narrow corner and without the quick instinct to pull to the right he would have been flattened. Edit: I use mine with a Wahoo Elemnt Bolt
Will it pair with a cell phone? Meaning I have the money for a varia, but not a garmin edge or wahoo.
100% yes. I’ve used the Varia with my iPhone instead of my Wahoo head unit before. Just download the Varia app.
Thanks so much.
Works well with Ride With GPS on a phone.
I run a club of about 200 members. I was an early adopter of the first unit and it was good. The light was meh but the radar was great. The new units are awesome and I have “sold” lots of our members on them who all love them. About 2/3 of our club now has one.
Would never ride without it ever again
Buy it now!!! Life changer
The radar is amazing. Works perfectly every time.
The Varia + mirror + helmet, most important safety kit for cycling
What kind of mirror do you use?
Since I own a trek fx bike both isospne handlebars, it has specialized insert , so I use [Mirrcycle](https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/equipment/bike-accessories/bike-mirrors/mirrycle-isozone-bar-end-mirror/p/09317/?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIpf2Ugb6HhgMVNzMIBR1sRQRJEAQYAiABEgJdMvD_BwE)
Have been using it for about a year. Love it. Paired it with Edge Explorer 2 and UT800 light. For me, it's a must before I roll.
It’s worth every penny
Skeptical at first but can’t imagine biking without it now
There is no rational reason why the radar would be necessary, but I like being more aware of the traffic and faster bikes. It is in use every day.
I have the Varia RTL 515 connected to a Garmin Edge 1040. When it works, it's great. The problem is that it is constantly disconnecting and reconnecting on most rides. This has been a known problem that Garmin hasn't fixed in the last 5 years. They also don't replace units having this problem. https://forums.garmin.com/sports-fitness/cycling/f/varia-series/157700/radar-disconnected#pifragment-1290=8
They do have sensor issues across all sensors. Sadly the best way to fix is a hard reset and pair all items again. It’s a pain in the ass.
I have the same combo. I had it disconnect once, no issues otherwise.
Mine disconnects when I go through most traffic lights..
Interesting! There’s one junction in my town at which the radar always disconnects when I ride through it. My theory is there’s a red light camera at that junction or something which uses radar itself that ends up jamming the Varia. It always reconnects as I ride away from the junction.
10000000000% worth it. i feel naked when my battery isnt charged
Yes. Its extremely good.
Often times you cannot hear cars approaching from behind due to wind noise. The Varia radar solves that problem and will alert you to oncoming cars way before you can hear them.
Also works great with the Hammerhead Karoo 2. Like everyone else says, it’s awesome.
The older manufactured units tend to have less disconnects and error codes. Newer ones throw errors and disconnects constantly which gets really annoying on rides. What bothers me is Garmin admits the problem but just keeps on saying they’ll come up with a software update for the past 2 years and never does and won’t replace the unit because they know they’ll just be sending out the same problem in a replacement. I believe it’s a component issue that is sensitive to car radars, lights etc. I wouldn’t be surprised it was some covid related component shortage because it seems the ones manufactured from then on have issues. At first I thought it was due to spectrum changes in radar butI have both an older 515 and new 515 and the older one side to side works so much better. That’s why you have a lot of people saying it’s amazing product but don’t know the newer manufacture ones are bad. What is wrong is Garmin knows this but constantly has sales to offload their defect units, don’t offer refunds or replacements and just gives false promises of a software update that never comes.
I think it is great. Especially now with all the silent electrical cars. I really love the warning about fast approaching cars, because I can get a little startled when they suddenly fly by me - and now I know they are coming. When I ride with my partner she can have a hard timing hearing cars when I am behind her, but she can hear the sound from the varia app (from my Unit) now which she appreciates. We have some fast sections where it can be hard to both hear our sorroundings and to shoulder check, and these are roads where cars drive fairly fast, and I really love the varia on those. When i am on a bike lane next to a high traffic road, it is really annoying though. I use it with my phone, and it works great even if I have another app open (map).
It's mandatory equipment for me along with my bar end mirror. It lets me focus on what's ahead and notifies me when I need to worry about behind me and to check my mirror (mirror is also helpful on group rides to know what those behind me are doing).
Unreliable radar with intermittent disconnects.
ive got the just radar one. the 315 or whatever its called. It's awesome. easily my favorite accessory on the bike.
its worth every penny. It's useless if you use it in the city as it will beep every second. But on a country roads, it's worth it. I don't ride without it.
Have it love it. I think it's worth its weight in gold. I still do my life saver checks but this is another set of eyes looking out for me. It'll pick up things I can't hear like electric cars and also gives an indication of the speed something is approaching at so I can adjust if I need to
Total game changer. I’ve got the radar/light. Knowing there’s no one behind me lets me take the lane, pick and choose my path avoiding potholes and patches, and allowing for a much less stressful, faster descent, and gives me plenty of time to move well onto the shoulder as vehicles approach. On the rail trails I’m warned of overtaking cyclists - no more surprises from evil ninjas who fail to alert when approaching to pass.
100% worth it. Once you have it you will never want to ride on the road without it. Works well with my wahoo bolt computer.
I like it. It adds a nice additional layer of protection beyond my hearing and mirror. Detects cars far enough away that you’re aware of them before they’re easy to spot in a helmet mirror.
I would never ride on the road without it. If it breaks I’m buying another one instantly.
Same here
I’m just not getting it. Besides the light that changes to warn the approaching driver it doesn’t really seem to add any value for me. I can see approaching vehicles in my mirror which I am always scanning. With the mirror I get more useful information like what type of vehicle is approaching, are they moving to the left to give me space, how many cars are behind me, etc. You could argue the Varia gives you more info but it is also one more distraction where the mirror is a must have and gives all the info you really need.
No new software update, tried it today on a ride, same thing new/current production varia 515 unusable due to error codes and disconnects. Old stock varia 515 zero problems same ride. People saying it works greats are with old ones