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expired Posted by Dropback10npunt • Aug 26, 2023
expired Posted by Dropback10npunt • Aug 26, 2023

Garmin Varia Cycling Rearview Radar w/ Tail Light

+ Free Shipping

$150

$200

25% off
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Deal Details
Various Merchants have Garmin Varia Cycling Rearview Radar w/ Tail Light (RTL515) on sale for $149.99. Shipping is free.

Thanks to Community Member Dropback10npunt for sharing this deal.

Available from:
About this Item:
  • Dimensions: 3.9" x 0.8" x 1.6" (98.6 x 19.7 x 39.6 mm)
  • Weight: 2.5 oz (71.0 g)
  • Modes: solid, peloton, night flash, day flash
  • Lumens: 20 solid, 8 peloton, 29 night flash, 65 day flash
  • Battery life: 6 hours solid, 8 hours peloton, 6 hours night flash, 16 hours day flash
  • ANT+®: Yes
  • BLE: Yes
  • Water rating: IPX7
  • Viewing angle: 220°

Editor's Notes

Written by johnny_miller | Staff
No longer available:

Original Post

Written by Dropback10npunt
Community Notes
About the Poster
Deal Details
Community Notes
About the Poster
Various Merchants have Garmin Varia Cycling Rearview Radar w/ Tail Light (RTL515) on sale for $149.99. Shipping is free.

Thanks to Community Member Dropback10npunt for sharing this deal.

Available from:
About this Item:
  • Dimensions: 3.9" x 0.8" x 1.6" (98.6 x 19.7 x 39.6 mm)
  • Weight: 2.5 oz (71.0 g)
  • Modes: solid, peloton, night flash, day flash
  • Lumens: 20 solid, 8 peloton, 29 night flash, 65 day flash
  • Battery life: 6 hours solid, 8 hours peloton, 6 hours night flash, 16 hours day flash
  • ANT+®: Yes
  • BLE: Yes
  • Water rating: IPX7
  • Viewing angle: 220°

Editor's Notes

Written by johnny_miller | Staff
No longer available:

Original Post

Written by Dropback10npunt

Community Voting

Deal Score
+56
Good Deal
Visit Garmin

Price Intelligence

Model: Garmin® Varia™ Rearview Radar With Tail Light For Cyclists, 1-9/16" x 13/16" x 3-15/16", Black

Deal History 

Sale Price
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Current Prices

Sort: Lowest to Highest | Last Updated 5/24/2025, 12:24 AM
Sold By Sale Price
Amazon$149.98
Backcountry$149.99
Adorama$149.99
Office Depot and OfficeMax $185.99
Macy's$199.99
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Top Comments

Riding with headphones is a terrible idea. Good grief. We are a nation of fools.
Worth every dollar. I have one and I love it
I love to! When there are bike roads/lanes available.

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Aug 27, 2023
73 Posts
Joined Jul 2011
Aug 27, 2023
0xDavide
Aug 27, 2023
73 Posts
Worth every dollar. I have one and I love it
Aug 27, 2023
153 Posts
Joined Feb 2019
Aug 27, 2023
BiggusDiggus
Aug 27, 2023
153 Posts
Quote from 0xDavide :
Worth every dollar. I have one and I love it
Same. Total game changer. I've gotten a few false positives, but never a false negative. It's incredibly bright too. I did have to shave down the D mount attachment to fit my BMC. The stock version wasn't wide enough to cover the tube and it was mounting at an angle instead of flush. An easy fix.

Highly recommend.
1
Aug 27, 2023
100 Posts
Joined Jun 2021
Aug 27, 2023
sdplatypi
Aug 27, 2023
100 Posts
Every review I have read of this device highly recommends it, I went ahead and bought one
Aug 27, 2023
495 Posts
Joined Dec 2011
Aug 27, 2023
marcg611
Aug 27, 2023
495 Posts
Quote from sdplatypi :
Every review I have read of this device highly recommends it, I went ahead and bought one
Yeah same which lead me to buy one, total game changer for riding on the road, you'll will never ride without it again after. I trust mine with my life, in 2yrs I've never had a car not get picked up, I also still use a bar end aero mirror on my left side but only to look at how the approaching car is driving.
Aug 27, 2023
181 Posts
Joined Aug 2011
Aug 27, 2023
samsonsu
Aug 27, 2023
181 Posts
If I don't have a dedicated bike computer like garmin, does it send warning thru my iPhone and AirPods when cars approach from behind?

Also how perfectly does it have to be vertical to ground? A few degrees off is ok? I probably need to mount it on my trunk bag.

Thanks
Aug 27, 2023
1 Posts
Joined Sep 2019

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Aug 27, 2023
105 Posts
Joined Nov 2013
Aug 27, 2023
theironsharpener
Aug 27, 2023
105 Posts
Quote from SociableWinter3848 :
I don't get the point of this device. Is this to be used if you ride with headphones and can't hear approaching traffic?

I've been using bone conduction for about a year now and those keep your ears open so you can still be aware. Best of both worlds if you ask me.
I never ride with headphones. There are some vehicles that are so quiet that you literally can't hear them until they are extremely close. Further, if you're riding in a paceline, you typically rely on the tail person behind to warn of a car and that message gets relayed to the front. Sometimes the message never gets relayed nor sent to begin with. This has happened plenty of times to me, but this device alerted me. I've even yelled "car back" before the person behind me knew a car was coming. During one of the rest stops he noted he would get one of these devices.

I'm looking forward to a lighter, more affordable car sensor/camera/backlight combo. I typically choose between the two depending on the type of ride I do. Solo: Camera - bc typically I can hear the car and I'm not competing against the sound of a dozen+ bikes and my camera will be my only witness should tragedy befall me. Group: Sensor - bc hopefully there will be enough witnesses to tell the story my camera would have.
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Aug 27, 2023
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Aug 27, 2023
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Quote from SociableWinter3848 :
I don't get the point of this device. Is this to be used if you ride with headphones and can't hear approaching traffic?

I've been using bone conduction for about a year now and those keep your ears open so you can still be aware. Best of both worlds if you ask me.
Riding with headphones is a terrible idea. Good grief. We are a nation of fools.
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Aug 27, 2023
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Aug 27, 2023
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Aug 27, 2023
GimmeYoTots
Aug 27, 2023
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Quote from SociableWinter3848 :
I don't get the point of this device. Is this to be used if you ride with headphones and can't hear approaching traffic?

I've been using bone conduction for about a year now and those keep your ears open so you can still be aware. Best of both worlds if you ask me.
Anybody that's bought one of these, even critical reviewers have sworn by them. The Garmin is the best of the best for detection. Also, don't forget it just doesn't detect cars, but uses a color scheme to indicate velocity… red indicates a car is coming in "hot" behind you. Also, good luck picking up a speeding Prius, let alone some electric Tesla coming up behind you - esp when you have traffic noise in the other direction.

The other guy, above, mentioned only using this in group rides, but I disagree - if you're riding in traffic, solo, then you really want this in your bike. Remember, it doesn't just tell you about cars coming behind you - it flashes back at them, too. It changes to a very rapid pulse, to get the approaching vehicle's attention, when they're driving up behind you. If you want a separate camera AND the radar w/o buying the $400 715 model, then just mount a GoPro under your seat facing backwards… easy to do.

Finally, if you're on the fence, just watch a few YouTube videos and not only learn about the product, but see if you can find ANYONE that says the RTL515 isn't worth it (and most of them reviewed it at $200 - it's a bargain at $150).
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SlickDealio
Aug 27, 2023
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Aug 27, 2023
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Quote from SKV4m :
Stay off the road đźš—
I love to! When there are bike roads/lanes available.
1
Aug 27, 2023
105 Posts
Joined Nov 2013
Aug 27, 2023
theironsharpener
Aug 27, 2023
105 Posts
Quote from GimmeYoTots :
Anybody that's bought one of these, even critical reviewers have sworn by them. The Garmin is the best of the best for detection. Also, don't forget it just doesn't detect cars, but uses a color scheme to indicate velocity… red indicates a car is coming in "hot" behind you. Also, good luck picking up a speeding Prius, let alone some electric Tesla coming up behind you - esp when you have traffic noise in the other direction.

The other guy, above, mentioned only using this in group rides, but I disagree - if you're riding in traffic, solo, then you really want this in your bike. Remember, it doesn't just tell you about cars coming behind you - it flashes back at them, too. It changes to a very rapid pulse, to get the approaching vehicle's attention, when they're driving up behind you. If you want a separate camera AND the radar w/o buying the $400 715 model, then just mount a GoPro under your seat facing backwards… easy to do.

Finally, if you're on the fence, just watch a few YouTube videos and not only learn about the product, but see if you can find ANYONE that says the RTL515 isn't worth it (and most of them reviewed it at $200 - it's a bargain at $150).
I'm "the other guy". Not disputing your points - many of which aligned with mine - but I'm not advocating that people do what I do. When I ride solo, I actually have my camera and a smaller rapid light. There is not enough clearance under the seat post to safely mount both this device and a Fly6. Having the camera lower you'll have the rear tire in view. Having the sensor lower means less visibility and decreased radar. You want both to be as high as possible for maximum functionality.

That said, riding with this device both solo or solo+ makes sense, and I fully support one purchasing this.
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wadafak
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Quote from SociableWinter3848 :
I don't get the point of this device. Is this to be used if you ride with headphones and can't hear approaching traffic?

I've been using bone conduction for about a year now and those keep your ears open so you can still be aware. Best of both worlds if you ask me.

I use bone conduction as well, and my radar is connected to my headset. So I get two alerts, one thru the headset and the other thru the garmin bike computer. But if you can hear up to 150 yards away then you dont need this radar.
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Aug 27, 2023
312 Posts
Joined Apr 2006
Aug 27, 2023
Jitsguy
Aug 27, 2023
312 Posts
I've had this for a few years now and it's a lifesaver for sure. Not only does it alert you when a car is approaching from behind, it let's you know if there are multiple cars. In addition, if you ride with someone that doesn't own this radar, it let's riders behind you know when it senses a car approaching by flashing the rear light.
Game changer for sure.

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