Rearview radar provides awareness of vehicles approaching from behind up to 153 yards (140 meters) away
Pairs with your Edge bike computer and compatible smartphone as well as select Garmin wearables or the radar display unit
When used with your compatible smartphone, the Varia app provides graphics — plus tone and vibration alerts — to indicate approaching cars
When used with a compatible smartphone, Varia radar integrates with third-party apps such as Ride with GPS to overlay your maps with rearview radar alerts
Compact vertical design mounts easily to most road-use bicycles
Deal History includes data from multiple reputable stores, such as Best Buy, Target, and Walmart. The lowest price among stores for a given day is selected as the "Sale Price".
Sale Price does not include sale prices at Amazon unless a deal was posted by a community member.
Great product but the one with the light regularly goes on sale for $150, I think that is the one to get.
I was thinking about that and maybe people have their own lights they want to use so they don't want this one but it doesn't make sense to me. This is literally the most useful thing I've bough for my bike in the last 5 years and I buy a lot of bike stuff.
Agreed. Not really sure why they even make the light-less one anymore.
Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.
I bought the varia radar unit with the light when it was on sale for 150 and the light is not very bright! I do like that it blinks little quicker as the car approaches, but it's definitely too dim for me! So I use it with my cygolite 350 taillight with this. This Varia light definitely does not work for daytime visibility very well. At night it's just - ok. You're not going to catch attention of drivers when they're looking down at their three screens in their Tesla or Uber drivers with two phones running Lyft and uber. However I will say I took a chance on the Varia I wasn't sure it would be good, but I absolutely love it knowing when cars are approaching even seeing the number of cars approaching and being aware watching my mirror so I can be ready to leave the roadway is very helpful and one of the best cycling safety purchases I've ever bought outside of a helmet! I wish I had the chance to buy this one and save 50 bucks! I found this is super helpful and highly recommended!! I recommend to buy this and take that extra $50 and buy a actual tail light with 200 plus lumens from a single led and you'll have a great tail light duo
This is why I went with the 315 when it was this same price a while back. Had it over a year now and echo all the same comments. I bought a cheap motion-sensing usb-c charging 'smart' light that auto detects when the bike is moving (so you don't have to turn it off / on at all) and lights up full brightness when it senses you slowing down. I believe it was right around 10 /15 bucks on aliexpress but they have them on amazon, it's an xlite 200, super nice pickup and I don't mind having 2 separate devices since if my radar battery runs out, I still have a light.
I would say it's more of a distraction. I returned this unit even when riding in rural areas it senses everything that's moving and beeping way too many times. When on tha group ride it will beep every time your buddy cyclists will pass you from behind , very annoying. I use mirror only.
I would say that is the point. But I get what you mean. It's more useful when you're out on your own.
I wouldn't mind this for my 125cc. But then I would need to install a compatible head unit. Would be too many distraction devices in front of me
I had exact same model, but had issues with the power button and finally the powered button fell inside and I was no longer able to use it so I went to Garmin site and saw that they have a frequent complaint on this model that the push button on the top is easily broken and they will give a new unit for dollar 94. I am debating, Should I cancel that order and get this one brand new for 99. I will definitely recommend to get the one version higher than this because for me every other ride the Bluetooth connection used to drop, but it could be as my button was loose and there was moisture inside it.
Have the one with the light and it provides such increased situational awareness it's well worth the high price. One reason you may want this one without the light is if you're doing 6+ hour rides at a time and need the longer battery life.
If that's the one, then I'm inclined to get it from cabelas. Or does the headlight version also get all the way down to $150 so I should wait?
$150 is the price it usually goes on sale for. It's a decent price. Not sure if I have seen cheaper than that. It may only be discounted at this price for a limited time.
I bought the varia radar unit with the light when it was on sale for 150 and the light is not very bright!
Interesting I had someone comment on a day ride about how bright they thought it was. I don't know too many other people that have it so don't have much opportunity to see what it looks like.
What defensive maneuver can one take when the alarm goes off?
I found this comical, I assume you can dive off into a ditch, throw your hands up and try to make yourself seem bigger, or you can just know you're about to be creamed.
Serious question - does this effect your riding style? How does it matter to me if a car is approaching?
When I ride, I just know there are cars and I can't ride outside my lane. Why is this so beneficial?
Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank reron
04-02-2024 at 09:01 PM.
Quote
from don_alberto
:
Serious question - does this effect your riding style? How does it matter to me if a car is approaching?
When I ride, I just know there are cars and I can't ride outside my lane. Why is this so beneficial?
I like you was skeptical at first. Why? But I also started riding and commuting more around the time I bought the RTL515 and I can't ever go back. If mine broke tomorrow, I'd order another one no-questions asked… well, maybe wait if I knew there was a USB-C version coming 😅😂🤣
1) like mentioned earlier it's like a rear view mirror but better. I didn't trust the Varia and still road with my mirror. The Varia saw cars I didn't see in the mirror. I had to do a double-take in my mirror because I didn't believe it.
2) not all place la you ride have a bike lane. Commuting: you'll encounter branches, hazards, and even on garbage/recycling/compost days you'll need to slide out of your lane temporarily. The Varia gives you info on how hard to check over your shoulder. (Quick if nothing in varia… maybe one-quick one-long if I know a car is approaching)
3) it even shows "counts of cars" through dots so you know when you gotta merge how many approaching
4) electric cars are quiet and hard to hear creeping behind
5) you can set light mode to flash based on approaching car speed/distance or just always on. I think you can even turn off the light on the RTL515 if you want to save battery.
Edit: answering your question.. it absolutely changes my ride.. I enjoy riding more . And if I see blips I know depending on the road if I should give them a little bit more space or start hand signals to make them aware of me if I need to merge or turn.
43 Comments
Your comment cannot be blank.
Featured Comments
Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.
I would say that is the point. But I get what you mean. It's more useful when you're out on your own.
I wouldn't mind this for my 125cc. But then I would need to install a compatible head unit. Would be too many distraction devices in front of me
If that's the one, then I'm inclined to get it from cabelas. Or does the headlight version also get all the way down to $150 so I should wait?
Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.
If that's the one, then I'm inclined to get it from cabelas. Or does the headlight version also get all the way down to $150 so I should wait?
If that's the one, then I'm inclined to get it from cabelas. Or does the headlight version also get all the way down to $150 so I should wait?
I found this comical, I assume you can dive off into a ditch, throw your hands up and try to make yourself seem bigger, or you can just know you're about to be creamed.
Oops. Repost.
When I ride, I just know there are cars and I can't ride outside my lane. Why is this so beneficial?
Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.
Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank reron
When I ride, I just know there are cars and I can't ride outside my lane. Why is this so beneficial?
1) like mentioned earlier it's like a rear view mirror but better. I didn't trust the Varia and still road with my mirror. The Varia saw cars I didn't see in the mirror. I had to do a double-take in my mirror because I didn't believe it.
2) not all place la you ride have a bike lane. Commuting: you'll encounter branches, hazards, and even on garbage/recycling/compost days you'll need to slide out of your lane temporarily. The Varia gives you info on how hard to check over your shoulder. (Quick if nothing in varia… maybe one-quick one-long if I know a car is approaching)
3) it even shows "counts of cars" through dots so you know when you gotta merge how many approaching
4) electric cars are quiet and hard to hear creeping behind
5) you can set light mode to flash based on approaching car speed/distance or just always on. I think you can even turn off the light on the RTL515 if you want to save battery.
Edit: answering your question.. it absolutely changes my ride.. I enjoy riding more . And if I see blips I know depending on the road if I should give them a little bit more space or start hand signals to make them aware of me if I need to merge or turn.