Garmin Varia RTL515 Radar - Should you be using one?
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- čas přidán 23. 10. 2020
- We unbox it, go through the specs, discuss how we use it, and run through the top 5 reasons why you should consider using the Varia RTL515 as well. We feel like we are riding naked when not using radar… But is it a must have?
Did we miss something, or do you have any additional input? Are you using something different? Is there a better option out there? Let us know in comments!
Pssst… Do you need a Varia radar or cycling computer in your life? Use this code on the Dialed website when you check out: "CZcamsRadar"
Thanks for watching!! :)
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Great video! Love my Varia radar. Really don't like to ride without it. Another small note, any riding buddy can connect to your radar so you can share the traffic alerts. 👏 Keep up the good work you two!
Thanks, Matt!
I just purchased one recently. Anyone I know that has it, has positive things to say about it. On my commute, I need to cut across 2-3 lanes to get to where I want to be, in both directions. The radar alerts me to any vehicles coming up, how fast it’s approaching, and if there are several. It’s a great cue to shoulder check before sprinting across the lane. It’s like having a riding buddy call out “car back.” The automatic features are awesome and the integration with Garmin Edge is great too.
Fantastic video, thank you so much ! I ordered one straight away, looking forward to use it in a few days, very excited !
Very well done guys!
This thing is MUST for any roadie.
Agreed! Thanks for watching :)
It will also pair with more than 1 bike computer, so if you're in a group and everyone has a bike computer (that supports ANT+), they can all pair with one person's radar unit and benefit (not just from seeing the blinking light).
Nice job guys! I love my RTL 510. I want one of those shirts that Lance has on! Thanks
I have been riding with the Varia for a few weeks now and really feel naked riding without it now. I always thought it would be a cool device but being a Wahooligan I didn’t realize it had become compatible until recently. It’s on my bike every ride .
2:25 taking one for the team. Always appreciated! ;)
Thank you for the video, I may pick one of these up for country trips. I'm mostly interested in finding a solution to view rear while cycling...standard mirrors or camera, any suggestions would be appreciated?
Nice review. Just purchased one (RTL515).
Thanks! You're gonna love it!
Awesome 👏🏽 one question when using solid mode and a car approaches - with how much lumen is the light starting to flash then?
Multiple head units can pair to the 515, so if your riding buddies have garmin or wahoo they can sysnc
I have one, but not a mirror. My thought is, "What are you going to do with the information?" For me, its not going to prompt me to dodge a serious threat/collision. It is going to provide me some notice that a car is approaching, so I can position myself at a reduced risk, whenever possible.
IT IS GOOD FOR YOU
I have a great rail mount so it can see above my luggage. Fantastic devices, 1st gen.
Nice video, really helpful for me as I'm considering the purchase. Do you have any experience using the Varia with a dropper post, as I ride an MTB and ride on the road to get to the trails or multi-day tours. Maybe even on the back of my backpack instead? Also is it possible to ride with just the light and no radar to save battery? Keep up the great videos. Thanks.
Hey Graham! You can definitely mount it to your dropper so long as you mount it on a part of the post that doesn’t go down into the dropper. If you want to email over a pic of your setup to info@dialedcycling.com, we’d be happy to take a look! As for running just the radar and no light, that isn’t an option, but they do have great battery life. I use mine on my gravel bike often, and I generally turn it off once I hit the trails where there are no cars... This saves a lot of the battery as well. If you are doing multi day rides and need the radar, you can bring a small charging bank, which can fully charge it without taking up much space. Hope this helps!
I love mine. I just wish there was a better mounting option than the rubber bands that come with it. True, it doesn’t fall off, but if you ride a bumpy road it will turn from the vibration
Garmin also make a mount for round seat posts that does up with a screw. Part number 010-10644-11 I have one on my road bike and it works well. For the price of the Varia it should really be included with the unit. See: buy.garmin.com/en-GB/GB/p/521461
True. It's held on by a single rubber band, with no provision for a safety lanyard. It should also be adaptable to the loops found on saddle/tool bags. I don't like to lose a good mounting point for my tool bag.
What about still selling it with USB micro? I just bought one and yes, no C.
👍👍👍👍👍
Without a mirror you may know a vehicle approaches but has it moved over? I'm always watching to be sure the vehicle is moving over.
Hoping Santa will bring me one this year!
🎅 👍
Love my 515 - will NOT ride without it.
Agreed!
I just got one of these (picking it up tomorrow) after seeing all the glowing reviews. I'll be biking the country roads around the Toronto area, including longer trips to Ottawa, and I greatly prefer night riding, so this will be really nice to have. I already have a nice headlight setup using an automotive LED foglight for a really wide beam with a cut off line to avoid blinding drivers, and I added an Ali Express 2200 lumen headlight with a remote switch for highbeam, and I LOVE that setup.
One question for you guys: This tail light has a higher lumen output during day flash mode, yet paradoxically, it has double the battery life. Why? Is it because the light is on for shorter periods of time or some other reason? Thanks.
Your assumption is spot on... It has to do with the light not being set to the constant mode, which is a much higher drain on the battery. Though it drains the batter faster, we prefer the constant mode because when it starts flashing, it seems to do a better job of catching everyone's eye, which includes both motorist and other cyclists who might be riding with you. If the other cyclists with you do not have the Varia radar, they get a visual warning from your radar that a car is coming. They of course need to be behind you to see it, so make sure they buy you a drink for all of your long and safe pulls! 😉
Came for the review, stayed for the moustache
Can it be used as a front-facing radar instead of rear-facing? Being visually impaired, I wonder if it might be useful
You should be able to use it facing forward, but it's gonna give you eyes in the back of your head if you use it as intended. :)
With one of the rides I do if i see a car coming and I can get onto the side walk i will to let them pass
I ride an ebike with a USB charging port on the battery. Can you charge the unit and use it at the same time? If you forget to charge it before the ride?
I don't believe so. When you plug it in after a ride, it disconnects from the head unit to go into charging mode. That would definitely be a nice feature, though!
I'm not really sure I get this device? I ride with a rear flasher which puts this thing in the dark! Combined with a 600 lumen rear flasher and the fantastic little cateye bar end mirror, how would this device benefit me?
It has built in Radar that alerts you to when cars are coming from pretty far back so you can get as far over as possible. It also goes from solid to flashing, which catches the motorist eye and alerts other cyclists that a car is approaching. It will also let you know how many cars are coming so you don't mistakenly veer back into traffic. It might be hard to wrap your head around it without having used one, but I can assure that 99% of people we have helped get one absolutely love it and will ride with nothing else. Check with your LBS to see if you can demo one!
Ok i need this Varia
can you change the modes if you use wahoo element bolt?
Yep! You change the modes on the actual Varia radar by pushing the on/off button... You cycle through to the mode that you prefer. Can't say enough good stuff about the Varia 510 and 515 radars!
@@gurugamer8632 We are not aware of any other companies that make a radar unit other than Garmin. If you read all of the reviews, you'll be hard pressed to find anyone who does not like it... It gets really high praise. Once you start using it, you will likely feel the same. If you'd like to get one, we have a discount code in the description that you can use, and we offer free shipping in the US. Thanks for watching the video!
They go hand and hand with a take a look mirror on your glasses. Its not either, or.
Garmin has actually said that it is not 100% a safety device and doesn’t mean that you don’t have to not look back while riding. Obviously I look back when changing lanes etc. All the same, I use mine on every ride; as for dangerous drivers? Well you can’t educate people like that. Cyclists are road users too. It’s a shame that they don’t care.
I will NEVER …EVER NEVER ride without mine ever.
Once you use it theres no way to going back to swinging your head like an owl your whole ride.
Besides all the safety and warnings on regular roads, theres Nothing like the freedom to ride down the very middle of a country road and knowing youre ok. Ridding side to side with your buddy and knowing you can just talk until you hear a beep.
For me, I always HEAR approaching vehicles, even EVs (tire noise). The cases were cars hit a rider from behind is usually an issue of a DISTRACTED driver, not one that couldn't see a bike to the side (with or without a light). This would be useful if a rider is listening to music or talking to another cyclist, or in other words the cyclist is distracted. I feel like many times lights on a bike, if it is not dark, is a false sense of security. Simple solution: stay alert and ride to the far side of the road when a car approaches and hope the driver isn't distracted.
Agreed!
I really don't think the light on this device is bright enough, to get a driver's attention during the day! Stay alert, use a super hight output flasher, and use a rear view mirror! 👍
Ummmm….. It has a very bright light. In fact it has a peloton option to dim it when riding in a group. It also adjusts the flashing rate as a car approaches to better alert the driver that something is there. The fact that the radar can track and display up to 8 cars behind you and show their approach speed gives you much more information than your ears or a mirror ever could.
Being able to hear cars behind you really depends how fast you are riding. Below 15mph, I can generally hear them coming, but above that the wind noise in my ears makes hearing cars iffy at best.
Simple answer - “YES”, if you can afford it.
This would make a great stocking stuffer. Now how do I get my wife to see this comment? 🤔
😆👍
I’ll have a triathlon gift guide with this on it and we can point it towards your wife. ;)
@@mlegrand brilliant. Just call her out in the video. It’ll be hilarious. 😆
The audio on your camera needs a filter and or an EQ. The sound of S and P is terrible.
Totally agree, and we are trying to speed up this learning curve. Base traps, sound panels, a better mic, and some more practice will hopefully get us out of that awful sounding tin can 😉. Thanks for watching, and we hope you liked the video otherwise!
Best $150 you will ever spend on cycling gear.
Fabulous scientific advance BUT.....
Realistically how useful is it really?
Reviewing the statistics and the coroners reports reveals a sudden event and generally evidence from the vehicle driver for example "I didn't see him" or something similar.
So that is not going to change.
The change is the bike rider will know there is potential danger.
A bike rider might get a radar alert but is there time beyond that recognition to take effective
action or does this device merely alert you to who is about to kill you.
Oi
Pretty lame, illogical and even dangerous that the car icon on the Garmin head unit shows vehicles passing on the right when they're passing on the left.
this can be changed in the settings (right/left mode)
Well, car didn’t see you. Why? You need to have both radar and mirror.
Yes, you must cycle with this. Police should give hefty ticket to cyclists without radar.