Garmin Varia Radar Review: RTL515 // RVR315 // Varia Mobile App
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- čas přidán 7. 06. 2024
- New updates from Garmin to their Varia Cycling Light and Rear View Radar range - Introducing the RTL515, the RVR315, and the Varia App.
Garmin Varia Radar Light RTL515 (Amazon US): amzn.to/3gj7tXl
Garmin Varia Radar RVR315 (Amazon US): amzn.to/3bsm1jN
Previous Varia Radar Videos:
GPLama Varia Radar RTL510 Unboxing/Details/Review: • Garmin Varia RTL510 Cy...
GPLama Varia Radar Wahoo Integration: • Wahoo ANT+ RADAR Suppo...
Tech Details:
RTL515:
- Physically identical to the RTL510 (Almost impossible to tell them apart)
- Same weight as the RTL510: ~71g.
- Light Modes: Solid, Peloton (new), Night Flash, Day Flash.
- Battery: Up to 16 hours in day flash mode, up to 6 hours in night flash or solid mode
(RTL510 was 'Up to 15hrs')
- ANT+ Light support. Remote control / battery status.
- ANT+ and Bluetooth Radar support.
- Mounts: 1/4 turn Garmin Mount. (Round,Aero, and new D-shaped post mounts inc.)
- Detection Distance: 153 yards / 140 meters
- US$199.99
RVR315:
- No light.
- Slightly more bulky than just a RTL515 without the light.
- ~51g
- Small change to the button on the top of the unit (fully covered/protected)
- Battery: Up to 7 hours.
- ANT+ and Bluetooth Radar support.
- Mounts: 1/4 turn Garmin Mount. (Round,Aero, and new D-shaped post mounts inc.)
- Detection Distance: 153 yards / 140 meters
- US$149.99
Varia App:
- IOS and Android
- Runs in the foreground with visuals/audio alerts/vibrations OR in the background with vibration and alert tones.
- Works over phone calls/music. BLE headphones / etc.
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#garmin #varia #cycling - Sport
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Impressive effort showing all those different perspectives synced up. Very well done.
That..... was a good 7-8hrs work for a few seconds of footage. More including the messing about with the recent update to the Mavic Mini and the prop issues that brings to light. I'm happy how that came out. I need a follow drone now to go one better.
@@gplama Yeah, totally slack of you not to have an overhead shot as well. :-)
agreed - exceptional work Shane. I know you're not on a commission, but Garmin should be paying you for that. A great advert for their product
@@gplama Have you looked at the Skydio 2? I've read nothing but good reviews for that and it has one of the best follow modes with obstacle avoidance.
I really appreciated the view from the car too...great work as always Shane!
holy hell, the detail that went into creating that live footage, including overlay with distance. wow.
Your production value on these is OUTSTANDING! Thank you so much.
Multiple perspectives... brilliant! Thanks again GPLama!
Got this product on your recommendation and love it. My whole group have learned the light pattern and call out, “car back!”
This may be 3 years old but you answered every possible question I had that I couldn’t find elsewhere. Nice work.
Excellent. Please let Garmin know this too. I need to get on their "radar" again.
Wow. Once again you blow my socks off with your professionalism and thoughtfulness. I’m committed to pulling the trigger on this product. Thanks! 🙏🏽
The quality of this video has to be one of the best in the entire CZcams library. The content of the vidso is excellent, bu the effort making the vidoe is amazing. Three different perspectives shown simultaneously. I am very impressed.
Had my first ride with RTL515 today and OMFG how did I live without it. It massively improved my awareness and confidence on the road. Superb.
Myself and several friends are owners of the previous model after your videos convinced us. During lockdown and solo riding, they’ve been super useful.👍
My Varia is the best purchase I have ever made and bought thanks to your reviews! I love it for the scenario you shared here (quiet roads) but the best pet I have enjoyed about it was when committing or riding at night and how it let me know cars where coming even before I saw their headlight. People say this doesn’t help with commuting due to the volume of traffic but knowing how many cars are coming, those coming at speed etc I found useful information especially once you get used to ingesting this information in a subconscious competent state. If I ever ride without it I feel like I am losing a tonne of information that makes my ride more enjoyable in terms of my perception of safety and control.
Bought the RTL510 after watching your original review. Wouldn't ride without it now, well worth it.
Thank you for such a super explanation and video to support the presentation. Much appreciated. As a result I have bought the Garman RTL 515 and when out for a ride today on, country roads and main roads. This is a magical piece of kit and as you clearly demonstrated in your video, it works perfectly. How have I managed before. I use a Wahoo Element Roam as a head unit. No problems setting this up with the Roam, and I phone. Not only do I get the visual display on my head uinti, but get the LED and warning beeps, with it paired with the Iphone and carrying it in my pocket I get a vibration. So three distinct ways of warning of a vehicle approaching. I alo set mine up on my saddlebag by using a piece of half inch plastic pipe set vertically in the horizontal loop and it works great. I would recommend this for any cyclist. Again thank you for your professional presentation.
Outstanding video production and great explanation of why the Varia is such a useful tool for any cyclist. I purchased one for my wife who after seeing how it functions was thrilled to get one herself. We both ride with mirrors on predominantly rural roads. However mirrors are only good to a point. And when you're lost in thought and not continuously checking, it's easy for a vehicle to surprise even the most experienced rider. The Varia is a godsend and one of the best additions to a cyclists arsenal when it comes to staying as safe as possible. Great review and thanks.
This is one of the best things I have purchased for my bike. It is extremely reliable and allows you to just enjoy your ride. You can focus on the ride and not constant checking for the unseen vehicle. I have a small handlebar mirror and look at it once the radar indicates an on coming vehicle to see if the driver is spacing correctly for me. The radar gives you time to prepare for an event before it's too late.
I have been using one of these units since spring of 2017 and would never ride without it.
Love it, its one of those products I now can't not have, after a year of using it, and then went out for a ride forgetting it, it felt weird, I felt on edge - it doesn't replace you ears or eyes, but it really does help. For instance taking a right turn off in the UK, I know the status of the road behind me, if its indicting there are cars the move is not safe, I still check before I make the move but I know in advance if I need to adjust my speed to slow for the turn or can look behind and see its clear and carry out the turn. It's also useful in a small group. If I am in the middle of everyone, and they suddenly see my rear light flash everyone around me knows there is a car approaching in a few seconds and we can get into a position to allow the car to safely pass.
Everyone in your group can use the signal of your Varía in his own cyclocomputer or smartphone.
Thank you. The addition of bluetooth and the app has finally sold me and just in time for Fathers' Day!
I'm from Germany, so I bought the RTL511 around Dec2019. Wasn't quite sure if it's more then a nice tech-toy, but after 5 month of using it, I wouldn't go without. The 5min ride to the bakery in the mornings on my commuter bike feels strange. I use it with a wahoo head unit on my road bike, so last week I caught myself waiting for the "all clear"-beep after a car passed me while walking along the street :-)
Unfortunately we don’t get the units with flashing light. Switching into flash mode when cars approach is a good feature from point of view.
@@orci77 I wonder if there is some kind of workaround to flash an international version onto the german version. I'd rather pay a fine, but bike much saver.
@@orci77 What? No flashing bike lights allowed in Germany?! It's a very fundamental safety requirement for cyclists. Many tests have proven flashing lights are far more visible to drivers and is synonymous with cyclists.
@@shred3005 They are allowed, but not installed on your bike. So just at the clothing or your backpack. But in my experience, I had never any complaints about my tiny flashing light on my bikes. And I have talked to police officers on many occasions while the light was flashing. I think they are glad about everyone who has some sort of light.
Best Varia review & test video I ever watch on CZcams. Well done! Always looking forward for your videos!
The IRL experiment is a masterpiece !
Armel Deka masterpiece
For people who could be considering - to they want to save 50 bucks and get RVR315 (radar only). I strongly recommend more expensive version with the light. It can be even the older version as well but the flashing light makes surprising change in driver's behaviour: does not overtake recklessly but (more often) tries to keep a safe distance. The light is flashing really bright and makes car drivers (again - more often) think about safety.
Best review of this product I have seen on CZcams. Beautiful job!
Love the Varia radar. Was a bit of an impulse buy at first, but It’s saved my ass a couple times. I’m careful.. shoulder check, use my ears, but as you said there are times when you “drift off” a bit, and the gentle reminder that something is coming is worth the price of admission.
G’day Shane,You’ve put some effort in the production of this video,well done.I’ve been using the 510 for 6 months or so and love it.I’ve since decided after watching this to update to the new model.My partner is really keen on the radar so she’ll be getting the 510.My rides are solo on quiet country roads,I listen to podcasts.So the feature of the alerts coming through the head phones convinced me to upgrade.Well done again on an impressive piece of work. T
Just order the RTL515, this will be my first radar. Thanks for all that you do, keeps me entertained and more importantly, informed. Although, it can be hard on the wallet at times 😉
Got my RTL510 after your reviewbeen on the bike ever since, I do agree with the low volume sound. Had it paired on 3 head units at the same time while riding with youth riders. Even tested how far the Ant signal will transmit when another rider increased the distance from me, it was quit a distance. Great video too.
Bought the 510 for my wife last year. When we ride together the unit gives alerts to both of us via her head unit and my Garmin Edge. Love having it and better value as it works with 2 bikes. Very reliable - occasional false positives with roads crossing and roads parallel. Recognizes bikes approaching from behind most of the time but doesn't pick me up when just riding behind.
I love my RTL 510 bought off the back of your videos and recommendations! Now I’m thinking that I pass this onto my wife and treat myself to the new model! 👍🏻
Which, unfortunately, doesn't add anything
@@Stoffendous did you watch the video? While a peloton flash and bluetooth smart aren't ground breaking, they are indeed new features.
These are brilliant. My RTL500 still 100% reliable after almost 4 years. It is the one thing I’ll replace immediately if it ever fails. Great review!
Great effort with the camera angles and editing Shane!
Thank you for all that you do for the cycling world. I always recommend your channel to my friends. I am responsible for at least 5 RTL515's being purchased over the last two years. Each time I send a link to this video to encourage a purchase. This excellent video, two years ago for me, also turned me on to you, and I now subscribe to your channel. Love your videos on our cold winter days in Canada. Happy Trails 🤗🚲
It’s a game changer for me since I got it a few months back! It’s a must buy to counteract the daydreaming on the bike!
I bought the Varia radar based on your endorsement, and it's probably my favorite cycling purchase.
I don't think it actually makes me safer. Chances are, if someone is going to mow me down, there won't be anything I can realistically do about it.
But it does a LOT for my peace of mind. It makes me feel so much more comfortable on the road.
That's my perspective too so i can't see the point of it. Light and visible clothing mitigates risk, not cycling on road is the safest option. I've seen guys wuth mirrors and this radar yet they wear all black.
I'd say I agree if someone will now you down they'll mow you. But it has saved me in two cases. Picked up a vehicle in the wind I never heard, car was coming way too fast and I was running out of shoulder made the call swerved off the road as I did the car came within a fingertips reach. Lost my bike but walked away without a single injury. I'd say if you get one and think it'll replace your need to be spatially aware then no it won't but it'll buy you that extra second or two that can make a difference.
An example of when it comes in handy: say you are approaching a parked vehichle on a narrow, single-lane street and a car is coming from behind. If you have the radar unit, you would know to either speed up or slow down. That way you don't end up pinched between the parked and passing car. That's just one instance where it comes in handy.
Tech level in this video has stepped it up - love it.
I got the Rtl510 for Christmas. Love it. With the cars getting quieter and with winds it hard to hear them. This gives you eyes in the back of your head. The one thing I did notice is you need a full charge on your head unit cause it does draw power.
Game changing device for me, adds such a sense of safety and makes me relax on solo rides. All necessary safety when riding doesn’t change but it makes you psychologically feel so much better. Amazing to be able to call ‘car back’ from the front of a bunch when no one at the back has heard anything yet! They do run your Garmin battery down much quicker on 100km+ rides though so something to be aware of. Still think they need a couple of extra types of rubber mounts and extra rubber ‘bands’. Must have product for me and it has transformed the riding experience.
Its a game changer for me - super reliable, give that notice of a vehicle behind so I can hold the line better. Gives me more confidence in solo riding
This was not just a video.... This was a work of art! 👌
I’ve been using the previous model for over a year now and wouldn’t be without it. Not convinced I see enough on the newer version to make me upgrade though. Good video as usual 👍🏻
I just wished the device was loader... I'm old:)
Yeah, basically it's the audio alerts over my headphones... which would be nice, but perhaps not enough to make me upgrade.
@@richardharris5819 you can change what tone goes off when a car approaches. Single tone to multi tone
@@thestamsvideoproduction7427 not that I'm aware off. That wood be a nice perk.
@@richardharris5819 which edge do you have as you can change the beep noise in the settings. It won't make it louder but multiple
Perfect review. 👍 I love my 510 and would never ever go out without it again. Extrem helpfull when finishing a > 100km ride and you are getting exhausted. Really excited about the D-Shape insert as my bike has one of these.
Just a brilliant demonstration of how the unit works. Thanks for putting this together.
Bought the 510 last year as soon as it became compatible with Wahoo head unit after watching your reviews , don't ride on road without it belt & braces for me 👍👍
It works good for bears on the mountain bike. Doesn't save you but at least you know what's about to happen.
I don't think id even venture onto trails with bears.
HUGE fan of this device! Won't ride without it
Yep love it, well worth it. Next level video Shane, allot of work right there, really appreciate what you do mate
Great vid Shane - the various examples and camera angles for each were fantastic and very illustrative. I guess it is time to finally replace my Edge 800 from 10 years ago so I can also get a Varia. I'm sold.
Agree with you Shane on this one - you convinced me to buy it and haven’t regretted it. Just got a seat rail mount for another of my bikes to help switch over quickly when swapping rides.
Wow...now that’s a great set of test metrics! Awesome job ! I might need to get one of these !
What a production Shane... love the real world car part, you are turning into a right production professional 😀... I won't ride without the radar, such a brilliant device.
Absolutely love the RTL510. I never leave for a ride without it. I see a possible advantage of the newer 515. It possibly can be connected to the phone of my daughter when she's in my weel and she could use the signal from my radar. Unfortunately the price of the unit is a little to high to change and test it.
This video is very helpful to understand the working of the unit. Will use it to show my fellow riders to try and convince them of using a radar as well to enlarge the chance of arriving home safely.
I hadn't considered the child safety issue from the standpoint of pairing a radar on my bike to a phone app on one of my kids' handlebars. I wonder if Shane can verify that the new RTL's bluetooth will let it pair simultaneously to a head unit on my bike and my iPhone on my son's bike riding right behind. I was just going to buy two RTL's or buy one with a spare mounting kit, but I'd never thought about pairing to a display on a second bike. Brilliant if it works.
Hi I thought about the same scenario. Then I wondered if the 510 would work with a second Garmin head Unit in parallel such as my fenix watch. Perhaps the ANT+ signal is strong enough as well.
very well done, i bought the 510 few weeks ago, it is an awesome product
Love my Garmin 510. Works well with my Forerunner 735XT. Never ride without it. The beeps from the head unit and my Garmin watch are loud enough.
Purchased the 510 a few weeks ago and it’s probably one of the best investments I’ve ever made for cycling
Fantastic explanation of how this 'game changer' works. I love mine (the 510) and wouldn't ride without it. Although it has been disconnecting now and again? So I'll check for firmware update Great video as always. .
Absolutely the best device ever!
The 510 will register cars appearing around blind corners immediately from said 140 meters away.
I was hesitant when they first came out about 5 years ago but never ride without. Must have for bike packing and country road use!
Radars need a line of sight not sure how it could detect around blind corners.
Yes if the corner is vegetation they can still make a pickup.
Ok you’ve convinced me. Going to buy the RTL515 once they arrive in AUS.
Love the way you present your videos. Great job 👌
Absolute brilliant video to explain this radar. THX a lot
I don’t ride without one. Great demonstration on the road. My radar works great with Roam especially with clearing time after vehicles have passed. Too bad Garmin unit didn’t think of that first.
Brought a rtl510 3 weeks ago and wow it's like having someone behind calling out vehicles approaching, very good safety device, the times ya get caught out cus ya don't hear cars coming especially electric cars
absolute love it. loved it since day one. Thanks for the review!
I ride in a metropolitan area, HOUSTON, TEXAS, and the Varia is a GAME CHANGER! I won’t leave home without it.
The Varia is THE.BEST. bike tech I've purchased. It is as good as Shane says it is!
What a fantastic review. Super objective. I was on the fence about getting on but have been convinced. Thank you..
I love my Varia Radar... I’ve had one since the original RTL500 and, as Shane said, it’s a game changer. I doubt I’ll upgrade, unless my wife decides she wants one too.
I love my older Varia RADAR. It alerts me from much further back than I can hear a car approaching. I don't like the low volume of the head units and this upgrade may well be worth it due to the app providing audible signals.
One thing about the RADAR is you do always have to do a head-check. On numerous occasions, I've had cars start pacing me in neighborhoods because they are too scared to pass. When they match your speed the RADAR does not pick them up. I've learned to head-check every time a car disappears from the RADAR as you don't know if they are pacing you or they turned somewhere.
The Varia is excellent. Will not ride anywhere without it.
Varia user with Wahoo Roam in Puget Sound area. Great product, and appreciate the all clear tone on Wahoo.
Great idea to show the four perspectives buddy, great video. I think I’ll invest in 2nd hand Varia now there’s a new model
The #1 thing I make sure is on my bike, love it and say it is a game changer.
Best bit of Tech kit - Looking forward to the RTL515 with the alert via the headphones- Great review again ta!
Love it , got a 510 radar ride mostly solo in the country
I have the original 500 which is one of the best bike related accessories I’ve ever purchased.
The lights are crap so I turn them off and only use the radar function as I have a much better stand alone rear light. Using it this way also gives me more battery time for both the radar and my Garmin head unit for some reason 🤷🏼♂️
I bought it for £89 when it was superseded by the 510 so another bonus there.
I find it invaluable riding two abreast on long straight roads when wind noise is an issue. The unit gives you the alert needed to move to single file. Simply brilliant!!
Thanks Shane. Great review again. Would love one of tHese units. Game changer.
This is a fabulous review. You really killed it! Nicely done! Thank you.
Thanks Karen! 🙏🏼
Wouldn't ride without the 510. A game changer. After your first review I purchased one straight away it impressed me so much. Don't see any benefit to upgrade currently as it works great with the 1030 or the Garmin head unit as I bought the bundle. Even buzzes the 945 as an additional warning if I'm wearing it.
Wow great editing man, you really put effort in these videos and it shows.
Love my Varia radar. Works great !
Great to see the wahoo elemnt is supporting it already
Been riding with one of these since last year, and I absolutely will not ride without it now. One thing that I've noticed as far as the detection distance goes, it's greatly reduced when you're riding in the rain. Depending on the severity of the rain it seemed to be cut down to half or more.
Great video Shane. If only they could build in a camera that you can either have on constantly or is activated when the radar picks up a vehicle.
They have a newer model with a camera, but it's finicky according to many reviews. So, I purchased the 515 model today.
Great Video Shane. I’ve got one of the original Garmin Varia Rearview Radar Tail Lights, the one that fits landscape with multiple LEDs. On the UK country lanes riding solo I wouldn’t be without it.
Agree, I find the clear tone of Wahoo super useful, especially with multiple cars coming. I really wonder why Garmin doesn't have that yet.
Same,I think when you use it with the smartphone in the jersey, the "clear" tone is must have.
Very good work with the illustration, thanks 👍
Didn't do my homework and bought an RTL-511 accidentally. (the one with the low light intensity and no flashing). Got rid of it, got an RTL-510. Been using it for the past few months. It's been fantastic. Then I noticed that I relied on it too much, so I muted it / turned off the sound and only left the LEDs on the top of my Bolt on. When I see a situation come up where I know I need to go around a pothole or something, then I quickly glance down and see if anything's coming and that's how I mainly use it. I do use it with the sound on when it's really windy. I noticed that it helps alot in those situations and I find the sound/beep level of the Bolt loud enough even in pretty strong winds. Good stuff. I was skeptical at first and thought that it costs too much for what it does, but as you pointed out, once you get this unit you just don't want to go back to NOT having it.
Wahoo support for the rtl510 was a clincher for me. I love my 510 and elemnt combination. I always use the daytime flash mode on the 510 and like the way it ramps up the flashing during vehicle detection. Great battery life also.
Hi, do you have issues with your wahoo nad varia that Garmin is disconnecting from the bike computer?
Krzysztof Górny yes I do. It’s very random and normally comes back pretty quickly. Element Bolt and the 510.
Jeremy Saylor I just bought Varia 3 weeks ago. If I would know, then I would wait. Bluetooth connection could solve that problem.
@ I have seen a few disconnect notices but the units reconnect again straight after. Nothing to cause any concern.
Tempted now to sell my RTL510 and upgrade to RVR315 + Fly6. Being also able to now use the radar in group rides without pissing everybody off as well as the headphone alerts makes it a worthy upgrade for me.
thinking of doing the same exact thing, the Fly6 Version 3 just dropped for pre order too. Much lighter and smaller ... might just combine it with my older RTL510 for now and run it in camera mode only... as I usually just ride solo like 90-95% of the time anyways
Thanks for this, looks like you guys put a lot of work into this review, Well done
Just got the RTL515 it works great
RTL510 since last year, extra situational awareness makes it worth every penny. I have a Wahoo ELEMNT head unit. I'm mostly on "rural" roads and normally get alerted LONG before I could ever hear a vehicle approaching from the rear. Many roads are in bad shape, and it helps me stay on smoother ground if smoother is more toward the middle of the lane- many more benefits too. Wouldn't like to ride without it any more.
Thanks for the video, I couldn’t agree more, there was a time when I wouldn’t entertain anything like this spoiling the lines of the bike, but once I had tried one of these my mind was changed, I would never ride without it again for all the reasons you mention, plus I feel cars give you a wider berth both from the bright flashing light and the fact the unit has alerted you to every pass, a quick turn of the head to stare at the driver seems to make them more aware to give the rider more room, still get the occasional idiot, but as you noted, this is a game changer 👍
Wow. Excellent demonstration.
Love the drone ending...”c’mon mate you can do it. Good boy” LOL
Auto landing was having trouble with the long grass. It needed help. 🤣
Good product and another great review video Shane
Excellent review shane! I love the radar out in the countryside when there are only few cars. Around the city the constant beeping from the Elemnt Bolt gets on my nerves. (Have you ever ridden along a railway and been overtaken by a long freight train? The beeping will go on for ever!)
I always thought these were a waste of money. My wife forced me to buy one and now I won't leave the house without it. You really don't realize how useful it is until you have that additional information telling you what is approaching you from behind.In typical Garmin fashion, however, the pricing is ridiculous.
Pricing is not ridiculous at all though. Currently they are the only bike radar manufacturer to my knowledge, the protocol is open source so you don't need a Garmin head unit to operate if a company decides to support the protocol in their headset (which Wahoo and others have), and now with bluetooth and the phone capability you do not even need a head unit to operate it.
Actually I think thats what I'm most impressed about the new update, is the fact they have actually come out with an app for operation. Perhaps next we will see a wahoo esque app where garmin actually allows data field customization on your phone and not in the head units themselves.
Would this device be superflous if riding in the city? I can see if working out in the country, or on roads less traveled.
@@ChristianHammad They are not necessary when riding in dense traffic, because they will be beeping most of the time or will stop beeping when the traffic is crawling along with you. On quiet, narrow roads, such as the ones I ride on, the Varia is a godsend.
@@dpstrial thanks for replying. I am curious to test it out, but since I live in a populous town I was unsure how it would work out.
@@ChristianHammad Perhaps on a bike path when you are getting in a zone of "safeness" and a roadie blows by startling you. As for in the city, might make you check mirror more .
Thought these were a bit gimmicky until a mate had his 510 on a >100km we did recently. Couldn’t believe how good the warning time is, even in 80/90km/h zones. He was behind me and I could here the warning tones from his 830.
Ordered one the next day!
Love it, love it, love it. Even better is that it can pair to two head units at the same time, so you get the warning wether you are on the front, or at the back. #priceybutbrilliant
Excellent review. 5-stars
Reckon this has made cycling at least 20% more enjoyable, so much less stress not having to check over your shoulder constantly.
And the light is absolutely brilliant - so bright, astounded there is a market for the 315.
You can't buy a light that good for the price difference.
Bought the 510 a few months ago based on Ray's review but bought the 515 based on this review. The audio alerts will be worth the extra.