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Garmin Varia RTL515 Radar With Tail Light
Garmin Varia RTL515 Radar With Tail Light
Garmin Varia RTL515 Radar With Tail Light
Garmin Varia RTL515 Radar With Tail Light
Garmin Varia RTL515 Radar With Tail Light
Garmin Varia RTL515 Radar With Tail Light
Garmin Varia RTL515 Radar With Tail Light
Garmin Varia RTL515 Radar With Tail Light
Garmin Varia RTL515 Radar With Tail Light
Garmin Varia RTL515 Radar With Tail Light
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Garmin Varia RTL515 Radar With Tail Light

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Mfg PartNum: 010-02376-00
$199.99
MSRP: $199.99
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Description

Varia RTL515 Radar With Tail Light

See and be seen with Garmin Varia™ RTL515 rearview radar with tail light. It pairs with your Edge™ bike computer, other Garmin device or compatible smartphone to alert you of vehicles approaching from behind up to 153 yards (140 meters) away.

When used with your compatible smartphone, the Varia™ app helps increase your awareness with vibration alerts and more. With daylight visibility up to 1 mile, motorists will be able to see you from a distance. The radar's compact vertical design allows for device mounting on most road-use bicycles. And peloton mode provides a low-intensity flash that is kind to other riders' eyes when riding in a group.

Features:

  • Rearview radar with tail light provides awareness of vehicles approaching from behind up to 153 yards (140 meters) away
  • Pairs seamlessly 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 — that 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
  • Daylight visibility up to 1 mile alerts motorists to your presence as soon as possible
  • Compact vertical design mounts easily to most road-use bicycles
  • Peloton mode provides a low-intensity light flash that is perfect for cycling in groups
  • Battery life: up to 16 hours in day flash mode, up to 6 hours in solid mode
  • Included: RTL515, mounting hardware, USB cable, documentation
  • B-Stock - This product has one or more B-Stock units available. These units can be purchased at a discount (see option select). B-Stock units were returned from other customers and may have missing or damaged packaging materials. These units are otherwise as new. The full manufacturer warranty applies. Click Here for more information.

    * Due to limited availability of this product, we are limiting the quantity per customer to 2 units to allow more of our customers to purchase this product. We are sorry for the inconvenience.

    Specifications

    Light Type: Rechargeable 

    Mfg PartNum: 010-02376-00 

    Max. Runtime: 16 hours (day flash) / 6 hours (solid mode) 

    Mfg Warranty: 12 Mo. Parts & Labor

    Warranty URL: https://www.garmin.com/en-US/legal/consumer-limited-warranty/

    Reviews

    Ordered by Most Relevant First
    5 stars
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    (194)
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    Reviewed 11/15/2024
    by Anonymous
    Competitive Racer
    Portland, OR
    Value Rating
    Overall Rating
    essential

    I use this on nearly every ride, unless I'm purely on singletrack, and it's been so useful for detecting traffic that I can't imagine living without it. When my first one died after years of use, I bought another one the same day. It's especially helpful on gravel roads when it's hard to hear rear approaching drivers, and it's also invaluable when riding and chatting side by side, since it saves us from having to constantly look over our shoulders. Sometimes I think that drivers should buy these for all cyclists because we probably get over so much quicker, when appropriate.

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    Reviewed 1/16/2024
    by CYinPA
    Competitive Racer
    PA
    Value Rating
    Overall Rating
    3 of 3 customers found this review helpful.
    Total gamechanger for safety

    I got this when I saw a sale pop up. I needed a new blinky for my bikes and was toying with a cheapo radar model, but this was reasonable with the sale.

    So as a light, it's great. Very bright, has different modes like they all do, etc. All of the boxes are ticked there.

    The radar component is a gamechanger. You don't realize how much goes on behind you, and this thing lets you know how many cars are coming, which is a great feature. Knowing one is pretty good, but however it figures out that there are 3 or 4 coming, awesome data to have.

    One thing you probably never thought of is using it in a time trial race. If you want to hug the yellow line and corner faster, you can drift over and take better lines because you know the road is clear (take a quick peak just to be sure).

    The one hiccup I've found is if a car is going the same speed as you. The car seemingly turns off, but it didn't, it's just not registering with the radar. You'll either get no dot back, or it'll keep coming and going and drive you nuts. So, like previous paragraph, you still have to check, you can't just rely on the beeps and dots.

    Battery life seems fine, never had an issue, I do wish it had a USB-C rather than the silly Micro-USB plug. I've also had it hit with spray from my back tire in many rain storms and it is still going strong.

    Easy to pair with your head unit too. No issues.

    If you have more than one bike, find some mounts so you can share it around, I tried going without it, and it just feels wrong.

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    Reviewed 8/23/2024
    by Jay
    Overall Rating
    This is an excellent product and performed above my expectations!

    The rear facing radar warns you about approaching vehicle's at a great distance. It shows dots representing approaching vehicles and has a yellow bar meaning the vehicle's are approaching at a more normal rate of speed and a red bar warnings vehicles are approaching at a rapid rate of speed. This product by no means replaces taking a look behind you before making any evasive maneuvers, but it is an added piece of mind that I greatly appreciate!

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    Reviewed 8/9/2024
    by TunaStrong
    Cycling Enthusiast
    Oak Park, IL
    Value Rating
    Overall Rating
    What a wonderful and necessary piece of safety equipement!

    The Varia is a wonderful and, I believe, necessary addition toward safer riding. Not only are you able to have several option for the rear light, but you get a very clear image on your GPS computer of the traffic mounting behind you.

    Before the Varia, I was always guessing and mostly trying to listen to what traffic was approaching. Now I have such a better sense of what my environment is like in a split second on the bike. It allows me an initial snapshot and really eases my concerns especially on single lane roads, turn left endeavors and overall solo riding. I especially love it on group rides. I now have a better idea of what is behind me while passing others and when to hug the road. Equally, no more last second "car backs" but rather a much better heads up warning.

    Wish I had purchased this earlier.

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    Reviewed 7/8/2024
    by JAM
    Niskayuna
    Overall Rating
    1 of 1 customers found this review helpful.
    Excellent

    I didn't think I wanted or needed this, but my friend convinced me to try it. It's a game changer. The unit picks up cars well before I hear them especially on descents when wind noise blocks car sound. The display is excellent telling me the number of cars approaching and their closing speed. I love that closing speed information as I will move over as far as I can and as quickly as I can if I know a car is going really fast. A truly fantastic product.

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    Reviewed 7/1/2024
    by Anonymous
    Cycling Enthusiast
    New England
    Value Rating
    Overall Rating
    Useful, Bordering On Essential

    Having my head unit show overtaking traffic means I don't have to be constantly checking my mirror. So far (2 months daily use) it's been incredibly reliable and accurate, indicating how many cars are back there and their approximate speed. Other cyclists will light it up too, if they are coming up fast. I don't think it replaces a mirror, rather it augments it and more situational awareness is safer, given the often distracted and occasionally hostile drivers out there. I have not tried it in an urban setting, where all the input might be confusing or annoying, but on the rural roads I've been mostly riding lately it's been a game changer. I should add that I got the best price I could find anywhere from BTD.

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    Reviewed 7/5/2024
    by Anonymous
    Cycling Enthusiast
    Value Rating
    Overall Rating
    If you ride on the road, you should have one of these

    I had always seen these on other bikes and never really understood how one could justify buying such an expensive "light". After just a few rides I won't ride without this. The peace of mind I have now knowing what is coming up behind me absolutely makes this little gadget worth the price. The ability to turn the light on/off from your head unit is also an understated feature but a nice thing to have to preserve battery when you're not riding on a road.

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    Reviewed 2/2/2023
    by D Morgan
    Santa Clarita, CA
    Overall Rating
    2 of 3 customers found this review helpful.
    One of the greatest advances in safety next to helmets

    Friends of mine purchased this and raved. I finally took the plunge when I BTD had them on sale. My 1st impression during the unboxing was of quality which IS the synonymous with Garmin, though I wished it had USB-C instead of a micro USB port.

    Next the mounting hardware was complete with adapters for round, aero and D shaped seat posts (and I just happen to have each type in my collection ... perfect ????). At 1st I was a bit apprehensive about having just a single, though very muscular, O-ring being the only thing retaining this to my seat post, but upon reflection, I've NEVER had an genuine Garmin O-Ring ever fail in the many many years I've owned them, so that worry was soon put to bed.

    Connecting it to my Garmin and Hammerhead Karoo2 went seamlessly and battery life so far has been at least 6+ hours.

    Ok now as for the performance. It's absolutely brilliant!!! I genuinely feel this is as much a game changer in safety and CONFIDENCE as wearing a helmet. It detects vehicles at least 100yards back which gives to time to move to the right, then it signals "all clear" and you feel comfortable moving out into the lane a bit again. What you're NOT constantly doing anymore is looking back over your shoulder for cars and then finding yourself either drifting further into the lane or off it completely or hitting that pothole or the riders in front of you. I will never ride without it and can't believe I've waited this long

    Once you've experienced this technology, you'll never be without it again ????????

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    Reviewed 6/21/2024
    by BAH816
    Overall Rating
    Game changer when riding country roads

    I ride a lot of great backroads in forested countryside. At 18-20 mph It�s hard to hear or see cars coming from behind so it�s hard for them see me too. Rtl515 bright light and early warning radar let me be seen and ride to the side with plenty of time. Still always check over my shoulder but this added check gives me more Confidence that I don�t miss anything. Great to only charge 1 instead of 2 accessories also and takes way less space than sprig and radar I used to use. . I get about 4-5 hours on a charge. Just enough for most rides.

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    Reviewed 5/17/2024
    by Anonymous
    Competitive Racer
    Portland, OR
    Value Rating
    Overall Rating
    Nice Safety Addition

    Purchased for a planned cross country trip. I am hearing impaired and I wanted something that would help identified vehicles approaching from the rear on open roads with no shoulders in windy or noisy environments. I now have ~ 1000 miles of use on it riding solo and in a group over the past month. Works great and does exactly what I had hoped. It gives you ~ 5-7 seconds of notification when vehicles are approaching @ 50-60 mph. This is more than enough time to make any necessary adjustments to your riding. My only gripe is the Garmin Edge 1030 audible alarm isn't loud enough for me to hear (common complaint). However, using the Varia App I am able to hear the phone audio alarm (volume controllable) and feel it vibrate in my Jersey pocket. I would recommend this product for anyone who wants to be aware of vehicles approaching from behind. On a side note. It would be kind of cool if the App or your control unit kept track of the total number of vehicles that passed you. Seems like it would be easy to write the code for an easy software upgrade.

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    Reviewed 5/9/2022
    by Ben in Tacoma
    Cycling Enthusiast
    Tacoma WA
    Value Rating
    Overall Rating
    1 of 1 customers found this review helpful.
    Excellent product for every road

    The Garmin Varia RTL515 has improved my overall feeling of safety on the road ever since I turned it on. It has a very bright light that is easily seen by motorists. The radar is great at picking up traffic coming up from behind and it will notify you on your had unit and start blinking to make motorists aware of your position. I would 100% buy this product again based on how helpful it is in ensuring safety.

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    Reviewed 4/18/2024
    by IQ
    Little Beirut, Cascadia
    Overall Rating
    Excellent safety upgrade

    My PDW asteroid taillight finally gave up the ghost so I decided to upgrade to the Garmin radar & taillight and I couldn�t be happier.

    Love the integration with my wahoo bolt roam, super easy to set up, has a great range for detecting cars, and the lights are bright and visible day or night.

    As I�m sure others have noted, it only detects traffic closing with a speed differential so if a car is matching your speed, it can disappear from the display. This isn�t really a problem, as you shouldn�t be relying solely on the radar to tell you what�s around.

    Where it really shines is on solo rides on backroads where it will detect a car coming well before you�d be able to hear it.

    Overall it�s well worth the money and I wish I had picked one up sooner.

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    Reviewed 4/11/2024
    by Germanrazor
    Cycling Enthusiast
    NC
    Value Rating
    Overall Rating
    Invaluable

    Ok......been using this product for quite some time so I feel my review is accurate. The visibility of the light itself is awesome and cagers should easily see you. The light patterns you are sure to find one that suits your need. The ability to sync to your Garmin or even other cycling computer and control is a plus. Battery life depending on light mode is good. If you are doing a several hour ride just make sure you select longest light mode and have light freshly charged. The radar works great in my findings and on long unobstructed straights you get several hundred feet of advanced warning. You can also get the widget for,your Garmin computer to allow you to see the total vehicle count that passes you and the distance back as they close in on you. The sturdiness of the product and water resistance is very good. As my title states......an invaluable piece of cycling hardware!

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    Reviewed 9/5/2024
    by ESaburi
    Seattle, WA
    Overall Rating
    Game Changer for Roadies

    I had seen others use it and grew accustomed to hearing the audible alert in a group ride. I found myself missing it when I rode solo so I purchased one. It�s a little big, not aero and the mounting system is goofy. Despite that, I give it five stars for the safety it provides. I don�t ride without it.

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    Reviewed 9/6/2024
    by Anonymous
    Vancoiver WA
    Value Rating
    Overall Rating
    I�m amazed at how helpful it is to have early warning of vehicles approaching from behind.

    I resisted purchasing this rear radar light because I thought it wasn�t �really� needed. On my first ride with it I realized it provides early warning of approaching vehicles that I was not aware of even though I used a glasses mirror and checked it frequently. I should have purchased this years ago.

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    Reviewed 3/21/2024
    by Eric
    Cycling Enthusiast
    Hood River, OR
    Value Rating
    Overall Rating
    Worth it, now won't ride without, but...

    Occasional software issue--1/10 rides-- where audible car alert will not work on iphone 11 used as a control device through the Garmin app. The visual alert has never filed to work. This seems to happen once charge on the radar is at 40% or less. Annoying, and Garmin tech support is not particularly responsive, nor do they follow up.

    That said, it's an amazing device, which detects cars flawlessly and I can't imagine road riding without anymore.

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    Reviewed 8/23/2024
    by John
    Cycling Enthusiast
    Naples, FL
    Value Rating
    Overall Rating
    An important part of road cycling

    This is my second Varia. My first one's battery wore out after so much usage over the past 6 years. I used this in Vietnam to warn me of the cars and motorcycles that swirled around me. It was a big help. I now use it here in the USA. Too many of my friends have been injured in accidents caused by cars, so I am so happy to have this as a part of my daily cycling.

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    Reviewed 8/16/2024
    by Anonymous
    Cycling Enthusiast
    Seattle
    Value Rating
    Overall Rating
    Works quite well, consider seat-post height

    I am not a tall rider so there is no seat-post real estate below my saddle bag so I had to order a new saddle bag with a Garmin mount. It works pretty well but the angle is down more than I'd like.

    The light is very bright, I put it on flash mode to save battery. I disabled the audio from the radar as it is quite annoying in heavily trafficked roads.

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    Reviewed 2/9/2024
    by tpalfini
    Cycling Enthusiast
    Redding CA
    Value Rating
    Overall Rating
    Eyes in back of your head.

    I have had the Varia for a couple of years. The light works fine and the radar works great with my Garmin 1030. The best/safest solution is to use the Varia with a bike mirror: one warns you to watch and by watching you can take evasive action if needed. If I were just starting out riding on the roads I would pair the Varia RTL515 to my phone and use a mirror while riding.

    My son says this is all rationalization for buying the Varia RTL515 because riding on the road is crazy and to think my 73 yr old "catlike" reflexes will save me from being hit is a fantasy. But hey, I am a believer.

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    Reviewed 8/9/2024
    by Crystal
    Cycling Enthusiast
    Virginia
    Value Rating
    Overall Rating
    Very good for safety

    Always relied on a bar end mirror, then husband talked me into also getting this. Surprised by how good it is. Often, didn't hear a car coming if windy out or other noise. But the Varia lets you know something is behind from WAY back and shows its progress in getting closer to you, so you will be ready to watch in your mirror when it is passing. GREAT product.

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