GarminVaria RTL515 Radar With Tail Light(Return to Product Page)

When paired with my Garmin it shows cars (and cyclists) approaching, how many and indicates speed. Really provides peace of mind.

Have owned multiple 'generations' of the Varia Radars and this 515 is the best radar unit on the market. This is my third purchase of this model, one for myself, one for my son-in-law, and this one for my grandson. HE lives in the country where it's easiest for cars/trucks/motorcycles to sneak up on a cyclist. It was the final way to get my daughters (his moms') approval to ride the roads.

The only two downsides are the low volume of the warning 'beep' and the old-style mini USB charge port. While the cable is provided with the unit, it's slightly annoying to have to switch to this antique tech to recharge. As for the beep, it's easily drowned out by wind, so regular 'glances' to the computer need to become part of your awareness. FWIW we all use it with a variation of the 8XX series of Garmin computers, so the volume is an issue with them.

Still... a five star purchase.

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 ????????

I feel a lot safer riding with this unit. The only time it doesn't pick up traffic behind me is when I'm riding on a bike path separated from the the road by large concrete barriers (it will still pick up taller vehicles in those conditions). It will still pick up traffic several lanes over on the same separated bike path, so I'm not sure how wide of a view the radar has, but it picks up everything. I like the alerts it gives me on my Garmin computer (I haven't tried it with a phone or other GPS brands).

I initially thought this device was a gimmick and not necessary however after using it a few times I never leave home on a road ride without it. Whether you use a rear view mirror or not this device works perfectly to warn you of approaching vehicles.

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.

This is my second Varia, bought for a bike I have in a different location. I've been using the first one for about three years now, and it is terrific. The new one is the same. The light itself is very bright, and the radar works well close to 100% of the time, even most of the time when riding in a paceline, but that is the occasional time when it won't pick up an approaching car because of interference from the back of the pack. Its range is excellent, picking up an approaching vehicle from about 1/4 mile back. Highly recommend.

The radar warning is surprisingly effective. It spots cars (and annoyingly fast Cat 2's blowing by) at a distance and you can see how fast they are closing. It picks out multiple targets. It provides much better data than a mirror or looking over ones shoulder. It paired quickly with my Garmin 530. A bit expensive without a deal, but BikeTiresDirect had a nice 20% off offer that made it a better value. I have been a bit disappointed with the battery life - low battery warning at 3 hours, but I will have to try some other light settings. Documentation could be better, as if often the case for Garmin products.

I'm not familiar with other, similar units ' although there are a few. I purchased this because of my experience with other Garmin products' and it was on sale! So far, I've not been disappointed as it does everything I'd hoped for. One thing I've noticed is that if using the screen on your phone, the traffic icons are spot on' as opposed to shutting the screen off and relying on the audio alert only: in this case, there could be two cars when you're expecting only one. That said, I still use my mirror to be sure. I also like the fact that you're given plenty of time before traffic comes near you' just in case you need to do some emergency maneuvering. If you're curious about radars, definitely check this one out!

BTW: I use an IPhone 12 with the Garmin Varia app. I understand it will also work with Ride with GPS, but I haven't tried that as yet.

When I saw the price drop, I decided to finally take the plunge and buy this. I have mine paired with my Edge 1040 and I am honestly amazed at how well this works. You can easily see when cars are behind you, how many there are, and also get a sense of how close they are. As soon as it senses a car, you get a beep and a red gradient overlay appears on the sides of my Edge, along with dots on the right side showing how many cars, relative spacing between them, and how close they are to you. If the car turns off before it passes you, the red gradient overlay turns green and then fades away. It's a very simple, intuitive and effective interface, that really doesn't take anything away from your normal display. I really regret not buying this a couple of years ago! Highly recommended.

I've been on the fence about getting these, but decided to bite the bullet knowing they were almost likely to get more expensive. And I really should have gotten them sooner! Integration with the head unit is seamless (Edge 540), display is clear and intuitive without overloading me with information. Not many false positives (reading cars that weren't there) and no false negatives (missing cars that were). Bonus: It does a great job of picking up smaller vehicles (other bikes, scooters) that come up quickly. Light is really bright and I have no doubt it is really easy to spot.

The only thing I wouldn't use this for is my commute--it would just be going off non-stop while I ride through the city and I'm not sure the warning would outweigh the noise.

If you have a saddle bag that potentially obstructs the radar function, I'd suggest getting a mount that affixes itself to your saddle bag and maybe a protective case and lanyard to attach to the seat rails for extra peace of mind. Surprised Garmin doesn't at least provide the saddle bag mount as standard.

I've been road riding with one of these for close to 20,000 miles and it has been nearly flawless. I ride a mix of city streets, county highways, and desert single lane roads. The radar gives me a much better sense of surrounding traffic than would a combination of hearing and head-turning. False-positives are rare and seem to happen when turning right at intersections. Missed cars are extremely rare, but the RTL515 is still not a substitute for looking over your shoulder when changing lanes or passing parked vehicles.

I'm using the RTL515 with a Garmin 530 Edge unit. The dot and colored band on the side of the screen works well and is easy to see in your periphery vision or a quick glance down. It's not like you're reading a number or deciphering data to see that a car is gaining on you. It's simple and safe.

My RTL515 is a few years old, but as far as I can tell it still uses a USB Micro cable. This is literally my only gripe. USB-C is easier to use and should last longer.

This Garmin RTL515 radar and light have been essential to staying safe. Even on gravel roads, the notifications are useful as I cannot always hear them approaching. Wife is using RideWithGPS application and drains the battery quickly. Best to use with head unit if battery life matters.

I really wasn't sure I would like this. It works fantastic! I am never surprised by a vehicle, especially when I'm tired and keeping my head down. I still use a mirror, but this is the first line of defense. Easy to set up and pair with my gps.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.