Sceptical of the benefit of these, but bought one to try and found it has made me much more comfortable in traffic. When I see a problem, for example in the road surface, a glance at the computer tells me if I am being closely followed or about to be overtaken. Most important, this is without turning my head or refocusing my eyes to the rear. Much safer and faster than before!
Maybe these should be mandatory?
I noticed in a photograph that Chris Froome was also using one.
Paired with my Edge 520, this rear light alerts me when cars are approaching by showing RED highlights on both the left and right edges of the screen. Even better, on the right edge of the screen inside the RED highlight is a dot for each vehicle that is approaching you. Each dot starts at the bottom of the screen and slides up the screen as the vehicle is approaching you (moving up the screen faster if the vehicle is moving faster). Once all the vehicles have gone by, the left and right sides of the screen flash GREEN to let you know the cars have gone by. It feels so much safer riding on the road to know that a car is coming so that you can time your look back accordingly.
I have young kids and I feel like this little light provides a small amount of insurance that something bad doesn't happen. I've had this for a few months and am pretty confident saying that this isn't a gimmicky product. It works well, integrates with my Wahoo Elemnt BOLT and does what it's supposed to - let's me know when cars are near or coming fast and helps me be seen by them.
The light part of this is really nice. It's bright and lasts a while with a couple different modes. In the end its like most other lights. The radar is great for a specific kind of ride. On my commute where there is a large bike lane and I know there will be cars passing me pretty much constantly, the radar is not very useful and borderline annoying. However, on rural rides with little to no shoulder, it's awesome. It give you warning well before the car can sneak up on you. It shows multiple cars as they approach, and gives a color coding for how fast the next car is closing. Green, yellow, and red are the colors that indicate, fast, faster, and really fast respectively. If you've got the extra $$, go for it.
I like many things about this light. It replaced my USB rechargeable tail light and I have programmed it to turn on and off automatically with my Garmin 1030. I have also added a battery level field for the Varia to my 1030. It performs better than the first generation Varia by sensing vehicles much farther away. The battery also lasts a long time.
I didnt know I could like a rear light as much as I do the Varia radar light. Works awesome on the roads around Boise.
The unit is ANT so other Edge users (ANT is multiple device vs BT 11) can add your sensor and get the benefit too. Pretty cool additional perk.
Originally I thought why would I spend $200 on a tail light for my bike? Well, so far it has been the best money I have spent. Cycling on the road has inherent dangers. With the radar I have a tool that lets me know what is coming up behind me. Combined with mirrors, it certainly helps.
I've had this for about three months now. It picks up cars at a good range, but you do need to point it straight back, and for those of us who do long distance rides where we need a large saddle bag that is a challenge. I've been mounting it on the left seat stay when I do that, but then it doesn't point straight back or quite level. It's a pity that there aren't more mount options. Also for long distance, it would be nice if there was a mode where it just acted as a radar, and not a light. The battery could last much longer then.
Light catches all oncoming traffic. But it can also alert you of other bikers you are riding with. Also can drain your battery on your computer quickly.
I'm not sure I can ride without this anymore. It has saved me at least three times from major accidents with cars behind not paying attention. This is now a MUST for when I go out riding.
Here in the Midwest cyclists don't always get so much respect from motorists. Knowing when cars are approaching is a huge enhancement to rider safety. This thing just works! Paired with a Garmin Edge 530, I know when vehicles are approaching, and I can easily judge their closure rate.
I ride mostly solo, and this unit removes the surprise of cars coming up, even when you have a mirror. Two negatives involve my Garmin 520. Battery life is cut in half while using the Varia -a four-hour ride totally depletes it. If I put the Varia in standby mode at a coffee stop, the only way to have the Garmin re-recognise it is turn the 520 off (unacceptable in the middle of a ride) or go into the menu, deactivate, then reactivate. These issues will hopefully be improved by firmware updates, and I don't consider them deal-killers.
I do a lot of road riding on hilly, windy roads with very little or no shoulders. It was tough enough to constantly look behind for vehicles, which only became even tougher when I recently lost vision in my right eye. The Garmin Varia Radar, coupled with the Garmin Edge Explore,takes the worry out of whether vehicles are coming up from behind. Its easy to sync to the bike computer and is super accurate. It also allows the other riders in your group to sync with it so all riders know when vehicles are approaching.
I was a little bit skeptic but have to admit that this device exceeded my expectations. About 60-70% of the cars that this device detected I could not hear - only when they were much closer. Detection is very reliable - I could not recall one situation when it failed.
I mounted it on the back of my saddle bag with a Garmin mount attached with tie wraps to the little loop for a bike rear light. This is better than using the supplied mount as it would sit too low on the seat post below the saddle bag. The LED light is ok - brighter would be better but I am already using another and brighter LED light in addition to the detector. I paired it with my Edge 520 plus. Again - highly recommended.
Riding on country roads, cars can kind of sneak up on you. Especially the quiet hybrid and electric types. The radar, synced with an Edge 520, does a great job of giving a heads up on cars and trucks coming from behind. The light is super bright and has a bunch of different flashing sequences. It can be a bit finicky to get the radar working sometimes. I have to turn it offon along with the 520 to get it to sync up properly sometimes. Kind of annoying when youre trying to get going, or dont notice until cars are passing with nary a beep. But when its working properly, it is totally worth it.
I already had the first generation Varia radar but am very glad I upgraded. The light is significantly brighter and battery lasts much longer. If you don't have a Varia but already have a Garmin that works with it, this is an absolute must purchase. You immediately understand the value after you ride with it for a bit and then for some reason ride without it. Suddenly you feel very different and frankly much less safe without having the Varia alert you to traffic coming up behind you.
The Garmin Varia Radar 2 RTL510 is a definite improvement over the original version. It is noticeably brighter and more visible to upcoming traffic and the radar warning reacts at a slightly greater distance. There are, however, a couple of drawbacks. The unit is considerably more expensive than most other tail lights but it does have the radar feature. The other drawback is the failure of Garmin to include a clip that would allow it to be attached to a seat bag. I had to devise something that would accommodate attachment to a seat bag as there was no seat post space available when a seat bag was used.
I needed a new rear light and wanted one that was rechargeable this time rather that having to replace the batteries all the time. This one came up based on my search criteria but was one of the most expensive so I wonder why and after researching tit I thought I would pony up the extra money and give it a try since I have a Garmin edge computer. I really wasn't sure how much I would really use the radar, but now that I have it I love it. I can now tell when there is cars coming behind me and don't even look back until it shows all clear to cross over lanes to make left turns. My ride buddies want me to ride at the back so I can tell them when it is all clear.
Has paid for itself in the first bike ride. Will enjoy having a little extra warning on the longer bike rides.
I agree with most of the other reviews. It's a great product that works really well. See DC Rainmaker's review to find out more. I completely agree with his assessment.
Of Note
You can pair it with more than one Garmin at a time. I am using a 520 and my friend has a 520 and it worked on both units at the same time. He got the alerts for cars as soon as I did. I will try more when I get the chance.
In a group paceline of 3 or more, it has some trouble seeing around the cyclists behind you, but once it acquires the car is usually stays locked on.
It also will take a little battery off your head unit. On a 77 mile ride I noticed about a 10% extra battery drop on my 520. But still had plenty in the 520 and the Tail light after I was done.
The light is very bright. Is it the brightest out there? No. My light before this was the excellent Planet Bike Super Flash Turbo. This easily outshines that. Plenty visible on a sunny day.
Garmin does make a clamp style mount that you can by from them or on Amazon. Works great and a lot more secure, although I've never had it fall off with the regular mount.
