Posted: 6/13/2026 12:34:04 PM EDT
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So while on vacation last week in a popular cycling destination, I had about half a dozen people tell me how amazing and "life changing" a rear radar is. While I don't ride with any headphones (Shokz or otherwise), I can see how it can help some with situational awareness in strong wind or when you are sending it down a descent; usually I can hear vehicles approaching. Looks like I can enter the Garmin or Wahoo universe for around $500. My research on the Amazon stuff hasn't been promising yet, some people say it is great others no, can do that for around $200-250. What says the hive? |
| Have a garmin rear light radar for 2 years now. Absolutely love it and will never ride without it. I ride mainly rural roads where everyone treats like the autobahn. If I was riding suburban/urban areas it would be very annoying but it would show cars coming up on you. Sometimes doesn’t show motorcycles and rarely other bicyclists. |
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Also found that mounting it as high as possible gets you more range. Attached File |
Joined:
Oct 2023
Posts:
173
EE: 100% (3)
OK, USA
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I have a Garmin Varia radar and rear light and its worth it is I had been using the head units for years. My rides are almost never 100% road usually 80% bike path, but there's always a section with car traffic. What I find impressive is it is good at notifying you about cars, but it doesn't false alarm. If you are in the front of a pack of 30 riders, it filters out the riders and picks out car traffic. |
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+1 I don't like riding without one unless I'm almost entirely off-road or taking part in a larger cycling event. My only complaint with the Varia (RTL515) is that around 15% of the rides are plagued with frequent disconnects / timeouts that repeatedly spam a warning message on the screen of my 840. SW updates, re-pairing the device, reboots and it still occurs some days. I'm surprised I haven't replaced it with a different brand after all of the trouble I've had. |
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Originally Posted By libb: +1 I don't like riding without one unless I'm almost entirely off-road or taking part in a larger cycling event. My only complaint with the Varia (RTL515) is that around 15% of the rides are plagued with frequent disconnects / timeouts that repeatedly spam a warning message on the screen of my 840. SW updates, re-pairing the device, reboots and it still occurs some days. I'm surprised I haven't replaced it with a different brand after all of the trouble I've had. I've not had that issue specifically, but my 1040 Solar started refusing to connect to Shimano DI2 and my Garmin watch HR monitor. And when I restart it, it won't start livetrack a second time. Annoying for such expensive hardware. |
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Originally Posted By Stang1911: Also found that mounting it as high as possible gets you more range. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/61136/IMG_9007_jpeg-3780092.JPG I like the "dummy cord", I have heard of these things falling off a bike only to be lost forever or run over. REI has the OG 515 on sale for $150. Do you have to pay for the Garmin app? |
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Originally Posted By flynbenny: I like the "dummy cord", I have heard of these things falling off a bike only to be lost forever or run over. REI has the OG 515 on sale for $150. Do you have to pay for the Garmin app? I bought a closeout Garmin Varia with the older USB micro and it's "plug & play" with my ancient first generation Wahoo Elmnt. No app or anything needed. |
"One day, your body will become your priority whether by choice or by consequence" - PK
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Originally Posted By flynbenny: I like the "dummy cord", I have heard of these things falling off a bike only to be lost forever or run over. REI has the OG 515 on sale for $150. Do you have to pay for the Garmin app? The Garmin app is free. As is the Varia app, unless that's what you meant. |
| I use the shit out of mine. I have been running radar since it came out. My whole family of riders have them. They are great....the only thing is the newer ones will pickup other people riding with you sometimes. I have the camera/light/radar unit from Garmin right now. |
Living in the free state of Texas
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Originally Posted By -Obsessed-: I love my Garmin Varia. I'd never not own one now. It often sees cars before I do, and they have a special tone for if cars are flying up on you vs slowing upon approach. Game changer. Seriously. I concur. I researched this topic a year and a half ago. I decided on the Garmin Edge 540 paired with the Varia. I’m riding 100% road. It gives plenty of warning time so that I make sure I’m holding my line and as far over to the side as possible. Telling my non cycling friends about the rear radar I toss in some dark humor; “It lets me know when to brace for impact.” |
I had my Varia for a year when learned I was doing it wrong. When the Varia powers up, it defaults to a steady light. I always toggled through the settings so it was in constant blink mode. I like a blinking light more than a steady light. A couple of months ago I rode with a gal who had a Varia and it was on steady light, but when a car approached it would blink. It turns out, that is the default and I was overriding it. I guess I should read the instructions next time  Bonus: You can tell non Varia riders that when they see your light blink, then a car is approaching. |
"One day, your body will become your priority whether by choice or by consequence" - PK
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Originally Posted By Whamo: I had my Varia for a year when learned I was doing it wrong. When the Varia powers up, it defaults to a steady light. I always toggled through the settings so it was in constant blink mode. I like a blinking light more than a steady light. A couple of months ago I rode with a gal who had a Varia and it was on steady light, but when a car approached it would blink. It turns out, that is the default and I was overriding it. I guess I should read the instructions next time Bonus: You can tell non Varia riders that when they see your light blink, then a car is approaching. |
Living in the free state of Texas
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Originally Posted By Whamo: I had my Varia for a year when learned I was doing it wrong. When the Varia powers up, it defaults to a steady light. I always toggled through the settings so it was in constant blink mode. I like a blinking light more than a steady light. A couple of months ago I rode with a gal who had a Varia and it was on steady light, but when a car approached it would blink. It turns out, that is the default and I was overriding it. I guess I should read the instructions next time Bonus: You can tell non Varia riders that when they see your light blink, then a car is approaching. Huh! Well I’ll be a monkey’s uncle. I didn’t know that. I don’t read instructions either… I just toggle to constant blink mode as well. Thanks |
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Finally gave up on my dying Varia 515 and picked up the 820. Great device. The connection problems I was having with my 515 went away, better range, and the 820 provides more information including relative left-right location (though on right-hand turns it looks like everyone is going to run you over) |
Sounds like Garmin is the way to go. Guess I will start saving up for it, will be funny that my computer/radar will cost more than either bike they will go on I have been trying a glasses mounted mirror out too, someone I follow online who has tens of thousands of miles all over the earth uses it. It isn't terrible, but it isn't great either, and I wonder if the manual Mk 1 eyeball look over the shoulder creates more motion to (hopefully) get motorists attention away from their phone. |
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Originally Posted By flynbenny: Sounds like Garmin is the way to go. Guess I will start saving up for it, will be funny that my computer/radar will cost more than either bike they will go on I have been trying a glasses mounted mirror out too, someone I follow online who has tens of thousands of miles all over the earth uses it. It isn't terrible, but it isn't great either, and I wonder if the manual Mk 1 eyeball look over the shoulder creates more motion to (hopefully) get motorists attention away from their phone. I have a DaBrim on my Sena helmet and got a small "take-a-look" mirror from Amazon and had my wife sew the mirror's mount to the helmet. Its the perfect size IMO. |