Garmin Varia RVR315, Cycling Rearview Radar with Visual and Audible Alerts for Vehicles Up to 153 Yards Away

After about 6 rides of more than 20+ miles each, I feel comfortable writing a review about the Garmin Varia RTL515. First, let me say that this Radar with Taillight works exactly as advertised and I can easily recommend it to any bike rider. That said, here are what I hope may be some helpful notes:- I use the radar with my iPhone 14 Pro and the associated Varia app- It took me less than 10 minutes to unpackage, mount, install the app and pair to my phone (note that for my rides my iPhone is attached to a mount on the handlebars)- Some have reported issues with the mounting hardware that comes with the device. I encountered no issues at all (installing or while riding)- Be sure to use the audible sounds and not just the visual (in other words, keep the volume on and up)- The radar detected approaching vehicles 100% of the time and about 85% sooner than my hearing did- I found the biggest benefit comes when I have to merge from the shoulder of the road out into traffic to make left hand turns or move out from a right only lane. As I have aged (now 65 years old) I don’t have the flexibility to turn around and look like I once had and this device helps in indicating if there is oncoming traffic and if there is, I can adjust my speed to slow down (or speed up) until it is clear. But make no mistake, DO NOT RELY SOLELY ON THE RADAR. Always use your eyes and ears!- I can say, from my limited experience, that the battery life seems solid and unless you’re doing 6+ hour rides (just my estimate), you will be fine and won’t run out of juice- Speaking of battery life, using the Varia app while using the Strava app to log my ride, I used up approximately 15% of my iPhone’s battery on a 2 hour rideMy only gripe is that there is no integration with my Apple Watch. It would be very beneficial to have haptic alerts. I did find a third party app that supposedly does this but have not purchased it ($5.99).This device may not be for everyone but if you are looking for some added, reliable safety when you ride, it is worth it and, in my opinion, at a reasonable price.

This has quickly become the most important cycling accessories I own and will literally not road cycle without it. I have lights front and rear that I always ride with, but this little gadget gives me warnings and situational awareness especially when I'm on a steep descent. It integrated seamlessly with my Garmin head unit and lets me know how many cars are back and rate of closure speed. Charging it is really simple and it last for hours. Its very accurate and will discriminate multiple cars. It does pick up faster riders (which happens a lot to me!) and won't alarm in a pelaton. I like the small, no light version as it was easier to mount and I tend to keep my rear light higher up. If you ride a lot, just get it!

I was hesitant to get this light/radar simply due to the price. I wish it was about half as much as it is. That being said, I got it on sale for 50% off so I’m very happy with my purchase now. This light is fantastic if you use a garmin bike computer. It syncs up in seconds and the battery lasts me quite awhile. I’ve taken it on 3 rides that were all over an hour without charging and it was still going. I typically charge after every other ride because I don’t want it to die while I’m out so I’m not sure how long it will really last, but it’s longer than I’ll ever need. The radar works fantastically, it catches cars and other cyclists and gives you an alarm warning, flashing red screen, and a readout of how close they are to you on your computer. It comes with mounting stuff that should fit most bikes, although my seatpost is a bit of an odd shape so I’m hoping to find something that’s a little more secure. There is zero risk of it falling off, but it does slide down on the post because the rubber pad is just a tad too small for my seatpost.

The media could not be loaded. The Garmin Varia RVR315 works well. It’s pairs quickly and is the best bike radar to use with the Ride with GPS app . The price is right and i like that it doesn’t have a camera or flashing light. Lights and cameras can be bought separately and very low prices.I don’t have a bike computer instead i bought an amazon refurbished iphone 11 and use the ride with GPS app.Even when the iphone screen is not displayed the Garmin Varia RVR315 radar will alert to the vehicles approaching behind you with about 5 seconds warning and then another alert that it’s clear behind you. See my video.Also use two small zip ties to secure the mount to your bike icase the supplied o ring breaks

I absolutely love this thing. It gives me such a feeling of confidence riding on the roads, which I have to do. It alerts me to cars approaching well before I can even see them in my mirror. So there are no "surprise cars" like there can be with my mirrors. It also tells me if there are several cars coming, so one car cannot hide behind the other and fool you. If I would lose this detector I would buy another immediately.Most people say this device is good at letting them know when there is a car approaching, but I think they have it backwards. The most useful feature of this device is it tells you when there ISN'T a car. Need to go around a pothole, dodge a stick, or change lanes for a left turn? You know with a glance that there is no car behind you. Priceless.Although the detector can be used with other Garmin devices, I just use it with the Android App on my smartphone. There is no need to buy any other devices.I have used this for about six months and in all that time I had one false negative when I first mounted it on my bike - it said there was no car when there was. But I think that was because I had it mounted in a place where my cargo carrier interfered with it. I moved it to the rear of the carrier and it has been 100% accurate since. No false positives and no false negatives in literally hundreds of car interactions.If you listen to music through earbuds, the app dings on top of the song to let you know it has detected a car approaching. Very handy.This thing is brilliant. I love it. It really gives me confidence in my commute.