Reviews over the

Garmin Varia RTL515 Rearview Radar

All in all, a great improvement when you're travelling in busy areas. I wouldn't want to be without it.

I bought this radar when I went cycling in Spain because you usually cycle on the motorway there. It detects following traffic very well and already from far away. It can see how many cars are coming and how fast they are going. The light is very highly visible and it makes me feel safe, the radar detects it even before I can hear the traffic myself. Unexpected advantage is in descents where you can't hear the traffic coming because of the wind. However, there is a big disadvantage to it and that is that at random times it disconnects the radar and then gives a sensor error. Then the radar stops working and you have to push those notifications away on your bike computer, which is very distracting. This happens several times every ride, sometimes several times in quick succession.

Pros & Cons

The Garmin LED light provides a very bright light, and gives an extra alarming flickering light when traffic is following behind. The radar gives a safe feeling because it is linked to the Garmin Edge and gives a signal + visual. Battery is fine and lasts for several hour-long rides. Mounting is simple and effective for many frames but feels cheap and unfortunately not suitable for the Giant Propel. Purchased a saddle mount myself for a few euros which fits optimally (for any bike) and feels better quality.

Pros & Cons

I bought these to go cycling with in Spain, since they don't have separate bike paths there. The radar already detects approaching vehicles from a great distance and also how fast they are going and how many there are. It is really nice to be prepared that something is coming, so you can already start riding behind each other and a little more to the side. You also don't get surprised anymore on the descents when the wind whistles in your ears and you can't hear if something is coming up behind you. Unfortunately, occasionally it spontaneously disengages and falls into sensor error. I again do not know if that is part of it or if this is a defect.

Pros & Cons

After about three bike rides, I can say it is a good product. Works great with a Wahoo Element, easy to connect via Bluetooth. Vehicles are recognized and indicated in the display. A safe and convenient tool. Very occasionally a message that the cog has a connection error, after all they are still wireless devices, but that also quickly clears itself. It also detects vehicles on the road when the bike path is 10 meters next to it. But so far a fine cog with rear light which provides a bit of extra safety.

Pros & Cons

I had long wondered whether I needed it at all. Once you've tested it, you don't want to do without it.

Pros & Cons

Unfortunately after every ride in or after a rain shower, there is a lot of fine sand between the knob causing it to stick. A hassle to get that button working again.

Pros & Cons

Very good 'you see me, i see you' principle, works really well and you can already see the car behind you on your display using red lines and a dot which comes up behind you and the lines turn green again when the car has passed. you keep an eye on the car coming up behind because you know it's coming.

Pros & Cons

A safe feeling on the country road.

Pros & Cons

teammates find rear light too bright light intensity should be adjustable but that requires adding screen options yourself first

Overall a very useful tool, the holder with the rubbers is a bit wobbly

Pros & Cons

Useful tool for the safety riding, it is a little bit heavy, and the beam too wide, if the bike road runs parallel with the road you will get false alarm. Anyway it is great in smaller streets in the city or on the road with high speed traffic. Full integrated smart light.

Pros & Cons

Pros & Cons

Good product that works reliably and supports critical situations (e.g. turning left, riding in a group) well. As always with Garmin, the unfortunately not included description (you then look for yourself on the internet) at the end gives a few riddles (in this case the operation of the light setting via the paired Devise, here Edge 1030).

Pros & Cons