Garmin Varia RTL515 Cycling Radar with Tail Light - 010-02376-00
The Garmin Varia RTL515 is a cycling rearview radar with a tail light that provides cyclists with maximum awareness and peace of mind on the road. This device provides visual and…
Product review summary
This page is intentionally secondary to the manual page and exists to provide review-oriented context.
Pros:
- Provides visual and audible alerts for vehicles approaching from behind up to 153 yards away
- Pairs seamlessly with Garmin Edge bike computers, compatible smartphones, select Garmin wearables or the optional radar display unit
- Varia app provides graphics, tone, and vibration alerts that indicate approaching cars and integrates with third-party apps such as Ride with GPS
- Daylight visibility up to 1 mile
- Compact vertical design that mounts easily to most road-use bicycles
- Works extremely well in rural areas, providing accurate information about the number of vehicles behind the user
Cons:
- Inconsistent performance reported by some users, including visual warnings without accompanying audible alerts and too many audible alerts in urban areas
- Battery life of up to 16 hours in day flash mode and up to 6 hours in solid mode
FAQ
Q: Can this be mounted on the seat itself with an adapter if there's a bag on the seat post?
A: According to Garmin instructions, the unit needs to be in a vertical position with a specially designed adapter. Garmin does not make such adapters for attaching radar to the seat because the radar emits microwave radiation, and for health reasons it must be kept at least 5 cm from your body parts.
Q: Can this detect when another cyclist is about to overtake you, or can it only detect cars?
A: Yes, it can detect cyclists approaching from behind.
Q: Does it come with mounting hardware, and will it be safe from theft?
A: The unit sold on Amazon comes with a seat-post mount, but you may need to order additional mounting hardware separately. It does not come with an anti-theft mechanism, so you may want to consider using a security cable or other measures to prevent theft.
Q: Is the Varia RTL515 compatible with Wahoo Elemnt?
A: Technically, yes, but the notification sound on the Bolt may be too weak to hear in the real world. It can be supplemented with the Varia app on a smartphone.
Q: How does this integrate with Hammerhead Karoo 2?
A: It integrates well with the Hammerhead Karoo 2 and will show approaching vehicles on the display.
Q: Is this compatible with Garmin Edge 800?
A: No, it is not compatible with the Garmin Edge 800. It requires an 810 or higher.
Q: What radar band does this use?
A: It uses K band (NATO) - 20-40 GHz.
Q: Has anyone come up with a way to mount this to a bike rack, such as a Bontrager rack?
A: Some users have mounted the unit on a plastic tube attached to the rack with zip ties, but this may affect the unit's performance if it is too far away from the Garmin computer.
Source documents
Official manuals and related source files discovered for this product.
Specifications
Structured product details pulled from the latest available product data.
| Brand | Garmin |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Garmin |
| Model Number | 010-02376-00 |
| Category | All Departments > Electronics > Car & Vehicle Electronics > Vehicle Electronics Accessories > Radar Detectors |
| Color | Multi |
| Weight | 2.56 ounces |
| Dimensions | 6 x 3 x 3 inches |
| First Available | May 13, 2020 |
| Product Dimensions | 6 x 3 x 3 inches |
| Item Weight | 2.56 ounces |
| ASIN | B086TVFX1D |
| Item model number | 010-02376-00 |
| Batteries | 1 Lithium Polymer batteries required. (included) |
| Customer Reviews | 4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 3,248 ratings 4.8 out of 5 stars |
| Special features | Maximum Awareness; Multiple Pairing Options; Works with The Varia App, Third-Party App Compatible; Superior Visibility; Compact Design; Peloton Mode |
| Other display features | Wireless |
| Whats in the box | Varia RTL515; Mounting kit; Cables; Documentation |
| Department | mens |
| Date First Available | May 13, 2020 |
| Model Name | Varia RTL515 |
| Vehicle Service Type | Bicycle |
| Screen Size | 1 Inches |
| Special Feature | (function(f) {var _np=(window.P._namespace("DetailPageProductOverviewTemplatesJava"));if(_np.guardFatal){_np.guardFatal(f)(_np);}else{f(_np);}}(function(P) { P.when('A').execute(function(A){ A.on('a:truncate:po-attribute-truncate-4:updated', function(data) { var isTruncated = !data.truncateInstance.getIfTextFits(); var seeMoreElement = document.getElementById('po-attribute-see-more-id-4'); if(seeMoreElement) { seeMoreElement.style.display = isTruncated ? '' : 'none'; } }) });})); Maximum Awareness; Multiple Pairing Options; Works with The Varia App, Third-Party App Compatible; Superior Visibility; Compact Design; Peloton Mode See more |
| Map Type | North America |
| Sport | Cycling |
| Included Components | Varia RTL515; Mounting kit; Cables; Documentation |
| Battery Life | 6.0, 16.0 Hours |
| Mounting Type | Frame |