It drives me nuts when people say to just use your hearing. I’m deaf and wear bilateral cochlear implants. My hearing is much different than a person with normal hearing. I’ve also been told that I have no business riding a bicycle on the road if I’m deaf 🙄. People just live in their little boxes I guess. The Varia helps me as a deaf rider to be more aware of what’s behind me. It’s not just a notification device, it has saved me in more ways than one. Thanks for your video!

As the saying goes - there are two kinds of cyclists - those who own a Varia radar and would not give it back for money, and those who did not try it and tell you why you don't need one, until they tried it themselves.

Radar AND Mirror, best combination!

I love my Varia. Anytime I ride without it, for 1 reason or another, I feel like I am riding naked.

I'm using an original first generation Varia on my road bike. As you mentioned, one of the nice things about it is being able to relax a little knowing there's nothing coming up from behind.

Once you use one you can't imagine not having one.... the feature you didn't mention is the red screen vs orange for extremely fast approaching vehicles... Thats useful too. Nice video!

Thanks for your videos on the Varia. Very helpful and convincing. Finally purchased one last week.

it's hard to explain how invaluable this becomes. after riding for decades without, I can't imagine ever riding without one again. they're spreading through my Saturday group slowly but surely.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. Great review and I love the idea of the radar and mirror duo!

Very helpful review - many thanks. Expecting my Varia this week, this is a great help to get me up the learning curve fast, awesome!

Absolutely, game changer! Must be mandatory for road biking

Great review. I’ve had the Varia for 3 months and it’s been highly reliable. In my opinion, it is without a doubt the most important accessory anyone can get for their bike. It’s amazing to to me that I’ve ridden for over 20 years without even a mirror, but now I won’t ride without the Varia. Game changer is almost an understatement....more like life saver. It’s that effective. Thanks also for your thoughts about pairing this with a mirror - makes total sense.

Really love the way you breakdown stuff, great speaking skills. I have the Varia and it is one of the best investments on my bike for sure 👍

The part about not having to ride the edge of the road so much is the game changer part of the varia for me. Being able to relax and take up more of the road knowing that theres no cars coming has added a whole new level of enjoyment for me. I can free up a whole bunch of brain power usually dedicated to worrying about what might be coming and now i can actually talk to my buddy ridding side by side and relax while at it, not talk and look behind every other word...specially if you both have the varia for double peace fo mind. . i cant ride without the varia now, i travel with it and use it on rental bikes.

The Varia is a game changer! Great review.

Excellent description. Thank you for doing this

I've had this for over a year and I did not know the first part... You learn something new every day

Great video, everything important--no fillers. I'll be watching this again.

Awesome review and I totally agree! I bought mine about the same time you bought yours.. Thanks Clint...

always great info Clint. Thanks !

Thanks for the review. This video came up in my recommendations and brought the Varia into my consciousness, and I ultimately ended up buying one after doing some research. Love it and won't ride without it now.

Thanks for your follow up thoughts. You've elaborated extensively what Varia gave you and how it changed your safety. What I noticed personally is that flashing pattern (closer the car is - more frequent flashes) also influences the drivers - they tend to overtake me with a bigger distance. Another great thing about Varia. This became part of my essential gear kit.

Thanks for the long term review Clint. Just bought one around Christmas for next summer, and can't wait to use it. I've been road biking less and less around here because of the increased traffic over the last few years, but since covid the cyclocross/mtb trails have been packed, so I want to get back on the road. I used to be able to hear cars just fine road biking way back when we didn't wear helmets... Fast forward and I forgot my helmet for a ride a couple of years back, and figured out that I can hear cars fine *without* a helmet, but the wind noise from the helmet just covers the noises of cars behind me; another interesting observation is that when I forgot my helmet, the cars would give me *more* room when passing... go figure that one out. So for next summer and going forward: radar on 👍

Just got my 515, first ride, just love it. Learned two new things from you. Thank you!

Clint, I purchased a Varia largely based on your 1st review. As you state, it's a game-changer' and I would not go on a road-bike ride without-it. I live in the heart of Silicon Valley and there is a lot of traffic. I also strongly recommend the Varia be used in-conjunction with a mirror as am insurance policy.

I’m new to cycling and have finally ventured onto the roads (from Zwift) - hands up, I can feel a little nervous especially having now clipped in, but the more I ride the more confident I feel, (which isn’t necessarily a good thing). Over the last few days I have come across many reviews for this device (all good) but now having watched this and read the comments, I’ve ordered one - Thanks … great review 😊

Thanks, Clint - learned a lot from this, some great info. And I'm sold, makes a lot of sense to have one of these. Best, Paul

Awesome video Clint. I finally decided to buy one, along with a 130 Plus, really looking forward to this.

Love mine, and totally agree with your comments about the Varia. I do a lot of mountain road riding and found that the safest way is to take the lane. I know this sounds crazy, but what happens is that me being in the middle of the lane notifies the driver that there is someone they need to pay attention to. Then with the Varia, I can move over to the side in plenty of time and allow them to pass. By doing this the car slows down enough so they can pass at a reasonable speed. Without doing this, if they see a cyclist on the white line, they “think” they can maintain their speed, passing at 55-75 mph with oncoming traffic and that is far more dangerous in my mind. Out of hundreds of cars, I’ve only had one that was obviously angry, and shot the bird. It doesn’t eliminate the bubba that wants to run you over, but I haven’t found a safer way to ride pavement. Anyway, FWIW.

I completely agree with your point around minute six. To be able to actually focus on the road ahead of you, as well as enjoy some scenery, is absolutely a benefit to having this device. I'm currently researching the models to see which one to purchase. Thanks so much for your informative video!

Good job; great video that made some great points that I have not considered. Thank you!!

Good review. The faster flash when the vehicle gets closer is another great feature and helps you get noticed. Don’t leave home (on a bike) without it !

Excellent review Clint...thanks 🤘🤘🤘🤘

Great video! You hit every important safety point.

Great review and I agree with everything you stated. Sidenote your Garmin had that halo around the edge of your screen. There is a recall from Garmin for that defect. I was able to get a replacement 1030 for that reason. Just send an email in to their support team and they will ask for a picture of the screen and go from there. Keep the content coming.

I liked your first Varia video and I can't imagine doing without it now. I tend to always completely power down my garmin 1030 and didn't know about sleep and the light network being able to manage turning the unit on and off. Thanks for the follow up video!

I liked the review. Many thanks! I am gonna buy it myself now.

Couldn't agree more. I have had my varia setup for a year now, just under 3K miles and not a car has gone by without me knowing prior. Riding Maryland backroads with this setup is great!

Thanks for the review! Just got one for me and one for my son.

Great video Clint. I'm getting one of those things!

I've just bought one - your video is very helpful!

A majority of people I ride with have these and I love it when I hear the tones, I know what it means. I just finally gave in and bought a computer and I've also started riding solo EARLY on Sunday mornings. I have mirrors and I also try and look back to be as aware as possible. The problem is people come flying up on you so I'm not always hearing or seeing them. I feel this will make me more comfortable and get out on the road more. Thank you for this info.

good video, last summer rode with a group where one of the guys had a Varia , i was able to connect with my 520 , really liked the function, as i do alot of road riding and had a mirror on both sides of my bars , this season 2021, have not installed the mirrors although will probably put a small one like you have on your bike that i use for my gravel bike , just purely as a backup, i have ordered the Varia to help with detecting the traffic coming up from behind ,allows you to keep the eyes forward , as you mentioned the speed you are travelling at and the wind conditions causes problems in hearing vechicles the one way that can help is wearing a balacava and touk in cold weather cuts the wind noise somewhat, not perfect but does help , doing the shoulder check does work although if the road is rough and not in good condition not the greatest idea ,potholes uneven pavement cracks all have a way to snake bite you ,either results in flats , damage to rims and not to mention the seat of your bike coming up to meet you a little to hard , it hurts,

Ive had mine for a few months now, Its not just a great accessory to have, it is as you say “a game changer”. One thing I would like to say is that contrary to what is said in many videos about it not being as useful in city streets or heavier traffic, I find it extremely useful and not at all intrusive. One other small detail many have probably already noticed when they stop for a break is that it can detect people walking up behind you.

Great review I use this paired with my 1040 garmin, and speed and cadence sensors. They work flawlessly Handy to have if your road cycling here in the northwest of the UK, as the city roads are a cyclists nightmare during rush hour. I can honestly say, it has alerted me to a few almost nearby collisions that I've avoided, and had seen a road traffic accident which was caught on my 715. Aside from the battery performance, I would highly recommend this product!!

Thanks for all the great tips! Especially on how to get the dots on the left side (for North America driving) of the screen instead of the default right side.

Great review as usual. I saw your initial review when it came out. For your type of riding and less trafficked roads it makes sense but in a highly trafficked urban environment it's not very useful. Here in NYC you'd see constant dots on your Garmin. I make sure all my senses are open to the environment and after almost 40 years of road riding I'm still here.🚴🚴🚴

I have a 510......it's a game changer for road riding.....especially in the Hudson Valley where there aren't too many cars..... but the few I encounter it works flawlessly

Love mine! I can't believe I waited so long to get one.

I use the Varia radar and it changed my way of cycling. A very good video and well explained. Congratulations. Arthur Dempsey(Ireland)

I am just about done building a new bike. One of the last things I need to get is the tail light. The Varia has been on my purchase list for awhile now so, it is good to see a follow-up video about this light. Thanks.

Great content! Picking one up at LBS today after watching your video! Thanks!!!

Great salt lamp on the desk Clint, I have one myself 👍 & useful video...😁

Great review. When you say it only comes on automatically when you put your head unit to sleep rather than power off I think you’ll find that it also works if you completely power down the head unit. Mine certainly does. I think you use the button on the top of the Varia to put it in Bluetooth mode. You will see that even when switched off the blue LED on the side of the Varia flashes. It doesn’t even seem to use much battery when left like that for a few days.

Definitely can’t ever see myself riding without the 515. Safety and being aware is always good. I agree, rear taillight at all times is a must. Was using it with my wahoo bolt but when I started using it with my Edge 530. It’s obviously better. I do love the sleep, on, etc when you turn on the computer.

It really helps being able to ride more left in the US. With that combined with the move right when you get the notification of the car it does a good job of letting the car know you are aware of it. Creating a better experience with the pass. A Car might treat you better when they see you move right for them. If you are currently riding to the right you cant give that subtle signal of acknowledgement by moving right that riding more left allows. Great Video!

I’ve been using varia lights since they came out, a must have without question! A mirror though I do not have or use; however I’ve been thinking of doing so and soon ordering one up. Great review, well done as always, varia simply essential!

Work with newer wahoo elements units too. I paired my buddies Varia to my Element Roam when we rode together ... loved it ... now i have my own.

I have to agree this is a valuable tool and when used with a mirror are great together. I also have a TL 300 as a backup on long rides, incase my battery goes flat but I miss the radar when that happens. I like your review it's honest and insightful.

Another agreement, a great piece of kit. I don't go on the road without it.

Great review. I have had one for a couple of years now and I did not know that I could just put my 530 to sleep and it will also put the light to sleep and then wake it up too. I love mine and won't ride without one. They are amazing and really helps keep you safe.

I have come to rely heavily on my Varia which I purchased after watching your first review. As insane as it sounds I prefer to ride the rural roads at 2:00 a.m. here in South Texas because there is no traffic. Even at night I have had the Varia detect a vehicle before I noticed it with my helmet mirror. On two occasions I have had drivers/passengers yell at me from their vehicles as they passed. They turned around and started returning and their lights went off. On these unlit roads it is comforting to know that the Varia will detect a vehicle even if I can't see them if their lights are off. Also I have had one occasion where the Varia detected a very large dog running up from the rear before I knew it was approaching (dogs are difficult to see in the dark). I never knew if the dog was wearing a large collar with metal because after I pepper sprayed it you could hear the dog sliding to a stop on the pavement. Great review.

Good point about the wind noise. I haven't used Varia yet but I use wind noise attenuation on my helmet straps - furry velcro (Cat Ears) and this simple solution does an amazing job in lowering wind noise. I simply cannot ride without it, because it's too loud.

Great review, thanks 👍.

Dude, you are a life savior. Thanks for the review with the Garmin watch. I was very intrigued on how it would work, and it seems to be pretty cool. I already thought about connecting to the Android app, but the Garmin watch seems to be more energy efficient.

Wahoo/Varia user here- The varia also pairs well here. I have had a few connection issues (remedied with updates) but never a disconnection after it is communicating with my computer. I do miss out on some features mentioned here like the automatic turn on feature with your head unit, but nothing that takes away from the overall experience. I have the first version (I believe its the 510) and off of the top of my head, the only reason to have v2 is if you wish to pair the radar to your phone via bluetooth so you do not need a computer. My only complaint is that I think they could have made it look better - maybe sleeker/more modern looking. I hate the oval shape but that’s just me. Other than that, its function and safety cannot be denied. I am glad they finally made it compatible with the Wahoo system.

Finally got into road cycling after years and years of bike commuting on my fixed gear in the cities. Now that I’m riding longer rides on two lane highways I’ve been finding my usual skill of checking my shoulder is extremely difficult because often the cars are going 15-20mph more than I am and the time I have to look is seconds or even less. I’ve got the Garmin Edge 150 and now I’m probably going to pick up the RTL515, especially since I’m already looking to replace my old taillight with something more modern.

I agree with everything you've said about the Garmin Luria!

Agree 100%. My ride buddy loves it too because when the flash pattern changes he knows a car is coming too

On the Hammerhead Karoo headunit the varia has colour coded cars coming up, yellow for normal and red if they are going especially fast, the virtual road will then go green to indicate a clear road behind you. Is amazing I tend to do most of my riding solo and so an extra pair of eyes behind me is a godsend.

I bought the original Varia and now cannot ride without it. My rides are busy suburbs and country roads. I like the extra confidence in knowing a car is not behind me (after looking back, you still need to look back even if you use Varia) when crossing multiple lanes to turn. Also, my ears will hear a car and when I look back I do not see and the Varia confirms. It's that extra peace of mind I have gained and is a must-have for me now. BTW I use this with the Wahoo Roam and it displays a car and not a dot :-)

Thanks for this great review. You're pointing out all the niceties that are not obvious. Like the stanby mode. Love it even though there's always the risk to leave the computer on and drain the varia without knowing. Also, thanks for the tip about multiple pairing, just tried tonight with my wife and it was working great - plus she had to open the road and I was behind with the radar 😎 Note that she has a wahoo element and the display is only the top led bar (no idea of how far and how many vehicles- still of value). On dirt roads like you said, I feel good riding in the middle, with plenty of time to move to the side. Regarding picking up other bikes, mine does rarely do that. Other bikes also don't obstruct cars. I have RLT515 purchased in December. For me, this is better this way. Finally, I've been using a mirror on the drop for years and really miss it on my mtb. But yet, the Varia is a game changer. I like your mirror, what is it ?

Absolutely LOVE my Varia Radar and agree it's a game changer for road riding. My only wish is for a "city" mode to be able to disable radar but still have the light. Accuracy is incredible but I do get an occasional false positive where people use reflectors to mark their driveway opening but that is quite rare.

I totally agree with you. It is a magnificant peace of safety equipement. The only thing Garmin should change is the switch which is on top of the radar. When dirt enters the switch it might block the movement. You can clean it with warm water from the tap. But after losing one radar because of a faulty switch caused by dirt, I covered the switch of the new one (which was sent to me for free based on warranty) with some electrical tape to avoid dirt from entering the switch. Second thing: your mates can also use your radar when they pair it to their phone through bluetooth.

i could see the benefit for rural roads with intermittent traffic, but for most fast moving urban roads, i just assume that there is always traffic and ride defensively.. doing a quick shoulder check also lets drivers know that you are aware of them

I use a first generation Varia and it is, as you say, a game changer. I prefer the short and wide shape of the first gen. because the small gap between the top of my trunk bag and the saddle would probably impede the operation of the newer version. I ride mainly on open UK country lanes and with the wind whistling past my ears, it is almost impossible to hear vehicles approaching from the rear until they are almost on top of you.

Nice review. Thanks.

0:59 That looks like perfect cycling territory. Clear flat road, no potholes and great weather.

Just put my dots on the left. Wicked top tip! Thanks

Couldn't agree more. Great follow up!

Thought you might have mentioned the colour indication on the screen. Mine flashes red if a vehicle is approaching from behind at a high speed,orange if within acceptable speed limit and then green once all traffic has passed. It's a brilliant piece of kit. That said you still need to use your senses.

absolutely love my varia- not a "game changer" perhaps because technology WILL fail, but it is a surprisingly good piece of kit. There are only a few instances where I have been able to hear a car behind before I hear the tone from my varia-- usually with a tailwind on a straight road. normally the varia detects a vehicle LONG before I can hear it. Yes a huge factor is it lets a rider be out further in the lane to take good lines with less worry. I ride in areas with crap roads most of the time, and frequently pavement along the edge is terrible. I've had mine for over a year and don't like to think about riding without it.

One of the first things i bought for my bike. I am new to riding but i've ridden motorbikes before so i am aware that 2 wheels are really vulnerable on the road. Amazing yet simple piece of tech, such invaluable safety device.

Same here love this product works great

Love mine too, just to add a comment, it pairs nicely with my Wahoo Element Roam but if there is a truck passing at the same time as the beep, you may not hear the beep, likewise if the winds in your face are very strong. All in all its still great.

In addition to the benefits of increased rider awareness the changing flash pattern helps alert distracted drivers. That will save lives. I’ve found my varia very accurate and it is great to know how many cars are coming up. It has great range too and picks up car way before you hear them.

The Vario is my best friend - amazingly great accessory

I got one a little while ago and wouldn’t go anywhere without it now. There is a Garmin IQ app you can download so you can turn the light on and off from your head unit (the radar still works). I turn it off if I go off road to save battery. If you’re riding with another it stops you blinding them if you are in front. It’s also got a battery indicator. Cheers for the video Clint 👍

One thing that will definitely increase your safety is to ditch the handlebar mirror and, instead, use a mirror mounted either on your helmet or glasses (if if you don't need glasses you can use sunglasses or night wind glasses). The handlebar mirror has too narrow a field and, worse, forces you to take your eyes off the road up front whereas glasses/helmet mounted mirrors don't and have a HUGE field of view.

I love it. I suggest too all my training mates... Its just smart

I use Cat-ears on my helmet straps to cut wind noise. Works great. Won't ride without the Varia unit. Nice to know others in the group can pair to mine.

I love the car count feature

Thanks for the follow up review. I have a first generation Varia light and it is a game changer as far as bike safety. All excellent points about features that you have shared. What is the battery life that you have experienced on a full charge ? My light is about three years old and 3 1/2 hours max on mine.

that auto on and off feature is indeed nice.

Good info I did not know. Thanks.

I ride a 100+ miles a week on paved roads (road bike). The area I ride has clear marked bike lanes but we all know that won’t stop a car. I have a neck fusion which severely limits my rearward viewing (turning my head). I have tried mirrors and because of the distance I can’t clearly make out what is coming at me from behind. Getting the Varia was such a blessing. I am in my second week of using it and found it so beneficial to my safer riding. If you ride on the street you really should use this. In addition I ride early mornings 4-6am. Very dark. I also just changed to the Garmin head light. It has so many benefits to battery management. Thanks for y to our post.

Review for n point, thank you!

Clint I concur with everything you said. The Varia is completely indispensable for riding on the road,

This has got to be the most thorough review I have seen to date. So I also want to add onto the bit about not hearing cars as that would apply to Tesla and other manufacturers that are jumping on board the electric train.

I find the time you stated to make a decision is quite accurate also about going 15-20mph and oncoming traffic will not allow you to hear the traffic coming up behind you. I’m curious what amount of time you are getting off a full charge. I have the rvr315 and on the first ride only got 2.5-3hrs off a full charge. I may possibly have a defective unit.