There still is a big missing market for a proper rear bike camera. We don't need 5.7k, but probably 1440p/60 with image stabilization with 4+ hours with a good interface to find footage should be the minimum. An no one is close.

The term “gamechanger” gets bandied around a lot, but I think the Varia lives up to it. Combined with a mirror, it’s excellent - the Varia alerts you to an approaching vehicle, and the mirror tells you what it is (eg, 18-wheeler vs motorcycle) and - more importantly - if it’s giving you room.

I’ve been using one for about 8 months, it just makes you feel so much safer especially when cycling along quiet country lanes here in the uk and with the increase of electric cars coming up behind you

Very cool. I'm a new varia user. (Non camera version). And I like it. It helps me just enjoy the ride more.

I'm SO excited about trying out this device! My group rides get hairy, so this will maybe help me relax a bit...I hope.

this was very helpful, thanks guys

Excellent review, and answer all my questions. Others reviews were out weighting the pros on the 715 (heavy, bigger etc.). But how good it is to know a car is coming at you, hitting you or killing you, without knowing who did it, and more important (evidence of the hit and run).

I’ve been debating on whether get it or not and you guys definitely make me set up my mind. I have the RT515 and I’m quite happy with it. It provides and does the job as it suppose to. All the issues you guys pointed out about the sd card and quality really got my thinking if it is worth to pay over 4 hundred for it thanks guys

Nice review. Not too long but long enough to cover all the good necessary things. It was fun getting to see myself in some of the riding video clips! It must of been on one of Jakes recovery days. ha!

Great video

Nice device this and can record for any evidence. I wouldn't solely rely on the radar though without a shoulder check because it doesn't seem to detect any other traffic doing the same speeds as you. Does improve safety I feel because in the UK people seem to be getting away with speeding all too often or not overtaking cyclists at a safe distance. When this device starts blinking brightly as a car approaches no way they can use the old chestnut excuse "I didn't see you".

"wrong side of the road" sometimes the bike lane is on the left though! It's nice bc you're better protected from being doored by a driver entering/exiting their vehicle.

I have a cycliq fly 6. It is there for safety only. I access the videos only if an incident has happened. I used to use a go pro for the same thing, it is a pain to use like that. What you want is something that you turn on and it works. It records what happens and you never have to do anything to maintain it. It is not an action camera! Don't compare it to one!

Nice coffee mug!

Current pricing is discounted by $50 (which tells me an updated version is soon to be released). That cost compares favorably with the latest Cycliq camera, which only includes a (inadequate?) light, no radar.

Card size is in GB and not MB as per video, right?

Hi guys, I have been contemplating this device for several months, reviews such as yours, DC and LamaLab are leading me there, the cons still worry me though. Any idea from Garmin on battery life, stabilisation, frame rate updates? If so, are these software driven or worse, a hardware update (in which case my 'now purchase' would be obsolete), software is a no loss issue.....

can the battery be replaced at all?? by the vendor maybe?

I have the non camera version now. will the camera version show the cars on my garmin 1030 headset as a video or will it be same as my current garmin with dots showing on my 1030 ?? the camera version would be worth it if u could see cars on my garmin -thx

Forgive me ignorance, but why I would want to record the rear part? I can see two scenarios: 1. for fun, if i go with a team 2. for the court, if i got hit? what else?

What kind of camera would you recommend for the front view to pair with this one?

Can you read license plates? If I don't use a a trip computer (Garmin or otherwise) would you use it?

Is this compatible with wahoo element roam? If so, is there any lost functionality?

I have a Garmin Edge 1040. Will I be able to view live footage on the edge 1040?

The safe spot on the road for cyclists is NOT as close to the side of the road as you can. (you mention the opposite at 1:30) The safe spot on the road for cyclists is about in the middle of the lane or close to it. This makes you more visible and it forces motorists to only overtake when there is no oncoming traffic, as they have to change lane and can not overtake while there is oncomming traffic. This makes more motorists keeping a safe distance while they are overtaking and makes overtaking more safe for everyone. You can see that in your own video around minute 07:25 or 10:09. As a cyclist, you should keep a distance of about 0.8 m to the side of the road, for safety resons, 1.2 m if there are cars parked. This complies with rules about riding as much at the side of the lane as it is safe to do so. Next, Cyclists are supposed to need 1 m for themselves (because of the way they move sideways while they ride; cargo bikes or bikes with trailers 1.3 m) and motorists are supposed to keep a safety distance of at least 2 m while overtaking outside of cities and at least 1.5 m in villages. If the road is not wide enough, like less then 6 m wide outside villages, motorists shall not pass cyclists. Unfortunately, many motorist do not know or ignore that. In that case, the camera comes in handy. Please report dangerous driving to the police. This will make the roads more safe, for cyclists and for motorists.

Can it be paired with an iPhone or do you need a garment device?

Does it work.with garmin fenix watch?

10:44 There’s a new firmware update that adds a useful feature 🎉🎉 kzfaq.info_dxHbPtbzQA?feature=share

Hmmm update your text to GB not MB

You are concerned about "wear and tear" of the SD card connector? SD cards and their connectors are designed for hundreds, if not thousands, of insertions and extractions. You will not wear out the connector, you'll wear out the gold plated pads on the card first, just go easy and don't gorilla it.

128MB card wow that is massive ;) ;) Of course they meant 128GB you wallies as if you had to ask?

There's an ecological alternative to this product, and it's a road bike specific mirror, replacing the bar end plug. I bought it and I'm never looking back. Electronics are bad for the environment, people, keep that in mind :D

It's dumb to write dialog that is specific to RHD countries. Instead of saying "cyclists look over their left shoulder"... just say they look over their shoulder. Instead of saying "cyclists move to the right side of the road"... just say they move to the side of the road. Simple and concise yet broader applicability.

Nobody can justify this device. At least not at that cost. $400 for something that hopefully tells you if there's a car approaching, but won't be able to tell you if that car is passing safely around you, or is about to kill you. You know what does tell you that? A mirror. A $15 mirror. It tells me if there are cars coming, and I can clearly see if they're going to pass safely or if they're about to hit me. As for video, that would be great if Florida had license plates on the front of cars, but they don't. So all a video is going to do is show your next of kin what kind of car (sort of) and what color it was. And that's if the device didn't get completely destroyed in the crash. I know it's dangerous riding on the road, I do it all the time, but a simple mirror is the best solution, combined with good head and tail lights. Stop making rich companies richer.