About the Garmin Varia RTL515
Improving your cycling safety
Improving your cycling safety
There's a lot to think about when I'm riding my bike. I'm checking out the road, while concentrating on my pedaling, effort level, gear choice, and more. So, despite my best intentions, I've been surprised by cars passing me, despite training myself to look back frequently and listen for traffic. Garmin's Varia RTL515 tail light adds an extra layer to my cycling safety, thanks to an integrated radar sensor that sends information about approaching traffic to compatible Garmin Edge cycling computers, Garmin fitness watches, or smartphones, even with third-party apps like Ride with GPS.
Note: You'll need a compatible Garmin Edge cycling computer, Garmin fitness watch, or smartphone to serve as a display
Alert drivers
Safety is a two-way street, of course. The RTL515's bright tail light is visible from a mile away during the day, which makes you more visible to drivers. You can choose from solid or flashing modes or even the peloton mode, a low-intensity flash that's great when you're riding with a group.
Visual information
When vehicles approach from behind, an overlay display appears on the screen of your computer or watch. The RTL515 even tracks multiple cars from up to 153 yards away (about 1.5 football fields), displaying the relative position of each with a dot on the display. And its excellent battery life means you're set for safety for even your longest rides.
Product highlights:
- ANT+ enabled cycling tail light with rear-view radar
- works with select Garmin Edge cycling computers and Garmin fitness watches
- visibility:
- alerts you of approaching vehicles up to 153 yards away
- daylight visibility of up to 1 mile
- provides 220° range of visibility for optimal driver awareness
- tail light modes: solid, peloton, night flash, day flash
- battery life: 6 hours solid, 8 hours peloton, 6 hours night flash, 16 hours day flash
- seat-post quarter-turn mount and charging cable included
- IPX7 water-resistance rating
- dimensions 3.9" x 1.6" x 0.8"
- weight 2.5 oz
- warranty: 1 year
- MFR # 010-02376-00
What's in the box:
Garmin Varia RTL515 owner's manual
- Bike tail light / rear-view radar
- Seat post quarter-turn mount
- Aero seat post shim
- Round seat post shim (straight)
- Round seat post shim (angled)
- Large O-ring
- Small O-ring
- 19" USB charging cable (Type A USB on one end and Micro-B USB on other end)
- Quick Start Guide
- Important Safety and Product Information
Customer reviews for Garmin Varia RTL515
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Features
Overview: Getting hit from behind is the leading cause (40%) of cycling fatalities in the U.S. (according to a study by the League of American Bicyclists). The Garmin Varia™ RTL515 is a bicycle tail light that makes you more visible to vehicles approaching from behind. At the same time, it is a rear-view radar device that alerts you of approaching vehicles, up to 153 yards away. This battery-powered unit can be paired with several different devices, including a dedicated Varia radar display unit, a Garmin Edge bike computer, select Garmin wearables, and your smartphone. The RTL515 is powered by a rechargeable battery, and mounts to the seat post of your bicycle. Dimensions: 1-5/16"W x 3-15/16"H x 15/16"D; Weight: 2.5 ounces.
Compatible Devices: The Varia RTL515 works with a wide variety of devices to alert you of traffic approaching you from behind. Compatible devices include:
- Garmin Edge: Garmin's Edge series of bike computers display data from the RTL515 on the right edge of the active data screen. At the top of the display, a Threat Level LED changes color based on the potential threat level: green (no vehicle detected), amber (vehicle approaching), or red (vehicle approaching at a high rate of speed). A vehicle position LED moves up the column as the vehicle gets closer to your bike. The Edge device also provides audible alert tones (if enabled) when vehicles are detected. Compatible Edge devices include the Edge 1030, 1000, 830, 820, 810, 530, 520, 130, 25, and Edge Explore 1000 and 820. The RTL515 connects via ANT+ protocol.
- Garmin Wearables: A variety of Garmin Sport Watches ("wearables") can provide visual, audible, or vibration alerts when paired to the RTL515 rear-view radar device. Compatible wearables include: D2 Delta, fenix (5, 6 and Chronos series), Forerunner (735, 935, 945), tactix (Charlie, Delta), Varia Vision in-sight Display, and vívoactive (3, HR). The RTL515 connects via ANT+ protocol.
- Varia App: The Varia App can alert you of approaching traffic on your Android or Apple smartphone. The app provides color-coded visual alerts of the traffic threat. In addition, the app provides tone and vibration alerts if you're not looking at your phone. The app is compatible with devices running Android 5.0 and up, or iOS 11.0 or later. The RTL515 connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE).
- Varia RDU: The Garmin Varia Radar Display Unit indicates the detection of a vehicle approaching from behind through a series of LEDs. The Threat Level LED changes color based on the potential threat level: green (no vehicle detected), amber (vehicle approaching), or red (vehicle approaching at a high rate of speed). A column of LEDs indicate the position of the approaching vehicle. The RTL515 connects via ANT+.
- 3rd Party Apps: The RTL515 can be used with various 3rd party apps, such as Ride with GPS, that let you overlay your maps with a rear-view radar alert.
Tail Light Modes: The RTL515 has a bright, rear-facing LED that is visible from up to a mile away, even in daylight. It has a viewing angle of 220°. The light intensity and flash behavior varies with the chosen mode:
| Tail Light Mode | Battery Life | Light Intensity | Default Flash Behavior | Flash Behavior when Vehicle Approaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solid (default) | 6 hours | High (20 lumens) | None | Light flashes |
| Peloton (group ride) | 8 hours | Moderate (8 lumens) | None | Light flashes softly |
| Night Flash | 6 hours | High (29 lumens) | Slow | Light flashes quickly |
| Day Flash | 16 hours | Maximum (65 lumens) | Occasional | Light flashes quickly |
| Standby | 3 months | None | None | Device does not detect vehicles. |
Mounting: The Garmin Varia RTL515 installs on the seat post of your bicycle, aiming the radar toward the road behind you. It uses a "quarter-turn" mount, which makes the device easy to attach and remove. RTL515 emits a radar beam at an angle of 40°, and provides coverage for typical bends in the road. The device should be mounted vertically, as high on the seat post as possible, so that it has a clear view of the road. Rubber shims are provided for adapting to round or aero seat posts.
Power: The RTL515 operates on a built-in Lithium-ion rechargeable battery. The battery charges via USB (cable included) in approximately 3 hours using an AC adapter with a USB port, or 5 hours using the USB port on your computer. Battery life varies with the chosen mode (see table above).
Water Rating: The Radar Tail Light has an IPX7 water rating, making it suitable for use in rain or snow. It can withstand incidental exposure to water, but is not suitable for immersion.
The Garmin Varia RTL515 replaces these items
Garmin varia™ RTL510
- works with select Garmin Edge cycling computers and Garmin fitness watches
- alerts approaching vehicles up to 153 yards
- 15-hour battery life in day flash mode
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Worth it for the piece of mind alone. The radar picks up vehicles immediately once they pull in behind you and tracks distance of multiple vehicles. Combine that with the light and you have me feeling much more confident about riding when there is a possibility of cars approaching from behind.
Tallis from Madison, AL