Garmin Varia RTL515

Garmin’s Varia RTL515 radar-taillight has a long radar range to pick up approaching vehicles and a variety of alerts to warn the rider of approaching and overtaking vehicles. It’s more expensive than some other radar-taillights that have similar performance.

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CR Expert Take

How did it perform in our expert lab testing?

Overall Score

The Overall Score for this model is derived from our expert lab test results.

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Current Range of Tested Bike Radars

What goes into the Overall Score?

Radar distance

/ 5

Rider warning

/ 5

Vehicle warning

/ 5

Versatility

/ 5

About

The Garmin Varia RTL515 is part of the Bike Radars test program at Consumer Reports. In our lab tests, Bike Radar models are rated on multiple criteria, such as those listed below.

Radar distance - Distance at which the radar was able to detect an approaching vehicle in our tests.;

Rider warning - Scored based on the features that alert the person riding the bike to approaching vehicles using the manufacturer's app.

Driver warning - Scored based on the functions of the tail light (or lack thereof) that alert the driver of the approaching vehicle of the presence of the cyclist.

Features & Specs

Features

Tail light

Yes

Brake light

Number of light settings

Built-in camera

Compatible with bike computer

Yes

Specs

Height (in.)

3.9

Width (in.)

1.6

Depth (in.)

0.8

Weight (oz.)

2.5

Charging port type

micro USB

IP rating

IPX7 (Water resistant)

App name

Garmin Varia

Claimed battery life (hrs.)

6 - 16

Maximum claimed luminance (lm)

Firmware version

Not stated

Price & Shop

Garmin Varia RTL515

CR Expert Take

Overall Score

What goes into the Overall Score?

About

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