Opinions on Garmin Varia

[Mike_P]

Thanks. Only just spotted this. My first effort didn't work but I also noted the Varia is asking for an update via Garmin express. I tried a random cable connection but this failed so I need to find the supplied cable which I guess will carry data.

Doesn't necessarily need to be the supplied cable, just one that has the correct number of wires so one with a slightly thicker cable will most likely work.

 

[PaulSB]

Doesn't necessarily need to be the supplied cable, just one that has the correct number of wires so one with a slightly thicker cable will most likely work.

Thank you. I didn't know this but now see some of my cables are thicker than others. I usually keep brand supplied cables separate from others but hadn't bothered with the Varia. I only discovered a couple of weeks ago it could be updated, something that had never occurred to me.

 

[PaulSB]

I have a Roam V2 and RTL515. It's the 'tal light' we're talking about in the above.

Soooo..... no need to physically touch the Varia, other than to put it on. Once it's on and shows connected on the head unit, go to the 'main menu' on the Roam and keep clicking down 'til you get to 'Radar', which is beneath the 'Settings' option (I Ihink, I don't have it to hand right now). Select and click that. On the resultant menu are about ten Varia related things about battery remaining, firmware levels, etc. These include 'Alert mode': set that to 'On'. Then set the time below (I think immediately below), which is Light mode' to 'Off'. That should do it.

There is a setting whose name I forget which essentially says 'Flash the rear light a bit when the radar alerts, then put it off unitl it alerts again'. This is what I use, set to zero seconds, so the light stops flashing when a vehcile has passed. In practice, on quiet roads in the Dales, that gives me around 15 hours of Varia life.

I'll update this with more precise terms re the menus if I can get to my Roam later today (I'm travelling).

EDIT:
1. From the top level menu, the one starting 'Start ride', click down to 'Radar' under the ' Sensors' section and highlight it.
2. Click 'More', which is the bottom right button once 'Radar' is highlighted. This may be the step you're missing.
3. Clcik down to 'alert mode' and click the centre bottom button 'til 'On' appears next to 'alert mode'.
4. Go down one more line to 'Light mode' and set that to 'Off'.
5. Go down to 'Auto light' and set that to whatever you wish, using the centre-bottom button. I have 1s. You can set it to 1,5, 10 or Disabled. The latter will keep the light always off. The others will make it flash when a car appears and then for X seconds AFTER a car has passed.

I think that's it. Hope that helps !

This is so detailed and accurate. You've highlighted parts of the Varia menu settings I wasn't aware of. Thank you. I've followed all of this, I'm out on Wednesday which will be my first chance to test the changes. Cheers. I have two buddies who want to do the same thing. I'll test it before passing on.

I hope one of them will notice my Varia only flashes when a car approaches. It is the sort of thing he would spot.

 

[Sea of vapours]

I hope one of them will notice my Varia only flashes when a car approaches. It is the sort of thing he would spot.

It's mildly entertaining to see how long people take to notice this behaviour. I've had a few comments suggesting that the Varia is broken before people realise what it's actually doing :-)

Prior to the ride, you could test that it's doing what you wish by starting a ride (I mean pressing 'Start ride' on the Roam) and then waving the Varia about 'til it triggers (vertically towards a hard surface is the easiest). It's also worth noting that leaving the Varia in the partially off mode, i.e. where the blue Bluetooth light is flashing will result in the Roam switching the light on when you click Start Ride, meaning you never need to turn on the Varia with its button. (It'll go off after the first radar alert, when the '1s then off' setting is triggered.) Over a period between charges of 2-3 days this makes no discernible difference to battery life on the Varia, though I charge the Varia fully after all but very short rides, so it might be an issue if you prefer not to charge every time.

I'm glad that was helpful.

 

[ColinJ]

I have just ordered a used RTL515 on eBay for just over GPB 70 (no pound symbol on my US keyboard!). I did a couple of rides recently with a mate whose hearing is a lot better than mine and he repeatedly warned me about overtaking cars which I hadn't heard. I do have a mirror on the bike but sometimes cars sneak up between my glances at the mirror. The Varia should be useful when he isn't around to warn me!

Hopefully, the battery life on the device will still be pretty good. I don't do super-long rides these days so if it lasts 10+ hours that would be ok.

 

[ColinJ]

Hopefully, the battery life on the device will still be pretty good. I don't do super-long rides these days so if it lasts 10+ hours that would be ok

The Varia arrived today. It looks as good as new.

I took one look at the rubber band-attached mount and opted for a removable cable tie instead for added security**.

The device had some charge in it so I quickly paired it to my Elemnt Bolt v2. No problem doing that.

It was already set to show the overtaking display on the RHS of the Bolt's screen, which is how one would want it in the UK. (If you drive on the RHS of the road where you live, you can change it to display on the LHS.)

I turned the Varia on and almost blinded myself! That is a very bright light! I actually think that it is too bright for general use so I have set it to 20% brightness. I would only use full brightness on a very sunny day.

I haven't ridden with the device yet (I am currently off the bike suffering from a mystery illness) but I did put it on the bike and took that outside for a kerbside test. The radar immediately picked up a vehicle approaching from behind, the main light started flashing, and the Bolt alerted me on the screen and by beeping. Excellent, all working properly there.

I don't know how long the battery will last from a full charge so I am about to test it. I just charged it to 100%, as indicated by the charging light switching from flashing green to steady green****. I will run the Varia with the rear light steady at 20% brightness and check it at 15 minute intervals. When the test is over, I will update below... Ah, the Varia switches itself off a few minutes after the Bolt is turned off! That makes sense, but I will have to restart my test and leave the Bolt powered up. Oh, and it reset to 40% brightness, so I reset that too.

Battery life with 20% steady rear light, indoors so no cars overtaking: 8.5 hours to get low battery, I hour warning. I ran it for another 40-odd minutes but just turned it off because I need sleep! Around 9.5 hours then. I am happy with that. I will run it with the light off by default but set to flash as cars approach. I will use another light on steady as well.

That means I should get away with charging just once a week since I typically ride about 7 hours and very rarely do more than 12.

** Added security in terms of avoiding device falling off the seatpost, rather than defeating thieves!

**** When first put on charge, the charging light alternated flashing green with steady red. I discovered that was because I was using an underpowered charger. I switched to a higher powered charger and the light then just flashed green while charging.

 

[Dogtrousers]

** Added security in terms of avoiding device falling off the seatpost, rather than defeating thieves!

I've glued a thingy with a lanyard on mine to catch it if it falls off.

 

[Mike_P]

I've glued a thingy with a lanyard on mine to catch it if it falls off.

You get them off eBay that attach with a replacement part for the small part next to the usb charging connection that is screwed in place.

 

[PaulSB]

What you need is this

 

[ColinJ]

What you need is this

View attachment 794679

D'oh!!

The seatpost mount was already attached to the Varia when I got it. I hadn't noticed/realised that it (rather obviously!) is a Garmin-type mount...

I will only be using one bike until March so that gives me three months to get hold of four more mounts (one for each of my bikes) to save me having to move the mount from bike to bike in the spring.

Being a bit of a cheapskate, I searched for cheaper ones than the official Garmin mounts. I spotted some from China on eBay and have bid under GBP 25 for four.

 

[PaulSB]

I've used a Varia secured with a band for around 12 months with no issues. I know several others who've used the band mount for years. Saying that we all prefer the solid mount. At some point I'll get round to buying a couple. I have to check the seat post on my new bike first.

 

[Sea of vapours]

There are various saddle rail mounts available too, both inexpensive (less than the Garmin seatpost one) aluminium types and 3D printed ones, which tend to be a little more than the Garmin seatpost one. Those are useful and neat as they leave the seatpost free for a secondary / backup light. At night, I typically have a steady light on, with the Varia set to 'off until a vehicle approaches, at which point it flashes' mode. The space and separation is useful for that. Mainly, however, I think the saddle mounts look neat as most of it is hidden under the saddle :-)

 

[Mike_P]

However its mounted I would recommend s lanyard as well
Lost one earlier in the year not having a lanyard on it. The battery life on it had plummeted so a new one was already being thought of.

 

[PaulSB]

@Sea of vapours mentions a very useful feature and one I've been using and debating with my regular riding buddies. We all run the same Varia with until recently two using "the off until a vehicle approaches" setting. I first learned of this from SOV and told my friends about it. I ran this mode throughout spring and summer but in recent weeks I was concerned by how visible I am in poor conditions and reverted to "always on flashing" mode. My buddy has stuck with the "always off" mode. On last week's ride I noticed he was very visible when vehicles approached, I hung back around 130 - 140 yards and his Varia reacted instantly with its brightest setting. I've reverted to the "always off" mode as it's very effective, similar to a car braking in front of one.

I'm now running my TraceR in Daybright continuous, non-flash, mode and the Varia in "always off"

One other feature I don't think has been mentioned in this thread. On all three Varias in my group when a vehicle approaches the light intensity increases significantly. Take a look at the lens and you'll see there is a centre which is always illuminated at a lower intensity, when a vehicle approaches the entire lens illuminates with a very high intensity light.

 

[Dadam]

I now have the clamp on seatpost mounts on all my bikes, except the ID9 folder where I've fitted a saddle rail one, this one

However its mounted I would recommend s lanyard as well

You get them off eBay that attach with a replacement part for the small part next to the usb charging connection that is screwed in place.

I just bought a plastic protective case with a lanyard included. This one

My first Varia got broken, it wouldn't pair and didn't charge properly, possibly because I'd dropped it onto paving outside work on more than one occasion. Garmin replaced it FoC with a reconditioned unit so I was keen to protect this one from impacts. If I bought one again I'd probably get a silicone cover rather than a hard plastic one.