Garmin Varia RTL510 Marketing gimmick or really works?

[StiffWeenies]

I refuse to ride without my Varia, as does everyone else in my riding group. I can confidently say that it has stopped me from turning into a red smear on the ground.

[Butcher]

Refuse? That is harsh.

I ride with a helmet, rear lights, etc. There was a time, there was no such thing as a helmet, rear lights, and varia. I rode back then too. Still pedaling away. A Varia will not stop someone coming at you and like most auto accidents, you will not be able to move in time. I look at the device that it prevents me from hitting them, not the other way around.

[StiffWeenies]

Yes, the device is more avoidance than prevention. The radar senses movement behind me well before my senses can. It helps keep me mindful of my surroundings.

[req110]

But it sounds like you all got the replacement right?

For me the benefit would be upgrade from 510 to 515 which has the peloton mode and bluetooth. Not sure if i use any of those, but nice to have

[kervelo]

Re RTL515 vs RTL516:
There is a significant difference in the power of the devices. The 516 has only 5 lumens, the 515 has 20 lumens.
https://www.garmin.com/de-DE/p/698001#specs

Many shops still list the 516 as 20 lumens like the 515, though.

According to some bike magazine the recommended minimum for daylight use is 20 lumens.

[Butcher]

It helps keep me mindful of my surroundings.

100%. More information around you allows you to make better decisions. This is why I'm sold on mine. But if I forgot to bring it, I would ride.

[req110]

Hey guys.
I had rtl510 and now I have rtl515.

The rtl515 is toooo sensitive, including girlfriend behind me.

Peloton mode is not making the radar less sensitive.

It captures also situation when she is 1m behind me, but changing position from my left side to right side. Such situation sometimes trigger even more alarms than one.

In gravel sections it's beeping very often as well.

The rtl510 was better.

I have raised case with support and they told me that rtl515 is indeed more sensitive. But that much?

[warthog101]

Mine has been on multiple bunch rides and plenty of gravel including a couple of gravel races.
It does not do that.

[pdlpsher1]

I've noticed the same thing after giving the 510 to my son and buying a new 515 for myself. To mitigate the issue I purposely mount mine very low on the seatpost so the rear tire obscures part of the radar while leaving the light still visible to cars. But it still drives me crazy with the constant false alarms. I've not used the peloton mode before, and perhaps I should try it.

[Butcher]

I thought the peleton mode was to reduce the brightness of the light to keep the people behind you happy. I have a RTL510 and one person commented on how bright my light was. I took it as a compliment but when they came out with the RTL515, I changed my thought. Good thing for me, I may feel like I'm the last one, but my light is always behind me.

[Juanmoretime]

I have the 510 and never an issue. There is very little traffic where I ride and I've never been hit before from behind. There is just comfort knowing what is behind you. Mine does signal when there are other cyclist and I do get a false signal in places and it is always the same places. Something in those areas are causing it to trigger.

[nekokatsu]

The rtl515 is toooo sensitive, including girlfriend behind me.

(...)

In gravel sections it's beeping very often as well.

The rtl510 was better.

I have raised case with support and they told me that rtl515 is indeed more sensitive. But that much?

Hi! Had same issue with my new RTL515. I've never seen that on old RTL500 tho. For me solution was simple: move RTL515 a little bit up or down on the seatpost. Radar seemed to be catching wheel somehow and beeping like crazy..

Hope it helps!

[bratz]

Have RTL515 for more than 6 months. Never had false detection issue yet. Bunch ride 3 times a week. Mounted using saddle rail adapter.

[ms6073]

Wife had the 510 until one of the ears on the mount broke, so gave it to a friend and got her the 515 and have also noticed that when we rotate positions on the road or I am behind leaving from a stop sign/stop light, she gets an alert as I pull in behind whereas my 510 does not.

[warthog101]

Have RTL515 for more than 6 months. Never had false detection issue yet. Bunch ride 3 times a week. Mounted using saddle rail adapter.

Ditto. Mounted on the seat post.