I know this is an old post Shane but I thought I would add. I have had my Varia radar for about 10 months. I just changed head units from Wahoo Bolt to the Wahoo Roam. I love the addition of colour to the sensor for the Varia radar. Especially worthwhile for fast approaching vehicle (Red Bar) detection. If anyone has yet to buy or try the Varia radar I would easily place the safety value this product adds to about equivalent to wearing a helmet. My riding pals also can see my radar on their head units if you are group riding and synced up. Really nice! Now if it would only work for those guys sprinting up from behind in Zwift!
Shane, after watching this video, I immediately purchased a Varia to use with my Elemnt bolt. Today, I made my first ride with it. You were spot on with your assessment. Brilliant. Kudos to Wahoo. Kudos to your review.
I’m a Garmin user with Varia radar, I wouldn’t ever ride without my Radar now, I think it’s one of the biggest improvements in safety for bikes in years, being without this would be like being without a seat belt in a car, brilliant device
The radar remind me to glance for driver attentiveness on quiet roads. It’s a good reminder to move closer to edge of the road. The most important piece of tech on my bike so thank you Wahoo for supporting it and I hope they come up with their own model moving safety forward.
I bought this from my LBS here in Nashua, NH yesterday, and just completed my first ride with it. This thing really is a game changer. It gives you situational awareness and plenty of time to react and manage traffic approaching from your most vulnerable blind spot on the bike. I had a close call last Wednesday descending a big hill from Mont Vernon, NH to Milford. It was raining, 35 degrees and windy. I was about 25 mph. Didn’t hear a car till it was on me and I had to make a fast sketchy decision on a road with almost no shoulder. Shook me a bit. So I thought about getting this thing. Bought it that day. Rode it today. Same route, same descent. No rain :) It gives you maybe 10 seconds notice that a car is coming and the color/lights go bright flashing red if the car is over a certain speed. This gives you time, in a situation like I described above, to react and take action. It even notifies you how many cars are queued up behind you, so you have great awareness. You can keep your eyes focused ahead of you, while knowing what is behind you and when it’s upon you. Then a quick peripheral check to make sure the car is keeping its distance is the only time you have to take your eyes off the front. The thing I really like, come to find out, is that it tells you the coast is clear behind you, so you can ride the lane, not stay in the shoulder, with confidence. I felt way less stressed and way safer with this thing. It is absolutely brilliant. Hooked it up with a Wahoo Element 2. Connected directly with device in seconds. Lastly, bought a couple of hard mounts for the seat post. One on each bike. It’s sturdier than the rubber band mounted thing that comes with it. After market about 10$ US per mount.
so glad your review reminded people this is not a replacement for eyes, ears and lets face it common sense! I have seen others review it where they say things like -- "I now no longer have to look behind me every time I think a car is coming up" ......that makes me really nervous as people may interpret that to be --- "NO need to look back, check" .....now that this is supported by my element and watching your review its now been ordered! Thanks for another quick/easy/to the point review!!
Wahoo! I’ve been waiting for this since I got the roam as my Varia Radar has been a dumb light since then, like many I thought it was tech for techs sake until a mate got one and it is brilliant - it alerts cars a long time before you can hear them most of the time esp as cars are quieter or pretty much silent if electric! It buys a few seconds to plan what to do and if you are following a radar user you can tell when cars are coming due to the flashing and beeps if on - it’s a game changer in my opinion and a tool in assisting safe riding.
More importantly, I have a Varia radar and it is amazing. A good trick though, is that my partner and I ride together a lot but on only one radar unit so far. No problem. We both have paired the radar unit to our head units, and as we are always close together, no drama, it works for both of us. One unit, both safe. Nice!
Fair play to GPLama, his scoop that radar support was coming to the Wahoo family a few days ago was spot on. I can also confirm that the upgrade works with the original Garmin Varia rear radar unit by the way- the RTL 500 - on both the Elemnt Bolt and Elemnt Roam. I don't have the full size Elemnt but would imagine it works fine with that too. I am very impressed with the enlightened approach by Wahoo and Garmin to share their tech for the advantage of rider's safety. As a Wahoo user I also use a Garmin Radar (RTL 500) and their Display Unit - the RDU to get a 'heads-up' on the traffic coming up from behind on both quiet UK country roads and my commute. I also often use it to call out " Car Back" to my wife and riding partner on leisure rides. I am tempted now to buy an extra rear radar unit, likely the RTL 510, so he can see for herself what's coming up on her Wahoo Bolt. It's a win-win all round I reckon - were safer, even more impressed with the Wahoo functionality and encouraged to buy more Garmin tech too.
6 months in with my RTL510 and now I feel like I could not even ride without it. I take it even on gravel rides even for the short sections of tarmac in between. I've not encountered a single true false negative as well and only a few false positives in rare conditions. One thing I like with Garmin head units is the ability to switch sides of the side channel display. It's a very small thing, but feel putting the display on the "outside" edge of the display on the side cars will pass you on makes it just a little more intuitive. At home In the US I keep the display on the left, but I was recently in the UK, and moving the display to the right side gave just that little extra reminder which side of the road to ride and and which side cars would be passing me. I'd love to see Wahoo add that as I don't see it in the display options. Another benefit I've found that sounds odd at first is the Varia has reduced the number of flats I've gotten this year to almost none. I ride in mostly suburban and rural areas here in Oregon and before I had the Varia I would ride closer to the edge of the road at all times for safety, but that part of the roadway isn't as "swept" by vehicle traffic and accumulates debris. Now I spend most of my rides much further out in the lane (where its frequency smoother too!), and only move closer to the edge, or onto the shoulder when I know a vehicle is actually approaching. A side benefit is cars seem to give me more passing room as well as they probably see me moving over for them and thus seem to get more respect. Also, my favorite daylight mode is actually the light off, that way the rear light only comes on in alert mode to approaching drivers. When it seems to only apply to them, driver behavior also seems more cautious. Last note is even with the great range, in still or tailwind conditions I notice I can pick up approaching cars first with my ears, although I used to frequently imagine I heard a car when there wasn't one. Now the Varia helps keep my sanity by double checking!
My wife just gave me an Elemnt Roam for Christmas.... and my reaction was muted until I googled Wahoo and Varia an d found your video. Many thanks and Merry Christmas!!!
Yes used the Varia crossing the country from Perth and it lets you focus more on the road ahead. Nothing worse than overeacting to a vehicle you didn't know was there and putting your front wheel into the gravel. I'd rather have this than a camera even though the beeping does become annoying in heavy traffic.
Just ordered a bolt... Thanks !- I have wanted one for sometime but I won't give up radar. It certainly helped me avoid a possible mangled bike situation where i was caught in some bad weather at night, poor visibility, broken street lights and ... car behind no lights at speed.
I won’t ride without the radar, I’m with you Shane it’s the best bit of tech in a long time, I feel the original one performs better than the new one mind, I was waiting for this to bin Garmin, but the 830 is such a great computer and the navigation is way better than the roam, Garmin have managed to keep me as a client for now
Why do you think the original Varia (RTL500) is better than the current one (RLT510)? I have both and RTL510 is better is every aspects than RTL500. Much longer battery life, brighter LEDs and a standby mode that last months. The RLT510 is definitely more sensitive than then RTL500 so if I am stationary, it does pick up people walking behind me.
Changren Yong The new one doesn’t have the variation in LED’s as the original which fellow riders commented that they learnt when the lights changed they too knew a car was coming, also I find the new one useless in a Peloton, the old one worked better, also new one often tells me a car is coming only when it’s just behind me far more often than the old one, I ride with a friend who has the old one and there are lots of times his indicates a car sooner than mine? I noticed this as soon as I upgraded, I prefer the design of the new one and my legs don’t catch it
Gr8, I have an Elemnt and a Edge 1000, it will be great to be able to use it on both bikes (easily). Certainly the Wahoo is the more stable platform but I have also appreciated some of the great innovation Garmin have introduced over the years. For those who knock the Varia radar, suggesting mirrors etc. I think Shane states it perfectly in this video it is an adjunct to awareness and a decent light to boot. This will make Garmin rethink some marketing strategies to stop a greater defection rate.
I've had both Garmin radar's and, as Shane says, they are brilliant. I purchased the fist one when I started commuting to work. One thing to note: On Garmin Edge head units, the sidebar indicator goes away when there is no activity. The indicator is orange / red when there are vehicle's behind you and it flashes green briefly when the vehicle's are gone. The only persistent indication of the radar is in the upper right corner and it indicates if the radar is connected or not. Also, when you are using the radar's with Edge units, it is supposed to change the light's pattern when you are slowing down.
Bought my radar on a combination or yours and Rays recommendation as a bundle with a 530. I was a little sceptical about the radar before testing but was swayed by you reporting similar feelings and what can I say. I has been awesome. Definitely one of the best bits of sports tech I have bought in years. From a safety perspective it has changed my commute into Sydney and at a sport level it has given me a second pair of eyes. My situational awareness is now massively improved, picking up lunatic Sydney drivers log before I can hear them. Only minor gripe is battery life isn't superb and really needs a charge every other ride. Overall though a 9/10 product... 😀
@@mikeprytherch8875 turn the radar on and try scanning again with the head unit for new Ant+ devices. It should show up. I have had to scan twice to pair it with some of my devices.
@@terreyhills I've figured it out now, previously all I did was do a sensor search on the head unit to link them and the Radar showed up, what I needed to do was turn on Pair mode on the Varia before linking, then I get the Radar and the Light Network, if you don't switch on Pairing mode the head unit will still find and link to the Radar but you only get the Radar and no light network
Agree with you again, Shane. Here is Texas with our wide open spaces, the Varia radar has become a mainstay during my rides. Also, my experience has been similar to yours, only a couple false positives and zero misses since I added to the cycling tech kit. Bottom line, I love it and recommend it at every opportunity. Another great video. Have a great week.
I bought a Varia radar based entirely on your review of it ( didn’t know it existed previously). Am very satisfied- Garmin should promote it more.. it’s not a gimmick by any means.
Varia Radar is awesome riding on secondary high ways and rural roads. Good on Wahoo for adding this feature. I waited from the middle of last year's summer to the middle of this summer for Wahoo to add support for Varia Lights and Radar before buying a 530 in July. The 530 has been reliable for how I have been using it, haven't had a need for navigation so far. Hopefully Wahoo will get the Lights working in the near future.
I have the original radar. It is fantastic. The only issue I’ve had is a car coming up to me and the radar reporting green when the car slowed and didn’t past as expected. Not a huge problem and still a great purchase.
Ordered a Varia straight after watching yours and Ray’s videos. I use mine on every ride now even in summer and apart from the obvious applications, find it perfect for fast long descents where it allows you to choose efficient lines without the added danger of always having to check if/where a vehicle is. Perfect. However, didn’t realise Radar was an open platform and Wahoo we’re working on this otherwise I might have waited before recently upgrading my trusty but low stamina (7h ride life max!) Edge 1000 to a shiny new 830, as I prefer certain aspects of the Wahoo Bolt/Roam in terms of screen set up, nice large numbers, apparently less flaky software and obviously price. However, I still think the 830 is a major step up from the 1000 in terms of battery life, training insights, responsiveness and does seem to get on with connecting to power meter, radar, phone etc with a lot less fuss and frustration than the previous generation of Garmins. I’d be interested in what you reckon between the 830 and say the Bolt/Roam. Great video Shane, keep up the good work! 👌
Ah Shane you know I've pestered you about this for a while now. Yes RTL-510 user ever since your original video...I went right our and ordered 2 of them (one for my partner and one for myself) and then a few months later I ordered one for my father too. People comment that they are pretty expensive and my response is always "How much is your life worth?" Compatibility was totally holding me back from switching to my Edge-520 to a Wahoo head unit but I've held off purchasing a 530 since your original video where you said it was coming soon to Wahoo. Thanks for that, off to order an Element ROAM. #Wahoo...cut this man a check.
From experience, I recommand tethering the radar unit to your bike, especially if you ride on canal towpaths or road with lots of pot holes (i.e. the main roads in the UK). I could of lost mine 6 times on one ride alone, if it hadn't be tethered. I use one of those "phone ring holders" stuck to the back of the unit. People use them to put their finger through when holding their large phone or tablet. I'm sure what they're officially called. But I think you know what I mean.
Brilliant news Shane!!! Varia Gen 1 will return back on my bike. One less device to keep charged. Also much easier to view car data with the Bolt sitting out front.
I always tell people the Varia Radar is possibly the only piece of gear I have that I would instantly replace like for like if anything happened to it. Once you're used to riding with it, riding without it feels weird.
@@rcuadro Same here + Forerunner. Everything works as advertised even after guarantee period expired. If I need something sport tech I will first look in Garmin shop
Brilliant video mate. Just got it today and it's every bit as good as you said. My Wahoo paired with it seamlessly and I was ready to go in about a minute. After a near hit last week, I'd off my trolley to ride without it.
Cheers Shane. Very useful for the winding country roads of Shropshire, UK where I live. Now if they could just come up with a device that warns you of pot holes !!!!
Been using this with a Wahoo Elemnt for about 6 months. Absolutely awesome device, which has helped me regain confidence to ride again after a serious neck injury following an argument with a pothole in 2019! However, in the last month I have started to see 'Radar Error' when I go through pedestrian crossings and some traffic lights. Have contacted Garmin for advice as haven't seen anyone else reporting similar on the internet.
@@gplama Thanks Shane. It said that there were two updates available, so I have update to Ver 3.32. Will post on here if that fixes the problem. Thanks again 🙂
Unfortunately the firmware update didn't solve the problem. I've contacted Garmin support, explained and sent pictures of the display and one of the crossings where it happens.
1. The frequent 'Radar Error' messages started for me around February, which coincides with the following firmware: ELEMNT WF48-14187 - 25 January, 2022 New Feature: Custom Alerts to Fuel your Ride Important Update: Improved Error Notifications for ANT+ Radars 2. The 'Radar Error' messages occur at pedestrian crossings (always), temporary traffic lights (sometimes) and filter lights (sometimes). There are odd occasions that they happen for no obvious reasons. This, I assume, is when the ANT+ link between the Varia and Elemnt suffers interference from an external source (which is similar to my Wahoo Kickr & Climb when we have the microwave oven running in another room). 3. The 'Radar Error' message does not give enough information for the user to tell what has caused the problem. However, on every occasion, pressing the 'Dismiss' button removes the message and the unit works normally thereafter (On only one or two occasions have I had the 'Radar Error' message come up a second time in seconds). But pressing the 'Dismiss' button forces the rider to remove a hand from the handlebars. This can be difficult when riding in the dark when wearing winter gloves and (for me) adds a bigger element of risk than what the error message tries to convey. 4. Given the lack of information of the cause of the 'Radar Error' Garmin are unable to diagnose whether there is a problem with the Varia unit or not. However, they replaced my unit, so that I could test a brand new unit (that came preinstalled with Garmin's latest firmware). The new unit behaved in the same way as the old unit - I had 'Radar Errors' displayed on my Elemnt at the same locations on both units. 5. I’ve also noted that ‘Radar Connected’ has started to show after you press ‘start’ and irritatingly, ‘Radar Disconnected’ shows every time I get to work and go to turn my Elemnt off. I’ve not been pleased when I go home from work 12 hours later and find my Elemnt battery depleted as the ‘Radar Disconnected’ stops the Elemnt turning off and I haven't noticed! Really hoping they improve (or remove) this feature. It was alright as it was before the warning was added!
Loved my bolt but switched to 530 a few weeks ago just for the radar. Oh well, a little too late for me, Wahoo. The 530 is great so far and the radar is perfect for the roads I ride on.
Huge update for wahoo. This support is the new baseline for cycling gps computers. Was a bit meh on the radar the first few rides, now love it and couldn’t ride without it. My friends when on my wheel use it to.
An important false negative is a "hovering" car -- one traveling just behind you at the same speed, where the driver is afraid to pass. These aren't always detected by the radar but are usually audible. Always look before making a move.
That’s what I was going to write as well. Though, since radar picks up the cars quite a distance back, by the time the driver starts hovering, you already know it’s there and you can also hear it/them.
purcahsed one and would not ride without it, the one thing i added is a small mirror on the left hand side at the bar end , useful when the road conditions are not good ,ex cracks potholes ,etc, easier to look down and have a look then doing a head check , and it is not going to make you slower. having a 1" mirror on the bar end.
Love my radar, even in heavy traffic on the busier roads for the commute. Definitely a game changer for those quieter roads, where you are quick to get a little complacent. Really like that Wahoo implementation too, gets me tempted to try something new when I replace the 820.
Awesome! Unfortunately the RTL511 which is sold in Germany instead of the 510 doesn't support blink mode and more importantly I can't get it to go into test mode. But the connection to my bolt works flawlessly. Very nice indeed :)
This might just be the next gizmo on my shopping list. HOWEVER, thus far I've stuck with the more traditional, al be it, a little silly method of just using one of those bar end rear view mirrors. In 10 000km it has never let me down, and despite it looking a little silly, once you use it and get used to it, it's a must!
JerryMcM I’ve been a bar end mirror user for years and thought this was a gimmick til I tried it. I don’t always hear approaching cars, and like Shane, I’ve never had a false negative. This increases situational awareness even if you do use a mirror.
I have the Bolt. Radar option would be great for some of my rides. I agree that commuting in heavy traffic this would be a beep factory. Encouraging to see cross platform support for safety devices.
Hi, This is cool. Are you saying that if we are in a (small) group more than one of us could get an alert from a varia radar that is say on the last guy's bike? What would be the range for that? Would it also be true that those multiple computers could be Garmins and Wahoos at the same time?
I love my radar. I did get a scare one morning riding parallel near a train line. Three really fast approaching vehicles....the train. For some Garmin users there is an IQ app that lets you get and keep data on the vehicles that pass you. The app is My Bike Radar. Certainly worth a look.
I found the Wahoo Roam's beeps a little quiet on fast windy country roads which is exactly the roads where the Varia works best. I've found the Varia app works perfectly even when minimised and the phone is locked so you can run both at the same time and get sounds through your phone too. Either crank up the volume or wear something like Aftershokz. If it's in your back pocket there's vibrations too. Getting it paired to both can be a bit pedantic as it seems like the Roam will sometimes use BT instead of ANT+ so best to do the phone first. Better all round solution would be if the Elemnt app could create sounds but seems like one of those low hanging fruits Wahoo will forever ignore.
I can’t believe I missed this. I am a wahoo user and really liked the Varia. I didn’t want to change to a Garmin head unit to use one of these tail lights. Darn you Llama, now I have to spend money 😀👍
I've had a Varia for about 18 months, wouldn't go out without it. Caught out a few times by electric cars before getting the Varia when commuting, they just sneak up behind you but not any more.
I would love to see an all around safety product that encompasses the rear Red Led lights, a radar and a high resolution rear facing camera all bundled into one unit. Even better would be an additional narrow beam radar that would warn of danger of a vehicle that has not moved over and is approaching into impact zone. I use a mirror with my unit but often forget to verify if a car has moved over. This is an ever present danger situation where a car driver is drifting over because they are not paying attention such as texting. The camera is more for insurance purposes if you happen to survive.
I had the 1st varia to come out when I had a Garmin and it was good if not great BUT get a Bike-eye mirror and a rear light that flashes all the time and you've better!! Ok it lets you know theirs a car behind but what do/can you do with that information?? - IT'S ALL DOWN TO THE CAR avoiding YOU, which you've no handle over, only being seen
What are the 510's lighting modes and do they differ when paired with a Wahoo vs a compatible Garmin head unit? For night riding, I think that I'd use your preferred On default with Flashing when cars are detected, but during the day I'd prefer to conserve battery with an Off default and Flashing detect. Great video! Thanks much!
You would need military grade anti-aircraft radar for that. Unfortunately Raytheon systems didn't support Ant+ Radar protocol last time I checked firmware updates notes. I hope it's on the way.
Hi Shane.... anyone with an Elemnt Bolt thinking of buying this might want to hang on a while. I got one for Xmas because Wahoo now supports the Garmin Varia Radar 510 - but the snag is that if you want to use the option of radar on with light off in bright sunny weather, the Bolt immediately disconnects even though the blue ANT + light on the device is still blinking. It's fine with the light on but I'd rather not use the light all the time in good visibility (I wear hi viz too) wearing the battery down when there's no need (and I already have another back light on the bike). I've contacted Wahoo support over this and suggested they might like to do an update to fix it.