Garmin Varia Rearview RTL515 Radar Bicycle Tail Light

Know what’s coming before you hear it.

The Garmin Varia RTL515 pairs rearview radar with a daylight-visible tail light in one compact unit. It detects vehicles approaching from behind up to 140 meters (153 yards) away and sends visual and audible alerts to your Edge® bike computer, your phone, or select Garmin smartwatches. You keep your eyes on the road ahead and still know what’s behind you. With daylight visibility up to a mile and up to 16 hours of runtime in day flash mode, it’s one of the most useful additions you can make to any road-going bike.

Why Riders Choose the Varia RTL515

Rearview awareness, up to 140 meters back. The radar detects approaching vehicles across a 40° beam and classifies them by closing speed. You see how many vehicles are coming and how fast before they reach you, so you can hold your line, move over, or plan your next move with confidence.

One radar, multiple displays. Pair it with your Edge bike computer, the Varia™ app on your smartphone, select Garmin smartwatches, or the optional radar display unit. You can run more than one at a time. Compatible smartwatches add haptic alerts on your wrist, and select models also give voice alerts.

Works with the apps you already ride with. The Varia app shows the position and speed of approaching cars with graphics, tones, and vibration alerts. It works as your main display or as a backup to your head unit. On a compatible smartphone, Varia radar also integrates with third-party apps such as Ride with GPS and overlays radar alerts on your maps.

Seen from a mile away, day or night. The 65-lumen day flash mode makes you visible to motorists from up to 1 mile (1.6 km) away in daylight. A 220° viewing angle keeps you visible from the side as well as from directly behind.

A mode for every ride. Choose from four light modes:

• Day flash (65 lumens): maximum daytime conspicuity
• Night flash (29 lumens): attention-getting after dark
• Solid (20 lumens): steady presence
• Peloton (8 lumens): a low-intensity flash that is easy on the eyes of riders behind you in a group

When you don’t need the light, radar-only mode keeps the radar working on its own.

Battery life built for long days. Get up to 16 hours in day flash mode, 8 hours in peloton, and 6 hours in solid or night flash. You spend more time riding and less time charging.

Compact, clean, and out of your way. At 71 grams (2.5 oz), the slim vertical body mounts on the seatpost of almost any road-use bicycle. Its vertical profile keeps it clear of your legs, so it never interferes with your pedal stroke. It is IPX7 water-rated for wet roads and surprise downpours.

The Victory Take

The RTL515 is one of the most common upgrades our fitters and staff recommend, especially for riders who log miles on open roads, rural routes, or busy commuter corridors. Radar doesn’t replace good road sense, but it adds a layer of awareness that changes how relaxed and focused you feel on the bike. If you’re unsure how it will pair with your current head unit, watch, or seatpost setup, our team is happy to walk you through it or set it up for you in the studio