Garmin Varia™ RTL515 Radar Tail Light

Radar detection transforms how you ride roads. The Garmin Varia RTL515 combines a 65-lumen tail light with rearview radar that tracks vehicles approaching from behind, alerting you up to 153 yards before they reach your position. Visual and audible warnings display on paired Edge computers, compatible Garmin watches, or smartphones running the Varia app, giving you situational awareness without constant shoulder checks or trying to hear engines over wind noise.

The radar beam covers a 40-degree angle with 220-degree light visibility, detecting cars and motorcycles as they enter range and tracking their approach speed. Your display shows each vehicle as a dot on a vertical bar, with faster-approaching traffic triggering more urgent audio alerts and colored indicators. The system distinguishes between multiple vehicles simultaneously, updating the display as cars pass or new ones enter detection range. When paired with a smartphone, the Varia app provides haptic feedback through vibration alerts, and the radar integrates with third-party navigation apps like Ride with GPS to overlay traffic warnings on your route maps.

Four light modes adapt to different riding conditions and group dynamics. Day flash outputs 65 lumens through a pattern optimized for daytime visibility at distances up to one mile, drawing driver attention before radar detection even begins. Night flash mode drops to 29 lumens with longer pulses that preserve night vision, while solid mode produces 20 lumens of continuous output for fully lit paths. Peloton mode runs at 8 lumens with a gentle flash pattern designed specifically for group rides, providing visibility to following traffic without blinding riders in your paceline.... Read More