Varia RVR315 Rearview Radar
Details
- Smart radar alerts approaching vehicles behind your bicycle
- Built-in radar covers 140 meters
- Pairs with Garmin's Edge Computer or a smartphone's Varia App
- Battery life lasts up to 7 hours
- Compact designe mounts to the seatpots of almost any road-use bike
- Item #GRMF012
- Power Source
- USB-C rechargeable
- Burn Time
- 7hr
- Mount
- seatpost
- Waterproof
- IPX7
- Dimensions
- 1.8 x 2.8 x 0.8in
- Claimed Weight
- 1.8oz
- Manufacturer Warranty
- 1 year
Reviews
Q&A
What do you think about this product?
Overall Rating
4.5 based on 4 ratings
Review Summary
Fits True To Size
Screen reader users: the following list provides a visual scale to illustrate the product fit. Please refer to the heading above for the fit type in text.Customer Images
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Selecting an option will reload the available reviews on the pageMarch 30, 2025
Surprised how well this works
- Familiarity:
- I've used it several times
I have never used a radar but this is amazing. It provides a huge comfort factor knowing what is coming up behind you. I cant compare to other brands but this is flawless so far and super easy to use with my garmin computer (its even an older model). I was surprised how far back the radar picks up a car. Plenty of time to manage narrow roads etc.
May 9, 2024
Provided peace of mind, until it failed.
- Familiarity:
- I've used it once or twice and have initial impressions
Provided reliable warning of vehicles approaching from behind without having to turn my head. Even indicates multiple vehicles. Good integration with head unit providing obvious indication. Careful: doesn't tell you how close they will come to you, only warns you not to veer over in front of them. Sadly, the power button physically failed after only a few rides, don't know why. Garmin promptly provided a replacement unit.
November 18, 2022
A must for solo rides
- Familiarity:
- I've put it through the wringer
I never ever go on a solo ride without this. Great way to keep tabs on traffic coming from behind. Downside - the beep from my Garmin 530 so usually don't hear it. I glance down at the 530 to check for the on-screen traffic indicators coming from this radar. Maybe 20% of the time I get passed by a car that I never noticed coming. Read a review where there is a phone app for this. Maybe if I felt the phone vibrate through my jersey I would know to look down at the Garmin and check traffic. Once I know traffic is coming, I either turn my head back to know where they are going or I watch from a mirror. If a car from behind isn't slowing or moving over, I will get off the road. I have never had a traffic safety issue thanks to this radar. I have had this for 2 years now with no problems. Battery life isn't super long. Maybe enough for two 3-hour rides. I make sure to charge before most rides, especially if its a 3+ hour ride.
March 24, 2021
Exceeds Expectations
- Familiarity:
- I've used it several times
When I saw my friends with their Garmin Varia, I viewed it as as another bling gadget, likely to be more distracting than useful. But they swear by theirs. When I saw the RVR315 for about 1/2 price of the regular Varia, I figured it was worth a try. I use a FLY6 rear-viewing camera, so I didn?t need the light. Half way through my first ride, I was hooked. Main reason: I glance at my Garmin Edge 530 often thanks to riding with a power meter (Vector 3). I realized that with every glance, I was getting an instant traffic alert. I figure that knowledge pays for the device. Knowing for some of the time, whether or not cars are behind you is better than not knowing for most of the time. Some details: - The mobile phone app works well. By connecting with Bluetooth, it works in parallel to the bike computer. I can?t hear the beep from my Edge 530, so I pair my phone to my hearing aids. The wanting sound is not unpleasant. I can live with it, but the feature isn?t needed on busy roads, so I?ll likely use it when riding alone in the local hills and on rural stretches. - The phone vibration option has no effect. I can?t detect the vibration through my jersey so I just turn that off. - Varia pairs with Garmin?s own smart watch, but there?s no iPhone Watch app. That could use the haptic feature. Hope it?s in the works. - The dots can be configured to appear on the left or right of the Edge 530 (and higher models). - The color over-bars can be removed if they obscure the Edge screen, as it does for my cycling dynamics. - Turning off the Garmin will also turn off the radar. Nice. But turning on the Garmin doesn?t turn on the radar as it does on the larger Varia model. The forums claim that it should. Need to investigate. - The most important item on my list to figuring out how to mount both the Radar and the Fly6. It?s a must-do. The Fly6 has been indispensable. I?ve used it to report dangerous drivers to the CHP. - My integrated seat post isn?t a great shape for the Varia mount due to the aero shape. Not Garmin?s fault. I need to experiment with attaching it under the saddle. I think The Varia315 is great value for the price. Hope this helps.
Originally reviewed on Backcountry.com
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