New radar: Garmin Varia™ RearVue 820

[grayham]

I’m in the same boat so will consider buying one. I have a 1040 so would have access to the extra info, but I’m not sure that I’d want it displayed.

I am inclined to agree with GPLama’s initial assessment though - I’m not overly keen on having half of the width of my display covered by detailed radar information. In heavy traffic situations, that would just wipe out half of my fields or obscure half of a map display at a junction, which would be pretty annoying. I can see that the information about vehicle size, location and closing speed could be used to form a more accurate summary threat level that could be displayed simply (pretty much as the old units do with amber / red) and have different levels of alert tone. But I suspect that taking half of the display to show information that I cannot process would get annoying, and that I would switch to a simpler display mode pretty quickly (assuming this is possible, which seems likely from GPLama’s video).

Will decide once full reviews come out, but might wait a bit longer in the hope that an updated camera/radar model will come out that includes an actually-decent camera unit.

Edit: and now I’ve actually looked properly at DC Rainmaker’s shots above (only scrolled past on my phone before). That display doesn’t look too bad at all - in the Garmin product shots that I saw it seemed like it was genuinely half the display, but perhaps that’s configurable. So that’s good, at least. Seems a bit daft to have the threat level indicated by colours on the little warning triangles rather than colouring the whole vehicle icon. Ah well - it took Garmin about 3000 years to make the little arrow icon on map displays larger than about 3 pixels, so I won’t expect that to change any time soon!

[japc]

Please include some pictures from the radar overlay on an x40 edge as well on your review.

Also, how’s the power button on this version? My RTL515 power button is stuck with mud and dust. Hope Garmin changed the button design.

Thanks

[kevistraining]

@Rizzi

“only radar / no lights” option in the list

Yep that’s how I use my old 510 radar - only way to access it on mine is via my Edge computer though - it’s not an option when you just cycle through the modes with the button.

[dcrainmaker]

@grayham

That display doesn’t look too bad at all - in the Garmin product shots that I saw it seemed like it was genuinely half the display, but perhaps that’s configurable.

There’s essentially two core ways to see radar info now on the Edge x40/x50:

1. The oldish way, which is a column that overlays atop any data page you have open. However, this now has a ‘wide’ option, which is two columns thick (effectively multi-lane), but still overlaid across all data pages. But this is still relatively thin compared to the next option. Seen below, overlaid on the map page, and about to start a climb (where it’ll stay there). You can see the four cars, two of which have transitioned to orange threat levels, and two of which it’s still pondering. The last car is fuzzier, which means it’s still ‘locking’ that vehicle.

2. The new option, which is a separate data page entirely, with the full right half as radar (multi-lane), and then the column of configurable data pages you see at left. Note: this only appears on Edge 1050, doesn’t seem available for Edge 550/850, haven’t updated Edge 1040 to see if it works there.

My chief complaints here largely mirror what Lama said, which is this got waaaay to complicated. I think in theory, knowing vehicle size is actually useful. But in practice, it just doesn’t work. On my ride in the rain I just got back from, it misidentified half the cars as bikes/motos, and it only identifies really long trucks (semi trucks or buses) as large vehicles. Your standard cement mixing truck won’t show as a truck.

The thing is, we all know that getting passed by a big semi-truck would indeed be nice to know (from a wind/wake standpoint), especially for smaller riders. But it’s impossible to tell on the screen on a dry day, let alone a wet one. Just show me a truck icon. Seriously, make it easy. You show me dog icons as hazards, and other icons. Show me a truck.

Meanwhile, those orange dots you see, come up on virtually every single car that passes me (by time it gets close to me). They provide zero benefit whatsoever, just more distraction. You cannot disable those (I tried/asked). In theory it’s a calculation on vehicle angle and speed, but in practice, I had one show orange that was 150m+ behind me, slowing down to a stop sign (I was climbing, so going relatively slow, but it was going about 5kph). Zero reason to be orange.

In some ways, all they had to do was put a USB-C port and call it a win. But the rest of the advanced vehicle threat stuff I just want to turn off (but really can’t). On the bright side, detection range is bonkers far in some cases. I need to do some Google Earth measuring to validate some of the numbers (MyBikeRadar app won’t show distance, sadly, perhaps it will in ANT+ mode - UPDATE: Yes, forcing into ANT+ mode fixes MyBikeRadar, and bonus: Lets you get back your regular non-colored circles).

Don’t get me wrong, battery life, customization of the light modes, keeping the same mount connector, USB-C port, increased brightness, increased range, angular range (good for corners/mountain passes, where Wahoo sucks), and more are all awesome. But the the other pieces was just overthought and confusing.

[AldridgePrior]

As a Wahoo Bolt user, this looks to be of limited interest to me me, sadly…

Same Speed Vehicle Detection would be welcomed, if it worked, but I remain very sceptical of this capability being possible until proven in the field.

Multi-lane & vehicle-type detection as shown would be of little interest to me, even if it was compatible with my Bolt. I prefer to keep the display very simple, to minimise cognitive load and maximise information absorption in the minimal amount of time from a quick glance. I like the current orange/red lane method of threat distinction, and would probably welcome some subtle improvement of this whereby small/large vehicles could be visually distinguished simply, but nothing more than that.

If my current old Varia packs up, I wouldn’t rule out buying this thing (accepting I’m overpaying for features I can’t use) but would prefer to hold out until some other offering comes along that looks a better fit for me.

[kevistraining]

@dcrainmaker

But the rest of the advanced vehicle threat stuff I just want to turn off (but really can’t).

So…. do i actually end up having a better experience on my old edge 830 than I would on a newer head unit? Because it just keeps the old radar functionality that I love but with longer range and better light options?

[dcrainmaker]

Yes, though, I just figured out a way to turn it off. Basically, you need to force the ANT+ connection, instead of secure BT. That’s actually harder than you’d think, because Garmin forces you into secure BT and doesn’t show the other ANT+ connection (to be fair, this is smart, because otherwise it’s just never ending duplicate connections).

However, you also can’t switch back to open ANT+ mode once paired in Secure BT. You have to re-pair, which, see previous paragraph.

So, the ‘trick’ is then to fill up all the secure BT channels when pairing your x50 device. To do that, I grabbed two phones with Varia app, and then another Edge, and had then all connected with Secure BT. Then finally, on the Edge 1050 I searched for a new radar, and it showed me the regular radar. That got back my simple circles, no orange-topped vehichles, and just back to normal. Note, you could also use an extra iPad or something lying around too (you just need to install the Garmin Varia app).

Sigh, PITA.

[kevistraining]

@dcrainmaker

Sigh, PITA

I look forward to reading your review when I get a minute…. sounds like I’ll probably end up getting this and paying over the odds for some features I won’t use…. unless there is a “RTL520” or something in the works to replace my aging RTL510…

[cartsman]

@japc

Also, how’s the power button on this version? My RTL515 power button is stuck with mud and dust. Hope Garmin changed the button design.

Had my first Varia replaced under warranty because grit got in around the power button and killed it. Stuck a short strip of black electrical tape over the button after that, keeps the dirt out great, just press the button through the tape, don’t even notice it unless you look closely. That was in 2018, replaced the tape in about 2022 as was starting to look a bit tired, guess it must be due another update soon!

[Rizzi]

Garmin had the perfect product. Almost everyone who had one immediately knew to never go back. Most reliable radar compared to competitors, simple, just works. Garmin should have put USB-C on it with better (and now exchangeable) battery, kept the price and have a winner. Development cost for that would have been negligible.

Instead they pick the “double the price for inflated features (nobody asked for) and vendor lock-in” route. Why has capitalism become so complicated?

[Saddlesaur]

Maybe a separate dedicated display would make sense to accommodate the new features and more easily readable/interpretable symbols, without obscuring the bike computer screen…particularly if the new capabilities actually worked well. …not that I’m particularly interested myself. Yeah, I know, we hate to clutter up the cockpit, but….

[BarryG]

@dcrainmaker thanks for this…
It sounds like classic case of Garmin blowing Wahoo for “tech & features” but Wahoo regaining some ground with a simpler UX?
We see that in their head units all the time
is it similar in the new radars? Wahoo does alot less - but it does 99% of what you need
(Usb C, decent battery life?)

[dcrainmaker]

@BarryG

It sounds like classic case of Garmin blowing Wahoo for “tech & features” but Wahoo regaining some ground with a simpler UX?
We see that in their head units all the time
is it similar in the new radars? Wahoo does alot less - but it does 99% of what you need
(Usb C, decent battery life?)

In this case, yes, Wahoo tends to get UI right faster.

Though sadly, when it comes to reliability, the new Wahoo radar isn’t awesome at all. Battery is kinda so-so, not quite as good as Wahoo claims in real life.

[Teddy_Focaccia]

So what’s the minimally intrusive version for a 1040/50 look like? You mentioned a 2 lane “wide option” which suggests there’s a narrow option; can I just have the same look as the current 515 notification? Perhaps with the bike/car/truck icons instead of dots?

And, can I have that on all my normal screens but then a separate dedicated screen that’s the half-the-display thing? Honestly that would be great, as I only very rarely see a use for the more detailed info.

[kevistraining]

@dcrainmaker

when it comes to reliability, the new Wahoo radar isn’t awesome at all

Do you rate the Lezyne Radar Drive as being better than the wahoo…. if we want a more cost effective radar is that where to look…. or is it just stick to a RTL515 and keep a micro usb handy.

Who I’m I kidding - I’m going the get this new Garmin one unless there are some pretty good reasons not too

[GoLongThenGoHome]

@Rizzi

Please push Garmin to have a “only radar / no lights” option in the list.

Its listed as a feature on the Garmin Shop specs.

[timon]

I’d much prefer a lateral display of the traffic behind relative to my position than knowing how big/small the truck is that’s about to squish me.

I’ve become pretty desensitized to my older Varia. It’s nice on quiet roads to know who’s coming and move over as close to the right as possible just in case or to queue myself to look over my shoulder to make sure I’m not about to die, but otherwise it’s kinda just there.

If there were a way to see that an approaching car is within 2-3 feet of you laterally, is over their shoulder marking or right behind you, and is also closing at a high rate of speed to give an extra alarm/alert, that would be valuable info.

[dcrainmaker]

@Teddy_Focaccia

So what’s the minimally intrusive version for a 1040/50 look like? You mentioned a 2 lane “wide option” which suggests there’s a narrow option; can I just have the same look as the current 515 notification? Perhaps with the bike/car/truck icons instead of dots?

Here’s the narrow option. At right is an Edge 1050 with the narrowest option available, but still showing the threat detection bits. At left is any existing bike computer paired over ANT+, that doesn’t support the new vehicle/threat bits.

(In case you’re wondering why the power is zero on the right, I noticed a few seconds into the ride, and had to re-enable a power meter. I just grabbed this shot real quick though).

Here’s the middle thickness option, with two lanes shown:

And here’s the half-wide option.

[dcrainmaker]

@kevistraining

Do you rate the Lezyne Radar Drive as being better than the wahoo….

In my testing thus far, yes, it’s better than Wahoo.

[gwhilts]

From what I understand, and also what it seems GP Llama said in his review, it’s compatible with your 830 for the basic feature (i.e. what you see on screen with the 510 and 510). The only features that require an x40 or x50 device is the new vehicle info display.