Garmin VARIA Radar with CAMERA: RCT715 Details // Ride Review 🚲📸

Garmin have finally added the most requested feature to their Varia Radar product - A CAMERA! Although the idea is somewhat simple, the user experience is anything but. There's a steep learning curve that's plagued with a number of shortfalls with the Varia App and the hardware. In this video I dig into all the details. Grab a coffee and enjoy. Or skip straight to 19:36 if you're short on time.
Links:
GPLama Varia RTL515 Video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i4WvepiXh7CBbMU
Garmin Varia Radar RCT715 (Amazon US): amzn.to/3wqjBQy
Garmin Varia Radar Light RTL515 (Amazon US): amzn.to/3gj7tXl
Garmin Varia Radar RVR315 (Amazon US): amzn.to/3bsm1jN
Video Index:
0:00 Intro
0:21 Varia Light/Radar Functionality Summary
0:44 Varia Radar Evolution
0:56 Introducing the RCT715
1:20 Unboxing / Close Up
3:44 Price
3:57 This is NOT an Action Camera
4:17 Jump Ahead Notice
4:34 Camera Purpose
4:56 Light and Radar Function
5:44 Comments on Safety
6:05 Camera Modes
6:25 Camera Options
6:59 Sound / Audio Test
7:12 Configuration
7:30 Memory / Storage
8:19 Usage
9:03 Radar Demo Mode w/ Varia App
9:45 Varia Camera Controls Widget
9:56 Needed: Camera Recording Status
10:16 Incident Detection
11:09 Battery Life / Test Results
13:09 Camera Performance
13:40 Camera Testing - Day
15:51 Camera Testing - Night
16;39 Big Scary Trucks
16:59 RCT715 Interface (On Bike)
17:54 The Camera Button 🔴
19:00 RCT715 Interface (Varia App)
19:36 Pros and Cons
23:53 Summary and Wrap Up
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#Garmin #Varia #Cycling

[@OBHarris]

I ordered it the minute it was listed and canceled the order after seeing the first review. I would have gladly paid if it were only satisfactory. I love the Varia so much that I refuse to ride without it and I have wanted this since the first day I bought the Varia. I will continue to wait for something that really works.

[@glennoc8585]

Serious question....do you believe beyond doubt that you have been safer since fitting the vadar and if so can you outline how this is so. Asking for a friend

[@OBHarris]

@@glennoc8585 I definitely feel safer with the Varia. I am 76-years old with my sight and hearing failing, and I do almost all my rides by myself. I would have a hard time using a mirror and I cannot hear many cars. I turn on the app on my iPhone for sound because I cannot hear the signal from the Hammerhead Karoo 2, but the computer has a bright screen where I can see the cars approaching. When I see a car approaching, I will move as far to the right as I can, and I try to never make a left-hand turn if a car is close behind me. If for some reason, the computer drops the radar signal, I will stop and fix it or end my route and go home. I am cautious because I have had several bad wrecks over the many years I have ridden, including being knocked unconscious and breaking my shoulder. I have come close to being killed by crazy drivers and I have read of several cyclists who have been killed in my county. So, definitely, I think it makes me safer.

[@alanroper6520]

@@glennoc8585 I agree with Orville Harris, this is the best bit of tech I have bought for using whilst out on my bike. I ride with a bike club and when out as a group, it's excellent if I am towards the back as I can then give a verbal warning of "car back" to the other riders. Definitely feel safer with the RTL515, not convinced the RCT715 is worth the extra cost.

[@whazzat8015]

Wait till Version 2.1

[@scottlstone]

I literally placed an order for the RCT715 and after watching THIS SUPERB in-depth review I cancelled it! I still have the RTL515 so I’ll keep using that until a better version of this camera is released. Clearly the camera tech needs improving on it (which can’t be completed with software updates) but my biggest problem and what I expected it to have is a live view camera. I expected it to somehow connect through the Varia app in my phone (and maybe head unit) and be able to stream the live video which to get a visual of what is behind me at the time while I’m riding is so useful. This only records footage to view later once uploaded. This Lama guy knows his stuff!

[@freebird61885]

Man. Like so often with Garmin, great idea, iffy execution. Would be a total winner with a better camera. The Varia 510 remains one of the very few indispensable pieces of kit I own. Thanks Shane!

[@paddyotoole2058]

It’s not that bad.

[@JohntuberLeeds]

I’m interested as to when a car is detected what you do? Pull over each time? I don’t get the advantage of having it. Only reason I might see is if you wear headphones (but then you might not hear warning) or with more quieter EVs on the road, that might give you a warning. Never had radar and want to know what I’m missing?

[@freebird61885]

@@JohntuberLeeds it allows me to move over a bit if there’s a car back and certainly gives me an opportunity to prepare for a turn, all without having to take my eyes off the road ahead. It also gives me the relative speed of the vehicle. I honestly would never leave home without it. After my helmet and cell phone, I consider the Varia to be the most important safety device I have. I do typically encounter several hundred cars on each ride I do.

[@freebird61885]

@@paddyotoole2058 it could, and should, be so much better though.

[@baddriversofcolga]

@@paddyotoole2058 The image quality is pretty bad for something that costs $400.

[@g4rymw110]

I got the RTL515 the best purchase I’ve made , perfect for warning me on oncoming vehicles so I can get a heads up and get prepared, even picked up a monster cyclist in TT mode behind me 😀, think I’ll use a go pro on a rail seat mount for now, great review as always Shane 👍🏻

[@darinsteele7091]

i have a cateye bm-45 mirror that does the same thing except i can actually see how close the car is away from me with my own eyes, the only thing you dont get is an audio que. the varia won't tell you how close left-right the car is away from you while a mirror will,

[@ytubela]

@@darinsteele7091 Your mirror is great, if you're looking at it every 5 seconds. Otherwise, the radar + mirror combo is best. The radar tells you when to look at your mirror, allowing you to have a more relaxed ride than you would looking at the mirror every 5 seconds.

[@darinsteele7091]

@@ytubela i agree, i just wish the varia didnt cost so much its crazy

[@mechpatt]

@@darinsteele7091 I'm a poverty cyclist, but bought the RTL515 and it's added at least 20% to my enjoyment riding the bike not having to worry about what is behind me. I had a mirror for a number of years, but dark cars without daytime running lights are often missed with a quick glance. I've never spoken to anyone that has regretted buying one...at the end of the day, you don't get a lot of medical treatment for ~$A350 ...

[@darinsteele7091]

@@mechpatt in Canada it's free!

[@hollisross3561]

This was the best product review I jave seen in a LONG time. You answered all of my questions very well. Thanks!

[@Prettorian]

OK, this is exactly what I expect of a thorough review!..Cheers, mate!👍

[@AlexanderLiffers]

I have the RVR315, so they do exist in the wild. The reason was that I was already using the Fly6 as a rear light and camera and there is only so much space on a seat post. Even if two lights each with different dual functions would have been nice there's not enough vertical space. All three in one sounds great.

[@mvp_kryptonite]

Garmin, this is simple; bring back the Virb team!! v2 needs to be a Virb 4k stabilised, PD USB 3 gen 2 C with full ANT+ support and Virb edit apps. Shane, great review, thanks again but I can’t purchase this monstrosity. My Virb ultra and RTL515 work fine but I wouldn’t mind if they were all one seamless unit which this isn’t

[@johnkemp3592]

Thanks for the comprehensive review. Think I'll be sticking with my RTL515

[@tonycarlsson7409]

I just bought a RTL515 and I couldn't see myself wanting the camera, so much happier my purchase in the light of this release.

[@gplama]

515 is a great unit. Not all that spectacular on battery, aside from that brilliant.

[@itsdeebs5156]

I bought one. Next day went in bought another...for the brother in-law. Wife got a bike. Right bought a third. Mate got into riding ... Told him his first purchase before bibs or anything is one of these, I'd loan him head units etc to get cracking. This is the only cycling tech that enhances your riding experience hands down...must have.

[@Cheg78]

@@gplama I have the RVR315 (coming from RTL511 that had some battery issues after 3 years of service) and the battery life is a disaster (hardly 7h).

[@Wyliedawg]

Great review as always. I'm on the RVR315 with a separate and much better light than the RTL515 has and based on this review I'll be staying in that configuration for a long while yet. Thanks Shane!

[@crossroads4762]

I want the smoke screen option! I was super excited about this 30 minutes ago, now I'm going to play my Banjo.

[@sambrown1779]

Great review. Thanks for the skip ahead on the time line 👌👌

[@tobymcintosh8850]

So that’s why you rode on remembrance Drive! To record some “those monsters” action! Thanks again Shane, so good and informative as always!

[@gplama]

Bingo! 🤣

[@gunny6517]

Great Review and thank YOU for taking the time to do this very detailed review! I have the RTL515 and will be upgrading to the RCT715 AFTER all of the bugs and issues are ironed out (via firmware). It has great potential and I’m sure it will do exceptional ONCE everything is resolved. Thanks 🇺🇸

[@Davidb67]

You could be waiting a looooong time for that, Garmin not known for resolving / improving firmware & software issues particularly swiftly….

[@peekabbu83]

that sound test was smooth

[@ojtamno]

In spite of this review I decided to buy this device. I live in far east country of Poland where dash cam is a "must be" and the idea of having one combined with radar was too appealing. Even though Garmin logo on it (sorry, but my exp with Garmin products are exclusively bad.... so far). After updating Varia to latest firmware (5.1) and pairing with varia app on android phone, I went for short test ride (14km or so) with camera configured to work just on radar activity. My observations are: 1. Preview speed: previous and thumbnails is sufficient. Previous are loading instantly with no delays, although they have resolution is lowered. I also suspect (although can't prove it yet) that the speed here depends on the number of files stored on the card. But that to be checked further 2. Download speed: yes, it is still bad. DesFit tip of disabling bluetooth works and download accelerates but it is still rather slow, considering that it is done via dedicated wifi connection on dedicated WiFi channel with no other devices co-existing and very good radio conditions. I consider this as a flaw/buggy of the design. Clearly, Varia can't deal with wifi+bluetooth co-existence. So either it is a bug or they used the cheapest Chinese chip to handle wireless connection. This way or another -> true Garmin experience ;-) 3. Connectivity: there is one annoying but - varia app can be connected to the device only if the lamp is shining. If I switch to mode where light is off, both bluetooth and wifi get disconnected. Even though LEDs indicate that bluetooth is active. It seems that Garmin's wifi requires the light ;-) I can almost hear Garmins manager instructing developers: "user should be able to connect only if the light is on" :D Anyway, standby mode is useless for bt/wifi user. 4. False positives. I was absolutely surprised by amount of those. I can understand and accept it if I ride on dedicated bike line along the road. That's fine. If the bike like goes on the opposite side of the road, that's becoming weird. But if the bike road goes like 20m a side the road and is separated with double fence from it... it becomes annoying. In addition, during this one 30min ride I already had one "ghost" report - there was literally nothing behind me and warning was triggered. Maybe it was a tree or bird... i don't know 5. Plates: I was able to read every plate so far, even with 80km/h speed difference. Perhaps we use better/bigger font for plates in Poland. 6. The device is constantly emitting high frequency noise (feep). On the bike I can't hear it, but when browsing the content at home it is audible. Moreover, it seems that blinking light generates clicking sound which you can hear when watching the recordings. One blink, one click :D 7. Last thing, which is maybe just my preference. The disco (blinking) mode which is activated on radar activity is a very good idea for the day, but in the night time it is annoying/disturbing and may bling. I think that during the night the solid or pulsing light is a better option as it gives a constant information about my position to drivers and it is not as glaring as blinking one. Sorry for the long comments, I had to throw this out ;-)

[@mikegraham8319]

Thought about doing your own review channel? lol

[@sanjam6237]

Thank you!

[@GP350]

Awesome review as always! Glad I watched this video before purchasing, I'll stock to my rtl510 for now. Garmin sure dropped the ball on this one, should be atleast 2.7k with image stabilization and better integration especially with Garmin head units!

[@petef15]

I personally think 1080p is fine given some basic stabilization. The way I see it this product is a safety device. Warns you of traffic approaching, records said traffic, and operates as a light. If you want to record behind you in high quality you get a gopro.

[@randallsmith7885]

Thank you for this honest video. I just bought a Varia 715 without checking your review and I am having the same experiences in April of 2023 that you warned about in 2022. This thing is a lot of extra money and weight in return for a camera that I can't figure out how to use. What a waste this thing is. And yes, I avoided the various iterations of the fly camera because of friends' experiences.

[@nathancook5627]

I was so hoping that this would be exactly what cyclists needed in a rear camera, maybe if they can improve on the video image and the software with updates I'll purchase but it really seems like a complete waste at the moment. Thanks for the great review!

[@whazzat8015]

The Varia is a hugely transformative device, but still with a long way to go. Needs to work as smoothly as a car's back up camera. The elements are there, but not present in this version. It took car makers 10-15 years to start to get the electronics right.

[@randallsmith7885]

@@whazzat8015 Seems like Garmin has screwed up every attempt they have made at cameras, including every action camera... Maye they need more than 15 years.

[@macordior]

I love love love your thorough reviews!

[@lorsch.]

Thanks for looking at the numbers plates especially, this would be my main use case after having had an accident with a hit and run scenario last week. It seems like the image quality here is not really good enough to work reliably even during daylight...

[@kevinedward118]

Great review! I am soooo tired of KZbin product pimps. You gave an honest review!

[@raysclim]

Learnt so much from your channel, great garmin IQ apps and devices introduction , thank you for making gamin newbie more enjoying riding 🎉

[@ChristopherSterwerf]

Great review Lama!

[@daveryan1221]

Great review thanks for all of the detailed information!

[@domestique3954]

Thanks for the review - I guess I‘ll stay with my bar end mirror ! 🤙

[@fabianmolyneux2308]

As per all your reviews another great one. Thanks. I have a Varia and it does a good job. However, this new iteration appears to offer very little to warrant stepping up to it. Aside from needing to offer a better camera it would also be better if it were to provide a calculation on the speed of an approaching vehicle, particularly in a critical incident situation. As your review indicates - Don't take this to market Garmin. Rather, back to the drawing-board and perfect it further

[@eberger02]

I have had two previous Fly6 and now a Varia510, so I was interested to if they’d succeeded. My experience with the Fly6 was that on those few occasions I wanted to use it I couldn’t read the numberplate. That looks as bad. As regards image stabilisation: my cheap wifi home camera has built in person and vehicle detection. Even if the image stayed bad but it stamped number plates on it It’d be okay. Even if it did it after downloading using servers/AI I’d be inclined to consider upgrading. No way I’d upgrade for that picture.

[@marbacc]

So which camera would recommend for safety purposes? A GoPro? I have been reading reviews about different ones and the GoPro seems to be the best option. Any advice would be recommended.

[@KatrinaOutside]

Now if only they would add a front facing camera to the Varia headlight as well (since that’s what would capture license plate numbers here in the states). That would be a sweet combo!

[@MrBaggers75]

Saved me wasting money on this until they sort it out properly. I love my varia 515 so will wait until this is what it should be. Thank you Shane!

[@ulrichz4099]

I love the bash of Cycliq and Garmin in one go at the end haha

[@nicksidell4797]

Well. After watching your review Shane I am not going to be the guinea pig I will stick to the original light even though that is what I wanted a video camera light but I shall not be putting my hand in my pocket for one of these at the moment. Cracking review and one that I can trust. thanks for that👍

[@Reticulosis]

Going to wait for the updated version. Great idea. I love that radar, it’s great specially in single lane roads that are heavily traffic by dump trucks.

[@BobCycleBrisbane]

Another great review. I have just been using a ToooCycling DVR80 rear camera with my Radar 515.

[@ginger9049]

You and the camera button…I’ve been watching you for years and never laughed like that

[@MattSwain1]

Love my 515 but no sale here. I’d question whether it even does what Garmin intended. I don’t need GoPro level footage but if the worst happens I do need footage where number plates are readable or what’s the point? Night time is always going to be tricky but daytime is inexcusable. I’d say that mounting options have always been an issue with the Varia devices, generally forcing you to choose between the Varia or a saddle bag and clearly with a camera lens to protect you’d think a bit of a rethink might have been in order. I’d be ok with the asking price if it did a good job but if you can’t read number plates then it’s a big fail in my eyes

[@romullotadeu9986]

Great video… on point! Will wait to version 2.0 updated

[@chrisobyrne5675]

Based on yours and DC Rainmaker’s review the only real progress at this stage is the introduction of usb-c…..that’s a lot of cash for an improved charging port! Let’s see if firmware or app changes improve things. As always a great review that saves many of us from a potentially expensive mistake.

[@gplama]

The new mount is awesome too! 😉

[@lorsch.]

@@gplama I wish it was compatible with the old mounts though. The single rubber band was always the weak point, since I replaced that with the varia seat post mount that gets screwed on, it (the RTL515) is very stable.

[@ethranton]

Disappointing results! Thanks for the review, phenomenal test scenarios. Awesome.

[@larsschiefelbein2868]

For the camera part, it would be nice to have 1:1 comparison with the Fly6. Thanks for the review!

[@h4nn0S]

Thx Shane, great stuff like always :-)

[@coachskil]

Thank you for this ... thoughts on FRONT cameras ?? Motor Vehicles are not issued front license plates in some jurisdictions ....

[@gplama]

I’m all for front cameras too. You make a good point about front plates.

[@yussanid]

wow, still saving for the last rtl, looks good for safety and style

[@gplama]

Keep saving for the RTL. Those are brilliant units.

[@BetterShifting]

Same! 🎉

[@NathanLipkeEvilN8]

One thing I've found with Cycliq is the front camera is much better at grabbing the license plate numbers. Probably best current option is GoPro on front, radar on back.

[@mickfaragher7897]

Great honest review👍 That's what I want.

[@laf9686]

Have the updates improved this enough to make it worthwhile? I have a coupon that would lower the price a bit. Still >$300 though. I like the idea of the radar and the camera seems it could create some documentation. I've been holding out on buying the radar without the camera in hopes that they will improve this one enough to make it worthwhile to get the one with the camera. Also, how well might this work when mounted on a bike packing saddlebag (so the big ones, not the little tool holder ones)?

[@shannonparker7404]

"Aint nobody got time for 720" Amen sir! Lol.

[@gtsimmo1]

Big big fane of RTL510 and RTL515 and I converted my friends to it too! A riding camera would of been extremely useful when I crashed two weeks ago riding solo. Hit my head hard enough that I blacked out and completely lost all memory of the incident. Footage would help immensely, not just for legal aspects but also for personal mental closure. Anyhow, I'll definitely be on the look out for your videos covering firmware/app updates. Better still, a hardware revision in the future and perhaps a matching front headlamp/camera unit.

[@jenniferw6081]

I have the Varia 515 and really wished I'd had a camera when a driver hit me last week (not inured thankfully). Driver didn't give details and I was so upset I didn't get the rego. Bought yet another Fly6 to add to my setup so I get details next time. Thanks for the review, won't be buying this model!

[@J.S.A.]

Saved me some money. On paper just what I’ve been looking for / dreaming off. That camera quality though, not fussed about it being high quality for KZbin footage etc, just want something from a safety perspective, looking at those (or not looking) number plates doesn’t seem to be any use. Drivers in the UK care not for cyclists, every time I ride I have a near miss or get people randomly shouting abuse for absolutely no reason… we can be in different empty lanes and still get it… that’s the stuff I want to capture and report, doesn’t look like this will cut it.

[@SayMcGillicuddy]

07:00 - so this one time, I decided to set up a new business selling melon juice....anyway I died. Your fellow Aussie KZbinr has changed the game for mic checks Shane!

[@duncanblake3765]

Great review, honest and well rounded . Ive got the RVR315 and Cycliq. Also have a RTL515 ( on wife’s bike). Radar is just brilliant on country roads, one of the best gadgets I’ve owned None of these cameras I’ve had on bike ( Cycliq or Garmin VIRB)seem to work in low light. I suspect it has a bit to do with the lens size, as well as FPS and (road) vibration. As per the review, the bigger the lens is, the more easily hit/damaged so probably not an easily solved issue I’ve also got the dash cam mini 2 and 65W in the car. Previously had the 55 dash cam and Mini 1. The dash cam mini 1&2 were bad in low light, I wager it is likely the exact same camera as in the RCL715. Garmin’s wireless interface to the memory is bad in all devices, esp. via wifi functionality . ( Garmin Drive App is equally as clunky). Seems a relatively easy issue to fix I would imagine given the proliferation of BT tech in tethered devices to smartphone I’d be keen to know if there is functionality that can be done via DuraAce STI hood buttons for capturing still photos or manual incident capture. Agreed that you’re not going to be touching head unit with cars approaching The 16gb card is cheap and nasty, though with dash cams ( before I hardwired) I noticed the larger SD cards really reduced battery life. Why this is exactly , I’m unsure I’m sure it’s just a RW issue give large write sectors? If there is a follow up test I’d love to see how a Fly 6 Gen 3, or late model GoPro goes in low light , looking for car details with headlights shining in it at low light/sunset or nighttime. Perhaps an IR function can be looked at? Agreed though that at specific price point the unit doesn’t yet stack up, many thanks for the efforts in your review at saving the $$$ and trouble for end users/consumers

[@funfriends609]

thanks for the review. I have a 515 and love it. When the battery eventually goes hopefully this 715 model is into its next release and fixes some of the issues you raise. Out of interest, is it possible to have the 515 in Radar only mode? I have a Wahoo Roam head unit if that makes a difference. Also, just FYI, since the last upgrade to the firmware a few months back I have been getting Radar Error coming up on the Wahoo screen every now and then (maybe once a week), the green stripe disappears and then reappears a few seconds later after dismissing the alert on the Wahoo.

[@talonlan]

You can only put it in radar only mode when paired to a Garmin head unit. Shane covered it ( varia secret running mode ) in his festive 500 rides I believe.

[@funfriends609]

@@talonlan thanks for that, much appreciated

[@SteveMcClanahan]

Interesting review. I've been using a Fly 6 for years and it sounds like there's no reason to "upgrade" to this Garmin device. Sounds like id be better off just adding the radar-only hardware and sticking with what I have. Thanks Again!

[@kevruns]

I already have a RTL515 and it’s brilliant. If the camera on this new model isn’t even good enough to pick up car number plates I really don’t see the point in upgrading. Heck, if I didn’t have the 515 I still wouldn’t buy this one. Adding a camera is a great idea by Garmin. It’s just a shame that what they have produced has fallen so short.

[@jeremyhopwood]

So I wanted this to work but alas is no. Have my varia and love it but may look to use my old Garmin virb for a camera and run it to a battery pack for longer battery life Thanks for the review - most of the time these reviews cost me money but in this case it has saved me some dollars!

[@gplama]

I so wanted it to be great too. I LOVE the radar. They might be able to throw this a lifeline with a few QUALITY updates to the app and firmware. We'll see. I'll keep using it and keep reporting back when they change things. Thanks for being a channel member too Jeremy. 🙏🏼

[@shaunbassett5093]

Hey Shane, I am wondering if anything has changed on the RCT yet following your awesome review? I currently run Cycliq front & rear, I think I have been lucky, they mostly have been fault-free but the rear is reaching it's use by date. I don't want an RCT that is half baked and I am hopeful GARMIN have sorted some of the issues 5 months in..... A mate runs the RTL and I love the audible alerts, the entire group knows 'Car Back'.... Fingers crossed we are closer to the 'perfect' RCT than we were. Cheers, love your work.

[@gplama]

No change unfortunately. There’s been a few app updates, nothing of note to change the experience. I still have to pop the SD card to get to the footage easily. I still can’t get the rear view preview working either.

[@shaunbassett5093]

@@gplama Thanks, really love the way you present - typical Aussie with no BS, just the facts. I agree totally with your view, if Garmin get this right (hardware and software), this product is almost a MUST HAVE for riders - then a front mount version also, with ambient light sensor to switch from headlight to flash mode and we just might help change driver habits and stay safer out there.

[@michaelwaataja5876]

Great review.

[@gplama]

Thanks!

[@LoaforDie]

Good review but I’m still going to stick to my 515 for now. Can’t see myself riding without it. I remember I left it at home once on accident. Drove to the parking area, saw I didn’t have my radar. Just went back home and postponed my ride. It’s that important for me. Going home safe and sound is a top priority for me while going on a bike ride.

[@whazzat8015]

Totally agree. It's like my helmet. but it is not there yet, seems like Version 0.4

[@Calfasaurus]

Glad that you are holding companies accountable for quality products. Can you let us know if Garmin is going to release a front camera too or should I invest in a GoPro?

[@gplama]

Anything I can talk about that's interesting (like this) goes straight into a video here on KZbin.

[@crazydave2825]

@@gplama better to mount it behind my saddle or on the stem? thanks

[@gplama]

@@crazydave2825 I find saddle rail mounts are the best place.

[@bearhuntertv]

Great review. Thank you thank you thank you. I am dying to have this technology but I think it makes sense to wait a little bit longer. I would think they will improve the camera, battery life and battery life. Ok I’m wishing but hey, I can dream.

[@gplama]

If they can improve the experience with the app and polish a few things with firmware, it'll go a long way to boost my take on this unit. I'll continue to use it and report back on updates as they roll out. Thanks for being a channel member too Zane! 🙏🏼

[@NeilLavitt]

Fantastic review - I'll stick with the original. What a shame about the quality. The number plate has to be a minimum ask - hopefully they can tweak this in firmware. From other reviews, it does look like it fares better with the UK plates and in slower moving urban traffic.

[@armadillito]

Thanks for such a thorough video - really disappointed by the reality compared to the press release-based coverage. I would love to have a reliable, all-in-one system for bike commuting. I would want the camera to be significantly improved and would hope to see radar data logged either side of detected incidents.

[@doggdemuro]

25:00 - I was not expecting that. LoL! 🤣

[@gplama]

It's true.... And in saying that, their Fly 12 Sport arrived here yesterday for review.

[@Ultegra10SPD]

Thank you sir. Still runs longer than new fly6 and appears better sealed (an issue with the cycliq). Didn't know that they sold a radar-only model. may go get that to fill out my post without filling up my post (bag - radar - fly6). Take care. -U10 PS - Helicopter Tape over lense.

[@klaviator7547]

As usual , Garmin always hold back on their innovation . I mean come on, it’s 2022 you can literally put an iPhone 6 camera sensor on it and still look wayyy better than this junk. I love the radar , when the RTL500 launched I straight away bought it and never regret ever since . That remains the only new category gadget from Garmin that have a solid performance , works as intended , from the very first day it was launched. I always wanted to have a camera built in , this is what I wanted but feel disappointed with the image quality. Obviously Garmin is trying out to test the market and if the community responded well they come out with PRO version or something like “RCT730”. Guess I’ll wait until they improve the image quality .

[@dn6008]

They know exactly what they are doing. An opportunity for them to fix the issues and come up with a higher price.

[@whazzat8015]

That's because Garmin bought a working product with the first version. This is still not a working Version 2.0, more a V1.4 or even 0.4.

[@DenHvideHund]

2022 and that camera quality and THAT price...Back to the drawingboard Garmin...

[@RAP4EVERMRC96]

Honestly for such a capable and most of all communicating sensor node like this it is pretty impressive. It’s always a trade between some features when it comes to small devices. I mean seeing this quality on your phone or your even smaller head unit is totally fine. I guess it was never intended as a go pro…

[@herbert6232]

Does this mean new edge devices are also on the horizon ?

[@whazzat8015]

Agree . The Varia is a must have and this is the Version 0.4 model. Gimme an active rear view on the Karoo, or activate a GoPro and I'll pretend to like Garmin even more. But that will prolly be Version 2.1 ? When we gonna see a car-like PAN for bikes?

[@jimpeyton1459]

Varia radar changed my riding experience. Adding a camera sounds like a great idea, but, as you said Shane, the camera is NOT a safety feature. One doesn't even need a camera for incident detection and reporting to a third party. When I watched you and Ray show the file structure, I had a flashback to segmented music files in the late 90s. Seems file transfer speed is of the same vintage. So many different ways to store and provide preview ability....not here. Thanks for the first pass review. Very disappointing....camera can't even be a back up Action Cam. Lots of work to do. 📷

[@cbyod]

Cheaper to use a bar end mirror

[@whazzat8015]

Gimme a rear view monitor Would even beat the bar end in everything but price.

[@cbyod]

@@whazzat8015 lol you just adding weight to your bike also the footage won't be real time there will be a slight delay.

[@whazzat8015]

@@cbyod No prob. Adding weight and delays are the story of my life. It does raise an interesting question on timing. Everyone has a rhythm to their situational awareness. We tend to emphasize hardware, not the way it's used. Remember why the old fighter dictum of "checking your 6 " ? TBH the game of the Varia for me is as much a reminder to scan and that may be a big part of its value. Folks have differing coaching needs. As I get older, this is a rhythm I see changing in drivers as well. Noting the screen delays is a good pointer. In traffic design this is called "complications". Cars have gone from greenhouse cabins to obstruction with pillars and headrests, as an example, not to mention their other distractions that add delays in observation. Mirrors also have variable fields of view. The Varia is wide and up to 150 yards long. "Mirrors say, "No", they never say, "Go". Again additive.

[@tylerstutzman9722]

Great review! I'm curious - you said near the end of the video that the battery life was better than the RTL515 (with camera off). But the RTL515 has a battery life of 16 hours in day flash mode, whereas the RCT715 is only 10 hours. Even the RTL510, from 2018, is better, at 15 hours. Or maybe your statement was based on your testing, and you found the RTL515 to be less than advertised? I might be able to justify this device, if the battery life was better than the 515, and if i only intended to use the camera rarely. I'm not sure how the light-only battery life went down on the RCT715, unless they shrunk the battery?

[@KBDProductionsTV]

Thank you

[@bahg565]

Excellent, thank you for this

[@kennhansen466]

Thanks for the vidio 🙂👍 I vill go with the radar model🚲🙂👍🇩🇰

[@playandteach]

I've got the beginning of tinnitus and work related hearing problems. However, I use homemade ear defenders from furry fabric. I can hear single cars coming WAY earlier than my riding buddies with normal hearing and no furry ear pieces. Yes, I look ridiculous. But I don't need radar. I would like just a camera. What are the best post incident cameras (not interested in blogging my ride)? And can I suggest that you move to Northumberland, UK, where the roads are stunning and free from serious traffic - apart from the wood wagons on one well avoided route.

[@landixus]

We need Rockets! And EMP! Review and prizes please, especially for the different munition. :)

[@henhousecycling3916]

Hi Shane, again great presentation and analysis, many thanks! You mention the Cycliq Fly products - since this presentation and review, have Clycliq picked up the opportunity to improve their products? cheers, Shaun

[@gplama]

It’s something they assured me they were working to resolve when I was reviewing their Fly 12 Sport (which was a pretty good product).

[@henhousecycling3916]

@gplama Thanks Shane...

[@T6Hey]

The price point on this compared to the RTL515 is ridiculous considering the quality of the camera, if it was 4k it would really be worth it but for the extra £180 here in the UK for that camera quality is so poor!

[@domefford864]

File size for a 4 hour bike ride at 4k would be huge!

[@willmiller1460]

Great video, you and Ray definitely not fans - which is fair enough and it's great to see honest reviews. I'll be sticking to my RTL515, but I would really like a camera on my bike, something that runs for 3-4 hours preferably - has good image quality and doesn't cost more than 200 us dollars - does such a thing exist?

[@marcelrasing4801]

after watching you and DCrainmaker on this new product, I think there will be a RCT815 real quick in the market. There better be. I still wonder if you can charge this one while riding (as that was the reason for me to upgrade to the 515 recently)

[@bikes_camera_more]

RTL510 is just fine. May get the RTL515 as a replacement & pass the RTL510 to my Fiancée. However, I just can't see the RCT715 as a viable replacement at £349.99 unless quality is much improved.

[@lkeshlifestyle9383]

great review!

[@timothydrew993]

Yeah, thanks for that. Think I'll wait till it's a more mature product. In the meantime, I'll be getting a normal Varia Radar. If I want video, I'll use an action cam.

[@hamleyn]

Great review as always Shane. You mentioned you wear headphones whilst riding - I've always been curious about this with people from a safety perspective. You seem like a safety conscious guy - do you feel any less safe riding with headphones in around traffic?

[@gplama]

This is a can of worms.... but let's dig in anyway. :). I've worn earphones on the bike for years when riding solo. I use corded earphones with no noise cancelling that can be flicked out at any point should I want to hear more of what's going on. This is typically in heavy traffic in town. When there's relatively no/low traffic I'll listen to music, radio, or podcasts. The remote control on the Apple earphones is really handy. Siri does the rest with voice control. The RTL515 (and RVR315, and now RCT715) with BLE and Varia App connectivity were a game changer for audio alerts. I will ALWAYS have the Varia app paired to the Radar when using earphones. The audio alerts play over top of music/podcasts/etc so I know when something is approaching and also when it's 'all clear'. This works exceptionally well on gravel where the tyre noise is always pretty loud, sometimes making the headunit/GPS alerts hard to hear. Not a problem with the earphones + Varia App + Radar. In a lot of cases (almost all of them), it's SAFER to have the Radar alerts directly in your ears than coming only from a head unit. Both is even better again. I respect some people will never ride with earphones. I also respect people accept responsibility for the own actions in choosing what to ride with (or without.. in the case of no radar!).

[@hamleyn]

@@gplama great response - I've never ridden with headphones and don't plan to start but it's info like this that really helps me understand the justification around it. Helps with the 'try not to be judgy' side of my brain!

[@whazzat8015]

@@gplama Bone conduction or single ear piece helps offset the risk. Distraction is always an issue.

[@ChristophVonBagel]

I still have the 500 works great

[@martinreader7765]

Thanks for your review. You mentioned that you can hear the radar warning audible beeps in your headphones. Can you tell me how to set that up? Thank you.

[@LarsTore]

I'd love to know more about that myself! Can it be via the app? If so, a little too much tech to sync and get started before the ride...

[@gplama]

When paired to the Varia Mobile App via BLE your phone will emit these sounds on Radar event detection (and with ‘all clear’ events).

[@thefox2205]

This piqued my interested too. I would like to hear the beeps of my workouts on the wahoo in my headphones. Especially at the end of sprint efforts so I know I can ease up without having to focus on the screen.

[@JamesSumners]

Love my 515. Really helps out on the road. I would love to have front and back cameras I could use to report the people trying to kill me. This camera does not look like the solution. But I am still curious about something you left out. In order to fit my 515 on my Emonda along with a saddle bag, and to give the radar clear visibility, I have to put the unit in the mount upside down (to clear the wheel/tire). Does the camera work in this orientation? Or would all of the video need to be rotated after the fact?

[@gplama]

That’s an interesting question. I’ll look into this!

[@JamesSumners]

@@gplama thank you.

[@niles_stone2742]

Thanks for the review. Love my Varia even with limited battery and it doesn’t work while charging. I’ll wait for camera tech before I upgrade.

[@gplama]

They work while charging. Just not connected to a data source such as a Mac or PC.

[@niles_stone2742]

@@gplama good to know. Thank you.

[@Dr.Schlitz]

I have the current Varia radar/light, and it works great. I ride a small bike and can't mount anything on my seatpost (not enough room). I have a Specialized saddle and use a 3D printed quarter-turn mount attached to the "swat" mounting points on the saddle. Can you attach this device to a standard quarter turn mount? It seems not ....

[@gplama]

This isn't native 1/4 turn compatible. I'm sure something could be hacked up though. The additional weight would have to be factored into the strength of the mount though.

[@theh2ohammer372]

something i could see also being good to have on your radar display would be an indicator to show which side of center an object is approaching from.

[@MattRootsTube]

The camera performance was disappointing but you were testing in ideal conditions. What I mean by that is you weren't in an accident? If you're rear ended by a vehicle does the camera catch the number plate then? Also, the vehicles passing you were being quite courteous, and giving you a fairly wide birth, what if they only passed at less than 2 meters? Good luck testing those scenarios though😉.

[@whazzat8015]

You can usually get the number plate data off the back of your jersey

[@thebrowns5337]

The thing with any first release garmin product is THE BUGS. To be fair they do usually work them out but only buy the time the second generation hits the market... ironing out any hardwear issues the first release had. Then you need to wait for those bugs in the mk2 version to be fixed. So generally when mk3 (usually just an asthetic upgrade) comes out, and the mk2 is in a sale ready for this (clearing old stock) then jt's time to consider it against the competition.

[@whazzat8015]

This is a Varia Version 0.4 Maybe there by 2.1

[@itsdeebs5156]

Conceptually love it. I run a Cycliq 6ce and I downright hate it. After a being a victim of a hit and run though...won't ride without it now. I have a Varia....love it also never ride without it. What Garmin have done is merged the two. Cool for me. I won't lose anything and I get what I have in one device. I'm ok with that. Image quality is the same yada yada However they have dropped the ball on it. No stabilization. No last 5 minutes saved , This is exactly how I envisioned the first radar camera combo though....so can't get to upset

[@gplama]

A 'lookback' rolling buffer would be a nice addition. Similar to what GoPro do with HindSight. Another feature that'd inevitably drain the battery...... but... it'd be neat!

[@itsdeebs5156]

@@gplama I just can't get over that they missed image stabilization. Thats so basic...was the work experience kid writing the minimal viable product requirements? I can see half it's current issues being fixed with firmware / software. I will say this if someone says to me. Thinking of buying a Cycliq 6. I'd just slap them and tell them to buy this. There's no argument that this is better than anything Cycliq has done.

[@lorsch.]

@@itsdeebs5156 don't you think a gopro would work better for a hit and run scenario, to have an easier time identifying the numbers plate? Also had a hit and run scenario last week, sadly without a camera.

[@itsdeebs5156]

@@lorsch. 100% yes. Image quality on GoPro plus stabilization is infinitely better than anything Cycliq or Garmin are producing. The downfall is battery life.

[@ewong7701]

I can live with the slightly large and ugly RTL515 on my bike for the rear radar function which is actually very useful. But not sure about the extra bulk and faff on the RCT715 just to have the camera function.

[@DEAR7340]

I was anxious to streamline my bike, by removing a camera from the back. I was hoping this would be it, but I'm going to wait and stick with my RCT515 for awhile. 1) I would have preferred the old Garmin mount, so I could continue to mount it high, on the saddle rails, and not below my saddle bag. I do this with aftermarket hardware, which I assume will be coming soon for the RCT715(?). 2) In my (US) state, front plates are not issued, so the image detail is most important in a front-facing view/camera. The RCT715 camera performance would be adequate for me, but at $400+(US)?

[@KieranRawley123]

I went for the radar only model as I’d just bought an exposure rear light so didn’t need the led version. I can see the appeal though. I suspect there’ll be quite a few firmware updates coming along soon to get the rct usable

[@KeithHeinrich]

Its remarkable to have that much technology crammed into a 150g package for not too much money. Its exactly the sort of thing I had been thinking about a few years back. What would be extra useful is recording the approach speed and distance. I didn't notice if it was a feature of this product or not. And while sports cams are useful, this with all the metadata likely has a much better chance of getting the police to act on close passes and dangerous driving than a sports cam alone.

[@gplama]

Approaching speeds can be recorded by using the MyBikeRadarTraffic ConnectIQ field. apps.garmin.com/en-US/apps/c5d949c3-9acb-4e00-bb2d-c3b871e9e733

[@eyeninja3043]

How do you get alerts in headphones? Great review btw.

[@gplama]

When paired to the Varia mobile app you’ll get these alerts.