Trek CarBack Radar Rear Bike Light : Know what's coming

[@AussieInJapan]

My Trek running lights are the best ones I own, I won’t ride in the daytime without them.

[@jsprhrmsn]

I love my Varia and it's good to see more products come to the market with the same approach for safety. To me riding without my radar is feeling "weird" as you loos control over what's happening around you. I love it for climbing (to see how many cars are behind me while listening to music with my Aeropex) or descending when you don't hear the cars due to the wind and you want to cut corners.

[@trekbikes]

It's always good to have something (or someone) looking out for you, so radar and CarBack does just that to keep you safe on the road!

[@Vladislav357]

Sounds great 😍 Waiting for hands-on reviews!

[@gplama]

Stay tuned! 👌🏼

[@jssaylor]

@@gplama exactly what I was hoping to see. I have questions and no doubt you'll answer them.

[@zimzMIS201]

Trek reinvented the Garmin Varia several years later. Now add an HD camera that records when it is triggered.

[@cadriver2570]

Not entirely. It tells you if the car hasn't moved over to the other lane to pass. Also can see further away. The battery level light and USB C are nice upgrades.

[@therebeldude]

Does it fit with a Madone seatpost adapter or do I need the one shown in the video?

[@trekbikes]

It will fit with all Blendr mounts, including the mount for the Madone SLR Gen 7 and Blendr saddle mounts

[@waepekk]

@Trek Bicycle I have this plugged in for a couple of hours now and the fourth bar is still flashing. The unit came with 3 bars. Does it go solid lights on all four for full charge?

[@trekbikes]

The light would take 4 hours to fully charge and the lights would be solid once charged. Check your charger to ensure you're getting full current to the light

[@salsalawyer]

Does the lighjt pattern change as the car gets closer? Blinking faster or brighter for example? Is Trek supporting the device with potential firmware updates if needed?

[@maczafarana8989]

Just got mine, it's so awesome. I was honestly shocked how far away it detected cars

[@kenhunt]

Do you have an adapter to fit Garmin mounts? I've got 6 bikes with Garmin mounts. Not going to be swapping all of them out.

[@kristopergriffin9774]

Just buy the garmin version then....

[@kenhunt]

@@kristopergriffin9774 I already have the "Garmin version" (obviously). Maybe I want the "Trek version" for some reason. Is it a crime to ask if they have an adapter that can stay on their new product that makes it work with all of the Garmin mounts that have already been sold and installed on bikes? Maybe I don't want unnecessary waste if I can help it and figured I'd ask a very simple question.

[@kristopergriffin9774]

@kenhunt not a crime just stupid...

[@kenhunt]

@@kristopergriffin9774 stupid to not want to buy more mounts for all my bikes, instead buy one adapter and a new radar? Hahaha....cool, I love being stupid then.

[@trekbikes]

We will not have any Garmin adapters available, but this light is compatible with Blendr mounting and all Trek bicycles.

[@RobBlazoff]

Speaking of knowning when something is coming, when will these be in the VIP store?

[@Fluxyzabc]

Congrats; you built the Garmin Varia

[@Xhadp]

Always nice to have options for bike radar. Can't wait to see hands-on review/publications about it. Only so many ways you can build a bike radar. So glad to not see anything pop out as a reason to not get this over other established products. Can't really add any new defining features that easily to a bike radar.

[@morganconey4814]

Does the light change flash pattern on detection? 🤔

[@lizvickers7156]

No but the varia does. This is one thing he didn't mention probably because he was trying to hype it up that much that saying it didn't have that function would put people off.

[@damFr]

Is it aerodynamic ?

[@Ghostina1]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@tomlarter3894]

20 watts savings

[@ADVRaiderKTM]

Damn, this is the size of a pizza box compared to Garmin Varia or the Magene unit. How is it any better?

[@trekbikes]

CarBack offers up to 240m of detection, paired with our taillight that is visible up to 2km away. It's more than just another radar.

[@challacustica9049]

Would love to see a dynamo version for touring.

[@chaseg4567]

Would this work with Flare RT Integrated Seatpost Mount used on Gen3 Domane SL5?

[@trekbikes]

It wouldn't work with the Flare RT Integrated Seatpost Light Mount, but it can attach to a Blendr Saddle Accessory Mounts if you're looking to have it tucked under the saddle

[@konradkondzisaw5960]

It's a pity that side visibility is low. Only 7 hours run time? Varia works for several hours

[@hadl3133]

Would this work with coros dura bike computer?

[@cadriver2570]

This is great. I never leave on a bike without my Varia. Please allow options to integrate cameras and lights into bikes. A modular system would be perfect. My bike has my phone, front light, rear Varia light/radar, and an action cam as a dash cam. I've tried to make this look as stealthy as possible, but it would be so much better if this could be seamlessly integrated into a bike.

[@drill_fiend1097]

I think there should be a toggle to disable auto dimming on trek accessories app. Not great when using phone for navigation.

[@fourgedmushrooms5958]

Great idea. Scary riding on the road.

[@Rufus_Pufus]

I have a Garmin radar like this and it is great. As good as it is, it SHOULD NEVER replace situational awareness on a bike, a you know, turning your head. They are an extra tool, not a replacement.

[@mg6263]

As an owner of both a Garmin Varia and the Bontrager lights, the Garmin quarter turn mount is leaps and bounds better than the difficult slide-right-while-pressing-a-button Bontrager mount. Plus there are tons of third party Garmin mounts to suit just about any circumstance. The Trek mount alone is a enough of a turn off for me to never want to own the Car Back radar.

[@bonbonflippers4298]

That's the biggest annoyance for me also. Trying to find adapters for the trek or bontrager lights is a pain in the ass.

[@christianc9]

Yep.. I was interested in this until seeing that I can’t mount to my Garmin adapter saddle bag

[@mjscpr]

I prefer the blendr mount

[@jimhansen5395]

You can find adapters to adapt your garmin 1/4 turn mount to the Flare mount. Just search around the various 3D Maker sites.

[@petert8931]

As an ex-owner of 2 Garmin varias and still heavily into Garmin ecosystems, I couldn't be happier to see a major alternative brand get into the radar scene.

[@louisrafaelcom]

Can it charge while in use? I frequently ride longer than 7hours and would love for my rtl515 to charge from a powerbank while in use. USB-C thank the gods, power indicators look nice, but my god 4 hours to charge 7.4Wh battery via USB-C?! Have you heard of power delivery? Also, the mount looks like a bit of a nuisance compared to the Garmin mount. A mixed bag.

[@alannkevin]

I like trek lights a lot, very bright and their battery last a lot too. But I don’t understand why Trek doesn’t do cycling computers. They have some small models but not like Wahoo or Garmin. This could’ve been a perfect opportunity to also bring a new computer design to attract more customers.

[@overcookit1433]

Is CarBack able to detect what kind of car is coming? In case it is a long vehicle lorry, I always try to let them pass, as they need a longer distance to accelerat for overtaking AND need more space for doing so. As well I take in account that those guys probably have fixed delivery data, and the last thing I want is grabbing/stealing their time.

[@Daniel-km4cx]

I own the flare lights, which I love and hate. SW is buggy (charge state), hope this this will be better with the new lights. Biggest issue was the micro USB which Iˋm glad is replaced

[@trekbikes]

USB-C is here!

[@ИгорьПолянский-ю6ъ]

Здравствуйте. Подскажите можно ли подключить ваш радар к головному устройству гарми 1040 Не скачивая приложения для телефона ? Совместим ли свет в радаре с пультами дистанционного управления бонтрегер разных поколений. 3:21

[@batbawls]

It's huge!

[@Ryan-xr8hb]

it takes up less space though duh

[@tonyg3091]

I think I’ll hold out till gen 2 of this. No side light, too bulky…I stick with Varia for now.

[@blitzsuccess2303]

Please Just integrate with the new cars now ! so the car drivers know cyclists are ahead :-)

[@lucian_r_k]

Exactly!👌🏻

[@landixus]

I don't see any advantage here over other devices, except that the Trek is far too expensive. A real enrichment would be a dashcam function, which would provide possible evidence in the event of an accident. If the driver knew that he could be on video, he would perhaps leave more than 20 centimeters of space. I've been driving the Gardia for a year, it helps to know that a car is coming, but it doesn't replace looking over your shoulder. So Trek for the price you just have to offer more than a copy of Garmin and Bryton.

[@salsalawyer]

Only diffenrence I see is that tis detects at a greater distance

[@vhfrederik]

Does it also detects e-bikers which are taking over without warning? 🤔

[@RobBlazoff]

Can't speak for the Carback, but bikes exceeding your speed plus 5 MPH or more do set off a Varia.

[@dereknelson2756]

Anybody know how the alert looks on a garmin computer?

[@drill_fiend1097]

I wonder why it wasn’t under Bontragger brand

[@diehardbikes]

They are dropping the Bontrager brand. Everything is switching to Trek, and as a fan of Trek, I find the new branding ugly. I don't like that change one bit regardless of how good the product is. To be fair, ive never liked change....

[@drill_fiend1097]

@@diehardbikes oh I didn’t know that…

[@Wyliedawg]

I'm a loyal Trek customer but this is nothing to get excited about. I have the "basic" RTL315 with a separate rear light and wouldn't leave home without both of them. Radar is a game-changer in long-range potential conflict detection. Note I said long-range, I'm NOT discounting the need for shoulder checks and advantages of mirrors.

[@thecleaner81]

Is it possible to use the radar with the lights turned off?

[@trekbikes]

The lights will always remain on while CarBack is on - better visibility to keep the rider safe at all times!

[@diehardbikes]

Garmin has an option for this. In case you were wondering.

[@krzysztofgara2332]

​@@trekbikes better is to give decision to user.

[@fredflintstone3686]

How many lumens for day flash?

[@trekbikes]

The breakdown by mode: Day Flash 90LM, Day Steady 25LM, Night Steady 5LM, and Night Flash 5LM

[@cinkyda]

Why I should buy this if now exist to many radars and everything has same function and see cars at same distances

[@trekbikes]

Not every radar will detect vehicles up to 240m away 🧐

[@SofiaisSunshine]

That way it alerts you right before you get hit so you know its coming and there is nothing you can do about it!

[@sigfreed11]

No link?

[@MrJigsilveira]

00:14 subaru forester❤❤❤

[@MrMikerbehemoth]

цікаво, а скільки працює по часу?

[@kidShibuya]

It's a little small, doesn't quite cover the entire rear of the bike. I am sure you can do better next time.

[@bikeman123]

I dont get this. I can usually hear a car behind. And whether I can hear them or not, theres nothing much I can do to affect how close the car passes me. How is this any better than a mirror? Seems to me this might be useful when riding in pairs but for solo rides, I cant see the point. If it video'd close passes, then it would be useful.

[@BizonBeats]

I love my garmin varia. I know a car is approaching, and I can be the one who is in control of when and how a car is passing me. I can take up more space and make it impossible for a car to pass me if I don't think it is save to do so.

[@WokeSpokes]

Picture this: Challenging fast downhill, wind in your ears, cars coming towards you. Get the alert. Then look behind to confirm. It's a second pair of eyes.

[@davidparker8475]

I typically cannot hear cars approaching. super useful.

[@konradkondzisaw5960]

the mirror looks unsightly. When the wind blows while driving on a road with little traffic, a car driving in silence may surprise you

[@shinobusensui9395]

@@konradkondzisaw5960 trieye

[@Ghostina1]

well my Madone SLR Designer Series is more in in love with my Garmin Varia....

[@carlosvelasco7221]

i use a mini mirror on the brake hoods and theses radar uff great solution

[@Ghostina1]

dont act like @durianrider

[@clivepritchard]

what surprised me was the price! With the Varia being so established and loved by cyclists I think you need to be cheaper - and ofer a peleton mode to save your buddies retina

[@drill_fiend1097]

It was exactly the same price as RTL515 recently. Honestly Varia has a wider radar while this sees a bit further (under optimal condition, in cities it's like only ~20m difference). It really depends on preference, but one superior functionality of Varia is that lights react to cars coming nearby. Trek apparently says they will add the functionality with updates, but people should be buying stuff as it is now.

[@Aluizio15]

👏👏👏 show

[@andersonramalho3225]

🤙

[@ChasingFriendsCycling]

Please make a bell called, OnYourLeft

[@tonyg3091]

😂😂😂

[@bl8danjil]

Isn't that just a regular bell?

[@richcole3931]

No side light visibility is a big miss in the age of slip lanes. Dealbreaker for me. Back to the drawing board.

[@tonyg3091]

good point

[@eterlizzi]

So exciting as this has NEVER been accomplished before now!!!! LOL

[@DanTuber]

$300 AUD.... hmmm not cheap.

[@Thomas-fy9yc]

If it connect more reliably than the Varia, take my money.

[@deitizi]

My radar is my ear

[@trekbikes]

*Wind has entered the chat*

[@SkySim]

I have a mirror.

[@KoweK]

7 hours battery life for such a huge thing, haha, no way

[@paulstuart525]

Sorry but no radar will give you the advantage of the new Trieye sunglasses. Trieye gives me a 140 plus degree field of few to see a car or a trailer, identify the threat and take split second action with a simple head movement similiar to viewing your rear view mirror in a vehicle accep i have no blind spot. What use is radar in severe traffic?? They giving cyclist limited security in my opinion. Simply knowing cars are behind you nope. Trieye gives you close on full control than anything else currently on the market, its the biggest safety breakthrough in 20 years of cycling security. Seeing is believing. Not sure what in Gods name is stopping every cycling dealer from stocking these other than brand loyalty. For the safety of their customers and the growth of road cyclist its critical to see these in every dealership. Plus they super styled up and incredible quality. Ive had mine for two years already.

[@jimweathers9744]

I've had the Cyclic brand of rear view camers and lights for over 5 years. All these companies are copying them with looping video, their quality is much better at 4K video with wireless transfer. Having Radar is cool and all but it requires you to look at a head unit all the time and constant beeps and alerts,not for me. For over 40 years I've used a helmet or sunglass mounted rear view mirror, very small and you barely have to move your head to see a REAL view of what's behind you, what if the person is not paying attention or is impaired and riding in your lane, with radar you'll know how far away from being hit by a 3000 lb. Car, with a mirror you can make evasive moves! A mirror has saved me from being hit by a car twice because I saw the car in my mirror lined up in my travel lane and I quickly moved away right before they came by exactly where was riding, so I'll never trust a device that just tells me there is something behind me,that's only half the story, I want to know if they are close to my lane of travel.

[@darthjohn0]

The beeps on my Garmin Varia are enough info to tell me cars are coming, I don't need to look at the head unit. And the radar detects vehicles before they are visible in any mirror, so I find them safer. If you prefer using a mirror, there's probably a benefit to using both together.

[@tonyg3091]

You can turn the beeps and alerts off as i did. Looking at the unit screen takes what? Half a second? Less? What are you doing all the time on the bike anyway? Let’s be honest-most of us are fixed on the speed, cadence,power etc on the screen most of the time 😂😂 Seriously-on country roads without much traffic radars are a godsend. In the city not so much as you know there are cars behind you all the time.

[@zzhunt3254]

What price? I pay 50 euro îs very ugly

[@JFomo]

Bike radars are great but why does this Car Back have such an ugly design?

[@MediumHalf]

I think the bulkiness may be due to a bigger battery- my Varia seems like it runs out in 4 hours so if this one can actually do 7 hours I'm fine with the bulky shape.

[@Brookes79]

I went out for 4 hours today & my Varia RTL515 had just over 50% battery left (using flash mode). ​@@MediumHalf

[@JFomo]

@@MediumHalf Yeah I don't hate the internals because it sounds like a good performer but just the outside design is a negative. I'll have to check it in real life. It could just be the video that makes it look bulky. I hope Garmin updates their current range soon.

[@Thomas-fy9yc]

I imagine the larger surface area than the Varia will allow it to have greater sensitivity

[@tonyg3091]

Bigger battery and more powerful radar it seems to me but yeah-not a looker for sure.

[@JogBird]

i would rather just have a larger battery and 400 lumens

[@trekbikes]

The rear light is visible up to 2km away - which takes it's design from our popular Flare RT taillight

[@FromTheRightAngle]

No link to the product in the video's description. Just the text 'Learn more and shop CarBack'... fail Trek.

[@trekbikes]

While we always strive for perfection, we're only human. It's there now! You can also see that here: trek.bike/ExploreCarBack

[@Tardymo]

Shut up and take my money

[@SolarizeYourLife]

They already took mine...

[@l2-4upphysicaltrainingover40]

Hate to be that guy…but “Further”, is a measure of degree…whereas…”Farther”, is a measure of distance.

[@mario.221]

little late to that party?

[@NoahStephens]

Which is fine if they are better than what’s already out. If the claims here are true, it is

[@bensbikessequim]

@@NoahStephens there is no audible signal unless you pair it with a phone or gps ...

[@tonyg3091]

@@NoahStephensEhhh…I dont know about that “better” part really

[@ptraz76]

It really needs a built in camera.

[@tonyg3091]

It really doesnt. No bike radar needs a camera.

[@bikeman123]

It does. If it video'd and captured the location of close passes, it would be useful. Its just an expensive rear view mirror.

[@ozgurinsan]

5 years late to party.

[@JGriff-pp3ym]

It’s not aero enough! 😂

[@professor3699]

Is anyone else observing that the riders would be safer taking the lane versus encouraging a close pass by moving to the edge of the road?

[@kristopergriffin9774]

Not on a long country road where they are probably going 30 mph slower than the speed limit. It's 1000% safer to get out of the way....

[@kintrupf]

Only 7 hours battery life? You're kidding, right?

[@goozoon]

Looked at Specs and didnt find 7h. But 4h to charge? No quick charge?

[@trekbikes]

CarBack has +7 hours of battery life, but charging is 4 hours from 0-100%

[@goozoon]

@@trekbikes Thanks. Garmin has it like this: 6 hours solid, 8 hours peloton, 6 hours night flash, 16 hours day flash So 7h for CarBack is in which mode? please

[@BikeLA23]

A cheaper option is to look behind you.But I think it can still be helpful.

[@eg9332]

Too much metric, bruh.

[@ritvarskalnkambers8425]

garmin radar copy paste? :D wooow new thing :D:D:D:

[@Disrupterds]

Sorry, my life isn't worth $200.00. Maybe $50.00. I won't be using this overpriced googaw. Please stop selling safety equipment as luxury items and price them appropriately. Cycling has gotten outrageously expensive.

[@repo4]

We get the idea. You are bit late to the party.

[@jarosawzon4272]

I don't see any point in installing something like that. A regular mirror does its job, doesn't need to be charged and costs a fraction of the price of this radar. Much less hassle.

[@konradkondzisaw5960]

the mirror looks unsightly.

[@jarosawzon4272]

@@konradkondzisaw5960 Unsightly ?! O: Ha ha ha :)))))))))))))))))) Don't be an idiot. The whole world drives with mirrors, even the most expensive cars worth several million dollars, such as Bugatti Veyron. Virtually no one uses these "beautiful radars" and their future is doomed. They won't be accepted.

[@Maxpower88888]

Garmin radar copy

[@MrCyclist]

In theory it sounds great. In the mean time I can and will use my ears and eyes. Enough with the gadgets

[@rockoutmedia]

Trek based in Wisconsin yet this guy with a million earrings tells everything in meters and kilometers... Come on now Trek.

[@dominicnef2821]

Because most of the world uses meters and kilometres🤯

[@davidwebster2616]

0:50 - computer displays miles/mph

[@nascarisawesome5018]

A huge amount of Treks market is outside the US. It's called catering to everyone, not just one country.

[@NoahStephens]

You should write your congress person!

[@dobsok84]

Bike lights on the seat are dumb, its too low for multiple cars in a row to see you. Much better to have reflection or a light on your helmet

[@trekbikes]

They actually work really well! With up to 2km of visibility in a focused light, it's enough to catch a the attention of a driver - and hurt their eyes if they stare at it too long 🤭

[@tillquist]

@shane Miller

[@gplama]

Doing my best to get a hold of one for a technical review. 76GHz wavelength and the 240m range could be a massive improvement over the Varia (and others) on the market at the moment.

[@morganconey4814]

Need that lama lab deep dive 🙌

[@gplama]

@@morganconey4814 I'm on it! Just picked one up at the local Trek store here in Ballarat! 🇦🇺👌🏼