Varia RCT715 Radar/Camera

[trailgumby]

Following. I'm fed up with destroying rear camera lights in the rain.

[jasonc]

I've ridden with mine in the rain tg

[trailgumby]

I've ridden with mine in the rain tg

The Fly6 seems to be OK, but fragile. If you drop it, the glued joint seems to crack and let water in. The TOOO Cycling unit is a superior camera, simpler to operate and has vastly superior runtime, and survives well if you have mudguards.

Unfortunately, a couple of downhill kilometres on the roadie on a wet road, where the bottom cable port cover was in the line of fire from the spray off the tyre was enough to defeat the cover's sealing properties.

I'm still to receive a response from them, which is entirely within my expectations of Chinese business culture and a known risk when I bought.

[trailgumby]

I've ridden with mine in the rain tg

Good to hear. As I understand it, the cable port is out of the line of fire from rear tyre spray?

The Fly6CE seems to be OK, but fragile. If you drop it, the glued joint seems to crack and let water in. The TOOO Cycling unit is a superior camera, simpler to operate and has vastly superior runtime, and survives well if you have mudguards.

Unfortunately, a couple of downhill kilometres on the roadie on a wet road when I got caught in the rain last week, where the bottom cable port cover was in the line of fire from the spray off the tyre, was enough to defeat the cover's sealing properties and kill it.

UPDATE: hitting them up via their published email address has elicited an immediate response. A new unit is apparently on its way.

[MichaelB]

I have this field added to my garmin activity
https://apps.garmin.com/en-AU/apps/c5d9 ... b871e9e733

Cheers, but a Wahoo Bolt user, so another feature that I can't access.

[jasonc]

I have this field added to my garmin activity
https://apps.garmin.com/en-AU/apps/c5d9 ... b871e9e733

Cheers, but a Wahoo Bolt user, so another feature that I can't access.

That's like blaming mercedes for not putting their logo on a Ford. Each brand has advantages and disadvantages. When you buy something you compromise

[MichaelB]

I have this field added to my garmin activity
https://apps.garmin.com/en-AU/apps/c5d9 ... b871e9e733

Cheers, but a Wahoo Bolt user, so another feature that I can't access.

That's like blaming mercedes for not putting their logo on a Ford. Each brand has advantages and disadvantages. When you buy something you compromise

I understand, but not quite the same.

Maybe a bit high horse, but if I'm paying that sort of money and it's capable of working with other units (which it does, so that's good) why deliberately mask certain features for other brands ? In the hope that it means the user might by their brand of head unit (with all their issues) ?

In the end, it's probably costing them money to take out features, and that is Garmin's decision and prerogative. NP, just a negative for me, especially at $600. If it was an option to buy the fully featured unit for $600 or the base for for $400, then I have an option.

Maybe, I', also influenced by being able to choose routes where I don't get close passed by as many idiots as you do, so the level of personal threat, and hence need is different.

I'm still certainly interested, and will keep an eye on the RCT715, as well as the one that TG is trialling from Tooo (??) - EDIT : Would be interesting to see a side-by-side review on the capability, cost, life and useability of both ?

[warthog1]

You spend a bit of time with the radar and it becomes more evident how useful it is.
Everytime you want to turn, eat, drink, move up beside, or overtake someone, knowing what is approaching is very handy.
I ran a mirror previously, the radar image on the screen is better.
It is in your line of sight and it shows how many are approaching.
I still look but that forewarning is very, very good.
No false negatives at all yet, it just doesn't miss.

[gsxrboy]

I have the 500 series (Garmin 830 head unit) and really do appreciate the warning of approaching vehicles, I do miss it when I don't ride with it. As warts says, it just works.

I almost upgraded to a 700 series but will wait for a hardware revision with IS.

[jasonc]

Michael - it's a custom app that provides that info. It's not standard

Recommend asking wahoo what they plan to do

[MichaelB]

Michael - it's a custom app that provides that info. It's not standard

Recommend asking wahoo what they plan to do

Cheers

[Comedian]

Considering what it does with the addition of a camera I am impressed by the moderate size of it.
Sold.
Just got to wait a short while and will get one.

I got mine on the BB 20% off sale. Keep your eyes out!

[warthog1]

Considering what it does with the addition of a camera I am impressed by the moderate size of it.
Sold.
Just got to wait a short while and will get one.

I got mine on the BB 20% off sale. Keep your eyes out!

Thanks

[jasonc]

wathog - a number of heath insurance providers have a discount off garmin gear. worth checking that out. e.g. bupa has 20% off garmin

[warthog1]

wathog - a number of heath insurance providers have a discount off garmin gear. worth checking that out. e.g. bupa has 20% off garmin

Cheers.
We are still with Mildura Hospital Fund from back when we lived there.
Not for profit so they say and happy with the cover and price.

[MichaelB]

wathog - a number of heath insurance providers have a discount off garmin gear. worth checking that out. e.g. bupa has 20% off garmin

Interesting, we're with BUPA

[jasonc]

wathog - a number of heath insurance providers have a discount off garmin gear. worth checking that out. e.g. bupa has 20% off garmin

Interesting, we're with BUPA

https://www.bupaplus.com.au/fitness

[MichaelB]

wathog - a number of heath insurance providers have a discount off garmin gear. worth checking that out. e.g. bupa has 20% off garmin

Interesting, we're with BUPA

https://www.bupaplus.com.au/fitness

Brings it down to $511

[jasonc]

Interesting, we're with BUPA

https://www.bupaplus.com.au/fitness

Brings it down to $511

which is the same you pay with a 20% off at bikebug

[Comedian]

So I've been using mine a bit. Just plug it in and charge. I think I'm impressed. It just does it's thing. It turns off and on with my garmin.

[redsonic]

Reviving an old thread here, can anyone tell me how well the Garmin 130 plus head unit displays the varia radar findings? I don't need the functionality of the 530, but will go with that if the larger, colour display makes a lot of difference. What do you think?

[Comedian]

Something I've noted after a little bit of use... as the lama pointed out they are prone to dings in the lens from stones flicked from the back wheel. Mine has one large one and a couple of little ones.

I think the protector from the fly 6 is the same size.. considering fitting one. Otherwise i'll have to stop using it on MTB/gravel.

[redsonic]

Reviving an old thread here, can anyone tell me how well the Garmin 130 plus head unit displays the varia radar findings? I don't need the functionality of the 530, but will go with that if the larger, colour display makes a lot of difference. What do you think?

Just a bump, has no one tried the varia with the Garmin 130 and have anything to say on how well it displays upcoming cars?

[jasonc]

Reviving an old thread here, can anyone tell me how well the Garmin 130 plus head unit displays the varia radar findings? I don't need the functionality of the 530, but will go with that if the larger, colour display makes a lot of difference. What do you think?

Just a bump, has no one tried the varia with the Garmin 130 and have anything to say on how well it displays upcoming cars?

Ping Shane miller. He has both and can confirm how it works

[Comedian]

So I fitted a lense protector from a fly6 to mine. A bees smaller than the total lens size but works just fine.

Also in the latest garmin firmware update they made a change so a little "REC" is displayed on the top right hand corner so you can see when the camera is active. Very handy!

I have also discovered that they added a page to the information screens on the garmin where you can see the camera status and hit a big "save" if there is anything you really want preserved. But because it only records passes it's not really a problem anyway. Also shows battery state.

Basically I just turn my garmin on and off and this thing just manages itself. I plug it in and other than that don't touch it. Awesome.

I am very very happy with this device.