Varia RCT715 Radar/Camera

jasonc
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Re: Varia RCT715 Radar/Camera

Postby jasonc » Sat Jun 15, 2024 5:14 pm

CmdrBiggles wrote:
Sat Jun 15, 2024 1:41 pm
On the quiet ride back, we wondered if the Garmin can be traced by GPS??
Contact garmin and ask them

jasonc
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Re: Varia RCT715 Radar/Camera

Postby jasonc » Mon Aug 19, 2024 9:18 am

ordered a couple of mounts from concentric cycling
Image

Image

feels well made

https://concentriccycling.com/products/ ... alized-sl6

CmdrBiggles
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Re: Varia RCT715 Radar/Camera

Postby CmdrBiggles » Tue Aug 20, 2024 11:40 am

jasonc wrote:
Mon Aug 19, 2024 9:18 am
ordered a couple of mounts from concentric cycling

feels well made

:idea:
There's a couple of these mounts (for Varia and Magene tail lights) locally that have piqued my curiosity, and then I see this post. :lol:

So contact established with Taylor at CC over in WA this am; I'm in need of a sturdy bracket to hold the Trek CarBack radar tail light firmly in place on the D-profile seatpost of the TCR; he's running checks on compatibility (UCI frame code) at the mo', to report back.
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jasonc
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Re: Varia RCT715 Radar/Camera

Postby jasonc » Tue Aug 20, 2024 11:54 am

CmdrBiggles wrote:
Tue Aug 20, 2024 11:40 am
I'm in need of a sturdy bracket to hold the Trek CarBack radar tail light
I'm surprised someone bought a CarBack. The review I watched had me concerned from about 60 seconds in.

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Re: Varia RCT715 Radar/Camera

Postby CmdrBiggles » Tue Aug 20, 2024 12:24 pm

jasonc wrote:
Tue Aug 20, 2024 11:54 am
CmdrBiggles wrote:
Tue Aug 20, 2024 11:40 am
I'm in need of a sturdy bracket to hold the Trek CarBack radar tail light
I'm surprised someone bought a CarBack. The review I watched had me concerned from about 60 seconds in.

I am not concerned.
Of the 7 reviews I have read, only 2 were factual in research, features, strengths and weaknesses and conveniently overlooked Trek's forward roadmap of firmware updates to the CarBack.

The bit about the 240m detection range — heavily advertised seemingly as a bait, is indisputably false, and also applies to all radar tail light devices using Ant+ signalling — in the CarBack's case, the detection range has a (very common) cut-off of 196m. In its defence, Trek does publish this fact, but the up-front advertising is a bit akimbo. I have messaged Trek's engineering team about this.

The CarBack still displays up to 6 cars following and what is passing left or right. Importantly, having sampled both the Varia and CarBack side-by-side, it has a 90 lumen light that is considerably brighter than the Varia's unfocused 65-lumen — in my case, I put the emphasis on being seen over wat the radar can, or cannot do.
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jasonc
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Re: Varia RCT715 Radar/Camera

Postby jasonc » Tue Aug 20, 2024 12:37 pm

the big negative that I didn't like about the CarBack, over the Varia, was the narrow radar field
I find the flashing light on the varia, when triggered by a vehicle, to be sufficient


edit: I have no issues with the 240m claim. it's a claim. i can't believe they made it, but good luck to them

warthog1
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Re: Varia RCT715 Radar/Camera

Postby warthog1 » Tue Aug 20, 2024 12:48 pm

Ditto on the change in flash pattern on the varia as a vehicle approaches/passes. A very good feature.
Wider radar field you would presume is good on curved roads.
Last edited by warthog1 on Tue Aug 20, 2024 12:52 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Varia RCT715 Radar/Camera

Postby CmdrBiggles » Tue Aug 20, 2024 12:49 pm

jasonc wrote:
Tue Aug 20, 2024 12:37 pm
the big negative that I didn't like about the CarBack, over the Varia, was the narrow radar field
I find the flashing light on the varia, when triggered by a vehicle, to be sufficient

The narrow field is for straight-line detection. This doesn't mean that traffic in 3-4 lanes beside me (about 40-50m) isn't picked up — it is, but what I saw considered the helmet-mounted rear vision mirror's blind-spot — detection (and position) of traffic on the left and right sides (bi-axial) — covering the helmet-mounted mirror's blind spot — right, just off-side from right shoulder).

Twinkling (disco) lights are not really my scene. :lol: I agree a change of light pattern could be beneficial; it might be in the firmware updates in the future, among other goodies.

Since Garmin's patent on radar tail lights expired in 2021, it has become an open market for (some) innovation and me-too-'ism: we are seeing a growing plethora of lights on the market — some good, some so-so, and we can certainly look forward to more variety and tech in the future, in addition to progressive improvements over what we have and use going forward.
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jasonc
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Re: Varia RCT715 Radar/Camera

Postby jasonc » Tue Aug 20, 2024 12:51 pm

CmdrBiggles wrote:
Tue Aug 20, 2024 12:49 pm
we can certainly look forward to more variety and tech in the future, in addition to progressive improvements over what we have and use going forward.
I look forward to some competition in the Fly12 market.

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Re: Varia RCT715 Radar/Camera

Postby CmdrBiggles » Tue Aug 20, 2024 12:53 pm

jasonc wrote:
Tue Aug 20, 2024 12:51 pm
CmdrBiggles wrote:
Tue Aug 20, 2024 12:49 pm
we can certainly look forward to more variety and tech in the future, in addition to progressive improvements over what we have and use going forward.
I look forward to some competition in the Fly12 market.

We said the same thing when dashcams for cars first came along. Time brings change.
Now look at what we have!!
(I have front and rear dashcams).
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twizzle
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Re: Varia RCT715 Radar/Camera

Postby twizzle » Tue Sep 03, 2024 10:23 am

My RCT715 arrived last Thursday, started using it Friday, got close passed on Saturday... driver issued an infringement today. It had been SO QUIET since COVID lockdowns, but in the last few weeks I'd had two close passes, one of which was stupidly dangerous. My Fly6's died years back, the batteries couldn't handle neg temperatures. The Aldi light/camera usually didn't catch the registration. This was a bit exxy in my head, but replaced my radar and light/camera.
I ride, therefore I am. But don't ride into harm's way.
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jasonc
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Re: Varia RCT715 Radar/Camera

Postby jasonc » Wed Sep 11, 2024 11:46 am

Now that I'm using the concentric cycling mount I was somewhat worried about losing the device. I found a case with an inbuilt tether on amazon. It arrived Monday. Easy to install. Doesn't impact the mount. Has a tether. Was ~$25
https://www.amazon.com.au/TUSITA-Silico ... B0BL2LFML7

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Re: Varia RCT715 Radar/Camera

Postby CmdrBiggles » Wed Sep 11, 2024 3:53 pm

jasonc wrote: Now that I'm using the concentric cycling mount I was somewhat worried about losing the device. I found a case with an inbuilt tether on amazon. It arrived Monday. Easy to install. Doesn't impact the mount. Has a tether. Was ~$25
https://www.amazon.com.au/TUSITA-Silico ... B0BL2LFML7

Taylor's 3D brackets are an interesting (and extremely strong) mix: carbon and nylon. The level of detail is astonishing — very highly recommend his brackets to anybody looking at a neater and more secure method of attaching their lights etc. to the seat post.

Erring on the side of caution and from the recent sad experience of others having not just their tail light lifted, but also their 1040, I take my light and the computer with me when the bike it unattended. I also take my BBB tool bottle which carries my jelly beans, dehydrated strawberries, hydralyte berries, tissues and sunscreen! :lol:
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Re: Varia RCT715 Radar/Camera

Postby warthog1 » Thu Sep 12, 2024 10:49 am

jasonc wrote:
Mon Aug 19, 2024 9:18 am
ordered a couple of mounts from concentric cycling


feels well made

https://concentriccycling.com/products/ ... alized-sl6
Ordered one for my rtl515 on the Reacto. The seat post shape works with neither the wedge shaped aero rubber block or the flat one. Been using the flat one but it moves around a bit.
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biker jk
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Re: Varia RCT715 Radar/Camera

Postby biker jk » Thu Sep 12, 2024 10:56 am

warthog1 wrote:
Thu Sep 12, 2024 10:49 am
jasonc wrote:
Mon Aug 19, 2024 9:18 am
ordered a couple of mounts from concentric cycling


feels well made

https://concentriccycling.com/products/ ... alized-sl6
Ordered one for my rtl515 on the Reacto. The seat post shape works with neither the wedge shaped aero rubber block or the flat one. Been using the flat one but it moves around a bit.
I use the flat rubber block and a cable tie along with the rubber o-ring and it doesn't budge. Didn't want to pay $50 for a custom mount.

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Re: Varia RCT715 Radar/Camera

Postby warthog1 » Thu Sep 12, 2024 11:03 am

biker jk wrote:
Thu Sep 12, 2024 10:56 am
warthog1 wrote:
Thu Sep 12, 2024 10:49 am
jasonc wrote:
Mon Aug 19, 2024 9:18 am
ordered a couple of mounts from concentric cycling


feels well made

https://concentriccycling.com/products/ ... alized-sl6
Ordered one for my rtl515 on the Reacto. The seat post shape works with neither the wedge shaped aero rubber block or the flat one. Been using the flat one but it moves around a bit.
I use the flat rubber block and a cable tie along with the rubber o-ring and it doesn't budge. Didn't want to pay $50 for a custom mount.

Yep it was $50 so too late now. :(
Still cheaper than a tyre and it wont wear out :)
Have you got a photo please if you get a chance?
I am using a different o ring I found that is quite thick

Image
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biker jk
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Re: Varia RCT715 Radar/Camera

Postby biker jk » Thu Sep 12, 2024 11:33 am

Image

warthog1
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Re: Varia RCT715 Radar/Camera

Postby warthog1 » Thu Sep 12, 2024 12:30 pm

Thanks. :)
No rubber block at all by the looks.
I'll post up the mount when it arrives.
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jasonc
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Re: Varia RCT715 Radar/Camera

Postby jasonc » Thu Sep 12, 2024 12:43 pm

the concentric ones are very minimalist
Image
D shaped seat post (tarmac SL6)

jasonc
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Re: Varia RCT715 Radar/Camera

Postby jasonc » Thu Sep 12, 2024 12:44 pm

the amazon sourced case I'm using
Image

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Re: Varia RCT715 Radar/Camera

Postby CmdrBiggles » Thu Sep 12, 2024 3:52 pm

warthog1 wrote:
Thu Sep 12, 2024 11:03 am

Yep it was $50 so too late now. :(
Still cheaper than a tyre and it wont wear out :)
Have you got a photo please if you get a chance?
I am using a different o ring I found that is quite thick

[...]

That ($50) seems a lot, but I suppose you are using a more complex bracket (?)
My CC mount (for all Bontrager/Trek tail lights) was $45.00, the extra $10 on account of Express Post from Perth (I would otherwise be waiting about 5 to 7 days for delivery!). I triplet-checked with Taylor that I had the right one from the several TCR versions available, and he cross-checked the UCI GIANT frame ID to confirm it. Ordered on a Monday, arrived Wednesday morning, in a very attractive black card box with a 3D-'slashed' wrapper enclosing the bracket!

PS: Where'd you get those Vittoria Corsa Pro tyres from (earlier post somewhere)?
They are on my wishlist when the existing CADEX CLASSIC tyres have served their time. Would be happy to go from 28mm to 26mm.
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warthog1
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Re: Varia RCT715 Radar/Camera

Postby warthog1 » Thu Sep 12, 2024 3:54 pm

Same price. 45-.
No free postage.

I haven't got any Vittoria corsa pros sorry. Using Schwalbe pro one from ccache. 30mm on the wide WR50 and 28mm on the AR60.
Taken me a long time but now a fan of the wider tyres. Less pressure = better ride. No loss of speed on my wider rims.
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Re: Varia RCT715 Radar/Camera

Postby warthog1 » Tue Sep 17, 2024 3:31 pm

Got here pretty quick. Yeah not cheap but happy with the fit. Well packaged and good instructions.
Thanks for another tip Jason 8)

Image

Image
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jasonc
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Re: Varia RCT715 Radar/Camera

Postby jasonc » Tue Sep 17, 2024 5:25 pm

Is this where I apologise to Mrs warthog1?

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Re: Varia RCT715 Radar/Camera

Postby CmdrBiggles » Tue Sep 17, 2024 5:40 pm

warthog1 wrote:
Tue Sep 17, 2024 3:31 pm
Got here pretty quick. Yeah not cheap but happy with the fit. Well packaged and good instructions.
Thanks for another tip Jason 8)

Image

Image


The brackets are a tour de force — a tap on the shoulder to Garmin, Trek, Bontrager, Bryton et al about how to make a proper, stable and quality bracket — not silly rubber bands!

Are you restricted to moving the mount/light upward because of what I perceive as a wider width of the seat post in that photo?
A number of riders I have seen very recently (last weekend) have part of the lower edge of the Varia obscured by the tyre — something I notice that Garmin themselves point out. Two I saw last weekend are actually pointing at 45°+ off the horizontal (!)
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