Garmin has released a new rear radar & light product called "Varia Rearview 820".

I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to try out the actual product and I will leave my review.

I've posted about the product design in another post, so please refer to the link if you are curious!

http://corearoadbike.com/board/board.php?t_id=Menu03Top1&no=2547534

First, I need to explain how I've been using it so far. This will help explain why I think the 820 is better.

Originally, I used a Garmin varia 515 and a LezBros Q3 taillight together. The reason for this was that I wanted to use the Varia's battery for a little longer, but also because I thought the brake light function was very effective in terms of safety when reducing speed while riding.

I wanted to explain bicycle brakes in a video for people who don't know what they are, so I was going to go outside, but it started raining. ㅠㅜ

So I filmed a short video in my living room. Please refer to the video below. (Riding a bike in the living room is a secret~)

https://youtu.be/RFTOuXw7bvA

This function is standard on the VARIA Rearview 820. It's my favorite feature because I used to carry two of them even though they were heavy.

You can also find more detailed information about this feature on the Garmin website.

Now let's proceed with a full review of the Vario 820.

It's also possible to connect the Varier to a watch or smartphone, but most people use it with Edge, so I'll take a two-shot with Edge. ㅎㅎ

Ah... By the way, Edge's data screen used to display the distance of vehicles in a single line on the right or left side. The 820 model can use this method as is, or it can use a dedicated data screen to use half the screen for varia data.

Okay, let's go out now.

Since the notification function of Varia is implemented through Edge, it's almost impossible to directly check Varia while riding. There are ways to see other riders' Varias, but since the 820 is a new product, that's not easy either. I mounted a camera on my bike and tried shooting a video for the first time in a long time.

I staged a situation where I braked twice, and you can see the brake light turning on each time. It was confirmed that the function I wanted worked well.

https://youtu.be/HulSN5mUfmc

Varia alerts the rider through its edges when an object such as a vehicle approaches from behind. The alert is not only sent to the rider but also informs the approaching vehicle that there is a rider ahead. When a vehicle approaching from behind is detected, it flashes the lights differently than the current operating pattern.

I parked my bike in a safe place and filmed how it actually works.

https://youtu.be/vqalMAaBHcE

I set the light to turn on, so it's always on, but when a car behind me starts moving or approaches from afar, the light flashes to let riders know I'm ahead.

And this time, the biggest feature of the varia 820 is that it has a new radar installed, which greatly improves performance.

Existing products only have a function to inform the distance of approaching vehicles from behind. However, this varia rearview 820 is equipped with a function that informs the size of the vehicle and its lane.

I think it would be much easier to understand with a picture, so I'm attaching an official explanation image.

Existing products used 24GHz radar, but now they use a higher frequency of 57GHz. This allows them to distinguish the size of vehicles and accurately determine their location, so they can even show lane information. Additional explanations were made using AI to create images.

A little disappointing part is that the radar of 820 has been upgraded, but to use this function properly, you need to use a newer model with an edge of 540, 840, or 1040 or higher. ㅠㅜ

If you are using an older Edge, this feature will only be able to show distance information from behind, just like version 515.

So I connected Edge 830 and Edge 850 to the Bvaria Rearview 820.

As you can see in the picture, 850 shows lane information and even the size of the vehicle.

Although it's a bit hard to see due to light reflection, if you look closely, there is an exclamation mark on the vehicle of 850. The color of the exclamation mark is red and yellow. A red exclamation mark indicates objects that can be more dangerous to riders, such as vehicles traveling at high speeds or large vehicles.

I recorded how information about vehicles passing by for 30 seconds is displayed. You can see that the Edge 850 displays the vehicle size and lane information.

https://youtu.be/7s-uBmjpg_o

The Baria 820 increases the frequency to 57GHz and is said to show the size and location of vehicles. This raises a question: wouldn't the initial detection distance for vehicles coming from afar be shorter? So I looked up some data, and it turns out that the distance actually increased. The previous model had an initial detection range of 140m, but the Baria 820 has a range of 175m, which is a 25% performance improvement. As seen in the video above, the test was conducted on a long straight road, and vehicles were recognized well from afar.

In the new Varia Rearview 820, there's an additional feature change. Previously, riders who followed closely during Peloton rides would stop being displayed after a while. However, in the 820, they are now continuously shown.

The image below was captured during a ride. Someone was tailing me closely and sucking my wheel, so I took a screenshot. However, I'm not sure if the circular indicator represents danger or indicates drafting.

When viewed from a car behind, how far away would the Varia be visible? This is said to have increased from 1.6km for the previous model to 2km for the Varia 820. It seems too far to actually measure, so I'll just trust Garmin's official data and not verify it separately. I wonder if my bike will get lost that far away? haha

Besides that, it is said that the battery life of this 820 has been extended. The only downside is that it weighs 19g more than the 515, but it seems to be a result of choosing to extend the battery life. Peloton lasts for 15 hours and Weekly Flash lasts for 24 hours, so I think you'd have to go somewhere like Landor to test this much. It seems difficult to guarantee the time with this usage, so I will try to confirm it later if time permits. For now, I will replace it with official data.

Riders who need a rear camera will probably prefer the 715 model or wait for its successor. However, riders who don't need a rear rider or are concerned about battery time may want to consider the 820. Therefore, it would be helpful to have a comprehensive comparison table of the Varia 515 and Varia Rearview 820. Fortunately, I can provide this information.

What else should I test? I remembered that when I wrote the opening date before, I completely opened it by unscrewing the rear screws. Could the waterproof performance be broken like that? The specs say IPX7 rating, which is possible for 30 minutes at a depth of 1 meter.

I don't usually ride in the rain, but I thought there might be people who want to check this part, so I decided to test it.

I showered it with cool water for a minute in the bathroom.

https://youtu.be/CDXFQdurDXE

I confirmed that a one-minute shower was not enough. Taking a shower only makes me cleaner haha

Looking back, the Varia 820 also had a change in the power button. Previously, it was just the shape of a button, but now it's integrated with the body so that foreign substances or water cannot enter around the button.

One concern is that the Edge 820 previously adopted a similar method, and over time, there were problems with the button peeling off. Garmin would likely be aware of this issue and may have improved it through technological advancements.

Finally, installing the VARIA app on your smartphone allows you to customize the light blinking pattern to your liking.

You can delete the default modes provided and create your own light brightness and blinking speed.

So I tried making one myself. I set it to change brightness in a 500ms cycle with four different brightness levels. If I use this, people riding with me will be able to find me from afar just by seeing the light on my bike. Haha.

I should make my own preferred mode.