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Varia - excellent

I went for some good rides over the weekend.
I have say once again what an excellent device the Varia is.
It seems to work flawlessly and gives an appreciable margin of assurance and comfort. I think that it increases battery drain on the head unit.

I would really recommend the Varia to anyone who is still sitting on the fence about it.

0 happyrunner999 over 9 years ago

I definitely agree and its nice to see a thread that's not just bashing. Most happy customers don't seek out forums.

Know the limitations before you buy. The unit will either not track or stop tracking any vehicle behind you that is going slower than you are at any point in time. So yes, you could get passed by a vehicle and have no indication on the head unit if the vehicle was waiting to pass you and thus going your speed or slower for a bit. But it would have been on the display initially. Lots of people bashing that behavior but it is what it is and if you don't like it, return the unit or don't buy it in the first place.

Having said that, I have NEVER been passed by a vehicle that was not on the display at some point. It is a great unit and I like it much more than I thought I would.

0 Former Member over 9 years ago

I'd just like the chance to try the Varia out myself, but until Garmin update the Edge 810 firmware I won't be buying one. :(

0 czarli2424 over 9 years ago

I'd just like the chance to try the Varia out myself, but until Garmin update the Edge 810 firmware I won't be buying one. :(

+1 :)

0 Cagger30 over 9 years ago

Of course, do you realise that the Varia doesn't need the head unit to function.

It works quite happily all on its own detecting cars and flashing the lights at them.

The head unit gives you the extra functionality of advance warning that cars behind you.

0 bbelrose over 9 years ago

I'd just like the chance to try the Varia out myself, but until Garmin update the Edge 810 firmware I won't be buying one. :(

Very frustrating waiting for the 810 update

0 Former Member over 9 years ago

Of course, do you realise that the Varia doesn't need the head unit to function.

It works quite happily all on its own detecting cars and flashing the lights at them.

But that just makes it a VERY expensive flashing rear light.

0 Cagger30 over 9 years ago

But that just makes it a VERY expensive flashing rear light.

No, because the radar function is still operating and so one would hope that the dynamics of the changing rear light cluster would be more likely to be noticed by an upcoming motorist.

0 Former Member over 9 years ago

one would hope

But you'd have to look behind to check if it's working or not, which defeats the point really. :p

0 Cagger30 over 9 years ago

No. You simply have faith.

0 Former Member over 9 years ago

Or perhaps you could ask a friend to make the appropriate observations on your behalf?

Regardless of ownership of an appropriate Edge Unit I would want confirmation, on a reasonably spaced time scale, that the unit was functional during normal use. So in real terms perhaps the 'friend' is somewhat indispensable?

Just my 2Ps worth, G