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Varia mounting options

I'm seeing no reason the Varia can't be mounted directly behind the seat - attached to the seat rails, instead of the seat post. On my bike the Varia mounted to the seat post takes up all the real estate behind my bike, anything else I try to put back there blocks the radar.

Mounting high behind the seat would let me stash a spare tube in a saddle bag UNDER the Varia, use the seat post for a Fly6 or alternate blinkie, or put a low profile container on top of a rear rack.

All the mounts that I can find that enable this are for Go-Pros, so the solution is to buy a GoPro seat rail mount, then buy a Go Pro to Garmin Varia adaptor.

That's $55+ I'll spend to mount the Varia that Garmin's missing out on. I can't be the only one with this issue. Would they consider manufacturing a seat rail mount for the Varia Radar?

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0 57DIBBS over 8 years ago

Here's mine:-

0 verbcrunch over 8 years ago

That looks solid! But I'm looking to mount it higher, so the Varia doesn't hang so far below the rail, as high up as I can get it without impeding the radar's coverage. Right now it looks like it'll be that KEdge GoPro mount with this adaptor: https://www.shapeways.com/product/B9WR63QWK/garmin-varia-tail-light-edge-gopro-adapter?optionId=58618848

0 57DIBBS over 8 years ago

I looked at shapeways but the amount they wanted for postage was a joke.

0 NiteOwlNY over 8 years ago

I have an XLab Superwing rear bottle holder and I used zip ties to hold a quarter turn mount on the back of the bottle mount... I like it up there, it's high and unobstructed.

0 AgileHumor over 8 years ago

Here is how I have my is mounted on my ElliptiGO (stand up bike) using a TopPeak Bar Extender.

Pics with just the Radar...and latest with my Virb Rear Camera mounted on top.

https://1drv.ms/f/s!Atgv-e6whj8phqdJUfvBuwGrXSlzUQ

0 Former Member over 8 years ago

I looked at shapeways but the amount they wanted for postage was a joke.

You are 100% correct. If Shapeways doesn't have a printing facility near you their shipping is outrageous. Two weeks ago they did a free worldwide shipping on all orders over $25 USD. So you have to look there once in a while or at least sign up for an account, even if you don't buy a single item.

Plus, I do also make custom mounts for the Varia. I have currently designed a Fizik ICS mount, a Specialized SWAT mount, a clip that hooks on the the ubiquetous strap on saddlebags, among other Varia mounts.

I do not work for Shapeways, just an FYI, and I complain to them all the time about shipping costs, the unavailable smooth black parts, etc.

0 PaulDN81 over 8 years ago

213

Just got my Varia and was trying to figure out how to mount it while still using my large saddlebag. Found a picture on another forum where someone had used a universal quarter turn mount and one of the small rubber bands to mount it to the light strap on a saddlebag. I tried that and it works perfectly. I also added a couple of twist ties, just the thin wire with the paper removed (couldn't fit a zip tie), around the inside of the mount and around the strap to add extra security to the mount.

0 mrfixie over 8 years ago

Tethering?

This is a brilliant unit, but expensive enough that I worry about it falling off my bike.. Have any of you guys figured out a clean way to attach a failsafe lanyard to your Varia?

0 PaulDN81 over 8 years ago

I've been looking into this myself, especially since I have it attached to my saddle bag where it gets bounced around a bit more, and I found this thread that mentioned self adhesive GoPro tethers. They are fairly cheap and can apparently be removed using a hair dryer to heat up the adhesive if needed so it might be worth looking into.
https://forums.garmin.com/showthread.php?322384-Can-the-varia-be-tethered

0 Former Member over 7 years ago

Other mounting options

I know this is an older thread, but wanted to share an image I received from someone using a Specialized SWAT saddle mount adapter for the Garmin Varia that I designed a while ago.