Garmin Varia Vue
 

Finally! Garmin has come out with a headlight/camera combo with decent battery life. The thing I really like about it (I don't have one - yet :) but I've read the manual online) is that the camera can be configured to operate for one minute ONLY after the rear Varia radar has detected an oncoming vehicle. With my RTC715, this would be ideal, and additionally, both the light and camera configuration can be controlled via my Garmin GPS/Computer.
I may have to put off buying that new camera lens!

Garmin Varia Vue | Smart Bike Light with 4K Camera

Clever. I look forward to reading reports of its operation.

DC Rainmaker has a review on the unit, but does not appear to go into much detail about the radar activation of the camera.

take out the light feature & it'll make the size very enticing... could repurpose some of that space savings for a slightly higher capacity battery....

Is the mount plastic, & is it easily replaceable?

Good question on the mount material. I'm going to assume it's reinforced nylon, like other Garmin cases?
In DC Rainmakers video he did say the mount is replaceable. Looks like two screws hold it in place.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9d44327c85.png

I got wind of this product earlier this year, just after I'd bought a Varia for its rear-facing camera capability.

Noticed that when I have it set for 'continuous' the battery lasts not much longer than 2 hours. I just changed that setting to 'events' today, will try to gage how that affects battery life.

Exactly why I've declined to add one to my kit thus far. I have headlight already but as I rarely ride at night I've been using one of these things -

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ec9c2f8893.jpg

- for my daylight rides. Makes mounting my 840 literally a snap.


I'm kinda surprised they didn't use a mount like what's on their computers? Cockpit space being somewhat limited, having 'stackable' mounts adds utility value. Perhaps the 'GoPro' style mount pictured, secured with screws, can be removed to mount something more Garmin-centric?

[QUOTE=with decent battery life[/QUOTE]

According to Garmin specs, 2.5 hrs battery life when triggered by medium flash,4.5 hrs on low setting. That's not what I would call "decent". That's charging after every ride, which would be annoying. They need to do better.

Agreed. I am tempted to buy it, but it's a lot of money for a middling product. If it were better, and especially if the Varia radar/light/camera combo had a better camera, I'd be sorely tempted to plunk down the money. But as it stands now, probably not.

In that this device made its premier several months ago I'd been waiting for a post here about a user's experience. I'm going to take this thread at face value; I'm fully in agreement with you on the battery charge window.

I've run a GoPro Hero8 off an aux. battery pack ('cause its on-board battery capacity s*cks) but it's a 'flatbread' IYKWIM. Needs a fatter SD card too if you're going for readable license plates.

Battery capacities are (and will continue to be) the weak link in devices small and large for the time being I suspect.

My thread from back in April: https://www.bikeforums.net/electroni...era-light.html

Briefly: not recommended.

Yep, that's where I first heard about this item. Thanks for the reminder!!

(I wonder if you can run two RCT715's at the same time w/o Bluetooth conflict? One facing back, t'other forward, with its tail light covered? Be cheaper than the one w/ headlight...)

I can't wait to see the comparison between the Cycliq 12 and the Varia Vue...

I'm not a big Cycliq fan, but even then I'd pick the Fly12. It's $180 less for similar functionality. The Garmin just adds radar-activated operation, which may not be the most reliable.

I've had my Varia Vue for a little over a month now, not sure if I were to spend the money again on it to be honest, but it does have a use. What it is good for is capturing video "dash cam" style. I have mine configured to automatically record in 4k with image stabilization enabled and run it in daytime flash mode. The battery seems to last about 5 hours with the settings that I run. I do have an Anker 733 power bank that I can plug it into, but I have ran into problems with that as well. If the camera and light are running and the external power is changed (either from currently being on and it turns off, or the external power was off and it turns back on) the device powers itself off.

My other complaint is about "saving" videos, for example if someone pulls out in front of me I can manually press and hold the video button on the device, or choose "save video" from my Garmin Edge it will save the previous 15 seconds of video and up any new video shot until I manually turn it off save mode. In my ideal world I would be able to click or press a button and have it save the previous 2 minutes as that would be more useful to save videos of incidents/accidents or just cool things.

Here is a sample video, and yes the dogs owner showed up right as the video stopped and was retrieved safely.