Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Road Cycling
Reload this Page >

There's competition in the radar market

Notices
Road Cycling “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” -- Ernest Hemingway

There's competition in the radar market

Old 07-15-22, 09:39 PM
  #1  
Seattle Forrest
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Seattle Forrest's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 23,208
Mentioned: 87 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18880 Post(s)
Liked 10,640 Times in 6,050 Posts
There's competition in the radar market

https://cyclingtips.com/2022/07/bryt...nd-tail-light/

Bryton had a large stand at Eurobike showing off all things from its extensive list of head units to a new indoor trainer (more on that later). But perhaps the most interesting thing on the stand was the new Gardia R300 rearview radar and tail light device.
Seattle Forrest is offline  
Likes For Seattle Forrest:
Old 07-16-22, 07:50 AM
  #2  
WhyFi
Senior Member
 
WhyFi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: TC, MN
Posts: 39,330

Bikes: R3 Disc, Haanjo

Mentioned: 353 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20611 Post(s)
Liked 9,283 Times in 4,597 Posts
DCR is saying that it'll be less than Garmin's 510/515 and that the battery life blows away the 510/515 and should outlast virtually any head unit on the market. Interesting.

https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2022/07/...dar-units.html
WhyFi is offline  
Likes For WhyFi:
Old 07-16-22, 09:34 AM
  #3  
Bah Humbug
serious cyclist
 
Bah Humbug's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Austin
Posts: 19,573

Bikes: S1, R2, P2

Mentioned: 115 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8352 Post(s)
Liked 3,050 Times in 1,628 Posts
Interesting yes, but it's easy to blow away the competition when you're not on the market yet. Does it have the same range and sensitivity? Other quality?
Bah Humbug is offline  
Old 07-16-22, 09:55 AM
  #4  
chaadster
Thread Killer
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 11,800

Bikes: '15 Kinesis Racelight 4S, '76 Motebecane Gran Jubilée, '17 Dedacciai Gladiatore2, '12 Breezer Venturi, '09 Dahon Mariner, '12 Mercier Nano, '95 DeKerf Team SL, '19 Tern Rally, ‘21 Breezer Doppler Cafe+, ‘19 T-Lab X3

Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2238 Post(s)
Liked 1,304 Times in 797 Posts
I’ve criticized the Varia 500-series styling and mount placement before, so I’m happy to see Bryton had the same thoughts and centered their mount and gave the unit a more modern look.

That said, it’s perhaps kind of surprising they stumbled upon virtually identical dimensions, unless there’s some kind of sharing of the basic hardware. The round lens, single LED, and top mounted light suggest this, too.

Anyway, I hope Bryton’s unit at least shuts up the beeping when the bike is stopped. That’d be a big quality of life improvement for me, as I find the Varia’s incessant beeping really annoying.
chaadster is offline  
Old 07-16-22, 11:25 AM
  #5  
Seattle Forrest
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Seattle Forrest's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 23,208
Mentioned: 87 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18880 Post(s)
Liked 10,640 Times in 6,050 Posts
It's wide enough that you can use it as a snow plow, too.
Seattle Forrest is offline  
Likes For Seattle Forrest:
Old 07-16-22, 01:42 PM
  #6  
Koyote
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 6,708
Mentioned: 35 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6082 Post(s)
Liked 9,224 Times in 3,985 Posts
Originally Posted by chaadster View Post
I’ve criticized the Varia 500-series styling and mount placement before, so I’m happy to see Bryton had the same thoughts and centered their mount and gave the unit a more modern look.

That said, it’s perhaps kind of surprising they stumbled upon virtually identical dimensions, unless there’s some kind of sharing of the basic hardware. The round lens, single LED, and top mounted light suggest this, too.

Anyway, I hope Bryton’s unit at least shuts up the beeping when the bike is stopped. That’d be a big quality of life improvement for me, as I find the Varia’s incessant beeping really annoying.
I bought a Garmin 515 recently and found the rubber band mount less-than-satisfying. It's secure, but it's too easy to move the unit off-center just by handling the bike. So, for another bike, I bought the hard mount -- and it must've been designed by a C- student. Just awful. It's wide enough that my left thigh occasionally brushes against it while pedaling, and it puts the unit about 30 degrees off of perpendicularity relative to the pavement on a bike with a pretty standard seat tube angle. If they took returns, I would send it back.
Koyote is offline  
Old 07-16-22, 01:51 PM
  #7  
WhyFi
Senior Member
 
WhyFi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: TC, MN
Posts: 39,330

Bikes: R3 Disc, Haanjo

Mentioned: 353 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20611 Post(s)
Liked 9,283 Times in 4,597 Posts
Originally Posted by Koyote View Post
So, for another bike, I bought the hard mount -- and it must've been designed by a C- student. Just awful. It's wide enough that my left thigh occasionally brushes against it while pedaling, and it puts the unit about 30 degrees off of perpendicularity relative to the pavement on a bike with a pretty standard seat tube angle. If they took returns, I would send it back.
I can understand the thigh rub - I don't use saddle bags with a velcro strap around the post, for this reason - but how are you managing that 30° angle? Did you mount it upside down?
WhyFi is offline  
Old 07-16-22, 02:26 PM
  #8  
Koyote
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 6,708
Mentioned: 35 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6082 Post(s)
Liked 9,224 Times in 3,985 Posts
Originally Posted by WhyFi View Post
I can understand the thigh rub - I don't use saddle bags with a velcro strap around the post, for this reason - but how are you managing that 30° angle? Did you mount it upside down?
It’s mounted correctly. 30° might be an exaggeration, but it is noticeably not perpendicular to the road surface.

Honestly, I can’t understand how they built such a poor mount. Cygolite tail lights come with an infinitely better mount – does not rub your thighs, and the angle is adjustable.
Koyote is offline  
Old 07-16-22, 02:37 PM
  #9  
WhyFi
Senior Member
 
WhyFi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: TC, MN
Posts: 39,330

Bikes: R3 Disc, Haanjo

Mentioned: 353 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20611 Post(s)
Liked 9,283 Times in 4,597 Posts
Originally Posted by Koyote View Post
It’s mounted correctly. 30° might be an exaggeration, but it is noticeably not perpendicular to the road surface.

Honestly, I can’t understand how they built such a poor mount. Cygolite tail lights come with an infinitely better mount – does not rub your thighs, and the angle is adjustable.
What kind of STA does your bike have? If mine isn't perfectly perpendicular, I'd need a plumb bob to tell. I also have it mounted lower, maybe 13-15cm below the top of the saddle, and thigh rub isn't a problem.
WhyFi is offline  
Old 07-16-22, 02:50 PM
  #10  
Sy Reene
Advocatus Diaboli
 
Sy Reene's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Wherever I am
Posts: 8,194

Bikes: Merlin Cyrene, Nashbar steel CX

Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4446 Post(s)
Liked 1,350 Times in 877 Posts
Originally Posted by Koyote View Post

Honestly, I can’t understand how they built such a poor mount. Cygolite tail lights come with an infinitely better mount – does not rub your thighs, and the angle is adjustable.
I skipped the garmin offering and got one of these. adjustable angle, as well as a bit more clearance from seatpost clamp area.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08N154BBY
Sy Reene is offline  
Likes For Sy Reene:
Old 07-16-22, 07:19 PM
  #11  
tomato coupe
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 4,586

Bikes: Colnago, Van Dessel, Factor, Cervelo, Ritchey

Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2995 Post(s)
Liked 5,194 Times in 2,110 Posts
Originally Posted by Koyote View Post
I bought a Garmin 515 recently and found the rubber band mount less-than-satisfying. It's secure, but it's too easy to move the unit off-center just by handling the bike. So, for another bike, I bought the hard mount -- and it must've been designed by a C- student. Just awful. It's wide enough that my left thigh occasionally brushes against it while pedaling, and it puts the unit about 30 degrees off of perpendicularity relative to the pavement on a bike with a pretty standard seat tube angle. If they took returns, I would send it back.
I have hard mounts on 4 bike, and they're all within a few degrees of perpendicular. Is there something unusual about your bike?
tomato coupe is offline  
Likes For tomato coupe:
Old 07-16-22, 08:01 PM
  #12  
Koyote
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 6,708
Mentioned: 35 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6082 Post(s)
Liked 9,224 Times in 3,985 Posts
Originally Posted by Koyote View Post
It’s mounted correctly. 30° might be an exaggeration, but it is noticeably not perpendicular to the road surface.
Originally Posted by WhyFi View Post
What kind of STA does your bike have? If mine isn't perfectly perpendicular, I'd need a plumb bob to tell. I also have it mounted lower, maybe 13-15cm below the top of the saddle, and thigh rub isn't a problem.
Originally Posted by tomato coupe View Post
I have hard mounts on 4 bike, and they're all within a few degrees of perpendicular. Is there something unusual about your bike?
Okay, you both got me wondering...So I went out to measure the angle with my phone. (Yep, there's an app for that), and got a reading of -28 degrees. Looks like I had pushed it down so low (to get it out of the way of my massive guads ) that the back of the quarter-turn portion of the mount was butted up against my seat post collar, and hence it was angled upwards excessively. I moved it up a centimeter or so, and now it's at -7 degrees -- which is close enough. But hopefully I won't be getting the thigh rub again.

Originally Posted by Sy Reene View Post
I skipped the garmin offering and got one of these. adjustable angle, as well as a bit more clearance from seatpost clamp area.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08N154BBY
How do you like it? Is it sturdy? Looks like a better design than the Garmin offering, but I am leery of trusting my expensive tail light to a no-name mount.

PS: thanks, all!
Koyote is offline  
Likes For Koyote:
Old 07-16-22, 09:13 PM
  #13  
Troul 
:D
 
Troul's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Mich
Posts: 6,177

Bikes: RSO E-tire dropper fixie brifter

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Liked 2,186 Times in 1,462 Posts
Originally Posted by Sy Reene View Post
I skipped the garmin offering and got one of these. adjustable angle, as well as a bit more clearance from seatpost clamp area.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08N154BBY
I have that mount & attached my action cam to it. Holding up well after a few thousand miles. was 15.00 when I bought it.
__________________
-Oh Hey!
Troul is offline  
Old 07-18-22, 05:22 PM
  #14  
njkayaker
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 13,616
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3803 Post(s)
Liked 1,056 Times in 743 Posts
Originally Posted by chaadster View Post
I’ve criticized the Varia 500-series styling and mount placement before, so I’m happy to see Bryton had the same thoughts and centered their mount and gave the unit a more modern look.
The offset mount of the Varia means less clearance is needed on one side (you can mount it "upside down").

With a centered mount, are stuck if it doesn't fit (unless you mount it sideways).
njkayaker is offline  
Old 07-18-22, 08:24 PM
  #15  
chaadster
Thread Killer
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 11,800

Bikes: '15 Kinesis Racelight 4S, '76 Motebecane Gran Jubilée, '17 Dedacciai Gladiatore2, '12 Breezer Venturi, '09 Dahon Mariner, '12 Mercier Nano, '95 DeKerf Team SL, '19 Tern Rally, ‘21 Breezer Doppler Cafe+, ‘19 T-Lab X3

Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2238 Post(s)
Liked 1,304 Times in 797 Posts
Originally Posted by njkayaker View Post
The offset mount of the Varia means less clearance is needed on one side (you can mount it "upside down").

With a centered mount, are stuck if it doesn't fit (unless you mount it sideways).
Yes, good point. I, however, am not “seatpost extension challenged” and dislike the dangling pawpaw look of Varia RTL515, so the Bryton unit appears to be an improvement to my eye.

It could have been really cool had Bryton come up with their own, novel architecture for the radar unit, rather than merely slightly modifying the Varia template, but I’m sure there were practical limitations to doing so.

Another potential downside is that the Bryton mount appears to be unique, reducing mount options currently available on the aftermarket compared to the ubiquitous Garmin-style mount options.
chaadster is offline  
Old 07-19-22, 08:45 AM
  #16  
njkayaker
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 13,616
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3803 Post(s)
Liked 1,056 Times in 743 Posts
Originally Posted by chaadster View Post
Yes, good point. I, however, am not “seatpost extension challenged” and dislike the dangling pawpaw look of Varia RTL515, so the Bryton unit appears to be an improvement to my eye.
You can't please everybody. The Varias, as they are, seem pretty popular.

Originally Posted by chaadster View Post
It could have been really cool had Bryton come up with their own, novel architecture for the radar unit, rather than merely slightly modifying the Varia template, but I’m sure there were practical limitations to doing so.
I'm not sure what "novel architecture" would be better. You need area for the light and area for the radar transmitter/receiver. Seems like function might require some sort of rectangle.

Originally Posted by chaadster View Post
Another potential downside is that the Bryton mount appears to be unique, reducing mount options currently available on the aftermarket compared to the ubiquitous Garmin-style mount options.
I think this has to do with licensing (in non-Asian countries).

Then, again, Bryton does some things in a non-standard way for no apparent reason:

Bryton 420 route files format

Last edited by njkayaker; 07-19-22 at 08:48 AM.
njkayaker is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -

Copyright © 2023 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.