New taillight camera with radar watches your back while you bike

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Apparently that light can be seen from a mile away in daylight.
Apparently that light can be seen from a mile away in daylight.
Photo: Garmin

The road can be a dangerous place for cyclists, so it’s a good thing Garmin launched a new taillight Wednesday that has a high-def camera and radar. It will record everything going on behind you while you’re on your bicycle. And its radar can alert you to approaching vehicles.

Using the new Garmin Varia RCT715 Radar Camera Tail Light, you can download all footage to your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch via the Varia app. That could come in mighty handy if you’re in a crash and need to prove what happened.

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Garmin Varia RCT715 Radar Camera Tail Light

Garmin rolled out the Varia RCT715 Radar Camera Tail Light on Wednesday. The company said the new version of its taillight features a high-definition camera to record any incidents that may befall you and your bike out on the road.

While the camera is new, the new taillight features the same radar technology as its predecessors. When you pair it with a Garmin bike computer or smartwatch, the Varia will alert you to vehicles coming up behind you from up to 140m away.

Garmin said you can pair the device with selected cycling apps, like Ride with GPS. That lets you overlay maps with the radar notifications.

Garmin also said the Varia RCT715’s taillight can be seen up to one mile away in daylight and noted that the camera will “capture sharp, clear footage” at up 1080 pixels and 30 frames per second.

The camera records constantly when the Varia is in use. If an incident is detected, the camera automatically saves footage from before, during and after it.

Garmin Varia app

Using the Garmin Varia app, you can access video footage, transfer files and customize the camera’s settings. You can overlay data, including speed and location.

Use of the camera might be prohibited or regulated in some places, so it’s best to keep track of applicable laws and rights to privacy, Garmin said.

While the radar and tail light carry the same specs as the previous version of the device, the RTL515, battery life has changed. The RTL715, with the added camera, has a shorter battery life than the RTL515’s claimed six hours. The RTL715 gets four hours with radar and the tail light on ‘solid high’ or ‘night flash’, and up to six hours with the light flashing.

You can pick up the Garmin Maria RXCT715 at Garmin for $399.99. Or, Amazon sells it bundled with a charger and mounting kit for $409.99.

Where to buy: Garmin or Amazon

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