Turbo Vado 5 and Garmin RVR315

[Hogwarts School]

the Turbo Vado 5 comes with an integrated Garmin RVR 315. You can view approaching cars on the handlebar app. However I would like to install the Varia app on my iphone, and use Bluetooth on a bigger display to see approaching cars, as well as getting sound notifications in my headphones. The integrated Garmin does not have a button to put it in pairing mode. Has anyone been able to use the Varia app with a turbo vado bike?

 

[Ben J]

I'm also curious if this unit is substantially different than the standalone version. Lots of people ask Garmin if it's okay to mount the unit sideways, and they are evasive. People cite this bike's factory install as evidence that it works, but it could have entirely different guts.

 

[Ben J]

I noticed that the standalone radar (no light) has chevrons on the narrow end (indicating down direction), while the unit on the Turbo Vado 5.0 has them on the wide side. So that does seem to be a custom unit (not to mention integrated power wire)

 

[gpburdell]

I'm also curious if this unit is substantially different than the standalone version. Lots of people ask Garmin if it's okay to mount the unit sideways, and they are evasive. People cite this bike's factory install as evidence that it works, but it could have entirely different guts.

I'd expect internal differences since the standalone version has a battery, charging circuity, button, no direct-power cord, maybe other stuff.

That said, my RTL515 seems to work identically whether it's mounted horizontally on my Vado 4.0 or vertically on my other bikes. If there's any difference in sensitivity I've been unable to discern such.

As to Garmin answering questions about mounting sideways - remember the side-lights won't be pointing to the side, and the quarter turn mount will release if a horizontally mounted RTL515 rotates to a vertical position. So just from a CYA perspective they're not going to sign-off on that even if the radar functionality is identical. (I've never had an issue with the rotating/releasing, but I use a tether just in case)

 

[mschwett]

the new e-bike version also has a chevron pointing “down” …