Garmin Varia mount options

[Nomadmax]

I know it isn't cheap but as far as I'm concerned, this has no equal.

https://neat-components.com/products...2&_ss=e&_v=1.0

They have them for all sizes and shapes.

I can't stand for anything to touch the inside of my thighs and most of the other mounts do that.

[NHAero]

Originally Posted by Duvivr6

I have your same situation and have installeded different mount on a few bikes.

Road bike has a saddle rail mounted version.
Gravel bike has a round seatpost clamp.

You can find many on Amazon or eBay.
I use these ones,

Thinvik Varia Seatpost Mount for... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B7JZRY2T...p_mob_ap_share

Cestbon Radar Bike Mount for... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B92B9M8M...p_mob_ap_share

I have one or the other on several bikes

[Wunder]

Originally Posted by Nomadmax

I know it isn't cheap but as far as I'm concerned, this has no equal.

https://neat-components.com/products...2&_ss=e&_v=1.0

They have them for all sizes and shapes.

I can't stand for anything to touch the inside of my thighs and most of the other mounts do that.

Haven't tried this one but I agree on the thigh touching issue. The Garmin bolt on mount and copies cause me problems on a seatpost as the side mounted bolt makes them quite wide and I get rub.

However, I have made the Garmin one work pretty well by mounting it BELOW my seatpost collar (on the frame). For a frame with a 27.2 round post the Garmin mount should fit on the frame without the spacer as it easily fits a 31mm post as well. Whether or not that works for you does depend on frame size and seatstay angle but it's worth a shot. Below is a picture of this on a 58cm Cervelo R3:

[buckfifty]

what saddle are you running? bup labs has some saddle integrated options

[Nomadmax]

This doesn't look too bad

https://concentriccycling.com/pages/seat-post-mounts

[Dired]

Haven't seen this mentioned, but Garmin now has a saddle rail mount for the 715. I just got one and it's solid.

[mstateglfr]

I have many of these- they are inexpensive, reliable, and sure seem to look fine to me.
Ive seen complaints that some people's thighs rub, but I really dont notice that, so it may just be body shape/height or bike style/fit.

I dont think any lights that have black shells look good on silver seatposts, so even the nicest isnt something that is appealing. Given that, it becomes a lower priority for me.

[mstateglfr]

Originally Posted by CAAD

Dunno the light is essentially facing the ground isn't very useful. Sure the radar might work but I want the light to actually be seen.

My youngest kid uses a downward facing rear red light on her road bike and I think its fantastic for being seen.
Its a Cygolite Hotshot 50, so the lowest output option for that model, and even that lights up the road all around her. The light gets her feet and spokes too, so there is movement to catch awareness, even though the light is solid.
The light is attached to the left seatstay and just faces at a downward angle.


This pic is from a couple weeks ago- both are 50 lumen rear lights.

[mass_biker]

Looks like I have a few options and places to check out/stock up…agree that the rubber band thingy is super flimsy and I would hate to have that expensive radar/blinkie bouncing around out there.

[Jdm]

I run my mount at the bottom of my seatpost to prevent thigh rub and to allow enough seatpost length to fit into my repair stand. The rear wheel covers a little bit of the varia, but I haven't noticed a performance difference.

A rear saddle mount would be ideal, but I don't want to pay $35+ each for them.

[ewwhite]

I'm also using https://www.etsy.com/shop/NeatComponents seatpost mounts everywhere in 27.2 and 31.6.

[Elefantino]

I also have the Garmin mount on all my bikes. I guess sometimes it pays off to be a member of the Thin Thighs Club.

[smontanaro]

I have two mounts (other than the original). I have a mount on a small seat bag (I suspect I owe jamesdak thanks for that–my execution isn't nearly as nice as his).



I also took the original mount and filed away enough to support the standard Garmin mount. Here's the setup on my Fuji. (I can get away with the seatpost mount because it has an Ortlieb handlebar bag for carrying stuff.)



It still bugs me that Garmin (or anyone else) never made a rubber adapter for run-of-the-mill steel seatstays (about 13-14mm diameter), such as you find on bazillions of steel bikes. We may be vintage bike enthusiasts, but we're mostly not Luddites, and are actually quite concerned with our safety.

[mstateglfr]

Originally Posted by smontanaro

It still bugs me that Garmin (or anyone else) never made a rubber adapter for run-of-the-mill steel chainstays (about 13-14mm diameter), such as you find on bazillions of steel bikes. We may be vintage bike enthusiasts, but we're mostly not Luddites, and are actually quite concerned with our safety.

help me envision how a Garmin Varia what mount to a chainstay. Are you wanting it to mount on outside of the non-drive side chainstay? That seems like the radar would be subjected to a lot of impact and probably pivot to the point of loosening quite frequently.

I do think it would be neat if there were a seatstay mount, but for that to happen, you would need to overcome the upward angle of seatstays because the Varia is designed to mount vertically and face perpendicular to the road.

[caneye]

I guess majority are referring to Varia 515 mounts.

Is there anyone on 3rd party 715 mounts?
They are totally different to the 515 ones.