I bought the $100 Bryton Gardia (Varia competitor) - Ask me anything

[jkbrwn]

I don’t really like Garmin’s borderline monopoly on certain products and I hate Micro USB so didn’t want a Varia.

I bought the Bryton Gardia instead. I’m impressed. Currently $110 on Bryton’s website. It has USB-C. For all intents and purposes it behaves identically to the Varia.

It’s connected to my first generation Elemnt Bolt and it’s working without a hitch.

The product was received poorly at launch but after firmware updates it’s now much better. I used it for 2 hours yesterday and got no false positives. It alerted me when a car was behind me, the icon of the car on my Bolt was accurate and once it passed, I got another alert.

The only time it got a bit confused is when I was approaching the crest of a small hill with a car 20ft behind me. When I went over the crest, it lost sight of the car for a split second and thought it had passed me already as it didn’t reappear on the radar.

It came with a mount for round and aero seat posts. I’m using the aero mount and it’s actually very good.

It has an app. You can change the light mode in there or physically by cycling through using the button on the light.

[Likes2ridefar]

Thanks will have to check it out.

[weisan]

Originally Posted by jkbrwn

I don’t really like Garmin’s borderline monopoly on certain products and I hate Micro USB so didn’t want a Varia.

I bought the Bryton Gardia instead. I’m impressed. Currently $110 on Bryton’s website. It has USB-C. For all intents and purposes it behaves identically to the Varia.

It’s connected to my first generation Elemnt Bolt and it’s working without a hitch.

The product was received poorly at launch but after firmware updates it’s now much better. I used it for 2 hours yesterday and got no false positives. It alerted me when a car was behind me, the icon of the car on my Bolt was accurate and once it passed, I got another alert.

The only time it got a bit confused is when I was approaching the crest of a small hill with a car 20ft behind me. When I went over the crest, it lost sight of the car for a split second and thought it had passed me already as it didn’t reappear on the radar.

It came with a mount for round and aero seat posts. I’m using the aero mount and it’s actually very good.

It has an app. You can change the light mode in there or physically by cycling through using the button on the light.

Sounded like it checks all the boxes at a lower price. Thanks for the review.
https://www.amazon.com/Bryton-GARDIA...hoC92IQAvD_BwE

[Likes2ridefar]

Have you seen any mounts for it that will work on saddle rails? I see some aftermarket options but didn’t see that yet in my searches.

Edit: I found one…6$. I am in. Looks like a better light than the varia as advertised.

[BRad704]

Originally Posted by Likes2ridefar

Have you seen any mounts for it that will work on saddle rails? I see some aftermarket options but didn’t see that yet in my searches.

Edit: I found one…6$. I am in. Looks like a better light than the varia as advertised.

if you use a saddle bag, you might need an extender to push the light rearward, but the clampon mounts seem to be very useful.

[donevwil]

Originally Posted by weisan

Sounded like it checks all the boxes at a lower price. Thanks for the review.
https://www.amazon.com/Bryton-GARDIA...hoC92IQAvD_BwE

That radar + computer bundle looks intriguing as well.

[KonaSS]

Can you tell us some about run times? I need it to last for 5+ hour rides.

[Elefantino]

This was a good review of the Varia, Magene and Gardia from last year.

[mcteague]

Two quick questions, too lazy to look it up.

Does it flash more rapidly when cars approach?

Does it remember the chosen flash mode when turned off?

Thanks!

Tim

[cmbicycles]

Do these radar tail lights work if you don't have a compatible head unit, ie some kind of audio warning? I still run wireless computers on my bikes, and my fly6 just bit the dust. The radar seems slightly more proactive than the camera to me.

[rice rocket]

Does it have a radar only mode?

[Likes2ridefar]

Originally Posted by rice rocket

Does it have a radar only mode?

Yes