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How Do Varia Radar Alerts Display on Garmin Watches?

Varia™ rearview radars can pair with many different models of Garmin® watches, allowing cyclists to keep track of traffic approaching them from the rear. Compatible watches will provide a beep and vibration notification each time the radar identifies a new approaching target. The watches will both beep and vibrate by default. To change the alert styles during activity, please refer to your owner's manual. Be sure to choose the "Bike" activity profile on the watch to allow full functionality of both the radar and light features.

Compatible Watches

NOTE: vivo and Venu watches listed below will not emit an audible tone and will only vibrate with the exception of the Venu 2 Plus and Venu 3 series which feature a speaker.

  • D2™ Delta | D2™ Delta PX | D2™ Delta S

  • D2™ Mach 1 | D2™ Mach 1 Pro

  • Descent™ G1 | Descent™ G1 Solar | Descent™ G1 Solar - Ocean Edition

  • Descent™ G2

  • Descent™ Mk1

  • Descent™ Mk2 | Descent™ Mk2i | Descent™ Mk2S

  • Descent™ Mk3 | Descent™ Mk3i

  • Enduro™

  • Enduro™ 2

  • Enduro™ 3

  • epix™ (Gen 2) - Standard Edition | epix™ (Gen 2) - Sapphire Edition | epix™ (Gen 2) - Porsche Edition

  • epix™ Pro (Gen 2) - Standard Edition | epix™ Pro (Gen 2) - Sapphire Edition

  • fēnix® 5 | fēnix® 5S | fēnix® 5X

  • fēnix® 5 Plus | fēnix® 5S Plus | fēnix® 5X Plus

  • fēnix® 6 - Standard Edition | fēnix® 6 - Solar Edition | fēnix® 6 - Pro and Sapphire Editions | fēnix® 6 - Pro Solar Edition

  • fēnix® 6S - Standard Edition | fēnix® 6S - Solar Edition | fēnix® 6S - Pro and Sapphire Editions | fēnix® 6S - Pro Solar Edition

  • fēnix® 6X - Pro and Sapphire Editions | fēnix® 6X - Pro Solar Edition

  • fēnix® 7 - Standard Edition | fēnix® 7 - Solar Edition | fēnix® 7 - Sapphire Solar Edition

  • fēnix® 7S - Standard Edition | fēnix® 7S - Solar Edition | fēnix® 7S - Sapphire Solar Edition

  • fēnix® 7X - Solar Edition | fēnix® 7X - Sapphire Solar Edition

  • fēnix® 7 Pro - Solar Edition | fēnix® 7 Pro - Sapphire Solar Edition

  • fēnix® 7S Pro - Solar Edition | fēnix® 7S Pro - Sapphire Solar Edition

  • fēnix® 7X Pro - Solar Edition | fēnix® 7X Pro - Sapphire Solar Edition

  • fēnix® 8 - AMOLED Edition | fēnix® 8 - Solar Edition

  • fēnix® E

  • fēnix® Chronos 

  • Forerunner® 165 | Forerunner® 165 Music 

  • Forerunner® 255 | Forerunner® 255S | Forerunner® 255 Music | Forerunner® 255S Music

  • Forerunner® 265 | Forerunner® 265S 

  • Forerunner® 645 | Forerunner® 645 Music Watches

  • Forerunner® 735XT

  • Forerunner® 745

  • Forerunner® 935

  • Forerunner® 945 | Forerunner® 945 LTE 

  • Forerunner® 955 | Forerunner® 955 Solar

  • Forerunner® 965

  • Instinct® 2 - Standard Edition | Instinct® 2 - Camo Edition | Instinct® 2 - Surf Edition | Instinct® 2 - dēzl Edition

  • Instinct® 2 Solar | Instinct® 2 Solar - Tactical Edition | Instinct® 2 Solar - Surf Edition

  • Instinct® 2S - Standard Edition | Instinct® 2S - Camo Edition | Instinct® 2S - Surf Edition

  • Instinct® 2S Solar | Instinct® 2S Solar - Surf Edition

  • Instinct® 2X Solar | Instinct® 2X Solar - Tactical Edition

  • Instinct® 3 - AMOLED | Instinct® 3 - Solar

  • Instinct® Crossover - Standard Edition | Instinct® Crossover Solar | Instinct® Crossover Solar - Tactical Edition

  • Instinct® E

  • Legacy Hero - Captain Marvel | First Avenger 

  • Legacy Saga - Darth Vader™ | Rey™

  • Lily® - Classic Edition | Lily® - Sport Edition

  • MARQ® Adventurer | MARQ® Athlete | MARQ® Aviator | MARQ® Captain | MARQ® Commander | MARQ® Driver | MARQ® Expedition | MARQ® Golfer

  • MARQ® Adventurer (Gen 2) | MARQ® Athlete (Gen 2) | MARQ® Aviator (Gen 2) | MARQ® Captain (Gen 2) | MARQ® Golfer (Gen 2)

  • MARQ® Adventurer (Gen 2) - Damascus Steel Edition | MARQ® Athlete (Gen 2) - Carbon Edition | MARQ® Athlete (Gen 2) - Performance Edition | MARQ® Commander (Gen 2) - Carbon Edition | MARQ® Golfer (Gen 2) - Carbon Edition

  • tactix® 7 - AMOLED | tactix® 7 Standard Edition | tactix® 7 Pro Edition | tactix® 7 Pro Ballistics Edition

  • tactix® 8 - AMOLED | tactix® 8 - Solar

  • tactix® Charlie 

  • tactix® Delta - Sapphire Edition | tactix® Delta - Solar Edition | tactix® Solar Edition with Ballistics

  • Venu®

  • Venu® 2 | Venu® 2S

  • Venu ® 2 Plus

  • Venu® 3 | Venu® 3S

  • Venu® Sq | Venu® Sq - Music Edition

  • Venu® Sq 2 | Venu® Sq 2 - Music Edition

  • vívoactive® 3 | vívoactive® 3 Music | vívoactive® 3 Music (Verizon)

  • vívoactive® 4 | vívoactive® 4S

  • vívoactive® 5

  • vívoactive® 6

  • vívoactive® HR

What Do the Alerts Look Like on a Garmin Watch?

Below are examples of what the display of a Garmin watch will look like when Varia radar unit detects a target such as a vehicle or another cyclist approaching. What you see on the watch may look different depending on your model.

 Screenshot from Garmin watch showing Varia radar alert on watch with orange threat level

When Varia radar detects a new target the watch will beep and vibrate as well as show the Vehicle Approaching message.

Screenshot from Garmin watch showing Varia radar high speed alert on watch with red threat level

The watch can display multiple targets and will change from orange to red if the speed of the target is much faster than the normal flow of approaching traffic.

Screenshot from Garmin watch showing Varia radar clear alert on watch with green threat level

Once the Varia radar no longer detects any approaching traffic it will display a green clear indication on the watch.

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