Rear Radar on eCargo Bike

[laney]

I'm looking for info about running a rear radar on a cargo bike and hoping someone here can help.

Currently, my bike has a Bosch Performance Line Sport motor and a Purion remote. I would like to run a radar, such as the Garmin Varia. (I like the Varia since it has an ebike model that can be wired in to the Bosch battery system)

My issue is what head unit to connect it to. Is there a Bosch head unit that would support radar info? If at all possible I'd like to avoid having a separate computer on my handlebars. The less little items I have to charge, the easier it is to get out and ride.

Has anyone else been down this rabbit hole? What radar or camera are you running on your bike?

 

[Bike Shop Girl]

Hey Laney! I've gone down the rabbit hole pretty far...

I installed a Varia eRTL615 with Bosch plug. I used it with a garmin and/or my phone. I haven't seen anyway to sync garmin products with bosch beyond the heart rate. straps.

I removed it for now because in dense areas where I spend most of my time, the radar was going off nonstop, and I ultimately preferred having a camera to document any near misses (or terrible infrastructure).

if you think it is worth it, I can reinstall it and document the process!

 

[laney]

I installed a Varia eRTL615 with Bosch plug. I used it with a garmin and/or my phone. I haven't seen anyway to sync garmin products with bosch beyond the heart rate. straps.

I removed it for now because in dense areas where I spend most of my time, the radar was going off nonstop, and I ultimately preferred having a camera to document any near misses (or terrible infrastructure).

That's great info to know...I'm also in mostly dense areas so it may not be a good option for me either. I already run a camera (Insta x3) and a mirror and will probably stick with that set up unless integration with Bosch becomes a feature.

Thanks!

 

[Bike Shop Girl]

Have you seen https://www.roadio.com/?

 

[laney]

Looks interesting, I had not seen that before.
Not compatible with Android yet, but I will keep it in mind.

 

[Barb Schwendtner]

I'm looking for info about running a rear radar on a cargo bike and hoping someone here can help.

Currently, my bike has a Bosch Performance Line Sport motor and a Purion remote. I would like to run a radar, such as the Garmin Varia. (I like the Varia since it has an ebike model that can be wired in to the Bosch battery system)

My issue is what head unit to connect it to. Is there a Bosch head unit that would support radar info? If at all possible I'd like to avoid having a separate computer on my handlebars. The less little items I have to charge, the easier it is to get out and ride.

Has anyone else been down this rabbit hole? What radar or camera are you running on your bike?

I love my Garmin varia, I started with the radar and upgraded to the radar-camera combo. But I can't help you on the wiring. I already had a compatible Garmin computer so I stuck with that. I put it on the energy saving mode, and the radar still "wakes up" to beep and show cars behind you on the screen but the battery lasts way longer.

 

[jjsheets]

Have you seen https://www.roadio.com/?

Has anyone used the Roadio yet? I have been wanting to get a camera system, but had been hesitant to order anything. Mostly going between that or a 360 camera, but didn’t really want a mount sticking off my bike. I ended up just ordering the Roadio, so we shall see how it goes—I’m a bit nervous to install it.

 

[Forrest Baum]

I love my Garmin varia, I started with the radar and upgraded to the radar-camera combo. But I can't help you on the wiring. I already had a compatible Garmin computer so I stuck with that. I put it on the energy saving mode, and the radar still "wakes up" to beep and show cars behind you on the screen but the battery lasts way longer.

Yes, I’d love a wired version with a camera. I love the firmware update to the Varia RCT715 that shows you both your speed and live speed of the car behind!

 

[Forrest Baum]

Has anyone used the Roadio yet? I have been wanting to get a camera system, but had been hesitant to order anything. Mostly going between that or a 360 camera, but didn’t really want a mount sticking off my bike. I ended up just ordering the Roadio, so we shall see how it goes—I’m a bit nervous to install it.

I’d love to hear your updates! And let us know if you have any install questions.

 

[Barb Schwendtner]

Yes, I’d love a wired version with a camera. I love the firmware update to the Varia RCT715 that shows you both your speed and live speed of the car behind!
View attachment 441

I only realized that after checking a clip of a car blowing by - it said 72 mph and that was in a 35mph zone.

 

[jjsheets]

I’d love to hear your updates! And let us know if you have any install questions.

Well, I placed my order Jan 19. I immediately got an email to complete a form taking photos of my bike. It felt very much so like a beta test, as if each order was being made custom. This was completed with some assistance from them on Jan 22. They had to adjust the form because they hadn’t accounted for a mid-drive motor, which seemed super odd to me. I have a Tern bike, which some of their advertising had shown.

After submitting that, the order sat for a while, but their website orders can take 2-3 weeks to ship, so I waited.

Today, I just got an email that Roadio is no longer shipping in my region—not sure if that is all the US but I’m in NC. So they are refunding my purchase. I was honestly ready to just ask for a refund with how long it was taking, so I don’t really feel super disappointed.

It looks like I’ll be going for the Insta 360.

 

[Forrest Baum]

Well, I placed my order Jan 19. I immediately got an email to complete a form taking photos of my bike. It felt very much so like a beta test, as if each order was being made custom. This was completed with some assistance from them on Jan 22. They had to adjust the form because they hadn’t accounted for a mid-drive motor, which seemed super odd to me. I have a Tern bike, which some of their advertising had shown.

After submitting that, the order sat for a while, but their website orders can take 2-3 weeks to ship, so I waited.

Today, I just got an email that Roadio is no longer shipping in my region—not sure if that is all the US but I’m in NC. So they are refunding my purchase. I was honestly ready to just ask for a refund with how long it was taking, so I don’t really feel super disappointed.

It looks like I’ll be going for the Insta 360.

Wow, that's surprising - though they're very much a startup.
Their website does say "sold out", and is now mostly angled toward "motorcycles and mopeds"... (though they obviously still use bike footage, ha!)
I do hope someone else will come up with a wired front & back camera setup.

Which Insta360 are you thinking?

 

[cargodad]

Today, I just got an email that Roadio is no longer shipping in my region—not sure if that is all the US but I’m in NC. So they are refunding my purchase. I was honestly ready to just ask for a refund with how long it was taking, so I don’t really feel super disappointed.

uhhh "your region"? what does that even mean?

It felt very much so like a beta test, as if each order was being made custom

This doesn't surprise me, as they only had their first production ready units maybe... 6 months ago? They are figuring their operations out it sounds like.


We worked with them for a while to get custom mounts, installation guides etc. designed for Bunch Bikes, and as far as I know... they can deliver to anywhere in the U.S. At least I hope so, because we have them for sale on our website and they haven't told me otherwise...


I'll ask them and see what's going on.




Despite all that, I love using the roadio product and was an early beta tester a couple years ago.

Their website does say "sold out", and is now mostly angled toward "motorcycles and mopeds"... (though they obviously still use bike footage, ha!)

Yeah I noticed that, big shift. "Expertly engineered for mopeds and motorcycles"

6 months ago it was Urban Arrow all over the website. We even hooked them up with a Bunch Bike in San Francisco to shoot video with (it never made it to their website as far as I know). Not a cargo bike or e-bike to be seen anywhere on their site now.

 

[BirdmanStevens]

uhhh "your region"? what does that even mean?




This doesn't surprise me, as they only had their first production ready units maybe... 6 months ago? They are figuring their operations out it sounds like.


We worked with them for a while to get custom mounts, installation guides etc. designed for Bunch Bikes, and as far as I know... they can deliver to anywhere in the U.S. At least I hope so, because we have them for sale on our website and they haven't told me otherwise...


I'll ask them and see what's going on.




Despite all that, I love using the roadio product and was an early beta tester a couple years ago.




Yeah I noticed that, big shift. "Expertly engineered for mopeds and motorcycles"

6 months ago it was Urban Arrow all over the website. We even hooked them up with a Bunch Bike in San Francisco to shoot video with (it never made it to their website as far as I know). Not a cargo bike or e-bike to be seen anywhere on their site now.

Did you hear back from Roadio?

 

[cargodad]

Did you hear back from Roadio?

You know, I didn’t. And they have been extremely responsive to me in the past so it’s weird that they didn’t.

Not a good sign.

 

[BirdmanStevens]

You know, I didn’t. And they have been extremely responsive to me in the past so it’s weird that they didn’t.

Not a good sign.

Oof! That's no good. It seemed like they had a cool thing going...

 

[cargodad]

Got some intel from Roadio indirectly (A Bunch Bike customer who had purchased a system had a support conversation with Roadio related to install, and talked to a roadio employee who had been laid off due to company transition and was in final 2 weeks of employment).


- Roadio is transitioning away from products that serve U.S. e-bikes and instead will be focusing on mopeds and motorcycles in Taiwan. This is because e-bikes have too much variation in electronics, so it was too hard for Roadio to get the system installed on all the different customers' bikes.

- The parts and app will continue to work for e-bike users even after they transition to the new Taiwanese markets.


So... RIP Roadio, as far as e-bikes are concerned.


I did reach out to CEO to get confirmation on whether or not ongoing support would be available going forwards in the future for existing customers.

 

[BirdmanStevens]

Dang, that's a bummer!

 

[cargodad]

I did reach out to CEO to get confirmation on whether or not ongoing support would be available going forwards in the future for existing customers.

Ongoing tech support available for existing customers, although if it’s anything too complex they may opt to just refund.

All sales in u.s. are in process of shutting down (we had some inventory and they are refunding us). They are moving entire focus to Taiwan

RIP

 

[BirdmanStevens]

Ongoing tech support available for existing customers, although if it’s anything too complex they may opt to just refund.

All sales in u.s. are in process of shutting down (we had some inventory and they are refunding us). They are moving entire focus to Taiwan

RIP

I asked someone on Reddit who had gotten one about it and this is what they said: