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NOTE: I updated this review to reflect the changes brought by the new firmware updates.
This is my Magene L508 radar with taillight review. Magene introduced it during the Eurobike 2022 fair (although they didn’t have its booth there).
I have already tested Garmin Varia RTL515, RCT715, Bryton Gardia R300L, and other popular cycling radars, so in this article, you also learn how these radars differ and perform.
KEY TAKEAWAY
Based on my extensive testing, I can say that the Magene L508 has never missed a car. It’s a worthy and cheaper alternative to Varia because it offers light mode customization, USB-C charging, and an auto-sleep feature. On the other hand, it gives more false positives, is not as accurate when detecting multiple cars, and doesn’t increase side visibility. You can order it here or continue reading for more info about its pros and cons.
My L508 rating at a glance:
Reliability 4/5 | Multi-object Detection 4/5 | Battery Life 2/5 | Brightness 4/5 | Side Visibility 2/5 | Mount 4/5 | App 4/5 | Price 4/5 | WEIGHTED OVERALL SCORE 3.5/5
More about this cycling radar scoring.
Magene L508 Summary
Thanks to Varia RTL515’s popularity, it was only a matter of time before other manufacturers introduced cycling radars with taillights.
Unfortunately for them, Garmin patented the technology, making it harder for others to gain market share.
Although it remains to be seen how the legal side of things will play out, the Magene L508 is one of the first* direct alternatives to the Varia RTL515.
*Bryton also introduced its radar with a taillight on Eurobike 2022, the Gardia R300, which was later renamed the Gardia R300L.
It brings a few new features (more about them below) and seems like a promising newcomer.
Here is what the box includes:
The rubber mount is universal and suitable for rounded, D-shaped, and V-shaped seatposts.
A safety tether is also not as common among bicycle radars (iGPSport SR30 is another exception).
Also available at aliexpress.com
Magene L508 Setup
L508 is compatible with most head units that have ANT+ and Bluetooth connectivity.
Once you pair it with your bike computer, the following warning will appear:
After this process, you can start using it.
My Experience with Magene L508
Based on my experience, I summarize Magene L508 as follows.
- It detects cars as quickly as Varia radars but has worse multi-car detection. It struggles with tracking multiple cars at once.
- It gives me more false positives (alerts me to a car that isn’t there) than the Varia.
- The mount ‘lock’ is looser than the Garmin mount but holds securely. It tends to slide on the seatpost, but not as often as Garmin’s.
- The light/flash is
less brightthan Varia RTL515. You can now set higher brightness in exchange for shorter battery life. - The light modes are more customizable thanks to the smartphone app.
- The flashing period was changed by the firmware update, so the light now flashes during the entire overtaking period.
I also have full confidence in its IPX7 protection:
By the way, L508 doesn’t improve your side visibility as much as other radars due to the lack of side LEDs.
Magene ‘Subscription’
Some people panicked when they learned that the light modes were only available by paying a $4.99 $1.99 subscription fee.
Let me set this myth straight.
In the radar package is the following card:
Its text indicates that after linking the radar to the Magene Utility app and signing up for a Magenius subscription, you can unlock the “Customizable light modes setting.”
This customization allows you to change the light intervals. For example, from 2 to 3 seconds, etc. But newly, you can also set their brightness and turn on/off other features.
The “subscription” is a one-time payment, so it’s not recurring. You can also sign up for the Magenius newsletter and avoid paying this fee.
The Magene app allows you to turn off certain modes or auto-sleep for free. It can also replace your bike computer because it can display cars after the software update.
Magene L508 vs. Garmin Varia RTL515
There is no doubt the similarity between L508 and Varia RTL515. Garmin clearly inspired Magene.
So, how do both radars compare in terms of technical parameters? Check out the following table.
| Varia RTL515 | Magene L508 | Bryton Gardia R300L | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 98.6×19.7×39.6 mm 3.9×0.8×1.6 in | 94×38×25 mm 3.7×1.5×0.98 in | 97×20.9×40 mm 3.82×0.82×1.57 in |
| Weight | 71g | 65g | 66g |
| Claimed battery life | 6 hours solid 8 hours peloton 6 hours night flash 16 hours day flash | 4-11 hours solid 10-16 hours peloton 15-18 hours quick flash 11-13 hours pulse, flash 10-12 hours rotation 19 hours radar only | 8 hours high solid (20 lumens) 12 hours low solid (5 lumens) 11 hours group ride (peloton) 17 hours night flash (12 lumens) 17 hours day flash (73 lumens) 24 hours radar only |
| Real battery life | 9 hours and 30 minutes in the day flash mode¹ | 7 hours and 20 minutes in the flash mode | 11 hours and 40 minutes in the day flash mode² |
| Charging | MicroUSB | USB-C | USB-C |
| Radar | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Taillight | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Brake sensing | No | Yes | Yes |
| Auto stand-by | No | Yes | Yes |
| Lumens | 20 (solid) 8 (peloton) 29 (night flash) 65 (day flash) | 6-40 (solid, quick flash) 6-20 (flash, pulse, peloton, rotation) | Up to 73 |
| Light modes | Solid, peloton, night flash, day flash | Solid, peloton, flash, pulse, rotation, quick flash, no light (radar only) | High/low solid, group ride (peloton), flash, no light (radar only) |
| Customizable light modes | No | Yes (paid subscription or free for email subscription) | No |
| Detecting distance | Up to 140 m | Up to 140 m | Up to 190 m |
| Relative detecting speed | 10 to 160 km/h (6 to 99 mph) | 10 to 120 km/h (6 to 74 mph) | 10 to 120 km/h (6 to 74 mph) |
| Water resistance | IPX7 | IPX7 | IPX7 |
| Viewing angle | 220° | 220° | 220° |
| Horizontal detection angle | 40° | 40° | 40° |
| Protocols | Bluetooth, ANT+ | Bluetooth, ANT+ | Bluetooth, ANT+ |
| More info | RTL515 review | L508 review | R300 review |
| Buy | Check Price Check Price (rei.com) Check Price (tredz.co.uk) | Check Price | Check Price |
¹About two years old unit. The battery depreciation probably influenced the battery life.
²Demo unit - I am not sure if this influenced the battery life.
Updated on 25.09.2023.
Magene L508 looks sleeker but similar to Varia RTL515. However, I don’t think its glossy finish was a wise choice. It will probably scratch easily when cleaning off the dirt.
L508 is incompatible with Garmin mounts (if you mount it in, it will be rotated sideways).
L508 has 6 7 light modes:
- Solid
- Flash
- Quick flash (new)
- Peloton
- Pulse
- Rotation
- Radar only
All modes are the same as on RTL515, except the ‘Pulse mode,’ which is new. It only changes the brightness of the light from dimmer to brighter.
I like that L508 comes with a USB-C charging port like RCT715. RTL515 uses a MicroUSB port.
L508 can detect if you slow down. If you do, it increases the brightness of the light to warn those behind you.
The last feature I want to highlight is the auto-sleep. The radar can automatically go into sleep mode after detecting your bike in a stationary position for longer than 5 minutes (you can set the interval in the app to as low as 1 minute) and automatically turn on once you start riding. Remember, this feature has to be enabled using the Magene smartphone app.
Read this Magene L508 vs. Varia RTL515 comparison for more info.
Also available at aliexpress.com
Also available at rei.com, performancebike.com, and tredz.co.uk
Things to Consider Before Buying a Bike Radar
Garmin Varia RTL515 proved to be highly reliable. Sometimes, it gives you a false positive (shows a car that’s not there) but never misses one (i.e., false negative).
Magene L508 also does well (no false negatives) and has a few benefits over Varia (light modes customizability). But it gives false positives more often than Varia (several per ride).
Remember, if you buy a device like this cycling radar, you should have zero tolerance for false negatives*. But you also shouldn’t 100% rely on radars, and you should use your other senses while cycling.
*Here is the explanation of the possible scenarios:
True positive = there is a car and radar alerts you.
True negative = there is no car, so the radar won’t alert you.
False positive = there is no car, but radar alerts you.
False negative = there is a car, but the radar won’t alert you.
My Verdict
It’s great to finally see some competition for Garmin Varia radars.
The competition is good for the consumer. Hopefully, it will force manufacturers to innovate, improve their products, or reduce prices.
L508 performs as it should. It offers more light modes and has a few extra features (like smart brake sensing or light customization in the app).
I only have a few complaints:
- The radar should give fewer false positives. This improved with firmware updates. L508 is on the same level as the Gardia R300L.
- The radar should have better multi-object detection.
- The battery life could be longer.
- L508 doesn’t improve your side visibility much due to the lack of side LEDs.
Except for these details, I can recommend it as a cheaper Varia alternative.
Also available at aliexpress.com
What do you think about the new Magene L508 radar with taillight? Let me know in the comments.
Magene L508 FAQ
The product for this review was kindly provided by the manufacturer. This did not influence my overall verdict or my opinion about the product. You can learn more about how I approach reviews here.
Again, this device will not work with a phone because there is no phone app. Their supposed phone app is only for setting the flash timing. This device must have a dedicated bike computer. Whereas the Garmin radar does have a phone app and will work with either a phone or bike computer. The lower price is misleading because of this.
Hi Gregory,
Yes, you are right. Their app is only for adjusting the timing.
Theoretically, L508 should work with 3rd party apps like Cadence because it has Bluetooth connectivity. I contacted the developer of Cadence because it doesn’t work. He is working on a fix.
It would be interesting to see how many people use Varia radar with a phone. I guess, maybe 10 % of all customers?
– Petr
Bad news: it’s not yet compatible with smartphone apps. The L508 only broadcasts radar data over ANT+, though they say they plan to support apps in May 2023. I posted a support doc at https://getcadence.app/support/is-cadence-compatible-with-the-magene-l508-radar/
Great, thank you for the update, Ryan.
– Petr
Didn’t the battery life improve with the new updates? In the blog they say it did and that quick flash mode has the longest battery life. Did u notice any positive changes ?
Hi Kuback,
I haven’t tested the L508 battery life, as I tested other radars and then settled with RTL515. Thank you for understanding.
– Petr
This is so great. I was about to do an Excel, but you did it for me.
Haha, you are welcome, Jeff. 🙂 Check out this one too: The 5 Best Cycling Radars (and the Ones to Avoid)!