Trek has joined the radar rear light market with its latest offering, the CarBack Radar Tail Light, unveiled at the Sea Otter Classic show. This innovative product integrates a rear light with radar technology, boasting a detection range of up to 240 meters for rear-approaching vehicles. While the Garmin Varia has long been a standout in this category since its introduction in 2015, Garmin has upped the ante with its latest model, the Varia RCT715, which incorporates not only radar but also a rear light and camera. Trek's entry into this competitive space with the CarBack suggests a growing demand for enhanced safety features among cyclists. In recent years, we've witnessed the emergence of various competitor offerings in the market, such as the Magicshine Magene Seemee 508 and Bryton Gardia R300L. Now, Trek has entered the fray with its own contribution, the CarBack.[1]

Figure 1. The Trek CarBack's LED battery level display.

Figure 1 shows the trek CarBack's LED battery level display. Shows Examining the Trek CarBack in detail, its lighting capabilities include a maximum output of 90 lumens, with four distinct modes:

• Day Flash (90 lumens)
• Day Steady (25 lumens)
• Night Steady (five lumens)
• Night Flash (five lumens)

Trek asserts that the Day Flash mode is visible during the daytime from a distance of up to 2 kilometers. Over the past decade, Trek has established itself as a trailblazer in the realm of daytime-running lights, with products like the current Trek Flare RT ranking among our preferred bike lights.[2] Regarding its radar capabilities, Trek states that the CarBack offers audio and visual alerts through your GPS bike computer. It features both ANT+ and Bluetooth connectivity, enabling it to sync with Trek's Accessory app. This allows for real-time display of oncoming car positions if your phone serves as a bike computer. Alternatively, if you carry your phone, the app can deliver audio alerts. Additional features include a four-bar LED battery gauge located on the light's side and a USB-C charging port. The claimed weight of the light is 87g.

References:

1. https://newatlas.com/bicycles/trek-carback-bicycle-radar/
2. https://www.bikeradar.com/news/trek-carback-radar-rear-bike-light

Cite this article:

Gokila G (2024), Trek's Carback Bike Radar: Enhanced Rearward Hazard Alerts, Anatechmaz, pp. 936