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Does anyone find the RDU head unit useful?

Former Member
Former Member
I bought the combo RTL+RDU head unit. I'm super disappointed that the RDU head unit does not have an audible warning.

Is anyone using the Varia RDU head unit and find it useful?

At this point I'm considering either 1) returning the whole bundle and re-purchasing an Edge 25 + RTL unit, or 2) Adding an Edge 25 just to get the audible beep.
  • I bought the radar without the display and regret it. Whilst I appreciate the beep from my garmin 510 the dedicated display looks much better. I have tried to get garmin to sell me the display unit but they wont. Have tried ebay and bike forums thinking someone must have bought the bundle and decided to use just the edge for sound but no-one is selling there display unit. Hope garmin come out with a revised display unit I can buy....
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 8 years ago
    I bought the radar without the display and regret it. Whilst I appreciate the beep from my garmin 510 the dedicated display looks much better. I have tried to get garmin to sell me the display unit but they wont. Have tried ebay and bike forums thinking someone must have bought the bundle and decided to use just the edge for sound but no-one is selling there display unit. Hope garmin come out with a revised display unit I can buy....


    Posted accidentally in the wrong thread. But here it goes:

    I have just spoken with Garmin rep. He was 99% sure that radar head unit (RDU) has audible beeps *after* firmware update to *both* radar unit and RDU. Can anyone who has this bundle confirm? Thank you very much in advance!
  • Posted accidentally in the wrong thread. But here it goes:

    I have just spoken with Garmin rep. He was 99% sure that radar head unit (RDU) has audible beeps *after* firmware update to *both* radar unit and RDU. Can anyone who has this bundle confirm? Thank you very much in advance!


    Absolutely not. I'm on the latest firmware and there's no sound from the RDU.
  • Apologies for any confusion. The Varia Rearview Radar head unit only shows lights to indicate approaching vehicles and does not provide audible tones.
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 5 years ago

    Just bought RTL510--disgusted that there is no audible without buying another device. Not all bicyclists are techware savy, and Garmin has no desire to help. I've summarized the tone of many complaints and sent to the Better Business Bureau.

  • The description is very clear about how it functions. Why complain to the BBB that you did not read the product description?  How could a audible alert be heard since the 510 is mounted behind the bike?

    I would suggest buying the new model 515 which has bluetooth and is able to connect to a phone and the alert can be heard through the phone.

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 5 years ago in reply to cheracogoff

    I thought that I made it clear that we are not all as tech savy as apparently you are--appreciate your clarification. I'm an 80 years old trying to protect myself from those projectiles called cars and trucks! I reviewed over 50 complaints and comments and shared with the BBB--the comments can speak for themselves as apparently many others aren't tech savy like you--maybe one day we may achieve that. Thanks for your input.

  • Well, I'm 74 and I did not have any problem understanding how the Varia is used. There are lots of videos on the Varia. The Garmin site has quite a bit of info on it. This is not a matter of being tech savy. It's a matter of reading about what a product will do for you. I can't imagine how you could drive one of the new cars with all their high tech safety features.

    I've been using it for almost two years and it works so well that I don't ride without it.

    So, how did you think you were going to see the visual display of the cars approaching? Do you know that there is a unit called a RDU that is attached to the handlebars that will display the approaching traffic?   I think you only bought the radar and not the receiver. You simply bought only half of what is needed. The radar is sold separately because Garmin Edge computers can display the traffic.

  • This perhaps is why one should get it from their LBS (Local Bike Shop) such that they can ask all the questions and seek clarifications regarding the purchase.

    If you did get it from the LBS, then go ask the LBS. Otherwise...