Rad Power Bikes RadMini 4 Review

To run the forums, host the website, and travel, I charge a universal service fee for my reviews. This in-depth review was sponsored by Rad Power Bikes. My goal is to be transparent and unbiased with you, this video and writeup are not meant to be an endorsement of RPB products. I welcome your corrections, additions, and feedback in the comments below and the Rad Power Bikes electric bike forums.

Observations:

• Starting in 2020, customers in some major cities including Austin, Seattle, Sacramento, and Vancouver Canada can pay $149 to have the Rad Mobile Service van deliver, assemble, and provide maintenance support for bikes. They’re also offering demo rides and post-purchase service, including warranty work. I got to see the van and interact with some of the Austin team members, and was impressed with this unique service that blends the predominantly online presence of Rad with a local shop feel
• This is the 4th generation RadMini! All of the kinks have been worked out, but some of the hardware components are decidedly mid-tier to keep the price down… those include the non-locking grips, square tapered spindle, spring suspension fork with 9mm quick release vs. thru-axle, Shimano Altus derailleur, and freewheel vs. cassette. This bike also comes in a more approachable step-thru version, which only comes in white but offers bottle cage bosses (unlike the high-step)
• Rad Power Bikes introduced a new metallic head tube badge, updated headlight with LED light ring and focused beam, and smoother twist throttle that foregoes an on/off toggle switch seen on previous generations. The RadMini models moved from 20″ x 4.5″ smooth tires to slightly narrower 20″ x 3.3″ studded tires for all-terrain use. The reps I spoke with explained that the new tires are more versatile and nimble, and that the new throttle is more reliable and tends to be less confusing for riders who would occasionally turn off the original throttle by accident, and then become concerned

Pros:

• Rad Power Bikes custom engineers their frames and puts a lot of attention into the details of which components are used… even going so far as to co-brand them with parter companies like King-Meter for the LCD display, Bafang for the hub motor, and Kenda for the tires. Note the longer seat post binder lever that Rad uses, it’s much easier to unlock and then tighten without straining fingers vs. a traditional shorter binder… though it does add a little extra weight
• Rad Power Bikes really nails it with the integrated lights because they run off of the main battery, have quick disconnect points for easy replacement if damaged, and the rear light has a blinking mode as well as a bright braking mode! They’re far ahead of other similar priced products… even some higher priced ebikes!
• Excellent headlight upgrade here, you get a bright 80 lumen beam that is focused for spotting the path, and a secondary LED ring that keeps you visible from the sides. There’s even an aluminum alloy heat sink built into the top of the headlight housing to dissipate heat! At first, I thought that it was just for show, but it’s actually metal and mates directly with the internal LED housing
• By default, the new RadMini models come with durable plastic fenders. They’re wide enough to keep you dry (as I tested in the video review above), and they are lightweight and durable… without producing a lot of noise. I really appreciate that the company designed a rear light riser, to help boost it up above the rear fender! Furthermore, if you purchase the optional rear rack, there’s an extender cable so the light fits further back. It’s protected by the rack tubing but isn’t blocked from the sides… excellent placement
• Overall, this ebike is very comfortable and capable. The 3.3″ wide fat tires offer a 5 to 30 PSI range and have puncture resistant casing. I’ve tested them in soft sand and mud during a trip to Mexico, after lowering the pressure to ~5 PSI, and they worked pretty well, though not as well as the full sized fat tires which are 4″ and have a larger contact patch due to the wider diameter of the wheel.
• The adjustable height stem and low-rise handlebar on this bike are sturdy and capable, they don’t require riders to reach or lean so far forward, which I find to be more comfortable. The spring suspension fork offers enough travel and adjustment to reduce wrist, arm, shoulder, and back pain, and the bike gets even more comfortable if you purchase the optional suspension seat post
• Matching faux-leather ergonomic grips and saddle look great and provide good comfort. I’ve tested a bunch of seats, and this one is soft enough, but not so wide that it will chaff your inner thighs when pedaling. It also has a handle built into the back for easier folding and lifting of the bike
• I really like the bell that’s built into the left brake lever, it’s compact and stays more protected when folding while keeping the handlebars clean, but works reliably and produces a friendly chime. I also like the rubberized brake levers, which don’t get as cold or feel as sharp as all-metal
• Some folding bikes skip the bungee cord, magnet, or a Velcro strap to keep them from coming unfolded but the RadMini does not, it comes with a Velcro strap! You could still use your own bungee cords or get an adjustable one like this to keep the frame extra secure when transporting in a car, boat, plane, RV, etc. I often place a towel or t-shirt between the frame components when folding and transporting, to reduce scratches and chips. Some owners have purchased large plastic tubs and posted about it in the forums here
• I like that Rad Power Bikes is using the same battery pack for all of their models now. This means you can purchase a few bikes and easily swap the packs around if you forget to charge, or decide to take two packs along for an extended adventure! The battery itself uses high-quality Samsung lithium-ion cells, is warrantied for a year, and is cheaper to replace because it doesn’t contain the bike controller. You can charge this pack on or off the bike frame, and it has three key positions for unlocked, locked to frame but powered off, and locked to frame powered-on. This helps you to deter tampering without having to take the battery pack off. For best results, store the battery in a cool, dry location. Extreme heat can damage the cells and extreme cold will stunt them and limit your range temporarily
• Note the stainless steel torque arm on the rear left dropout that reinforces frame strength! This will keep the motor axle from chewing into the softer aluminum alloy dropout over time, which is important for such a high-powered hub motor
• Many folding electric bikes can feel flexy if you’ve got a heavier load or cargo, especially with the big heavy fat tires, but this frame uses two main tubes and a reinforcement gusset near at the seat tube to offer 275lbs of max load capacity, and it doesn’t flex very much or suffer from speed wobble
• Decent weight distribution here, notice how low and centered the battery is on the bike frame, this improves stability and frees up the rear for adding a rack and cargo. Note that the step-thru RadMini moves the battery further forward by placing it in front of the seat tube
• Both of the frame folding points (at the center of the frame and on the stem) have a locking mechanism for safety when riding, this way, they won’t come completely unfolded if the clamp becomes loose
• The planetary geared hub motor offers great power for starting, navigating soft terrain, and climbing. Although it ramps up steady and smooth vs. zippy, it’s still very capable and pushing the 750 watt max limit for North American electric bicycles. You get 80 newton meters of torque, which is also at the higher end of what’s available in the legal Class 1 and Class 2 system (meaning you can ride without a license and enjoy on more trails and parks)
• The geared hub motor is zippy and powerful, more so than the RadWagon and RadCity models, which use a gearless hub motor. The geared motor doesn’t offer regeneration and it does produce some more noise, but it’s torquey enough to power through snow and soft sand if you lower the tire PSI to the 5-10 range. Geared motors also freewheel without introducing magnetic drag, so they can pedal more easily if the motor is turned off or if you try to exceed 20mph by pedaling extra hard
• I love the sturdy aluminum alloy folding Wellgo platform pedals (most folding ebikes use plastic that flexes), the durable alloy chain guide, and the steel derailleur guard because it means you won’t slip off as easily, won’t have the chain bouncing off, and can protect the sensitive shifter parts and motor power cable from getting bent or snagged if the bike tips, is parked at a crowded rack, or gets tossed around in shipping or when folded during transport and storage
• In addition to the standard fenders, bottle cage mounts, and rear rack bosses, this e-bike offers sturdy front rack mounts! Rad sells a bunch of accessories that all work well together on this and other models, they’re interchangeable with some baskets even working on the front platform. I especially like the insulated bags, waterproof panniers, and child seat options
• I love that the LCD display panel is fairly large, has adjustable backlight brightness, and offers a full size USB charging port built into the bottom (providing 5 volts and a full 1 amp of power). This is very convenient if you are using the optional phone mount for GPS and need a bit of extra juice for your smartphone on long rides
• For me, the three-button control pad that’s mounted near the left grip is easy to reach and simple to use. You press up or down to raise or lower assist, you press mode to cycle odometer and trip meter, you hold up to cycle current speed, average speed, and max speed, and you can hold up and mode simultaneously to activate the lights or hold down to activate walk mode. Walk mode is especially useful if you’ve got the bike loaded up with gear or a child seat and just want to play it safe without over-exerting yourself up a hill or through a technical section of terrain. Hold up and down simultaneously to get into the settings menu and adjust wheel size, top speed, and backlight brightness
• The RadMini models use a high-resolution 12-magnet cadence sensors, which makes starting and stopping more predictable. I love that they also included motor inhibitors on both brake levers (which also activates bright mode on the rear light!) It seems like they really dialed in the controller settings too, because the motor is smooth and predictable when starting vs. delayed or jerky
• The throttle setup on all of the Rad Power Bikes is perfect, in my opinion. It provides you with full power, anytime the bike is turned on. This means that you can zip around without pedaling in assist level zero, without worrying that you might accidentally activate assist by moving the cranks as you get on and off. It also means that you can override assist levels 1-4 with full power to climb a hill or catch up with friends… all without clicking buttons or looking down, just twist and it goes! For people who don’t want a throttle, there’s a quick disconnect cable located near the handlebar that’s easy to access, and doing this will convert the bike to Class 1, which is legal on more mountain bike trails
• The kickstand is adjustable, has a wide platform at the bottom to keep it from sinking in to soft terrain, and it works well if you’re loading the bike with gear. Note that the kickstand is positioned far enough back that it won’t cause pedal lock when backing the bike out, or cause heel strikes when pedaling
• I love that the optional front rack is frame-mounted so it won’t interfere with steering or tip the bike sideways when parked like fork mounted racks… but it does change how the headlight is mounted, and fixes it straight vs. turning as the bike turns
• Both wheels are built with thicker 12 gauge spokes for increased durability and weight capacity support. I appreciate that Rad chose to paint the spokes black on the Mini models to blend in with the rims and hubs. Note that the official max weight rating on both RadMini and RadMini Step-Thru is 275 pounds (~125 kilograms)
• Great drivetrain on this ebike, Rad has chosen an 11 to 34 tooth freewheel over the conventional 14 to 28 tooth design. This provides a wider range of pedal options for easier climbing and more comfortable high-speed riding. The cogs are nickel coated, which makes them rust resistant and a lot smoother to shift. The Shimano Altus derailleur is lighter and more reliable than Tourney, but not quite as good as the Acera used on full sized Rad models like RadRover and RadCity
• The battery slide rack uses three bolts to attach to the frame. Some of the really cheap ebikes use a mount that only has two bolts. I have found that the batteries don’t rattle much when navigating bumpy terrain, and I haven’t ever seen one come loose
• I think the standard free shipping is a great option, and Rad Power Bikes has updated their box to include some fun artistic graphics. Note the plastic handles built into the sides of the cardboard box for easy lifting and dragging (I suggest asking a friend to help you move the box safely, because these are heavy machines)
• It’s cool that Rad Power Bikes has expanded to Canada in recent years. They specced their motor down from 750 watts to 500 watts in order to comply with local regulations. Both countries offer free shipping and Rad has offices in both locations, including shops and mobile delivery service vehicles that provide assembly and test ride options

Cons:

• The RadMini 4 only comes in one frame size, but the steering tube and seat post can telescope up for taller riders, the frame only comes in black for the high-step model, but white is available if you opt for the step-thru. Note that the step-thru version of the RadMini is about the same size but has a lower stand-over height and includes bottle cage bosses on the downtube
• The battery and controller box are mounted externally, which isn’t as fancy or beautiful as some competing products with internal batteries and controllers… still, that keeps replacement battery packs down in price and reduces the heat surrounding the battery, which extends its life. The cables aren’t internally routed, as they are on the RadMini Step-Thru, but they won’t get pinched as easily when folding/unfolding the frame. Since the battery, controller, and cables are all black, they match the black frame on the standard RadMini and blend in pretty well in my opinion
• Because the battery pack slides down and mounts behind the seat tube, you’ll probably have to loosen and raise the seat post and saddle anytime you want to take it off of the bike, this is not always the case for the full sized RadRover and RadCity models
• Keep an eye on the front cables when the stem is fully extended or folding and twisting the handlebar because this could pull on the some of the cables and loosen them or even cause disconnections
• The display is large and easy to read but not removable, so it could take extra weather wear and possibly get scratched at a bike rack. I appreciate that it’s well protected by the mid-rise handlebar, and that the electronics on the bike can be completely disabled by turning the key to the locked-off position (between locked-on and unlocked).
• I love that you can enter into the display settings area and adjust units by holding the up and down buttons, but I wish there was more feedback about range and remaining battery capacity, it only shows five bars which relay 20% steps vs. 10 bars or a full 100% readout
• The battery charger is fairly compact and lightweight, RAD says it’s reliable and works between all models, but it would be nice to have a faster charger given the higher capacity 672 watt hour battery pack… it’s another part that will be less expensive to replace, because it’s more basic, but they say it’s very reliable
• Despite its compact size, the RadMini is a fairly heavy folding electric bike… most fat-tire models are! It’s slightly lighter than the step-thru version (68lbs vs. 69lbs) because that one uses a thicker main tube and more reinforcement gussets and welds. Anyway, I feel that they could reduce some of the weight on both models, without compromising frame integrity, by using punched-out rims instead of the solid ones we see here
• Rad Power Bikes has been using the large Shimano SIS index shifters since the beginning, and they aren’t my favorite. You have to reach up with your thumb to press the main paddle to get to lower gears, and that can require a bit of hand flexibility and even looking down for a moment. I much prefer smaller trigger shifters, but I don’t think those will fit with the twist throttle housing, and they might not be as simple and intuitive for some riders… so I see why they stick with them, and they do work fairly well if you’re wearing thick gloves
• The 180mm mechanical disc brakes worked well during my ride test, especially with the smaller 20″ wheels, but I definitely prefer hydraulic brakes because the levers are easier to pull and can be reach-adjusted for extra small or large hands. This is one part on the bike that seems to be a compromise in order to keep the price lower and the folks at Rad told me that mechanical brakes are easier for people to work on themselves verses needing help from a shop
• It’s great to have suspension, and I feel that Rad Power Bikes chose the best option they could for the price here, offering lockout and preload adjust. Ultimately, it’s still a pretty basic spring fork that adds a lot of weight to the frame vs. an air fork. In short, I’m glad that these mini folding fat bikes include a suspension fork, compared to the 2016 and 2017 first-generation RadMinis which used a rigid steel fork
• Earlier RadMini products shipped with the rear rack included and it was paint matched (black or white) but starting in 2019 you had to pay $80 extra for it… at least they now include fenders stock, and the racks come in black or bright orange (as shown in the photographs of the RadMini Step-Thru). Note that the same racks work for both high-step and step-thru models)
• Minor considerations here, the headlight is mounted to the lower portion of the suspension fork and will bounce up when you encounter large bumps. This would not happen if it was mounted to the stem or handlebars… and it would be much higher and more visible there as well (but possibly prone to damage when folding/transporting). If you opt for a front tray rack, the headlight will have to be moved onto the base of the tray because otherwise it will collide and get blocked by the rack. The thing is, the light isn’t as adjustable when it’s mounted below the optional front tray rack, and it no longer points where you steer when it’s mounted there
• Rad Power Bikes sells mostly online, which means that there’s some extra hassle unboxing and preparing the bike for riding, however they have partnered with some mobile bike repair services and now have their own vans offering a $149 setup, keep in mind that the folding models are the easiest ones to get going if you do it yourself

Useful Resources:

• Official Rad Power Bikes website
• Best folding fat electric bikes