Total Weight:
74.4 lbs (33.74 kg)
Battery Weight:
7.7 lbs (3.49 kg)
Motor Weight:
8.7 lbs (3.94 kg)
Frame Material:
6061 Aluminum Alloy
Frame Sizes:
18 in (45.72 cm)Geometry Measurements:
18" Seat Tube Length, 21.5" Reach, 16.25" Stand Over Height, 30.25" Minimum Saddle Height, 41.25" Maximum Saddle Height, 27.5" Width, 71.5" Length, 47" Wheelbase
Frame Types:
Step-Thru
Frame Colors:
Glossy Metallic Silver with Black Accents
Frame Fork Details:
RST Spring Suspension, 80mm Travel, Compression Adjust with Lockout, Preload Adjust, 135mm Hub Spacing, 9mm Axle with Quick Release Skewer
Frame Rear Details:
175mm Hub Spacing, 12mm Threaded Axle with 10mm Flats, 18mm Nuts, Steel Torque Arm Washer
Attachment Points:
Fender Bosses, Front Rack Bosses, Rear Rack Bosses, Two Bottle Cage Bosses, Passenger Peg Bosses
Gearing Details:
7
Speed 1x7 Shimano Acera (or Altus) Derailleur, DNP Nickel Plated 11-34 Tooth FreewheelShifter Details:
Shimano SIS Index Thumb Shifter with Optical Gear Display on Right
Cranks:
Prowheel Forged Aluminum Alloy, 170mm Length Crank Arms, 48 Tooth Steel Chainring with Alloy Guide
Pedals:
Wellgo VB087 K79 Aluminum Alloy Platform with Fixed Pins and Reflectors, CrMo Axle, Standard 9/16" x 20 TPI Threading, Black
Headset:
Semi-Integrated, Sealed Cartridge, 1-1/8" Straight
Stem:
Aluminum Alloy, 50mm Length, 30º Angle, 15mm Rise, 31.8mm Clamp, Custom 52mm Spacer (Tapered)
Handlebar:
Custom, High-Rise, Aluminum Alloy, 254mm Height, 680mm Width
Brake Details:
Tektro Aries Mechanical Disc with 180mm Rotors, Four-Finger Tektro Levers with Rubberized Edges and Bell on Left and Motor Inhibitors with Brake Light Activation
Grips:
Ergonomic, Stitched Imitation Leather, Espresso Color
Saddle:
Custom Velo, Moped Style with Integrated Seat Post Plate, Extended Passenger Seat, Espresso Color
Seat Post:
Custom, Steel (Non-Adjustable Platform/Clamp)
Seat Post Length:
390 mm
Seat Post Diameter:
27.2 mm
Rims:
6061 Aluminum Alloy, Double Wall, 65mm Outer Width, 20"/406, 36 Hole
Spokes:
Stainless Steel, 12 Gauge, Black with Nipples
Tire Brand:
Rad Power Bikes by Kenda Custom K-Rad, 20" x 3.3" (84-406)
Wheel Sizes:
20 in (50.8cm)Tire Details:
30 PSI, 2.1 BAR, 30 TPI, Reflective Sidewall Stripe, K-Shield Puncture Protection
Tube Details:
Schrader Valve
Accessories:
Rear Mount Left Side Adjustable Kickstand, Steel Derailleur Guard, Custom Rad Power Bikes Integrated Premium LED Headlight (500 Lumen, LED Surround Running Light, Side Window Cutouts, Removable Plastic Rock Guard, Reflector), Integrated Spanninga Solo LED Rear Light (Rubber Button Below for Solid or Flashing Mode, Brake Activation), Neoprene Velcro Cable Wrap for Front Wires, Neoprene Slap Guard, Clear Plastic Rear Wheel Shields (Skirt Guard), Plastic Fenders (110mm Width, Black), Aluminum Alloy Passenger Pegs, Aluminum Alloy Bottom Bracket Motor Controller Skid Plate Protector, If Passenger Seat is Removed the Rear Rack Supports Yepp! Child Seat and Standard Basket Platform and Pannier Accessories from Rad Power Bikes, Optional Front Rack, Optional Small Basket, Optional Large Basket, Optional Platform, Optional Small Pannier Fremont Bag, Optional SR Suntour NCX Suspension Seat Post, Optional RAM Torque Handlebar Phone Mount X, Optional Small Basket Bag, Optional Large Basket Bag, Optional Small Insulated Delivery Bag, Optional Large Insulated Delivery Bag, Optional Yepp! Maxi Child Seat, Optional Replacement or Additional Battery Pack
Other:
Locking Removable Seat Tube-Mounted Battery Pack (4 LED Charge Level Indicator), 1.1lb 2 Amp Charger, Fully Potted Motor Controller, Stainless Steel Torque Arm, 300lb Maximum Weight Rating (120lb Passenger Weight Rating on Rear Rack)
Brian
4 years agoThank you so much for this comprehensive review. I’ve been looking forward to a review on this particular bike for sometime now, and your reviews are the best. Very informative and answered all my questions. I already have the RadRover and have been contemplating getting something a bit more approachable, This really helped to make up my mind.
ReplyCourt
4 years agoWonderful! I really appreciate your compliment about my work, and I’m so glad that the review helped you. I have had this one done for a little while, but Rad wanted me to hold off on fully publishing the video because their inventory is a bit limited. I hope you’re able to get one soon, and that it works well for you. Thanks again for making my day, Brian :)
ReplySherry
4 years agoCourt, we really appreciate your detailed reviews–we listened to many when deciding on purchasing an ebike. As we currently live in Europe, my husband has purchased the Rad Rhino and I still am on the fence with WHICH Rad bike–the Radrunner Plus being one of them. I do have 2 important questions. The Rad Runner Plus in the US has a 12 magnet cadence sensor, whereas the European one says it has a low profile cadence sensor but isn’t specific. Also, why does the European version of the Rad Runner Plus have only 4 levels of assist, as compared to 5 in the US? Could you tell me what the benefits or disadvantages would be of each of these? Thanks so much! Keep up the great work!
ReplyCourt
4 years agoHi Sherry! I believe that Rad uses two displays and the grayscale LCD has five levels of assist while the simpler LED display (used on the less expensive bikes like the RadRunner) only has four levels of assist. If you get the RadRunner Plus, it comes with the fancier LCD display! It also has the suspension fork, passenger kit, fenders, and nicer lights. Regarding the cadence sensor naming… I think the “low profile” cadence sensor is the one that I prefer because it’s more compact and sealed. If you look at older Rad Power Bikes, they all had this big plastic disc with 12 circular magnets. The new sealed cadence sensor is smaller, the magnets are not exposed, and it’s probably offering the same performance with 12 magnets. I’m so happy to hear that your husband is enjoying his RadRhino! The Runner Plus is comfortable, stable, and probably more approachable than that bike because it’s lower to the ground and weighs less. To me, it’s a great option, and would compliment the RadRhino very nicely because the batteries are interchangeable. I hope this helps, and you could get more input on the European models in the forums or from Rad customer support because little things could have been improved since my reviews were published :)
ReplyLaurie
4 years agoI have a Specialized Como step through which works great for me but I want to get a throttle ebike to take my granddaughter riding. My question is the throttle engaged when peddling with assist? I mainly want throttle for starting off and hills.
ReplyCourt
4 years agoHi Laurie! The Rad Power Bikes use a cadence sensor which is a bit less natural and dynamic compared to the Brose mid-motors on your Specialized Como. That said, they still start smoothy and are some of the best (as far as cadence sensors go). The throttle will be active at all times, so you can override pedal assist, and then release the throttle and the bike falls back into pedal assist only. They are both active at all times, but throttle can deliver full power, even if you’re in a lower level of assist. I hope this makes sense and answers your question :)
ReplyLaurie Warner
4 years agoMakes perfect sense. Thank you
Jack Kurtz
4 years agoI’ve heard the RadRunner Plus is experiencing FLAT TIRE PROBLEMS ??
ReplyCourt
4 years agoHmm, feel free to link to stories or comments about this. It’s not something I’ve heard about. I feel like the RadRunner original would also be showing the issue if it was widespread. Maybe people who get the Plus model (with suspension) are doing more off-road riding and catching goathead thorns?
ReplyMark
4 years agoRad is offering some very cookie cutter ebikes, and there are now dozens of brands (on-line sold mostly) offering the exact same frame geometries, components, while varying colors, or improving upon specs.
Over 70% of today’s e-bikes bought in the US, are purchased on-line, and Rad is riding that wave. The challenge for Rad is they have NO dealers. And no dealers want to carry their brand, a tiny few, might be willing to service them. With only 500k to 600k ebikes purchased in the US in 2020, and maybe another 25% more than that in 2021, where people buy their ebikes will become more and more local. Consumers will demand local service, ability to test ride, and not want to take such risks of buying on line, which means risk the ebike won’t fit them, won’t work well, may be damaged during shipment, won’t be able to get serviced locally, won’t get sufficient phone support to overcome their lack of ‘mechanic’ or ‘electrical’ skills, and the risk of very costly return fees. The Worst nightmare is the ebike wont work at all when you receive it after UPS drop kicks it onto your doorstep.
Well the writing is truly already on the wall, as multiple Chinese owned firms, are establishing new warehouses right here in the US, avoiding the 25% tariffs, and basically back-dooring every single on-line firm they are building these e-bikes for, and thus going directly to the Ebike shop. It’s much easier for them to do this, selling in quantities, avoiding the hassle of consumer direct, dealing with UPS or Fedex, since they can use commercial carriers to send pallets of ebikes to the bike shops directly. And then it tremendously diversifies their risk, by not relying on a handful of importers like Rad (or Ride1Up or Lectric) who face all the challenges of not being able to service their customers, who in turn are not being serviced by professional bike shops who know the bikes inside and out, and are now gaining expertise on the ‘e’ part of the bikes, as more of these enter the market place.
In 5 years or less, it will be 70% of ebikes bought in local bike shops, and less than 30% bought on-line, due to the nature of all the risks associated with the major purchase of a relatively complicated piece of machinery like these e-bikes are. They are NOT an appliance, like many want to make them out to be.
Despite their $150 million VC funding, Rad is going to have a really hard time attempting to build out stores or even recruit shops for selling and servicing their ebikes, because their entire overhead, and it’s massive relative to the number of ebikes they sell, is built specifically and ONLY for on-line sales. So they are effectively stuck.
Multiple competitors, and not just the big name bike brands, have already secured a foothold in numerous quality bike shops, and ebike specific shops around the country. (and no, the competing model is NOT what Pedego is doing, as that model has so many flaws that are too numerous to list here).
The Chinese firms, who are establishing these ‘beachheads’ (i.e. warehouses) all over the US, are reaching out directly to bike and ebike shops, and offering the exact same ebikes as preferred by Rad, or Himiway, or Ride1up, or Lectric, and allowing them to put their own ‘house brand’ on these ebikes. The consumer will then get local service, local parts, and full and true warranties, not just parts only warranties that aren’t worth a hill of beans, when the consumer can’t find any shop willing to install the parts, and themselves are largely not competent enough to even diagnose or troubleshoot the issue, let alone execute the repair.
in only a couple years, the e-bike landscape will look entirely different, and millions of ebikes will be purchased here in the US each year, with the vast majority being bought LOCALLY at qualified and competent bike shops, with superior mechanics, great trouble-shooting skills, and like will be certified and trained by LEVA (Light Electric Vehicle Association) who has been providing paid training to ebike mechanics and ebike shop owners for some years now. That will be sure to grow exponentially as shop owners will want their staff to be trained, and competent. Most of the issues are bike stuff, not the electric assist side of it, but shop owners haven’t quite recognized that yet. As sales keep exploding, they are learning that REAL quickly, and are getting in on the action. Rad’s day in the sun may already be over folks.
ReplyCourt
4 years agoHi Mark, you make a lot of great points here. Wow, thanks for sharing so much insight and writing this big comment. I’ve taken the LEVA training a couple of times and was invited to teach it once, but I’m out here trying to educate and cover bikes in an independent and accurate way (listing the specs and everything, explaining what they mean). I try to cover a mix of big brands like Trek, Specialized, Giant, CUBE etc. and some cheaper ones like Rad Power Bikes, Surface 604, Qualisports etc. and leave the comments and forums open here for discussion. Whatever comes in the coming years, I’ll keep doing my best to provide this resource. Thanks for chiming in!
ReplyMark
4 years agoMaybe they have a real basic level course you took, as real training would take someone with more ‘technical’ and hands on ebike repair and diagnostic chops than you convey during the reviews? But hey, if you want to flatter yourself with a response that really had nothing to do with the bulk of the commentary, and keep educating complete newbies out there, who basically know nothing, where you can get away with offering your opinion, then more power to you. The early stage of the industry in the US, does currently still benefit from from some superficial level of coverage you provide, to at least go over in person what most people can read about from multiple sources. Just a tip, but you should try actually comparing and contrasting two e-bikes side by side, and illustrate differentiation, as most of these e-bikes are nearly identical, especially the online brands. P.S. LEVA is going to have to get far more in depth and technical to impress me, but at least it’s a start.
4 years ago
So i am a senior, and admittedly, more of an apprehensive bike rider than i used to be. i own a Rad Performance, and find myself a bit nervous on it. Because of this, i tend to stop it, and walk it occasionally. When i have done this, i have wracked my shins repeatedly on the pedals! i’ve tried calling and writing Rad, but they haven’t responded due to their high volumn. i can switch the wheels, but wonder if i am alone in this.
ReplyCourt
4 years agoOh, that sounds painful. I’ve scraped and knocked my shins on pedals before too, especially when pushing bikes up a hill or stairs. What I have learned to do is position the left pedal up high vs. down low. This way, I seem to have more room for my feet to move around without making contact. I hope this helps!
ReplyRick
4 years agoHi, I live near the beach and the main reason we want a bike is for family beach rides (on the sand – mostly packed but soft for a little bit until we get near the water).
I have a 50lb kid, so it seems a Rover or fat tire bike is no longer an option (kids seats on rack go to 48lb) so was thinking Runner would allow me to bring my kid along on the back. Will this be ok in medium packed sand with the tire pressure lowered?
Any other options I should consider instead in the sub $2,000 price range for this primary use?
ReplyCourt
4 years agoHi Rick! I like your idea and see it as the best option for this price point and use case. The RadRunner does have larger tires that can provide some float in sand, and the rear rack is built into the frame and can support more weight (120lbs from what I’ve seen and tested, I’m 135lbs and was fine on the rear rack). The tires aren’t as wide as the full sized RadRover and RadRover Step-Thru… but those don’t have the heavy duty rear rack setup as nicely for a passenger. The difference is 4″ vs. 3.3″ width, so you’re still getting great float here. I hope it works out great for you!
ReplyRick
4 years agoThanks! How about the RadWagon too? 3” tire vs 3.3”. I like the idea of being able to tow kid plus gear.
Does wagon handle considerably different? Do you think runner would handle a lot better in the sand due to its knobbier tires?
If they were able to hold up equally well for the sand, it would be great to have the extra cargo capacity.
ROBERT O
3 years agoMy wife is 4’11” and she likes to stand with her seat on the saddle. Is this doable on this bike?
ReplyCourt
3 years agoHi Robert! That’s a great question. It’s difficult to say without knowing her inseam, but my guess is that she could adjust the saddle to fit properly on this bike. It’s definitely more approachable than a lot of ebikes, due to the step-thru frame, and the seat goes up and down unlike a lot of other banana seat bikes. Rad has these mobile service vans and shops in a lot of big cities that will let you demo bikes, perhaps you could take her to test one out!
Reply