This review was provided for free, but Rad Power Bikes did organize delivery of a temporary demo bike to test. 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 forums!
Pros:
- The original RadRunner impressed me a lot because it was very affordable, but still totally custom and purpose built. Rad now makes an even more affordable model called the RadMission, but there’s a lot of utility, comfort, and charm with the RadRunner. Anyway, the Plus version of this bike was originally going to be a limited edition run, but was so popular that they decided to keep it indefinitely.
- I scrutinized this ebike and noticed the following differences, as compared to the non-Plus RadRunner. The frame here is suspension corrected, so it’s more stable and optimizes suspension travel. The bike has upgraded aluminum alloy pedals vs. plastic, both bikes now have a metal skid plate to protect the motor controller and bottom bracket, the Plus comes with fenders, a skirt guard, pegs, the passenger seat, special edition mocha faux-leather grips and seats that all match, a full sized LCD display with many more readouts and a USB A charging port, a premium 500 lumen headlight with side windows and removable rock protector, a side mounted kickstand vs. centerstand, a 7-speed drivetrain vs. single speed, and of course the 80mm suspension fork! You get all of this for $500 USD difference.
- Safety is a big deal to me, especially when riding near traffic and potentially with a passenger! So, the big upgraded headlight (500 lumen), quality rear light (with blinking mode and bright brake light activation), highly visible metallic silver frame, and reflective tires are great to see here, especially since the bike sits lower to the ground.
- This ebike uses the same high-capacity battery pack as most of the other current-generation Rad Power Bikes (just not the RadMission, which has a smaller pack that is still cross compatible). This means you can replace it easily for $500, borrow from a friend, or take an extra one along for extended rides if you own multiple models.
- The battery pack can be charged on or off the bike frame, locks securely into place, contains two fuses for safety, the mounting bracket is sturdy and attaches with three bolts vs. two on some competing products, they used high quality Samsung 35E Lithium-ion cells, and the pack is fairly affordable to replace because the controller is separate. I also like that the locking cylinder in the battery has an unlocked, locked+off, and locked+on position so you can leave the pack locked to the frame (but off) and people won’t be able to tamper with the display or throttle.
- Unique adjustable high-rise handlebar and tall 390mm seat post make this one-size frame adaptable for taller riders. The deep step-thru frame offers a very approachable standover height and the stock saddle actually goes very low for petite riders, but because of the seatpost and stem they chose, it actually fits taller riders fairly well too.
- High-volume tires, ergonomic grips, brake levers with rubberized edges, and the adjustable spring suspension fork all contribute to comfort. I like to lower the tire pressure a bit to make the ride feel even smoother because I’m fairly lightweight. You can adjust the preload setting on the fork to “pre-load” the spring if you weigh more, and tighten the suspension with the compression clicker on the right crown, or lock it out fully for reduced bobbing and tighter handling.
- Large 180mm mechanical disc brake rotors provide ample stopping power given the relatively small 20″ wheel diameter, they definitely come in handy if you’re riding with a passenger, child, or cargo in some of the optional racks and bags.
- The 7-speed drivetrain that Rad chose for the RadRunner, and most of their other models, is upgraded in some very useful ways. They chose a Nickel plated DNC freewheel that won’t rust as easily and makes shifting smoother. They said it’s also more environmentally friendly than some of the cheaper options. Also, instead of most 7-speeds that I test, which have a 14-28 tooth gear range, this one has an 11-34 tooth that gives you a lot more options for starting, climbing, and pedaling comfortably at higher speeds. The Shimano Altus or Acera derailleur is also a slight upgrade for improved reliability and performance.
- The original RadRunner utilized a center-mount kickstand but Rad switched to a single sided rear stand for the Plus version. I actually like this stand better because it doesn’t hang down as far and the chain doesn’t bounce into it (creating noise). The stand is adjustable and does not create pedal lock with the left crank arm, it’s a great setup but does not position the bike as straight up and down or offer quite as much stability for loading child seats if you go that route and replace the passenger seat.
- Extra-thick 12 gauge spokes provide improved wheel strength, raising the max capacity of this ebike to 300lbs vs. 250lbs on many traditional ebikes (and 275lbs for most other current generation Rad Power Bikes).
- Bottle cage bosses on the downtube and lower top-tube section let you add accessories like a bottle cages, a folding lock, or mini pump… or you can get the optional plastic console bucket thing, which is made from high quality plastic that’s designed to not fade or crack. Apparently lots of customers put a towel or pad in there and bring their pets along :D
- There are tons of options for mounting baskets and racks on this thing, I like how the front rack attaches to the head tube and won’t influence steering or dump to the side when parking. Rad Power Bikes has platforms, baskets, insulated bags, pannier bags, suspension seat posts, and child seats, as well as cell phone holders and more back at their site.
- I feel that Rad Power Bikes has done a great job with the branding and accents on their bikes, notice how all of the hardware is black… even the front wheel hub, motor casing, spokes, rims, kickstand, crank arms, and stem. I like how they put a black stripe on top of the main tube, lower top tube, and seat tube because those are areas that can get kicked when mounting and dismounting… they won’t show dirt and scratches as much :)
- The folks at Rad Power Bikes were excited about the custom tapered spacer (which is the tubular section going from the steering tube to the stem where the handlebar mounts… and while it does look good, it’s not something I would have noticed or cared about, so to me that’s great attention to detail and style, same with the wrapped power cables and shifters lines up front, which are internally routed through the frame. The neoprene slap guard is another nice little upgrade that protects the paint and reduces the clinking noise that some other ebikes produce when riding over bumpy terrain.
- Kenda and Rad Power Bikes worked together to create a series of tires with reflective stripes and K-Shield puncture protection including these unique 20″ x 3.3″ K-Rad tires. They are the only tires I have ever seen in this size, and they fit the bike perfectly… not too big and bulky, or too small and stiff feeling, they are stable and capable on many types of terrain and allowed for some sporty fast turns during my ride tests :D
- In my experience, there are many wave style step-thru bike frames that feel flexy, but Rad Power Bikes designed the RadRunner with a section of top tube and big metal gusset where the main tube meets the steer tube that significantly reduces frame flex. I like how the tubing also surrounds the battery pack to some degree, for additional protection. The weight distribution here is pretty good, with battery weight low and center, motor and suspension fork balanced front to rear.
- Pedal assist responds quickly because of the 14 pulse cadence sensor, which is smaller and better sealed against water and dust than some of the older larger external designs. The motor cuts out instantly whenever you brake because both levers have motor inhibitor switches built in. In my opinion, the Rad Power Bikes controller is set to ram power up smoothly, so even though the twist throttle and pedal assist are very responsive, the bikes don’t feel too jarring or overwhelming.
- The geared hub motor is zippy and powerful, it gets a big mechanical advantage because of the smaller 20″ wheels, and I’ve tested similar but slightly larger tires in soft sand riding on a beach in Mexico and it worked great (just bring the tire PSI down to 5-7 or the tire will sink in). I think this ebike would be great for Burning Man, in case any Burners are reading this review ;)
- I really like that they chose brake levers with a bell that’s built into the left brake lever housing. It’s compact and keeps the handlebars clean but works reliably and produces a friendly chime. I also like that these are four finger levers, for extra power, and have the rubberized edge for grip, comfort, and warmer engagement vs. cold metal.
- The motor controller box is positioned below the main tube of the bike and feel safe because of the large metal chainring guide and bash guard plate. I was told that the controller box is aluminum alloy vs. plastic, and that makes me feel like it’s extra tough. Mounting this box from the battery pack helps to keep the battery replacement prices lower and reduces heat transfer, which can be hard on lithium-ion cells.
- I noticed that the optional pegs didn’t rattle or twist during use, they are mounted to welded plates with ridges to keep them from spinning during repeated use. They fold up nicely and while small, and just seemed to be of high quality vs. something that was slapped on. I like that they don’t stick out too far, because that could cause damage to objects and legs in some situations.
- It’s cool that Rad Power Bikes has expanded to Canada and Europe with this model, they offer free shipping in most cases and partner with mobile bike repair services and their own delivery van (Rad Mobile Service) to deliver assembled products for just $100 extra.
- For US and Canadian customers, the bike comes with a twist throttle that overrides assist 0-5 with full support. You don’t have to press any buttons to get power. This makes it a Class 2 ebike, even though you could remove the throttle to get Class 1 performance. Anyway, for European markets, they created “twist power assist” that changes the throttle into an override mechanism for adding power during pedal assist (as long as you’re pedaling). This allows them to comply with Class 1 in Europe, but empower riders to add power without pressing lots of buttons or looking down! I think it’s pretty smart, and very satisfying and useful.
Cons:
- The smaller wheel diameter brings the bike frame (and passenger) closer to the ground, which makes it less visible to cars… It also raises the attack angle of the tires, making bumps and cracks feel more jarring than a full sized 26″ wheel. Thankfully, the width of the tires, higher air volume, and suspension fork all improve comfort and the silver frame and premium lights (with side windows) helps to improve safety. Consider wearing reflective clothes or getting a helmet with integrated light though, just to be extra safe.
- I love that the RadRunner Plus comes with a suspension fork, but that adds significant weight. When you look at the fat frame, bigger tires, fenders, lights, passenger seat and pegs, AND suspension fork… it adds about 10lbs (4.5kg) of additional weight compared to the non-plus RadRunner.
- This ebike is only available in one colorway (at least, the Plus version is… the standard RadRunner comes in Green and Black), and it only comes in one frame size. The adjustable and extra long 390mm seat post and high-rise handlebars do help, allowing for a wide range of riders.
- Mechanical disc brakes require more hand effort than hydraulic, especially the rear brake (right lever) which has a longer cable housing. Over time, the brake lines can settle in and require a bit of adjustment. They can also get dust and water inside vs. hydraulic lines, which are sealed. There’s more effort involved, but at least mechanical brakes tend to be easier to adjust by end users than hydraulic.
- The saddle felt decently comfortable to me, but you cannot change the angle or slide it forward/back like almost all other electric bicycles. Rad fixed the small triangular saddle to a flat mount which is welded to the seat post. It’s not a normal saddle mount… so you’ll need to replace the 27.2mm post if you do want to swap saddles, and then it won’t line up perfectly (it might even collide with the passenger seat) if you drop the saddle all the way down.
- Compared to some of the other Rad Power Bike models, I feel that this battery pack is more difficult to reach and remove. There’s more tubing surrounding the pack and the seat clamp quick release lever needs to be angled up or the battery pack will collide with it when sliding upwards for removal. All in all, it’s not terrible, but does require a bit of extra maneuvering.
- The battery charger only offers 2 amp output vs. some of the new faster chargers (3.5A, even 4A). Given the higher capacity 672 watt hour battery pack on the RadRunner Plus, it might be nice to have a fast charger. At least the stock charger is very compact and lightweight, making it super portable, and is cross-compatible with all of the other Rad Power Bike models.
- Despite its compact appearance, the RadRunner Plus is very heavy at 74.4lbs (33.7kg) because of the suspension fork, passenger seat and pegs, fenders, 7-speed drivetrain with derailleur, and upgraded lights… it all adds about 10lbs of additional weight compared to the standard RadRunner, which is roughly 64lbs (29kg).
- 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 even have their own “Rad Mobile Service” deliver vans offering a $100 setup. The cool thing about the RadRunner Plus is that regardless of how you buy it, the passenger seat, pegs, and fenders all come pre-installed. With the standard RadRunner, you have to add many of the accessories yourself.
- The optional console box looks really cool to me, but it does make the area where you pedal more cramped because it’s wider than bike tubing, I like that it has four drain holes at the bottom but wish the lid locked and felt more secure, I bumped and squished it while pedaling (during my older review of the RadRunner) and the lid kind of got pushed out of place a couple of times, also securing the rubber band anchors took more time than a single latch.
- Many car and bus racks have a hanging style rack for bikes, and to use that with the RadRunner you might need to buy a crossbar adapter… which Rad Power Bikes has told me is compatible, as long as you aren’t using the optional cargo console box.
- This is a very minor thing, but the shifter that RPB uses for most of their models is the large Shimano SIS indexed thumb shifter. It requires a bit more reaching and force to use, but has a nice big optical gear readout window and works well with gloves. I personally prefer the smaller trigger shifters, but those usually take too much space below the grip and would collide with Rad’s twist throttle design here.
Brian says
Thank 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.
Court says
Wonderful! 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 :)
Sherry says
Court, 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!
Court says
Hi 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 :)
Laurie says
I 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.
Court says
Hi 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 :)
Laurie Warner says
Makes perfect sense. Thank you
Jack Kurtz says
I’ve heard the RadRunner Plus is experiencing FLAT TIRE PROBLEMS ??
Court says
Hmm, 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?
Mark says
Rad 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.
Court says
Hi 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!
Mark says
Maybe 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.
Court says
Thanks for the input, Mark. I strive to be one of the most thorough and insightful reviewers out there, but I do purposefully mix in some qualitative feedback and basics to help people who might be new to ebikes. I think it’s easy to take things for granted when you work in the space, but for other people it could fly right over their heads and they might not know what they are really looking at or how it might differ from another product. Ebikes are just complex enough to benefit from some explaining but also approachable enough to reach the masses. I try to bridge that gap, but technical comments and critiques like yours are always welcome!
Anonymous says
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.
Court says
Oh, 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!
Rick says
Hi, 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?
Court says
Hi 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!
Rick says
Thanks! 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.
Court says
Hi Rick! I do not believe that the RadWagon would perform well in sand. It’s already a stretch with 3.3″ tires vs. 4″+ on the RadMini, but the packed sand should perform alright. If there were a way to make it work using a RadMini or RadRover, I would actually recommend those… but the RadRunner should just barely hold up :)
ROBERT O says
My wife is 4’11” and she likes to stand with her seat on the saddle. Is this doable on this bike?
Court says
Hi 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!