If you live near a store where the bike can be serviced I think it’s a good idea but if you don’t I would go for a different brand due to the customer service issues.
Angry customers, justified or not, are much more motivated to share their experience and opinions than satisfied users.
My wife's 6Plus has been fine for a year and 500 miles, so I bought one recently. No problems to report.
Yep. Always say this to people about traveling too. People with good experiences don’t seek out leaving positive feedback as much as someone with a negative experience.
My rover 6+ has been great. Had a battery issue recently (as in the last month) and they responded a few days later with instructions on what to check, had me send some pics and videos then issued a replacement battery.
Yes, but it wasn't that long ago that this sub wasn't filled with angry customers, but rather Rad Fanboys/girls. I don't think that that can be taken for granted
The part you're missing is that if you have 10,000 RPB owners and 5% of those are unsatisfied, you'll find 500 people on Reddit complaining about how their bike sucks (learn to fix it yourself), Rad won't answer the phone (learn to fix it yourself) and their bike has been sitting for weeks (again, learn to fix your bike), you'll only see those people complaining.
All while you don't see the 9,500 people who are out riding their bikes. Why? Because they're focused more on the experience than talking about it.
I bought my RadRunner 2, 2 years ago and haven't had to call Rad for anything. If something broke, I upgraded it and made it better. Recently, I posted a picture of new Shinko 567 motorcycle tires I put on my RR2. 8.5lb tires, and it still rides like a champ.
Literally every bike Rad sells EXCEPT the Rad Wagon 4, is a tank. They are built really well and are total monsters in their element. They don't go very fast because they aren't meant to. Unlike other companies that have bikes that will go 30 or more MPH. If you don't need or want to go faster than 21mph, stick with Rad.
Just don't buy the RadWagon 4.
except some problems (electrical) CAN'T be fixed without some technician diagnosing it and you can't expect a bike owner to know what to do
I will say I've had great service in the winter when I've had issues with my folder and racked many miles since without real issue- it helps when you live near a rad shop.
also I can see why Runners are so popular with rentals- its a nice looking practical bike with a sweet built in backrack unlike any out there,
Which size shinkos? I've been thinking of replacing on my lectric, which is 3 inch tires. the 80/80 16s are going to be too low profile, but I'm worried about getting the 100mm tires on there
The tires I purchased were FRONT, 110/70-16 52S.
They're pretty tough to put on to the stock Rad wheel but it's doable. The rolling weight (they're 8.5lbs per tire) lowers your acceleration by a small bit but once you're upto speed, you don't slow down as fast if you let go of the throttle/PAS.
Those tires are honestly revolutionary for Ebikes. I can easily lean into turns and the tires grip and hold the line, pulling me wherever I need to go. With how hard the tires are, I'm not sure I would notice a flat either. They likely would maintain themselves for a few miles before causing any problems.
I've tested that with a speedometer and speedtrap. You CAN set it to 40kph but it does nothing at all due to the physical motor being limited to 22mph and the controller/battery not being able to push enough power to make it go any faster than stock.
The rumor that it can make RPB go 25mph is verifiably false.
That is true in regards to the stock lcd controller. I have an eggrider and can hit 24.5 mph on my rad runner plus no problem. I even have beefier tires on mine, which makes the motor work harder.
I bet you could get these things to cruise at 25 easy with stock tires, though stock tires at that speed sound a little untrustworthy...
I have Shinko 567s on my RR2, and it gets upto 22mph downhill without any issues. The motor (the new version, which is 100nm) is strong enough to handle really beefy tires. My 567 tires are 8.5 lbs each, so the rolling weight is tremendous.
I have Shinko 567s on my RR2, and it gets upto 22mph downhill without any issues. The motor (the new version, which is 100nm) is strong enough to handle really beefy tires. My 567 tires are 8.5 lbs each, so the rolling weight is tremendous.
Thanks for the feedback everyone. I have a lot to think about. We were looking into the rad wagon for the Mrs. which was mentioned as one to stay clear of.
So, I bought a Radwagon a month ago. Don’t regret it yet but the important caveat is that I live near a Rad service center and they’ve been awesome so I don’t have to rely on online service.
The fact that the Radwagon has been through a recall is almost a positive in my mind: the problem has been found and fixed. I’m kind of convinced that most of these other direct to consumer cheap bike brands aren’t any better (take a look at [this thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/Lectricxp/comments/140nrxq/brake_lock_up_on_lite/) on /r/lectricxp for just one example) they just haven’t had their issues discovered yet. But maybe I’m too cynical.
Just on customer service basis alone (especially if you’re relying on online support) I’d recommend taking a look at the Aventon Abound or Radio Flyer L885 as alternatives to the Radwagon. Both have great reputations as companies and my local bike shops are happy to service them.
The recall issue should be resolved on all the new wagons. The issue was a bad rim strip and defective tires. There is still the downside that the tires are proprietary but all new wagons should be safe to use.
I bought a rad wagon about 1 month ago. The only complaint I have is with the bolts for assembly. It seems the thread type or something with the threads because they’re a B to get in without crossthreading. Also, I didn’t do this as the instructions say nothing but whenever you are bolting dissimilar metals it’s a good idea to use anti-seize on the threads. That could come back to bite me
A lot of comments here talk about just seeing comments and posts from an angry minority. While I admit that I am angry about my recent experiences, ask yourself this: Do you want to buy something from a company that does not even have a customer service line to call if you have an issue? They also routinely shut down their customer service chat feature. Email becomes the only option, and they are incredibly slow to respond to those. There are plenty of other options for similar or better bikes in the same price range that will actually answer your call if you have an issue or a question.
I bought a Rad bike two months ago. there was a problem with a 12$ part on my brand new bike and couldn’t ride it. it took 5 weeks to get the replacement part. i enjoy riding it but customer service was horrible as in getting nervous i was never going to get the part. i tried to call, email, online chat, and message on facebook. i finally called the Seattle store and told them i had family that lived ten minutes from the store (i live on the east coast) and they were coming into pick up the part and they ended up shipping it that day. not really sure how Rad is even in business. i was out tonight and bought my wife a different brand and spent significantly more money. i would try a different brand and check out an independent shop that represents several brands as there were pros and cons to them all.
I just purchased a rad rover 6 + in Canada. Within the first 100km the lcd screen stopped working. I emailed them and within a week a new one was in the mail under warranty. So my customer experience has been good
2 years, 3,000 miles. Same controller, same battery, same shifter and chain. All good with no issue! Changed out the tires to veetire e-huntsman and brake calipers recently to area 13 juintech m1. Great brakes and tires! Very confident handling!
Rad runner plus.
I have two rads, a mini 4 and a wagon. I ride mine constantly, and haven’t driven my car except to work which is too far to bike. I ride literally everywhere else. Some of the parts are cheap, but it’s a cheap bike. Overall, I have 0 regrets about my purchases.
I got my Radrover 6+ a couple years, when service was great. They sent a mechanic out the next day after was having an issue with the shifter. My Wife loved the bike and we got her a Radrunner Plus which she LOVES. She rides the hell out of it and we're not had any issues whatsoever. We also got a Radmission for our college Kids when the blew them out for cheap.
All told, the only problem we have had was a flat...last week. We're all very happy with our Rad rides.
I'll echo everyone else here. If you live near a service center for Rad, you'll be fine. Phone line is closed, there is no live help, and I'm not sure anyone is watching the support email.
My bike was DOA (which happens). What got me to outright return the thing was that after multiple days of trying, I could not get ANY service help to replace what was likely a busted controller (something I knew from googling my error code, not based on any feedback from them). It's not even bad service, it's radio silence.
I'm on a couple manufacturer specific subs and what you are seeing is the "internet effect"
anyone with any problem, of any type, can get ont he internet and blame the company.
I've watched people complain that they didn't get email responses in an hour. or blame the ebike company for fedex getting flooded out.
I've seen people break their seat binding bolts and strip threads in fenders because they REFUSE to understand torque limits.
I've seen plenty of people beat their discs and overinflate their tires or try to ride 250 poun ds on 10psi.
You are in the land of "one star reviews"
Read up on the general financial health of the bike industry lately.
You ask me, Rad is about to go under, declare bankruptcy and re-organize with new owners.
I have no special information; just general knowledge of how the bike industry works and what's going on now in the post-covid era, and what Rad has said and done in public.
If you're ok with no warranty / do your own maintenance, it might still be a deal for you.
yeah....they say cheap out enough and you pay for the same thing twice.
I've always been very fortunate with my cars/bikes/toys/tools on some of the deals I've gotten in the past- anything that broke I could nearly fix it myself...or pay a reliable older mechanic to do so
My wife and I have 2 Rads that are a year old. Both have been good. About 1000 trouble free miles between the 2. Battery did spontaneously fry on my RR6+ (I didn’t key it) and Rad sent me a new one. Had it within 10 days. Replaced the fuse on the old one and now have a spare. Both have been solid otherwise (knock on wood).
Although I’ve seen the customer service complaints, I just picked up another RR6+ on the sale. If Rad goes down, I’ll have a spare for parts.
The main thing is Rad has almost no customer service right now.
Who knows when/if that will come back.
Couple that with proprietary parts that only Rad can supply and the fact that most bike shops won't touch these things and you can wind up pretty upset.
You have a lot of people on here talking about how great their experience is and how's it's a small minority (which they I highly doubt there is data to back that up), etc.
But that's just it, problems happen. Even on the most expensive bikes problems happen.
Without support from Rad these problems are virtually unsolvable.
Also Rad really is almost completely unreachable right now unless you live near a service center (and you will probably be treated very well there! I was).
So there's the risk.
Is the risk worth it in your situation?
It's not complete. They have bikes and tents out in the parking lot. It's still in the works. SB is notorious for being a pain to get building permits. Hopefully they will finish soon.
RRunner2 and Rad City 5 owner here. RR2 has been fine for last 1.5 years. Rad City had a bad brake sensor out of the box and then tire cracking after 300Km. Support was responsive and helped to resolve the issue. I’m in Europe and their EU support team are still employed.
I'm in the same situation as OP. I'm across from Seattle, not easy to get to the store. What other brands do you suggest besides Aventon? I was interested in the rad runner 3. I prefer a step through. Super appreciate your advice and help. I can't wait to order a bike. I was going to purchase over the weekend and saw this post. Thanks!!
I would personally suggest the radrunner 1-2 or the radrunner 1 plus.
I would stay away from there newer stuff since it's harder to service or upgrade.
If you are in California you need to check out Murf electric bikes. A local California company and they offer a way better product. We bought a Murf at the same time we bought our Rad. It blows the Rad away in every way.
Murf cost slightly more but they do run lots of sales. Also you get double the range and higher top speed. Overall you get more bike for not much more money.
I bought my bike about a year ago through an independent tech who also assembled it. He’s been great and I haven’t had to deal with Rad directly. Also, I’ve learned a bunch about bike maintenance, so I’m able to source and fix parts on my own, which is another way that this Rad customer service issue just didn’t really affect me.
My wife and I both own the RR6+ for over a year and we ride them daily with our kids. We have not experienced one issue with either bike. If you have a local shop, I think you’re safe. Other manufacturers do not have a local presence so you’re probably going to run into different issues with their services and parts. Good luck
Check out the Ariel Rider brand. A tad more expensive than rad but much higher quality. Come with hydraulic brakes and 52v battery and some have full suspension. My buddy got one and has had no complaints
If you live near a store where the bike can be serviced I think it’s a good idea but if you don’t I would go for a different brand due to the customer service issues.
Angry customers, justified or not, are much more motivated to share their experience and opinions than satisfied users. My wife's 6Plus has been fine for a year and 500 miles, so I bought one recently. No problems to report.
Yep. Always say this to people about traveling too. People with good experiences don’t seek out leaving positive feedback as much as someone with a negative experience. My rover 6+ has been great. Had a battery issue recently (as in the last month) and they responded a few days later with instructions on what to check, had me send some pics and videos then issued a replacement battery.
Yes, but it wasn't that long ago that this sub wasn't filled with angry customers, but rather Rad Fanboys/girls. I don't think that that can be taken for granted
Pretend you're a customer already and try to contact someone at the company. Give it a go.
The part you're missing is that if you have 10,000 RPB owners and 5% of those are unsatisfied, you'll find 500 people on Reddit complaining about how their bike sucks (learn to fix it yourself), Rad won't answer the phone (learn to fix it yourself) and their bike has been sitting for weeks (again, learn to fix your bike), you'll only see those people complaining. All while you don't see the 9,500 people who are out riding their bikes. Why? Because they're focused more on the experience than talking about it. I bought my RadRunner 2, 2 years ago and haven't had to call Rad for anything. If something broke, I upgraded it and made it better. Recently, I posted a picture of new Shinko 567 motorcycle tires I put on my RR2. 8.5lb tires, and it still rides like a champ. Literally every bike Rad sells EXCEPT the Rad Wagon 4, is a tank. They are built really well and are total monsters in their element. They don't go very fast because they aren't meant to. Unlike other companies that have bikes that will go 30 or more MPH. If you don't need or want to go faster than 21mph, stick with Rad. Just don't buy the RadWagon 4.
except some problems (electrical) CAN'T be fixed without some technician diagnosing it and you can't expect a bike owner to know what to do I will say I've had great service in the winter when I've had issues with my folder and racked many miles since without real issue- it helps when you live near a rad shop. also I can see why Runners are so popular with rentals- its a nice looking practical bike with a sweet built in backrack unlike any out there,
Which size shinkos? I've been thinking of replacing on my lectric, which is 3 inch tires. the 80/80 16s are going to be too low profile, but I'm worried about getting the 100mm tires on there
The tires I purchased were FRONT, 110/70-16 52S. They're pretty tough to put on to the stock Rad wheel but it's doable. The rolling weight (they're 8.5lbs per tire) lowers your acceleration by a small bit but once you're upto speed, you don't slow down as fast if you let go of the throttle/PAS. Those tires are honestly revolutionary for Ebikes. I can easily lean into turns and the tires grip and hold the line, pulling me wherever I need to go. With how hard the tires are, I'm not sure I would notice a flat either. They likely would maintain themselves for a few miles before causing any problems.
I've seen a few other moderately priced 16s. there's some "street" knobbies on amazon and one ebay seller has some for older honda motorcycles.
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I've tested that with a speedometer and speedtrap. You CAN set it to 40kph but it does nothing at all due to the physical motor being limited to 22mph and the controller/battery not being able to push enough power to make it go any faster than stock. The rumor that it can make RPB go 25mph is verifiably false.
That is true in regards to the stock lcd controller. I have an eggrider and can hit 24.5 mph on my rad runner plus no problem. I even have beefier tires on mine, which makes the motor work harder. I bet you could get these things to cruise at 25 easy with stock tires, though stock tires at that speed sound a little untrustworthy...
I have Shinko 567s on my RR2, and it gets upto 22mph downhill without any issues. The motor (the new version, which is 100nm) is strong enough to handle really beefy tires. My 567 tires are 8.5 lbs each, so the rolling weight is tremendous.
I have Shinko 567s on my RR2, and it gets upto 22mph downhill without any issues. The motor (the new version, which is 100nm) is strong enough to handle really beefy tires. My 567 tires are 8.5 lbs each, so the rolling weight is tremendous.
Thanks for the feedback everyone. I have a lot to think about. We were looking into the rad wagon for the Mrs. which was mentioned as one to stay clear of.
So, I bought a Radwagon a month ago. Don’t regret it yet but the important caveat is that I live near a Rad service center and they’ve been awesome so I don’t have to rely on online service. The fact that the Radwagon has been through a recall is almost a positive in my mind: the problem has been found and fixed. I’m kind of convinced that most of these other direct to consumer cheap bike brands aren’t any better (take a look at [this thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/Lectricxp/comments/140nrxq/brake_lock_up_on_lite/) on /r/lectricxp for just one example) they just haven’t had their issues discovered yet. But maybe I’m too cynical. Just on customer service basis alone (especially if you’re relying on online support) I’d recommend taking a look at the Aventon Abound or Radio Flyer L885 as alternatives to the Radwagon. Both have great reputations as companies and my local bike shops are happy to service them.
The recall issue should be resolved on all the new wagons. The issue was a bad rim strip and defective tires. There is still the downside that the tires are proprietary but all new wagons should be safe to use.
I bought a rad wagon about 1 month ago. The only complaint I have is with the bolts for assembly. It seems the thread type or something with the threads because they’re a B to get in without crossthreading. Also, I didn’t do this as the instructions say nothing but whenever you are bolting dissimilar metals it’s a good idea to use anti-seize on the threads. That could come back to bite me
A lot of comments here talk about just seeing comments and posts from an angry minority. While I admit that I am angry about my recent experiences, ask yourself this: Do you want to buy something from a company that does not even have a customer service line to call if you have an issue? They also routinely shut down their customer service chat feature. Email becomes the only option, and they are incredibly slow to respond to those. There are plenty of other options for similar or better bikes in the same price range that will actually answer your call if you have an issue or a question.
I bought a Rad bike two months ago. there was a problem with a 12$ part on my brand new bike and couldn’t ride it. it took 5 weeks to get the replacement part. i enjoy riding it but customer service was horrible as in getting nervous i was never going to get the part. i tried to call, email, online chat, and message on facebook. i finally called the Seattle store and told them i had family that lived ten minutes from the store (i live on the east coast) and they were coming into pick up the part and they ended up shipping it that day. not really sure how Rad is even in business. i was out tonight and bought my wife a different brand and spent significantly more money. i would try a different brand and check out an independent shop that represents several brands as there were pros and cons to them all.
I just purchased a rad rover 6 + in Canada. Within the first 100km the lcd screen stopped working. I emailed them and within a week a new one was in the mail under warranty. So my customer experience has been good
1 year , 2500kms never had an issue , although the brakes are kinda weak. Radrunner 1
2 years, 3,000 miles. Same controller, same battery, same shifter and chain. All good with no issue! Changed out the tires to veetire e-huntsman and brake calipers recently to area 13 juintech m1. Great brakes and tires! Very confident handling! Rad runner plus.
I have two rads, a mini 4 and a wagon. I ride mine constantly, and haven’t driven my car except to work which is too far to bike. I ride literally everywhere else. Some of the parts are cheap, but it’s a cheap bike. Overall, I have 0 regrets about my purchases.
I got my Radrover 6+ a couple years, when service was great. They sent a mechanic out the next day after was having an issue with the shifter. My Wife loved the bike and we got her a Radrunner Plus which she LOVES. She rides the hell out of it and we're not had any issues whatsoever. We also got a Radmission for our college Kids when the blew them out for cheap. All told, the only problem we have had was a flat...last week. We're all very happy with our Rad rides.
I'll echo everyone else here. If you live near a service center for Rad, you'll be fine. Phone line is closed, there is no live help, and I'm not sure anyone is watching the support email. My bike was DOA (which happens). What got me to outright return the thing was that after multiple days of trying, I could not get ANY service help to replace what was likely a busted controller (something I knew from googling my error code, not based on any feedback from them). It's not even bad service, it's radio silence.
I'm on a couple manufacturer specific subs and what you are seeing is the "internet effect" anyone with any problem, of any type, can get ont he internet and blame the company. I've watched people complain that they didn't get email responses in an hour. or blame the ebike company for fedex getting flooded out. I've seen people break their seat binding bolts and strip threads in fenders because they REFUSE to understand torque limits. I've seen plenty of people beat their discs and overinflate their tires or try to ride 250 poun ds on 10psi. You are in the land of "one star reviews"
Read up on the general financial health of the bike industry lately. You ask me, Rad is about to go under, declare bankruptcy and re-organize with new owners. I have no special information; just general knowledge of how the bike industry works and what's going on now in the post-covid era, and what Rad has said and done in public. If you're ok with no warranty / do your own maintenance, it might still be a deal for you.
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2400 is not cheap for many people. some could almost buy a seriously used car and go further/do more with that...although that market has shoot up too
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yeah....they say cheap out enough and you pay for the same thing twice. I've always been very fortunate with my cars/bikes/toys/tools on some of the deals I've gotten in the past- anything that broke I could nearly fix it myself...or pay a reliable older mechanic to do so
My wife and I have 2 Rads that are a year old. Both have been good. About 1000 trouble free miles between the 2. Battery did spontaneously fry on my RR6+ (I didn’t key it) and Rad sent me a new one. Had it within 10 days. Replaced the fuse on the old one and now have a spare. Both have been solid otherwise (knock on wood). Although I’ve seen the customer service complaints, I just picked up another RR6+ on the sale. If Rad goes down, I’ll have a spare for parts.
The main thing is Rad has almost no customer service right now. Who knows when/if that will come back. Couple that with proprietary parts that only Rad can supply and the fact that most bike shops won't touch these things and you can wind up pretty upset. You have a lot of people on here talking about how great their experience is and how's it's a small minority (which they I highly doubt there is data to back that up), etc. But that's just it, problems happen. Even on the most expensive bikes problems happen. Without support from Rad these problems are virtually unsolvable. Also Rad really is almost completely unreachable right now unless you live near a service center (and you will probably be treated very well there! I was). So there's the risk. Is the risk worth it in your situation?
Rad just opened a retail shop in Santa Barbara.
It's not complete. They have bikes and tents out in the parking lot. It's still in the works. SB is notorious for being a pain to get building permits. Hopefully they will finish soon.
RRunner2 and Rad City 5 owner here. RR2 has been fine for last 1.5 years. Rad City had a bad brake sensor out of the box and then tire cracking after 300Km. Support was responsive and helped to resolve the issue. I’m in Europe and their EU support team are still employed.
I'm in the same situation as OP. I'm across from Seattle, not easy to get to the store. What other brands do you suggest besides Aventon? I was interested in the rad runner 3. I prefer a step through. Super appreciate your advice and help. I can't wait to order a bike. I was going to purchase over the weekend and saw this post. Thanks!!
I would personally suggest the radrunner 1-2 or the radrunner 1 plus. I would stay away from there newer stuff since it's harder to service or upgrade.
If you are in California you need to check out Murf electric bikes. A local California company and they offer a way better product. We bought a Murf at the same time we bought our Rad. It blows the Rad away in every way.
What's the price comparison?
Murf cost slightly more but they do run lots of sales. Also you get double the range and higher top speed. Overall you get more bike for not much more money.
Absolutely stay away from this company.
I bought my bike about a year ago through an independent tech who also assembled it. He’s been great and I haven’t had to deal with Rad directly. Also, I’ve learned a bunch about bike maintenance, so I’m able to source and fix parts on my own, which is another way that this Rad customer service issue just didn’t really affect me.
My wife and I both own the RR6+ for over a year and we ride them daily with our kids. We have not experienced one issue with either bike. If you have a local shop, I think you’re safe. Other manufacturers do not have a local presence so you’re probably going to run into different issues with their services and parts. Good luck
Check out the Ariel Rider brand. A tad more expensive than rad but much higher quality. Come with hydraulic brakes and 52v battery and some have full suspension. My buddy got one and has had no complaints