My first electric bike was from Rad Power Bikes early in 2021. The first model was a Rad Runner 1 a solid cargo bike that I used for trips to the grocery store and to cruise around Lake Merritt in Oakland, CA. I really liked the bike for its performance and acceleration. The only drawback was the bike did not have front shock absorbers and anyone who lives in the Bay Area knows the conditions of the roads. That being said I still loved the bike and would purchase again.
My second bike came about after I started working at a brand new store in Berkeley, CA on San Pablo avenue. I was one of the original employees and helped open the store. The bike I was able to purchase with a discount was the Rad Mini high step. I really liked this bike too. It was not as quick off the line and had less of the fun factor. This bike did have adjustable suspension on the front fork. This really made for a more comfortable ride on Oakland and Berkeley roads. This model has been replaced with a different folding bike at Rad.
Fast forward and I am now living in another Bay Area city. My riding needs changed and I wanted a bike with very low maintenance needs. I had the two bikes described and sold them both to purchase my latest Rad e-bike the Rad Side Kick with belt drive. This bike takes care of my short commute of 2 miles each way, is light for keeping in my apartment and with no gears or chain is very low cost to maintain. This bike has a 500 watt motor, hydraulic breaks and 5 pound safe shield battery. Here is a short list of the pros and cons:
- Lightweight
- Little maintenance
- 5 pound battery with quick charging
- 500 watt motor is not quick off the line like 750 watt motors on other models
- Small battery has limited range. If you use the throttle a lot you will not get the advertised up to 35 mile range. If you throttle all the time less than 20 miles.
All three bikes met my needs and I recommend Rad Power Bikes to anyone interested in electric bikes. The Rad Kick is very quiet and perfect for my everyday ride of four miles. This would be a good bike to take on the train and a strong person could carry up stairs at less than 50 pounds after battery is removed.
In a later post I will explore other e-bike makers like Lectric eBikes. I was seriously thinking about their fun Lectric One. I would love to write a review on this bike from first hand experience, but this senior has to watch his $$. Happy riding no matter which bike you choose!
Thank you for visiting. I plan to do more reviews on Electric Bikes in the future as I decide my next E-Bike