Rad Power Bikes is an electric bike company that was founded in 2007 after CEO, Mike Radenbaugh, discovered the growing need for a more portable means of transportation.
Mike started out converting regular bikes into motor-powered bicycles before collaborating with his college roommate and fellow cycling enthusiast, Ty Collins, to create a direct-to-customer e-bike company in 2015.
Rad Power Bikes was born and its first model, the Radrover, was released that same year. Fast-forward a few years and Rad Power Bikes is now considered the largest e-bike brand in North America having sold over 100,000 electric bikes.
If you’re currently in the market for an electric bike and happened to stumble upon a blog post or an ad about Rad Power e-bikes, you’re probably wondering if their bikes are worth it. Don’t worry, this post will cover everything you need to know about this fast-rising e-bike manufacturer including their best selling ebikes.
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Where Are Rad Power Bikes Manufactured
Rad Power electric bikes are manufactured in China. However, the design for each e-bike originates from their headquarters in Seattle, Washington.
This is a common business model adopted by many American-owned companies — including big tech firms like Apple — because of its low-cost advantages.
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How Heavy Do Rad Power Ebikes And Are There Weight Limits?
Is Rad Power a Good Brand
Ever since Rad Power Bikes was founded in 2007, the e-bike company has experienced exponential growth.
The brand is well-known for creating high-performance electric bikes that are suitable for almost all use-cases. Whether it’s trail riding, city commuting, or transporting cargo; you’re most likely going to find a Rad Power e-bike that can carry out all these functions.
This is probably why most online publications recognize Rad Power electric bikes as some of the best in the industry. Two of their models — Radrunner and Radwagon 4 — are featured in Wired’s “Top 12 electric bikes for every kind of ride” list.
The same models were also mentioned in one of Bicycling.com’s publications – “Awesome electric bikes anyone can buy right now”. Forbes, NBC, CNET, etc; the list of reputable businesses that have referenced a Rad Power ebike, or two, is extensive.
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Infact, you’ll hardly find any blog post on the internet covering quality electric bikes that doesn’t mention at least one Rad Power ebike. We can’t say for sure if these sites are paid to promote Rad Power Bikes’s products, however, you can’t deny the fact that they are often listed alongside premium e-bikes like Specialized S-works Turbo Creo, Trek Allant Plus 9.9S, Cannondale Synapse Neo, etc.
Recently, the e-bike manufacturer was included in Time’s “100 Most Influential Companies“; a list that also features big names like Nike, Sony, Twitter, Home Depot, etc. They have also managed to raise a total of $175.3 million in Series A, B, and C funding since their first product was released in 2015.
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Their most recent round — held in February, 2021 — saw the company accumulate $150 million (a 500% increase from 2020’s funding round) from a pool of six investors (up four investors from last year’s two)
So, back to the question; Is Rad Power Bikes a good e-bike brand? We’ll let you decide.
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Are Rad Power Bikes Reliable
Rad Power electric bikes are constructed with high-quality components from well-known brands like Tektro, Shimano, Bafang, Velo, etc. Their e-bikes are said to last for years and have thousands of miles on them.
However, the brand’s 2.9-star rating on Trustpilot tells that all isn’t perfect with the e-bike company. Reviewers repeatedly complain about Rad Power Bikes’s poor customer service and how they received orders with faulty or broken components.
There were also issues of late shipping. In mid 2021, Rad Power Bikes struggled with logistics and it was getting even worse if you’re making an order from outside the U.S.
Now, this doesn’t take anything away from the fact that Rad Power Bikes manufactures quality affordable e-bikes. Just don’t get your hopes too high when purchasing a bike from them.
Where Is Rad Power Bikes Headquarters Located
Rad Power Bikes’s headquarters is located at 1128 Northwest 52nd Street, Seattle, Washington. This is their major base of operations.
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Are Rad Power Bikes Any Good
As mentioned earlier, Rad Power electric bikes have been featured multiple times in online publications. If their bikes aren’t good, they wouldn’t be generating this amount of publicity.
Rad Power e-bikes aren’t perfect but they’ll give you a good bang for your buck. With about $1,200-$2,000 you can get yourself a high-powered Rad Power e-bike that can meet up to almost all of your riding needs.
For instance, the Radrunner1 is a great electric bike for commuting, off-road riding, beach cruising, and cargo transporting. They don’t however manufacture electric bikes optimized for speed racing as all their bikes weigh above 45 pounds (20 kg)
Best Rad Power Bikes
Now that you’re familiar with the Rad Power Bikes brand you’re probably looking for the best electric bike in their lineup. Below, we’ve handpicked the best Rad Power e-bikes currently in the market.
This selection is based on customer reviews, value for your money, equipped features, best range, and other factors.
Are rad power bikes waterproof?
Rad Power Bikes are water resistance, but if you do get any moisture on the bike, wipe it clean immediately. Do not spray anything onto the bike because this could cause damage to the electronics.
Rad Power Bikes are made of steel and aluminum, which makes them highly durable. Rad Power Bikes are also coated with a special type of paint that protects the frame from rusting.
Ebikes made by Rad Power Bikes are made to withstand the elements, but we recommend keeping them stored indoors if you live in an area where snowfall or rain is common.
Editor’s 1st Choice
RadRunner 1
Overall Rating:
- Motor: 750W
- Range: 45+ miles (~72.4km)
- Payload Capacity: 300 lbs
Editor’s 2nd Choice
RadRover 5
Overall Rating:
- Motor: 750W
- Range: 45+ miles (~72.4km)
- Payload Capacity: 275 lbs
Editor’s 3rd Choice
RadCity Step-Thru 3
Overall Rating:
- Motor: 750W
- Range: 45+ miles (~72.4km)
- Payload Capacity: 275 lbs