Total Weight:
68 lbs (30.84 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, 30.5" Stand Over Height, 22.5" Reach, 30.5" Standover Height, 33" Minimum Saddle Height, 28.5" Width, 75" Length
Frame Types:
High-Step
Frame Colors:
Satin Black with Gray and Orange Accents, Gloss White with Orange Accents
Frame Fork Details:
RST Spring Suspension, 100mm Travel, Compression Adjust with Lockout, Preload Adjust, 32mm Stanchions, 135mm Hub Spacing, 9mm Axle with Quick Release Skewer
Frame Rear Details:
170mm Hub Spacing, 12mm Threaded Axle with 10mm Flats, 18mm Nuts
Attachment Points:
Fender Bosses, Front Rack Bosses, Rear Rack Bosses, Bottle Cage Bosses
Gearing Details:
7
Speed 1x7 Shimano Acera Derailleur, DNP Nickel Plated 11-34 Tooth FreewheelShifter Details:
Shimano SIS Index Thumb Shifter on Right
Cranks:
Aluminum Alloy, 170mm Length, 42 Tooth Chainring with Prowheel Ounce Alloy Guide
Pedals:
Wellgo Aluminum Alloy Platform with Reflectors, CrMo Axle, Black
Headset:
Semi-Integrated, Sealed Cartridge, 1-1/8" Straight
Stem:
Aluminum Alloy, Promax, 50mm Length, 30º Angle, 15mm Rise, Two 10mm Spacers, One 20mm Spacer, 31.8mm Clamp
Handlebar:
Aluminum Alloy, Mid-Rise, Aluminum Alloy, 720mm Length, 80mm Rise
Brake Details:
Tektro Aries Mechanical Disc with 180mm Rotors, Four-Finger Tektro Levers with Rubberized Edges and Bell on Left and Motor Inhibitors and Brake Light Activation
Grips:
Ergonomic, Stitched Imitation Leather
Saddle:
Velo Plush with Lifting Handle
Seat Post:
Promax, Aluminum Alloy
Seat Post Length:
350 mm
Seat Post Diameter:
27.2 mm
Rims:
Aluminum Alloy, Double Wall, 80mm Width, 36 Hole
Spokes:
Stainless Steel, 12 Gauge, Black with Nipples
Tire Brand:
Kenda x Rad Power Bikes Juggernaut, 26" x 4" (98-559)
Wheel Sizes:
26 in (66.04cm)Tire Details:
5 to 30 PSI, 0.4 to 2.1 BAR, 30 TPI, Reflective Sidewall Stripe, K-Shield Puncture Protection
Tube Details:
Schrader Valve
Accessories:
Rear-Mount Adjustable Kickstand, Steel Derailleur Guard, Integrated Spanninga Axendo 60 LED Headlight, Integrated Spanninga Solo LED Backlight (Solid, Flashing, Braking), Neoprene Slap Guard, Optional Bolt-On Rear Rack with Yepp! Window ($80), Optional Plastic Fenders (105mm Width, $89), Optional Front Rack ($69), Optional Small Basket ($59), Optional Large Basket ($79), Optional Platform ($39), Optional Small Pannier (Fremont Bag $89), Optional RAD Backlight ($25), Optional SR Suntour NCX Seat Post Suspension ($109), Optional RAM Torque Handlebar Phone Mount X ($59), Optional Small Basket Bag ($44), Optional Large Basket Bag ($59), Optional Small Insulated Delivery Bag ($59), Optional Large Insulated Delivery Bag ($69), Optional Yepp! Maxi Child Seat ($199)
Other:
Locking Removable Downtube-Mounted Battery Pack, 1.1lb 2 Amp Charger, Fully Potted Motor Controller, Stainless Steel Torque Arm, 275lb Maximum Weight Rating
Renee stoppard
6 years agocan you charge the battery while riding the bike?
ReplyCourt
6 years agoSo glad that you asked! While technically possible, you would be burning much more energy (when accounting for the cost of food, transport, ingestion, conversion from chemical to mechanical while pedaling, transition back into chemical when storing in the battery, and losing heat along the way). It’s much more efficient to simply charge a battery pack, but regeneration does reduce brake wear and recapture a small amount, maybe 10% back when coasting down hills, which helps to offset the added weight of the heavier motor design. Here’s a video that Mike and I shot about this topic years ago :)
ReplyStan J
6 years agoI am a scientist and have been driving EV for several years. The 10% you are referring to is not actual regeneration efficiency. The regen in an EV gives you ~20% longer range because you recapture energy that would be otherwise lost when braking. I think that is what are you talking about. The actual conversion of the extra energy to electricity is ~90% in an EV powertrain and 90% in battery. The bulk of the energy used for propulsion is non-recoverable as it is lost as aero-drag, friction, conversion loss, and rolling resistance. It all ends up as heat. That is the whole reason to use powered bike so that we can go faster and further than just using our own energy.
One can go political as for where the energy for powering e-bike should come from. Hint: Average population is overweight. Actually, in case of power outage, it would be interesting to see how to use energy in the e-bike’s battery to run basic household appliances. Then, extra pedaling would help.
John R.
6 years agoThe reviewer above expressed some curiosity as to RADROVER’s performance in snow. I just attempted to ride my 2018 RADROVER in about 8 inches of snow without success. At a little under 15psi, the rear wheel simply didn’t have enough traction; it drifted right out from under me and I took a (harmless) little spill. Also, the snow provided enough resistance as to overburden the electric motor – or so I certainly felt. I took this to mean that even with metal-studded snow tires, the ROVER would still be out of its element in any appreciable amount of snow. That being said, I do love the hell outta my bike and I don’t think you can do any better for the money, unless you purchase the 2019 ROVER, which is now back down to its pre-tarrif price! GREAT BIKE.
ReplyCourt
6 years agoHi John! I’ve had good experiences with RAD and other fat tire ebikes in soft sand and snow that isn’t too deep. If the snow is somewhat packed down, you may float above it with low PSI (I’m talking 5-7 PSI) but keep in mind that I weigh 135lbs. I did a shoot in the soft sands of Cabo San Lucas Mexico with many other riders who weigh more, and we all had success. Perhaps you could try lower pressure, here’s the video we shot!
ReplyJohn R.
6 years agoThanks for your reply! One question: At such low tire pressure as 5-7psi, do you worry about pinch flats?
Eyad Sherif
6 years agoHello, i wanna know how heavy is the Radrover, not in terms of actual weight only which is around (33 kg), but in terms of lifting practicality as i live in the second floor, and i have to take the stairs, also if the walk mode or the throttle are helpful in such cases? I am a bit concerned from this issue actually, as i am going to use it on a daily basis from and to work, i just wanna know if it’s doable or i am going to punish my self doing that every day! and of course such bike i can’t leave outside. thanks in advance.
ReplyCourt
6 years agoHi Eyad, yeah! I weighed the bike at 30.84kg but the battery could be removed to make it 3.49kg lighter. It’s a big bike, but walk mode (or the throttle) could make it easier to push up stairs. I totally understand that you’d want to keep it protected. Hope this helps you with the decision :)
ReplyAmine Chaoui
6 years agoI have question plz.. is the fork in radrover can be upgraded to an air fork????
ReplyCourt
6 years agoHi Amine, the steering tube on this ebike is straight 1-1/8″ vs. tapered 1-1/8″ to 1-1/2″ and in my experience, it’s easier to find air forks with tapered design… so you could probably upgrade, but might not have as many choices. I hope this tip helps you out! Please post again if you find a great air fork that has the 135mm hub spacing for fat wheels and tires :)
ReplyBT
5 years agoHi, the air fork from Bolton bikes fits the rover with no mods, it is 3.5 pounds lighter then stock fork. Makes the rover feel more lively.
Michael Cecere
6 years agoI bought the 2019 rover and I was a bit disappointed with the range. My work is 18 miles away and I purchased it for my commute. Im 6ft3 200 lbs. On the way to work my ride is about 900 feet of ascension and on pedal assist level 5 the battery began to basically provide 25% of the original power at around 16 miles of distance. I’m sure the listed range provided of 25+ was measured at pedal assist level 3 or less which in my opinion on a 68 lb bike is worthless. I was assuming it would go at least 20 on pedal assist 5. Going to sell it and try to get a 700c road bike electric option with a 250-350 watt motor and see if thats better. This bike needs to shave 15 lbs of weight somehow for the range I necessitate.
ReplyBrent
6 years agoIn my opinion a gearless motor would give you more range, all else equal. The geared motors focus more on torque, eating up more battery every time you stop/start than a gearless. I have the even heavier (and gearless) RadWagon, and I’m heavier than you are, and I can get more range at pedal assist 5 than you. I think its the bias of the motor shortening your range. Would be interested to hear comments from others about this as well.
ReplyRoderick Batalon
6 years agoHave you developed a newer battery for the 2017 rad rover power bikes
ReplyBrandon
6 years agoI just purchased a 2019 RadRover, but my speed tops out at 15mph and there doesn’t seem to be a max speed setting on the display anymore. I can’t find this addressed anywhere. Did RAD change the top speed for 2019 or is something going on with my bike?
ReplyCourt
6 years agoHi Brandon, what country do you live in? Perhaps their top speed is different based on location. If you’re in the US or Canada, it should be able to reach 20mph (32km/h) and their customer support team should be able to help answer questions via phone :)
ReplyKarol
5 years agoHi Brandon. Here in the USA I adjusted the max speed on my friend’s new Radrover to 25MPH. The bike got up to that speed just fine.
ReplyJay
5 years agoYour website is helping me navigate my first purchase. Thank you. Is a fat ebike like the RadRover appropriate for mostly pavement use? (I prefer its black frame color to the gray frame of the RadCity.)
ReplyCourt
5 years agoAwesome! I’m so glad to hear that, Jay. Yeah, I think the RadRover can be a great “all around” electric bike, even if most of your riding is done on pavement. That’s because the fat tires offer stability and comfort while the e-drive systems offset additional weight and drag. I’ve seen lots of RadRovers being used by students, husband and wife, and commuters even though in some ways it’s overkill. If you like the style and color more than the RadCity, I’d say go for it :)
ReplyEarle
5 years agoI’m getting really sick of your ads popping up all over my computer, especially on Facebook. Never responded to a electric tricycle for my handicap. So why even look at your ads
ReplyCourt
5 years agoHi Earle! I don’t place any ads on Faceboo, Google, or other platforms. Perhaps the folks at Rad Power Bikes are advertising to you, but I am not affiliated with them outside of some promoted bikes on this website (and the service fee they pay for me to review their product). Perhaps there is a link on Facebook to say “I’m not interested in this product”. Good luck! I hope this helps you :)
ReplyNick
5 years agoMany many thanks on your thorough reviews. I’m starting to narrow ebikes down to either the Rad Power, or, through a local bike company, the Trek Verve +. Several questions still arise and was wondering if you could comment. If it comes down to price ($1500 for the Rad vs $2400 for the Trek), then the Rad wins. If it comes to local bike shop help with repair and a longer warranty, then the Trek wins. My questions are, As for the parts, who ‘wins’ in overall quality and durability? And, who might ‘win’ in overall rider satisfaction, which might include seating comfort, ease of use, around town riding, and the occasional sight-seeing with some elevation and some unpaved roads riding?
ReplyRoger
5 years agoNick which bike did you go with? I have ridden the verve and loved it but can’t find a rad close to Iowa to try out?? Still looking…
ReplyNick
5 years agoHi Roger, thanks for asking. I ended up answering all my questions about which bike to buy by doing more research. For the RAD, I was lucky enough to test ride the Rad Rover, because someone was selling his here locally (he was moving). My first impression was that it was a beast (as in weight). I’m not used to a 65+lbs. bike! It rode well enough; had good power, etc. It just felt clunky. But after carefully comparing the components of the Verve+ and the RAD (brakes, motors, gears, etc.), coupled with the fact the Verve is “only” 45lbs., I’m going with the Verve+. It’s just sleeker, quieter, and a smoother ride than the RAD, IMO. Plus, I don’t care about having a throttle. And I have the support of well trained people at my local bike dealer in case anything happens to it. I’m waiting until Aug. to buy though, because Trek has a new step-through frame shipping (which Trek does not show on their website yet) which I want because of my hip situation (another thing I did not like about the RAD). Hope this helps.
Tim
5 years agoI’ve put about 1,000 miles on my Trek Verve+ and have no regrets. I did change the saddle and handlebars but thats personal preference. 2 year warranty and local service mean a lot to me. I’m over 200 lbs and can get 40+ mile range on mostly tour mode. I live in a hilly area and the assist is nice.
ReplyCourt
5 years agoAwesome, thanks for the great feedback, Tim! Hope the bike continues on well for you as the season continues :D
Dan
5 years agoI love your reviews. They have become my latest YouTube addiction.
This bike seems pretty awesome, especially for that price, but wow is it heavy! It’s approx 10 lbs heavier than its competitors and 50 lbs heavier than my current conventional mountain bike. How much of the motor’s effort and battery life is simply going to move the extra bike weight (rhetorical question mostly / observation). I have yet to come across a negative comment about this bike anywhere on line, seems to me everyone just loves it, so I suppose weight is not an issue.
ReplyBrian Hamilton
5 years agoI am considering purchasing a Radrover, but am hoping you can help me with a couple more questions. I will be using this bike to get in and out of the woods for hunting purposes, and the slope of the terrain is pretty flat. Is the bike quiet, and is it waterproof? Also, with myself and my gear, total weight will be approximately 240 – 250 lbs. Is that too much weight for this bike? Thanks
ReplyCourt
5 years agoHi Brian! Great questions. The planetary geared hub motors on these electric bikes do produce some electronic whirring… and that’s almost universal for electric bikes. It’s way, way quieter than anything gas powered, but there is some noise, as demonstrated in the video review above. As for waterproof… no, but highly water resistant to splashing and rain. Do not submerge and do not flip when wet. You can usually hose these ebikes down, but it’s not recommended to spray them hard with air or water. The standard maximum weight capacity is in the 250lb range, but most ebikes can take more, and RAD makes pretty solid products with lots of units in the field over many years now. I trust them, they are powerful, and they are pretty solid in terms of reliability and GREAT in terms of support. Another consideration would be Rambo Ebikes, which makes some camouflage models and uses powerful mid-drive motors on some models. They also have great hunting racks and accessories.
ReplySsekandi daniel
5 years agoI need to buy the rad power bike what is the procedure?
ReplyCourt
5 years agoHowdy! I think you just visit their official website here, and either call or place an order online. They will ship it out, and can even coordinate with local mobile bike shops to deliver and build for you at a small additional charge. I hope this helps and I welcome your feedback as you navigate the process and have anything to share about RAD and ebikes in general :)
ReplyHS
5 years agoBe aware, RAD bikes customer service has a long way to go to meet any level. I used my Amazon account to pay for the bike, but somehow their site decided to ignore my discount code I had. So if you are going to buying RAD… be super careful. Alternatively… look for a alternative.
ReplyCourt
5 years agoHmm, that’s a bummer! My experience with RAD has been very good. They do have customer support people standing by, like real people! Maybe you can call and get some help resolving the issue? I usually buy in shop (which RAD has in Europe, US, and Canada now) because they can build for you and there’s less confusion… even being able to test ride is awesome. Good luck and thanks for sharing your feedback :)
ReplyMB
5 years agoHi, I’m 6 foot 4 and weigh 200 pounds. I live in Seattle where we have many steep hills and wondering if the Rad Rover hub motor will get me up the hills with little to no effort? I’m considering the mid drives for this reason but don’t know if it’s overkill. Any recommendations?
ReplyCourt
5 years agoHi MB, I think the RadRover is a solid option… but you will need to pedal and have some speed going in to the medium and steep hills. If I were you, I’d take some time this weekend, or whenever you’re off work, and visit the Rad Power Bikes factory store in Ballard. They have demo bikes you can try and some hills nearby. Also consider EVELO, which have a bunch of powerful models, including this one with a mid-motor and throttle option. They also have a store in Seattle where you can do test rides :)
ReplyMuhororo
5 years agoHi, Does the radrover have a manual mode in case it runs out of charge while am on a trail? what would you recommend for a 6ft3′ rider in kansas (relatively flat with occasional hills)? am looking at low cost but with durability. Thanks
ReplyCourt
5 years agoHi Muhororo! All of the electric bikes I’ve reviewed here have a “manual pedal mode” meaning that you can still get around if the battery runs out… In many cases, you can even remove the battery pack from the bike to reduce weight and ride it around like a traditional bicycle :) as far as quality ebikes at a good price that are shipped nation wide, I think Rad Power Bikes is a leader, but EVELO, M2S Bikes, and Electric Bike Company are also great. Most electric bikes can be adjusted with a longer seat post and longer stem or adjusted handlebar so they will feel fairly comfortable for different sized riders. It’s a bit easier to go big vs. smaller, so you should be able to make most bikes that are medium or large size work… and most of these online direct ebikes only come in one frame size which is about medium.
ReplyNick
5 years agoWhen I test rode the Rad Rover, I tried riding in “manual pedal mode” on a flat paved road. It was generally fine (thought I didn’t go far). Remember, the bike is over 65 pounds, which means going on trails or hills without assistance would not be much fun even, as Court says, you take off the 8-10 pound battery.
ReplyCourt
5 years agoYeah, thanks Nick! In addition to the weight, with fat tire bikes like the RadRover you also have increased tire surface area which leads to increased drag as you coast… and the tires are studded, so that’s a bit more drag too. However! The tires are heavier because of the increased size and that leads to better rolling momentum. So, once you are up to speed, the bike coasts nicely :)
Kris
5 years agoI will want to ride this bike in winter also, so I would most likely remove the battery overnight and attach and ride in below 32° temps. Would the battery decrease in power during the ride as cold will change the chemistry of a 68° battery to less? Use will of course, but will temps drain it too? If so… just thinking, would a thin, well thought out styrofoam encasement stop this from occurring?
ReplyCourt
5 years agoHi Kris! Great questions. My experience with battery packs is that cold weather doesn’t damage the cells but does reduce their effectiveness, so you get like half the range of a neutral temperature. My understanding is that extreme heat actually harms the chemistry and reduces lifespan (or could lead to failure or fire). Easy Motion used to have this neoprene wrap for their battery packs that zipped around the main section of bike tube to keep wind off and reduce cold. They sold this for their dual-motor EVO Snow and some other models. That said, if you leave your battery on the bike all night in a cold garage, the neoprene cover isn’t going to warm it up. The key seems to be storing and charging the battery in a neutral environment and then bringing it out and using it immediately, then storing again in a neutral environment. Perhaps a sleeve, some velcro-on neoprene, or your styrofoam idea could reduce the speed at which the battery cools down when operating in a cold environment. I like the creativity of your idea and would love to hear back or even see some pictures in the Rad Power Bikes forums someday! Here’s a post that Ravi made in the forums a while back with an aftermarket neoprene cover, and here’s one that a shop called Scooteretti sells which seems to work on a number of different battery pack designs! I made a little roundup post in the forums for you that covers this topic more in-depth with more pictures and stuff :D
ReplyCharlie
5 years agoLike many others, I’m researching ebikes for the first time, and looking for advice. Thank you for a terrific website and thank you owners (reviewers!) in advance for your thoughts.
My question is about power on hills. I’m 65 years old, 6’2″ and 220 lbs, and considering the RadRover for making fairly short trips to run errands. We live at the top of a 3/4 mile paved road with an average grade of 6%. This will come, of course, at the end (and beginning!) of a 10-12 mile round trip. I’m in pretty good shape, but with some runners-knee issues in the past, I’ll need plenty of assist at the end of the ride. Most of the trip will be quite flat, and I’ll be comfortably pedaling most of the way, perhaps with a boost for comfort. Will the bike be able to haul me up the hill?! I’m in above average shape, but that’s a lot of weight, and I don’t like the idea of pushing the bike with a bag of groceries for the final few hundred yards.
I live in rural NY, so I’m sorry that a test ride is not an option.
ReplyCourt
5 years agoHi Charlie, I do think that the RadRover would greatly assist you with a 6-percent grade. The key is to have some momentum going in, to switch to a low gear if the motor starts to struggle (and then pedal at a rapid pace to reduce pressure on your knees). I have been able to gain momentum by going at an angle for the start of a hill if I had to stop. Given your height, the RadRover makes sense. Smaller wheels get a mechanical advantage for hub motors and mid-drives can be excellent climbers if you shift appropriately, but they often do not have throttles and tend to cost more. I think the RadRover can do well for you, and one more way to help it climb and ride efficiently is to keep the tire pressure towards the upper end of the recommended PSI range (also good since you weigh more, so the tire won’t squish in and cause a pinch flat).
Replylorenzo papi chulo
5 years agoCan I use a more powerful battery on my RadRover, now I have 48v 11.6ah
ReplyCourt
5 years agoHi Lorenzo, that’s a great question! My understanding is that you’d need to use the packs that Rad sells, and could not easily update or modify their packs to be “more powerful” because it could damage the circuitry and controller. Perhaps you could add capacity, but not change the voltage (and voltage is usually what’s associated with power). This is a question best asked to Rad Power Bikes directly through their website or support number.
Replybmbktmracer
5 years agoI can’t find anything either in the video or written text about the actual performance of the bike. How fast does it go on throttle alone? What is the maximum comfortable pedal-assist speed? I know it’s rated for 20 mph, but does that mean you can actually pedal that fast for an hour?
ReplyCourt
5 years agoHi! I list those specs near the top of each review. This is a Class 2 electric bike with top assisted and throttle speeds of 20mph (32km/h). That’s the legal limit in North America. In my experience, constant pedal time really depends on your level of fitness and which gear is used. The higher gears require a much slower cadence and since Rad Power Bikes uses cadence sensors, you don’t have to push very hard… just keep moving the cranks or rely on the throttle. The biggest factors for me are back, neck, and arm fatigue for sitting that long on a saddle during a semi-bumpy ride. The seatpost suspension is a great upgrade option to add comfort. I hope this helps to clarify things, and I appreciate your feedback :)
Reply