How Rad Power Bikes Compares for a Boomer and a Millennial

U.S.-based e-bike manufacturer Rad Power Bikes has established itself as a direct-to-consumer company selling fat tire bikes that have helped shape the COVID e-bike boom. In 2021, the company raised two massive funding rounds – $150m in February 2021 and another $154m just eight months later – which took its total funding beyond what the European bike darling electric, VanMoof, got.

I wanted to understand why investors seemed so interested in the company and why these bikes were gaining popularity.

The company recently sent me two e-bikes to test: the RadRunner 2 and the RadExpand 5. They both appealed to me as affordable and stable bikes that could be delivered to your door, but I also wanted them give it a go based on a comment Rad's Chief Product Officer Redwood Stephens made in a recent interview with TechCrunch.

Stephens told me that Rad's primary target customers aren't urban commuters. Rather, Rad's sturdy frames, big tires, and easy-to-read digital displays are aimed at people over 50 who live in suburban or rural areas and want a greener mode of transportation that still feels safe. security. I decided to test this by putting my mom on one of these, and you'll hear her thoughts on that later (Spoiler: She wants to buy one.)

The RadRunner 2, an update to Rad's hugely popular RadRunner utility bike with a stepper frame, was released in December 2021 at $1,499 and comes in black or forest green. The RadExpand 5 launched in April as a $1,599 foldable e-bike. It is available in black or white.

Rad Power Bike Specifications

The RadRunner 2 and the RadExpand 5 both have a simple screen to turn the bike on and off, choose a pedal assist level and turn on the lights.

Both bikes look, feel and spec very similar. Here's what they have in common:

Motor: 750W brushless geared hub motor Top speed: 20 miles per hour (unless you're flying downhill, it can definitely go faster) Battery: 672Wh; can be loaded on the bike or can be removed to load indoors Range: 25 to 45 miles Brakes: Mechanical disc brakes Other Elements: Single LED Display, Bell, 4 Pedal Assist Settings, Half-Turn Throttle

Here's the same, but different:

[Gallery ID="2438837,2438838,2438839,2438840"]

Both bikes come with an optional front rack and an integrated rear rack, but their payload capacities differ. For example, the RadExpand's maximum rear rack load is 59 pounds, but the RadRunner can handle 120 pounds (and more, as my partner and I have proven.)

The crutches are also different. RadExpand's is a regular-style kickstand, but RadRunner's is a spring-loaded, double-leg kickstand, which is much harder to push. Additionally, while both bikes feature LED front/rear/brake lights, the RadRunner 2's rear lights not only indicate braking, but also feature a flash mode.

They are both very easy to turn on by holding down the ON button, but I found that perhaps made them easy to steal. Many commuters don't lock up their bikes, but instead leave them in the shed. For a smart bike, it would be cool to see an anti-theft locking system.

Finally, the RadRunner and RadExpand both have fat puncture resistant tires, but how fat differs with each bike. The RadRunner has 20-inch by 2.2-inch tires, and the RadExpand tires are 20-inch...