Whether you’re a senior looking for an alternative to your car, a good small cargo bike or an electric bike that will seat another person, the RadRunner Plus, from Rad Power Bikes, could be the e-bike you’re looking for. This Class 2 e-bike features a well thought out frame design, powerful 750-watt motor that will power you and your goodies all around town.
Like all e-bikes in the Lectric repertoire, the RadRunner Plus frame can be easily folded for easy transport or storage. Whether you need to take this e-bike in your car or RV, or store it inside your residence, the folding feature is really convenient for anyone with limited space.
Working in conjunction with your pedaling, the motor has a pedal assist system [PAS] to keep you rolling at safe speeds. When pedaling in PAS 1 to 12 mph, you can enjoy moderate acceleration up to PAS 3. That’s when you’ll really start to speed up before leveling off at PAS 5, at around 20 mph.
Distributing power from the bike chain is the 7-speed Shimano Altus shifter and derailleur with a 11-34T cassette and 48T chainring give work well with the motor when pedaling in low gears on uphills, and minimal ghost pedaling when using PAS 5 on flat straightaways. motorcycle-style twist throttle,
Testing to see how many miles the 48-volt, 14 amp-hour battery can last we did two range tests. In the first we rode using the maximum PAS 26.2 miles with an average speed of 17.2 mph. In the minimum PAS test, using PAS-2, battery lasted 60 miles.
moped-style seat to accommodate your passenger. 20” x 3.3” Kenda tires. Bike weight with battery 73.6 lbs, ride weight capacity 300 lbs.
RST coil spring forks, with 80mm wheel travel, do a decent job absorbing bumps and dips, and help you keep control of the front wheel. We would like to see an optional dual shock rear suspension, similar to the moped e-bikes, because this will offer noticeably better handling and control, which is even more important when carrying a passenger.
Braking ability to your overall safety. The Tektro Aries hydraulic system, with dual piston calipers and 180mm rotors, offer adequate stopping power. Important safety issue to remember is to allow additional time and distance for stopping when carrying cargo or a passenger. The heavier the bike is, the more resistance the brakes face when trying to stop.
Considering all the features on the RadRunner Plus, you definitely get a great bang for your e-bike buck.