(Last updated on March 6th, 2023)
Electric bikes are the future, and we are in very exciting times. They have reinvented cycling for many people in the last decade. You no longer need to rely on fitness alone but can also level the playing field with a motor and a battery.
Gone are the days of struggling on those super steep climbs and holding back the group. One of the biggest brands currently making electric bikes is Rad Power, which is becoming hugely popular.
A model everyone seems to be talking about is the RadCity 5 Plus. I have been lucky enough to review this bike. In this article, I want to tell you about it and why you might consider it your next bike.
Who are Rad Power Bikes?
Rad Power has been around since 2015, making them a fairly new electric bike brand. It was founded by Mike Radenbaugh in 2007, who became obsessed with electric bikes when he converted his own normal bike into one.
That turned into a business converting normal bikes into electric ones. Years later, his own brand, Rad Power bikes, was born.
Rad Power has a good range of bikes and mainly focuses on off-road, city, and urban commuting bikes. They are well known for their quality and customer service. Unlike many other bike brands, they have a retail store and even use pop-up shops regularly.
I hear excellent feedback from their customers, which has led us to this review.
What Do I Look For in an Electric Bike?
Before I speak about the RadCity 5 Plus, it’s important to speak about what I look for in an electric bike. Being a quite new technology, it is important to look at much more than frame, wheels, and tires. Here’s what I look for;
1. Frame and Fork
The first thing you need to think about is the frame and fork. Do they offer a comfortable ride? Are they made of a strong material? Are they fit for the purpose of the bike?
2. Motor and Battery
The motor and battery are what drive an electric bike forward. Does it offer enough power? Does it have enough range for those long days out? Is the quality up to our standards?
3. Gearing
The gearing is what is going to help you get up and down those hills efficiently. I look for bikes with a wide range of gears and the durability to last season after season.
4. Wheels and Tires
Wheels come in all different sizes with different tires on electric bikes. I want good quality wheels and tires that fit the bike’s purpose.
5. Brakes
Electric bikes are very powerful and capable of fast speeds. With all this speed, I want a bike with excellent brakes to ensure you can stop quickly and safely.
6. Special Features
Electric bikes typically come with some amazing special features. You get lighting, LCD displays, USB chargers, and Bluetooth connectivity. I want bikes to have features like this.
7. Cost
Lastly, we have cost. I don’t just look for the highest price or the lowest. I look for the best value for money possible.
RadCity 5 Plus
KEY SPECS
| Frame | 6061 Aluminum Frame |
| Fork | RST Spring Fork with 50mm Travel |
| Motor and Battery | 750w Hub Motor with 672Wh Battery |
| Distance | 45 – 80 km |
| Wheels and Tires | 27.5” wheels with Hybrid Tires |
| Brakes | Hydraulic Disc Brakes |
| Weight | 64lbs |
| Cost | $1899 |
| Height Range | 5ft 4” to 6ft 5” |
| Max Weight | 275lbs |
Pros
- Rad Power High Quality
- Strong 6061 Aluminum Frame
- Suspension fork
- Reliable motor and battery
- Good range for battery size
- Not overweight
- Amazing value for money
- Powerful hydraulic disc brakes
Cons
- Limited height range
- Not a huge weight range
- Fairly basic wheels and tires
1. Frame 5/5
Let’s start with the frame, which gets a solid 5/5, in my opinion. It is a hybrid-style bike with an upright riding position. It is made of 6061 aluminum which is lightweight and strong and has a comfortable riding position, and you can expect many happy miles without backaches or a sore behind.
The RadCity 5 Plus comes in two versions. It comes in a step-through for ease of getting on and off and a standard. I am reviewing the standard today, even though these bikes are practically identical apart from the design.
The flat handlebars make it easy to control, and I love that it comes with an adjustable stem. This means you can easily lower or heighten your handlebars level to suit the position you want.
2. Forks 4/5
I’d personally rate the forks 4/5. The Rad Power RadCity 5 Plus comes with the RST spring suspension fork. This is an excellent way to go and makes this bike ride really comfortable.
It offers 50mm of suspension travel, which isn’t vast, but it will take the edge off a bumpy road without adding too much weight.
It’s very low maintenance, and you will not need to worry much about servicing for many years. It has a lockout function to save power on flat roads and a preload adjustment to adapt to different rider weights.
I really like the fact Rad Power went this way on the forks and didn’t just fit larger tires with rigid forks. It adds great features and gives you a silky smooth ride and some off-road ability.
3. Motor and Battery 4/5
I am very particular about the motor and battery on an electric bike and don’t settle for anything apart from high quality. On the RadCity 5 Plus, I give it 4/5.
The Rad Power RadCity 5 uses its own 750w geared motor hidden in the rear hub. The 672Wh battery to match sits hidden in the frame.
The motor works on a pedal assistance system. So when you pedal, the motor kicks in and gives you the assistance you need to power forward. It senses the torque you are putting in and gives you the power to match. This bike doesn’t have a throttle system.
The motor offers a top speed of 20 mph, which is plenty. The range offered is excellent, and you get 40-80 kph on a single charge.
They use Panasonic or Samsung cells to ensure it has excellent longevity too. It has a great motor and battery setup. There’s room for more range.
4. Gearing 3/5
The gearing on the RadCity 5 scores 3/5 in my opinion. Although you have a powerful motor and battery Rad Power still gave the RadCity 5 Plus a decent set of gears. Not only does this help you get up hills with less battery use, but it also adds to the cycling experience.
They are using a 1×7 gearing system.
It offers a limited range but plenty enough paired with an electric bike’s motor. It has one single shifter on the right-hand side, which controls everything.
A groupset like this is reliable, easy to use, and very cheap to maintain. It’s basic, but it does the job and makes riding fun. It also is a good backup in case you run out of juice.
Although I can only assume they have used basic gearing to keep costs down. Again there’s room for improvement.
5. Wheel and Tires 3/5
Then we get wheels and tires, and I gave the RadCity 5 another 3/5. The wheels are 27.5”, a fairly standard size, great for handling and control, and slightly smaller than the common 29” wheels.
The wheels are made of aluminum and have 36 holes, making them heavier but very strong. They come equipped with hybrid bike tires from Rad Power themselves. It’s a good combination for mixed-terrain riding, making the bike agile and fun.
I can gather that the wheels and tires are Rad Power’s brand. As I look at it and review it, they work fine, but I am still determining if they will last forever in the long term.
You might find the quality lacking, and they need to be worked on sooner than branded wheels or they could be brilliant.
6. Brakes 5/5
Now we come to the brakes, and the Rad Power RadCity 5 gets the 5/5 it deserves. Instead of using mechanical brakes, as many companies do on electric bikes, they use hydraulic disc brakes.
Instead of a cable, hydraulic disc brakes are filled with fluid. They are more powerful, reliable, and even have the ability to self-adjust as they wear down.
For companies like Rad Power, hydraulic brakes need bleeding and are more expensive but do add so much to the cycling experience.
That’s not all, though. They have even equipped the bike with huge 180mm discs. These are much bigger than the standard 140mm or 160mm discs, adding to the braking power and efficiency.
7. Special Features 5/5
The special features make the RadCity 5 plus much more appealing. Hence it gets another 5/5 rating from us. It has powerful lighting to keep you seen and help show you the way on those dark nights or mornings.
You also get fenders to keep you clean and a chain guard to keep the oil off your trousers. The RadCity 5 has a rear rack as well, which can carry everything you need, from heavy bags of shopping to extra clothes for your commute.
On top of all this, the cables are internally routed, and you get a great LCD display telling you about how much charge you have left and all the data you need for the motor and battery.
It comes with a walk mode, which makes it easy to move around. You can also when at checkout, add lots of different accessories, such as front racks and bags too.
8. Weight 3/5
The bike weighs 64 lbs, and because of this, I am giving it 3/5 as we don’t think it’s very light. You will find yourself noticing it weighs much more than a typical bike.
This makes it more challenging to work with as a bike. It’s harder to carry inside and out of the car, and many bike hangers don’t go this high in weight limits. It sits in the middle of the market regarding bike weight. I would have appreciated it more if it stayed below 50 lbs.
9. Cost 5/5
The RadCity 5 gets a solid 5/5 from us regarding cost. Coming in at $1,899, it’s incredible value for money. You get a great bike, and it’s packed with incredible special features. Electric bikes that come in at this cost typically cannot offer anywhere near as many bikes for the money.
Our Verdict
At the end of the day, the RadCity 5 is an excellent electric bike. It ticks every box that I want an electric bike to and offers a high level of quality while doing it. It looks fantastic and comes in two different versions: a step-through and a standard.
Some of the components are Rad Powers’ own, which in the long run, could go either way. They could be excellent or need attention fairly quickly. It is not the lightest bike either. It could be noticeably heavier for some people compared to a typical bike.
Overall though, for $1899, it’s great value, and I believe it is worth every cent. You can’t forget it comes with great customer service, and you can enter a community of many other Rad Power bike enthusiasts.
Overall Rating : 4/5
To see the bike in action, check out this YouTube video
Other Products
It’s a good idea to look at other electric bikes to see how they compare with others. Here I have picked some alternatives you might be interested in similar to the RadCity 5.
Lectric XP 2
The Lectric XP 2 is a great example of an electric bike. It has a top speed of 28 mph and is great for on and off-road riding. It’s a much smaller bike and is generally classed as a folding compact compared to the RadCity 5, being a full-sized bike.
Don’t be fooled, though. These bikes are pretty much the same when it comes to weight. The Lectric XP 2 comes in at less than $900, so it’s half the price of the RadCity 5.
It doesn’t have the range of the RadCity 5 and only comes in around 50 km per charge. Lectric has many great accessories you can buy with the bike, even offering long-range batteries. Well worth a look if you are in the market for a compact electric bike.
We have reviewed Lectric XP 2 here.
Haibike Trekking 4 High
Haibike is a big brand when it comes to electric bikes. The Trekking 4 is a mid-range model of theirs. It comes with a 250w motor and a 500Wh battery and with a top speed of 15 mph and a range of 40-80 km. It looks fantastic and comes with suspension forks, making it capable on and off-road.
Coming in around $4000, it’s much more expensive than the other bikes here, but it does offer unrivaled quality. It has features such as fenders, an excellent LCD display, a rear rack, and lighting.
If you are looking for an e-bike similar to the RadCity 5 Plus, then the Haibike Trekking 4 is a good option.
Frequently Asked Questions
The RadCity 5 Plus has a maximum speed of 20mph, which is plenty for cycle paths and roads. Any quicker could be a bit much, and any slower might find you lagging behind.
Rad Power bikes are popular because they are excellent value for money, high quality, and last. I highly recommend them as a brand.
Rad Power bikes are waterproof bikes. You can use these in the rain, but there are limitations. You don’t want to be in torrential rain or riding the bike fully submerged in water.
Yes, Rad Power bikes can be used without a battery. It will be harder work due to the bike’s weight, but it will work fine if you’re desperate to get home.
Yes, Rad Power bikes come with a walk mode. This means when you need to move the bike around without being on it, you can use the motor to help you.
I’m Robbie Ferri, a writer from Norfolk in the UK. I love cycling, the gym, and have a huge passion for sharing my stories and knowledge to anyone with the time to read them. My main passion is cycling. I started eight years ago. In that time I have broken world records, cycled all over the world in Ultra Bikepacking races, and am lucky enough to have enjoyed some incredible times on two wheels with some incredible people. I have also worked in a bike shop and with some of the industries leading brands, not just promoting products but designing them too.
Under it all I am just someone very passionate about exploration and living a healthy lifestyle. Everything I do I put 100% into it and feel that life is for living. Never should you have a dull day.
