Rad Power RadRunner Review: The Jack of All Trades? (2023)

(Last updated on March 6th, 2023)

E-bikes have hit the world by storm. You’ll find urban commuter bikes, revved-up mountain bikes, and everything in between. But what about a single bike that can do it all? Enter the Rad Power RadRunner, a reasonably priced, all-terrain e-bike you can customize.

In this article, I’m going to talk about the RadRunner E-Bike. I’ll review the pros and cons, give you a quick look at what’s new on the latest model, and tell you who it’s good for. Finally, I’ll give you my thoughts on this powerful e-bike. Let’s get started!

About RadRunner E-Bikes

When Mike Radenbaugh was a teenager, he wanted to find a better way to get to school. So after tinkering around in his garage with an old bike and some electronic parts, he created a battery-powered bike that could get him to school and back. His mom gave him the idea to name the bike: Rad Power Bikes.

In the early stages, Mike worked to convert traditional bikes to e-bikes. Eventually, he joined up with Ty Collins, and together they crowdsourced the funding to develop the RadRover, an electric fat tire bike.

Over time, Mike added bikes to his lineup, one of the most popular being the RadRunner.

RadRunner 2: What Is It?

The RadRunner 2 is an all-terrain e-bike that you can accessorize any way you like. It’s truly a do-it-all, moped-style e-bike at a very reasonable price. It’s no wonder they call this bike the Jack of All Trades; you can carry cargo, kids, pets, and passengers. You can take it to work, the grocery store, or an all-day ride. And it has over 330 accessory combinations, so you can choose the system that fits your needs.

This e-bike can carry up to 300 pounds of people and cargo with its powerful 750-watt motor. And you’ll get up to 45 miles on a single charge. But what makes this bike so unique? Let’s take a closer look.

The Specs

E-bike Class 2 4/5

The RadRunner 2 is a Class 2 e-bike. What does that mean? A class 1 e-bike only has a pedal assist. This means the motor only runs when you are pedaling and only assists up to 20mph. A Class 3 e-bike is also pedal-assist only, but it will help you up to 28 mph. A class 2 e-bike, on the other hand, has pedal-assist and throttle power modes up to 20 mph. This means you can ride the bike without pedaling up to 20mph, so it works like a moped.

You’ll want to remember that not all e-bikes are legal on all roads, so check your local laws before purchasing one. The independent throttle isn’t available in all countries, either.

Class 2 e-bikes are the most popular type.

Size and Geometry 3/5

Geometry is about the size and shape of the bike – how it fits the rider.

The RadRunner 2 is only available in one size, designed to fit riders from 4’11” – 6’2″ with an approximate inseam between 26.75″-37.” Smaller riders or larger riders probably won’t be comfortable on this bike.

The RadRunner 2 has a step-through frame, so even if you are short, you won’t have to worry about swinging your leg over the bike seat to board the bike. Instead, you can easily step through the frame and sit on the adjustable seat.

This is also helpful if you’re looking to add accessories to the back of the bike, such as child seats or a cargo carrier.

The handlebars are adjustable to make the bike more comfortable for different sizes of riders.

We would love to see this bike in a few different sizes to fit riders better.

Bike Frame 4/5

The bike frame is aluminum with a steel fork. The RadRunner 2 Plus has a 60mm suspension fork for extra comfort if you need it. The aluminum frame helps keep the bike a bit lighter at 65 pounds without the suspension and 77 pounds with the suspension. The frame is long for stability and strong, too – it can hold up to 300 pounds of riders and cargo.

We like this lightweight and sturdy frame.

Tires 4/5

The all-terrain tires are the small size at 20,” but they’re a comfy 3.3 inches wide, which will help you get over all kinds of bumps, rocks, and roots. In addition, these ultra-wide tires will absorb a lot of road chatter, making your ride much more comfortable. 

The 3.3-inch wide tires will give you a nice cushy ride to overcome obstacles.

Saddle 4/5

It comes with a standard moped-style saddle with extra padding and a steel seat post. Rad Power Bikes offers a variety of seats if you don’t like the standard saddle. However, you can also purchase additional passenger seating.

This is a pretty standard style of e-bike saddle.

Motor 5/5

The bike comes with a 750-watt brushless geared hub motor, which is a lot of power for this price point. But, of course, your actual wattage may vary based on riding conditions. Nevertheless, the RadRunner conquers hills without a hiccup – you can even see it in action.

Keep in mind that the more hills you ride, the heavier the drain on your battery, so your actual mileage may vary depending on the terrain.

This motor gives you plenty of torque to climb hills.

Pedal Assist 4/5

With four levels of pedal assist, you can choose the right amount of support you need. The lower the level of assist, the longer your battery will last. Using the highest level of assist will run your battery down faster, but that should be no surprise. It’s just how e-bikes work.

Four to five levels of pedal assist are pretty standard on e-bikes.

Gearing 4/5

On the other hand, the RadRunner 2 only has one gear. It has a 53T chainring and a 16t cog in the rear. This is an efficient gear for speed on the flats, but you’ll definitely need to use the pedal assist on the hills with a gear like that, especially when you consider the heavy weight of the bike combined with fatter tires. This bike will take a lot of effort to pedal without pedal assist, but that’s ok – it’ll help you work on your fitness!

 This only gives you one gear to work with, but that’s not a problem if you use the pedal assist.

Brakes 3/5

When riding at higher speeds, you need good brakes, especially under adverse conditions. The RadRunner is equipped with mechanical disc brakes, which are easy to maintain and work under wet and muddy conditions.

We would love to see hydraulic disc brakes on this bike.

The Pros of Purchasing a RadRunner 2 

• The RadRunner is an affordable, entry-level e-bike with wide tires and lots of power.

• It’s a stylish-looking bike available in black and green.

• The RadRunner can carry plenty of rider and cargo weight – up to 300 pounds. The rear deck can hold up to 120 pounds, so you can easily carry two children, your groceries, or another adult passenger as long as everyone combined doesn’t exceed 300 pounds.

• The bike also has a range of 25 to 45 miles. But, of course, the range depends on how much pedal assist you to use and how hilly or windy your ride is.

• The step-through aluminum frame is durable, lightweight, strong, and easy to get on and off the bike.

• Includes a quick-release seat post clamp. This way, you can easily adjust the seat for different riders.

• There are plenty of accessories available right from Rad Power, including child seats, partner seats, pet carriers, cargo racks, fenders, and a front rack.

• No shifting issues or problems with your derailleur since the bike is only a single speed. This means less wear and tear and less to maintain.

• Includes an integrated headlight, a taillight to keep you visible, and a bell.

• It also includes a double kickstand.

• 20-inch, 3.3-inch wide tires will easily roll over gravel roads and roots.

• If you prefer, you can purchase the RadRunner Plus, which has extra suspension and a passenger package.

• You can choose from pre-fitted packages to suit your needs or just stick with the base model. 

The Cons of Purchasing a RadRunner 2

• Mechanical disc brakes.  You need good brakes when you’re riding an e-bike, especially if you’re off-road. And while mechanical disc brakes save you money over hydraulic, nothing beats the stopping power of hydraulic disc bikes. So we think this bike could be improved with better brakes.
• Plastic pedals. Many bikes don’t come with pedals, or they just come with a pair of standard plastic pedals. You’ll probably want to swap these out for a bit better quality and potentially pedals that clip in if that’s what you prefer. This is standard money-saving practice for bike manufacturers since pedals are so personal.
• The LED display is simple and dated. As a result, it doesn’t give you much information you might need while riding.
• The optional accessories are fun and helpful – but they’re also expensive, and you can easily add a thousand dollars to the cost of the basic bike by adding accessories such as fenders or racks.
• The bike is only available in one size. Of course, this keeps the price low; however, it limits the number of people that can ride it. And while it technically is supposed to fit a wide variety of heights, you might not be comfortable if you’re on the shorter side.
• Single-speed gearing means you’ll use lots of pedals assist in climbing hills. This bike has great gearing for a faster, flat ride, but if you’re trying to pedal with your own power, you’ll really have a hard time going uphill.
• The bike is somewhat heavy if you compare it to a standard road bike but not when compared to other e-bikes. For example, the RadRunner 2 is 65 pounds, and the RadRunner Plus is 77lb because the suspension adds some weight.

What’s New with the RadRunner 2?

This is the second version of the RadRunner, and it comes with a few important upgrades. First of all, it comes with a more slack head tube. This will make the bike feel more comfortable and more stable.

The RadRunner Plus is a little more expensive but includes a 7-speed drivetrain and suspension fork. It includes fenders, a passenger setup, an LCD display, and a better-quality headlight. To put it short, you’ll get extra gears that make it much easier to climb hills.

Alternatives to RadRunner2

If you’re looking for similar e-bikes, you might consider the Ride1Up 700 Series. At $1695, it comes with a rack, color display, and hydraulic brakes, but it doesn’t have the option for extra riders. It also has thinner wheels, so it won’t do as well over rough terrain.

On the other hand, Aventon has a similar bike, the Aventure. However, it’s a little pricier at $1599 and can ride a bit faster at 28mph max. It also has hydraulic brakes, which are lacking in the RadRunner 2. And while the Aventon has eight speeds and five levels of pedal assist, it only has a 500-watt motor, which won’t give you as much power or torque to get over hills.

	Motor	Range	Bike Weight	Rider and Cargo Weight	Speed	Price
RadRunner 2	750 Watts	35-60	72 pounds	350 pounds	20 mph	$1599
Ride1Up 700	750 Watts	30-50	62 pounds	300 pounds	28 mph	$1695
Aventon Aventure Ebike	750 Watts	45 miles	73 pounds	400 pounds	28 mph	$1999

Who Is the RadRunner2  Best For?

The RadRunner is a top-notch, entry-level all-terrain e-bike for the average-sized rider. It’s great for a fast flat commute, fun on gravel roads, and pretty good at climbs as long as you use the pedal assist. It may be for you if you need to carry a second rider, want to bring your kids to the playground, or love to travel with your pet.

If you’re looking for a fitness bike, this isn’t it. It’s too heavy to ride like a road bike, especially up hills. Also, it may not be for you if riding a throttle bike isn’t legal where you live.

If you need a fitness bike, you might consider a hybrid bike. And if you need a good off-road bike but throttle bikes aren’t legal, you might try a mountain bike instead. Then again, if you need something that does a little more of the work, you might try an electric scooter with a seat.

My Verdict on the Rad Power Rad Runner 2

I give the RadRunner a 9/10. What it does – it does really well! It carries passengers and cargo with plenty of room and power to spare. It easily rides uphill with its powerful motor if you’re using the pedal assist, and it has a decent range of 25 to 45 miles.

But it could use some improvements on a couple of key points. First, the display is a bit rudimentary, especially considering how advanced simple bike computer technology is. But what’s more problematic for me is the mechanical disc brakes. If you’re going fast on an e-bike, you need the topmost stopping power you would get from hydraulic disc brakes.

Overall, this is a great entry-level e-bike for commuting and for fun.

Final Thoughts on the Rad Power RadRunner

The RadRunner makes a great bike for the budget-conscious rider. You get a powerful motor, plenty of speed, and plenty of range. In addition, there are all kinds of accessory options, from child seats to adult passenger seats, pet crates, and cargo. On top of it all, you get an affordable, efficient, and comfortable ride.

Frequently Asked Questions