Gary D.
2021-06-10 05:06:34
Rad Power Bike Company’s flagship model RadRover 5, comes with big 4″ wide fat tires that offer stability and comfort. Its 750w electric motor provides ample power allowing you to handle most terrain.
According to the company website, it the best-selling fat tire e-bike in North America, and this claim makes sense with such a capable and well-built bike at this price point.
At $1699, the RadRover 5 is in the very affordable range of e-bikes. Its combination of style and substance put it in the conversation for anyone looking for a new ride with a powerful electric motor and the fat-tire capabilities to get you over trails or just smoothly around town.
The RadRover 5 is powered by a 750w geared hub mount motor that kicks in 80 Nm of torque with a twist of the grip. Powered by a 48v, 14 Ah Lithium-ion battery that is rated at 20-45 miles per charge, there’s power enough to get you quickly up to a top throttle speed of 20 mph.
The twist grip throttle takes you smoothly through five pedal assist levels with a cadence sensor gauging the extra power coming through the rear hub motor to boost your pedaling power. With the RadRover 5, you have the option of pedaling with an additional power boost or simply twisting the throttle to give you the push you need to conquer a hill or get you to your next destination without breaking a sweat.
The helpful display unit comes complete with a charge meter in the form of a battery pictogram, showing five bars from F to E on the charge, as well as an odometer, speedometer, watt-usage, and status meter for the electric assist mode you’re in at the time. You can even plug in your phone via the USB charging port with 5V, 1 Amp power provided through the display terminal.
Front suspension comes by way of a Rad Power Bikes RST suspension fork with 80 mm of travel and lockout. The sloping hardtail frame of 6061 aluminum tubing looks good and sets up a nice ride with comfortable geometry.
Bulging 4″ balloon tires absorb plenty of bumps and offer a smooth ride. The Kenda K-Shield integrated tire liners built into the Kenda Juggernaut 26″ x 4″ tires provide aramid and ceramic particles underneath the tread. This feature helps your tires withstand sharp objects when riding through rugged terrain.
The Tektro Aries 180 mm mechanical disc brakes and a motor cutout integrated into the brake lever give you solid braking power and an added safety element.
A built-in brake light, powered by the main battery pack, activates whenever brakes are applied. The standard Rad Power LED headlight is also included in the base model for visibility and safety.
The handlebar is custom forged aluminum, 700 mm wide with a 4″ rise for a comfortable, upright posture while you ride. When you park, you’ve got a heavy-duty aluminum kickstand with a wide plastic foot built into the chainstay to hold your ride upright.
The Shimano SL-TX50-7R thumb shifter gets you smoothly through the seven gears with a gear indicator integrated into the shifter.
aluminum forged frame and sturdy 12 gauge stainless steel spokes give RadRover strength without too much weight (although it’s no lightweight, that’s for sure).
you’ll be going over some rough spots; the 80mm of travel lets the front forks flatten out your ride with lockout and load preset options. Balloon tires take up more pressure of shocks and jars.
priced in the reasonable end of electric bike price ranges, RadRover puts a lot of quality ride into a solid package.
They’ve been in the business for over five years, and the Rad Power Bike Company has learned some valuable lessons in building bikes that are sturdy and stand up to real-world elements with style and grace.
Front and rear fenders made of long-lasting PVC and stainless-steel hardware, as well as front and rear lights and a display with details about your ride. The RadRover 5 has enough of the little extras to lift it above many of its competitors in the mid-low price range it occupies.
you know this — the choice to get a fat tire monster bike with power and battery onboard is always going to come with the trade-off of added weight. Suppose the added size and heft and enjoy the smooth ride with front suspension and fat tires.
With a total 275 lb payload capacity, it seems fitting that the RadRover should add a rack or two for your stuff. Sure, there are bosses front, rear, and center to add on your own back or front rack, panniers, or whatnot. And sure, you can always add your own racks and still have very reasonably priced electric bikes.
No one’s trying to hide the fact that you’re on an e-bike, but the big rectangle battery unit almost looks like an afterthought. This probably isn’t an issue for many people. However, design elements that conceal the electric components seem desirable for those who care about style.
With no network of local stores, you can’t easily take one for a test ride before you buy or rely on tech and repair support from local pros. But the direct-to-consumer model saves money, so it’s a trade-off that the huge number of Radrover buyers accept.
Rad Power Bikes builds sturdy and thoughtfully designed bikes, and the RadRover 5 is part of that legacy. Improving on previous models and working out the weak spots has landed the RadRover 5 at the top seller of the best-selling electric bikes.
With its extra-thick 4-inch tires, built-in lights for improved visibility and safety (including a brake-activated tail light), plus standard fenders, this beast is a beauty. And with a $1699 price tag, this is a lot of bike for the money. It’s no wonder they’ve sold so many of them.
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