Skip to main content

Rad Power Bikes’ new e-bike models boost accessibility and visibility

RadRover Step-Thru e-bike
Rad Power Bikes RadRover Step-Thru Image used with permission by copyright holder

Rad Power Bikes‘ newly announced lineup is poised to ride the rising e-bike wave with improved rider accessibility and greater visibility. The RadRover Step-Thru improves ease of use of the top e-bike company’s bestselling model, the relatively high-step RadRover, which continues with additional upgrades.

Rad Power Bikes RadRover
Rad Power Bikes RadRover Image used with permission by copyright holder

The RadRover fat tire e-bike is Rad’s top-selling model. Like all Rad Power Bikes’ models, the RadRover is a Class 2 e-bike that uses battery-stored electricity in pedal-assist and throttle modes to power the two-wheeler at speeds up to 20 miles per hour with an estimated travel range of 25 to 45 miles.

Rad Power Bikes RadRover Step-Thru
Rad Power Bikes RadRover Step-Thru Image used with permission by copyright holder
RadRover Step-Thru e-bike
Rad Power Bikes RadRover Step-Thru Image used with permission by copyright holder

The RadRover’s rugged frame and fat tires enable riding on trails and light off-roading as well as on pavement. The only issue some people have is the RadRover’s 30.5-inch standover height, which can make it difficult to mount for people with shorter inseams or limited flexibility. The problem is even worse if riders mount an optional rear rack, rear box, or panniers. The new RadRover Step-Thru model reduces the step-over height to 20.25-inches, significantly improving accessibility.

The RadRover, available now for pre-order with delivery in February, is available with a black or white frame with black fenders. The new RadRover high-bar version comes in black only.

Rad updated most of its new 8-model lineup with new halo headlights with for better visibility from the side and with what the company calls a “streamlined throttle design.”

Rad Power Bikes RadMini
Rad Power Bikes RadMini Image used with permission by copyright holder
Rad Power Bikes RadMini Step-Thru
Rad Power Bikes RadMini Step-Thru Image used with permission by copyright holder

Both RadRover models and the RadMini and RadMini Step-Thru models now come standard with previously optional front and rear fenders. The original RadRover and both RadCity commuter e-bikes have redesigned frames, and the RadCity, which used to be available in two frame sizes, now comes with an 18.5-inch frame only. The updated RadCity bikes also have new mounting points on the frame for accessories, primarily intended to attach locks.

The greatest changes for the RadMini and RadMini Step-Thru folding models, in addition to the halo headlight and fenders, are narrower handlebars for better handling and grip, and new tires. Previously, the RadMini had slightly knobby tires, and the RadMini Step-Thru wore smoother street tires. Now both RadMini models ride on 20-inch diameter x 3.3-inch-wide Kenda K-Rad multi-terrain tires manufactured exclusively for Rad Power Bikes. The tires include a K-Shield puncture-resistant liner.

Rad Power Bikes RadCity
Rad Power Bikes RadCity Image used with permission by copyright holder
Rad Power Bikes RadCity Step-Thru
Rad Power Bikes RadCity Step-Thru Image used with permission by copyright holder

The versatile RadRunner electric utility bike introduced last summer and the RadWagon cargo bike continue unchanged.

During 2019, Rad Power Bikes more than doubled the number of its e-bikes on the road compared to the end of 2018, according to a company blog. Pricing stays the same; all Rad e-bikes list for $1,499 except for the $1,299 RadRunner.

Editors' Recommendations

Bruce Brown
Digital Trends Contributing Editor Bruce Brown is a member of the Smart Homes and Commerce teams. Bruce uses smart devices…
I turned my van into an office with a battery-powered AC and heat pump
An EcoFlow Wave 2 air conditioner and heat pump inside a Mitsubishi Delica van.

Like a lot of remote workers, I know I’m lucky to be able to work from home. I have a home office with a comfy leather chair, a skylight, and an oversized doofus of a dog, Marty, who reclines adorably on the couch behind me for Zoom meetings. But I’d also be lying if I didn’t admit I go a little stir crazy from time to time, yearning to work from somewhere other than the same place I eat, sleep, and relax.

How about a van? I bought my 1990 Mitsubishi Delica for camping, but it always seemed like it could serve as a mobile office with a view, if not for one critical shortcoming: For nine months out of the year in Portland, it’s too cold, and for the other three, it’s too hot. Without adding thousands of dollars for a battery power system, my best bet was heavy socks and gloves. But EcoFlow gave me a glimmer of hope at CES 2023 when I spotted the EcoFlow Wave 2. With an onboard battery, it promised to heat or cool anywhere, no external power system needed.

Read more
I was wrong. E-bikes are so practical, they’re a transit cheat code
An Aventon Level 2 ebike sits outside a grocery store.

Confession: Despite loving both bikes and gadgets, e-bikes never excited me. Compared to my bicycle, e-bikes seemed unfair. Compared to my motorcycle, they seemed slow. Compared to my car, they seemed impractical.

But with $1,500 federal e-bike rebates potentially on the horizon at part of E-Bike Act, I decided it was past time to reconsider. Not just because 30% off would make them way more accessible, but because the entire idea that e-bikes could be worthy of a rebate changed the way I looked at them: less as toys, more as transit. Had I written off an entire way of getting around because I was looking at it the wrong way?

Read more
Upway launches one of the best marketplaces for certified e-bikes, new or not
Man holding ebike from Upway in a field, lifestyle image.

This content was produced in partnership with Upway.
It wasn't too long ago that e-bikes were a rare sight, but all of that has changed, and rightfully so. Electric bikes are all over the road these days, and there are many brands either venturing into the technology, to launch their own versions of the sustainable transportation option or reiterating existing and traditional designs. From Aventon to Schwinn, or RadPower to Momentum, with so many opportunities, the prevailing question is, where do you go to find the best deals and the best information about these brands and their e-bike models? The answer is Upway, the number one certified electric bike provider and an official partner to many of the aforementioned brands.

What is Upway, exactly? It's a marketplace, specializing in e-bikes, featuring an inventory that's sourced from some of the best brands in the world. There are American brands -- like Specialized, Cannondale, and RadPower -- and European brands -- like Riese, Muller, and VanMoof. The best part is the discounts, offering up to 60% off retail, for a plethora of brands. Upway is on a mission to make sustainable mobility affordable for everyone. It's also one of the best places to go for a new or pre-owned e-bike, and here's why:

Read more