Rad Power Bikes, the leading manufacturer of electric bikes in North America, offers a wide range of affordable options, such as the RadWagon cargo bike, RadRunner utility bike, and RadExpand foldable bike. Customers have rated these models highly, but they want more than what the current roster of Rad bikes offers. Apparently, people have wanted to see the company release an electric tricycle—something the company’s founder Mike Radenbaugh previously claimed. Being the great company Rad has been, it couldn’t ignore what the people wanted. Keep reading to learn more about the long-awaited RadTrike 1.
There has always been a demand for a three-wheeled electric vehicle to assist a certain group of people with transportation. For Radenbaugh, the RadTrike 1 is simply a small pickup truck that provides riders with the necessary stability and confidence to navigate unsafe roads that prioritize more harmful forms of transportation.
“The first customer had some health issues and needed bigger tires, an upright riding position, comfortable seat, step-through frame, and more power to get up hills. And then people started bringing me trikes to convert,” Radenbaugh said in an interview last year.
According to him, the inspiration for the RadTrike stems from a conversation with a customer who could not ride a standard bike due to health reasons. Also, the release of the RadTrike 1 is part of the company’s battle against the use of cars.
The RadTrike 1 features a comfortable, padded seat with an adjustable backrest to fit riders of different heights. Riders from 4’10” to 6’4″, and even those as heavy as 325 lbs can get all the comfort they need when riding this e-trike. With recessed lug nuts that allow it to fit through doorways, the trike makes it easy for riders to move around. Meanwhile, its reverse throttle feature makes it convenient to back out of tight spaces. You can also add mirrors to the cockpit to avoid straining your neck while reversing. The RadTrike 1 is highly portable, with a folding handlebar that allows it to fit in the back of an SUV or minivan. Additionally, it comes in two pieces that can be disconnected, which makes it easy to fit in a sedan. Want a safe and reliable e-trike that is easy to operate? Consider looking at the RadTrike.
The RadTrike 1 is powered by a 750-watt front hub motor, which provides strong acceleration. It’s equipped with 18-inch Kenda Kontact bespoke puncture-resistant tires that are perfect for riding on flat surfaces due to their smooth tread pattern. Despite the weak rims, the tires offer a lot of shock absorption for rough roads and feature a K-Shield liner to reduce the risk of punctures. Aside from that, you also get a bright front LED headlight, a rear tail light, and fenders over each wheel that have reflectors for added visibility and safety that keeps water from wetting the rider. The handlebar is designed for comfort, with a high-rise design and a 20-degree sweep that allows the rider to sit upright and see ahead clearly. The cockpit looks minimalistic, with only one brake lever and a controller on the left side to adjust the pedal assist speed, and a LED battery indicator. There is no center display screen, but it can be added after purchase. In the meantime, you can use a phone mount and download the necessary apps to display your trike’s speed. The RadTrike 1 has a half-twist grip throttle and soft rubber grips. It comes with a front basket and rear basket, both of which can be used to carry different forms of cargo, particularly the rear basket, which is suitable for carrying extra weight to keep the wheels planted while taking turns.
The RadTrike 1 is a Class 2 electric with a 750-watt motor, giving you a maximum speed of 14 miles per hour through either pedal assist or the throttle. Many may find the top speed disappointing, but since it’s an e-trike, there’s no reason for it to be as fast as an e-bike. Another reason why Rad capped the speed at 14 miles per hour is so that the battery doesn’t need to send as much power to the motor and to provide more assistance with pedaling instead of taking over completely. When buying a product with a battery, one of the concerns is how long it can last on a single charge. With the RadTrike 1, users can expect to enjoy a range of 20 to 55 miles from its efficient 480-watt-hour battery. With the Pedal Assist Level 2, you can ride the RadTrike for a long time before needing to charge it again, regardless of the assist setting.
As mentioned before, the RadTrike 1 wasn’t meant to do what e-bikes excel at, so it’s best to keep it at lower speeds. It performs best at around 5 mph while eliminating the risk of tipping over. The company has designed the trike to handle safely and to address the “single axle problem” that often occurs with trikes by setting up a freewheel on the left side. This allows the left wheel to rotate at different speeds than the right wheel, reducing the risk of tipping when taking turns. Additionally, RAD has provided an instruction manual to educate users on how to operate the trike safely. The RadTrike 1 is also designed for people who have stability issues or need help going longer distances at a more gradual and mild pace. The trike gives you decent speed, and the front hub motor engages quickly and smoothly, providing a non-jarring acceleration. Older people, such as grandparents, will love the RadTrike 1’s Pedal Assist System, which has a speed of 2.7 miles per hour—the average walking pace. This enables them to go on walks with their family without worrying about going too fast or too slow. The consideration of how people might want to use the trike is commendable. The RadTrike 1 can climb hills effectively. It’s capable of reaching the top using throttle-only power without the need for pedaling assistance. Rad has done a lot of work on the motor and has programmed it to provide more torque at lower speeds, which results in a good power delivery that can help get you to the top of even steep hills. The trike also does not offer high-speed climbing but provides good performance for everyday use at a gradual pace.
When it comes to the braking system, the RadTrike 1 features a mechanical disc brake on the front tire with a 7-inch rotor and a back-pedal coaster brake. Using both of these brakes results in good braking performance, allowing the trike to stop from its top pedal-assisted speed of 20 mph within 10 feet. You could safely say that the braking capabilities of the RadTrike 1 are satisfactory. So, for only $2,499, you can get a well-designed and practical e-trike for daily use.
Despite having a payload capacity of 415 lbs, the RadTrike 1 has a very limited rear rack capacity of 60 lbs and 30 lbs on the optional front rack. Many would consider this a drawback, but those numbers are enough for daily use. This is a massive disappointment because you can’t carry heavier items. Another issue you’ll face with the RadTrike is steep hills. The RadTrike has an excellent battery life, but as mentioned earlier, the trike’s single-speed drivetrain doesn’t allow the rider to pedal uphill, draining the battery at a faster rate.
But overall, the RadTrike 1 won’t give you any problems if you don’t force it to perform things it wasn’t designed to perform. It has a low center of gravity and good handling. The attention to detail, such as the ability to choose different pedal assist settings, is also a great addition. It climbs hills well, offers long battery life, and has a lot of safety features built-in. The RadTrike 1 is a perfect solution for riders who have difficulty riding a regular bike with cargo or balancing issues but still want to have the freedom of being outdoors and maneuvering the city. Although some changes could be made, the price and features of the RadTrike 1 are well-suited. It’s expected to provide the same durability and dependability as the rest of the company’s products.