By The Takeaway: The RadCity is an incredible value for an urban e-bike.
- Integrated rear rack, lights, and bell make it commute-ready
- Quick-stopping mechanical disc brakes with 180mm rotors
- Mountain bike-inspired handling keeps you upright over potholes
Price: $1,499
Weight: 63 lb. (19 in.)
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E-bikes make the most compelling case that bikes can replace cars. But their price makes the strongest case not to bother. A typical, fully equipped e-bike, designed to ride every damn day, can cost about as much as a (well) used Camry—around $3,000 or $4,000.
The Rad Power RadCity, however, arrives ready to change the way you travel for significantly less than its competition—you could get a half-dead Saturn sedan at this price. Thanks to the integrated hardware and powerful drivetrain, the RadCity is a reliable commuter, capable grocery-getter, and all-around grin-inducing urban transport.
Pros
- Rack, fenders, and lights are included
- Upright riding position
- Hard-to-be-beat price
Cons
- It's a lot of bike for apartment dwellers to carry up stairs
Assembly Required
Though the direct-to-consumer sale includes the cost of shipping, getting the bike ride-ready is on the customer. I build a handful of bikes a year, and it took 55 minutes from cutting the box open to having brakes tuned and the Rad City ready to spin home.
Rad Power’s YouTube tutorial—especially helpful for attaching accessories like the fenders—proved to be a useful guide. And a small toolkit of essential hex wrenches and a screwdriver is included with the bike. A new owner just needs a box cutter or scissors to remove packing materials and grease for the pedal threads. They may also need a helping hand to lift the 63-pound bike out of the box (it’s a workout). One tip to aid the assembly: Remove the battery so that the bike is easier to move around.
If the bike build sounds out of the question, Rad Power has a partnership with Velofix, a mobile bike shop available in most major North American cities that comes to you. Velofix will build your bike for $199 and throw in a 30-day tune-up.
The only fault found in the packing and assembly was that our test bike arrived with a bent derailleur guard that prevented the derailleur from reaching the top gears. But I fixed this in a matter of minutes by bending it back with a Vise Grip.
What’s Included?
The RadCity is an impressively equipped bike, from small thoughtful touches like the bell to the rack that’s built into the frame. Also included are full-coverage fenders and integrated lights that run off the battery so you never need to remove, charge, and then remember (this is where I usually fail) to reattach them. The only gear needed for full functionality is panniers.
The bike also comes with an 80mm suspension fork, puncture-resistant Kenda tires that never flatted during testing, and a Shimano Acera 1x7 drivetrain that performed without trouble. My favorite feature, and a necessary one for the power and weight of the RadCity, is the 180mm disc brakes. Though mechanical—with less modulation and more fuss than hydraulic brakes—the big discs stopped hard when I needed it. Rolling down a bridge loaded with a laptop and change of clothes when a runner darts in front of you, not a problem. Graffiti-covered box truck decides to suddenly stop in the middle of an avenue, no sweat. Phone slipped out of my pocket on my ride home...well, the brakes couldn't save the phone, but I did stop to retrieve it very quickly.
5 Things We Love About the Rad Power RadCity
Big Braking Power
The 180mm rotors provided reliable braking with a fully loaded rack.
Integrated Rear Rack
You’ll never find a rack more stable than the one welded to your frame.
Ample Assist
The 750-watt motor, with 40Nm of torque, proved quiet and powerful.
No Flats
Despite months of commuting over disgusting roads, the Kenda tires never flatted.
All the Stats
The display showed the battery level, total mileage, speed, and assist level (including watts).
The rear hub-drive motor is rated for 750 watts, though you’ll seldom need more than half power. A control unit on the handlebar lets the rider toggle through five assist levels. If the battery begins to run low, the control will slowly reduce the assist level to improve the battery range. With a combined rider and gear weight of 200 pounds, and riding mostly stop-and-go streets, I could count on at least 30 miles per charge.
The handlebar-mounted controls include a throttle for instant power (though many cities prohibit throttle-operated bikes). And the motor is capped at 20 mph. The hub-based motor lacks the immediate acceleration of a mid-drive motor built into the bottom bracket. But the power never felt lacking and the rear hub motor offers a quieter ride.
Frame: 6061 aluminum
Fork: Suntour Spring fork with lockout and preload adjustment, 80mm travel
Wheel Size: 26-in.
Tires: Kenda K-Rad 2.3
Drivetrain: Shimano Acera 1x7
Chainring: 46t
Cassette: 11-34
Brakes and Rotors: Tektro Aries, 180mm rotors
Saddle: Velo Plush
Ride Impressions
We talk about plush road bikes taking the buzz out of roads, but the RadCity achieves a higher level of plush; a deeper dimension of plush. The thick, soft, cruiser-style saddle may offend some roadie or XC sensibilities, but it is undeniably comfortable. The high-volume Kenda K-Rad 26x2.3-inch tires add further cush. And then the 80mm fork brings even more insulation from the road, but notably, it also adds control. Even when you hit an unavoidable oh-$&%# pothole, that fork and those wide tires absorb the jolt but keep rolling onward instead of pitching the rider airborne.
Mountain bike-inspired geometry boosts that ability to blast through urban obstacles. It also suits the upright riding position that Rad Power intended. The bike even includes an adjustable stem with its riser handlebar. The comfortable rider position and stability at speed come at the cost of quick handling, but there are excellent road e-bikes if a low position and snappy, responsive geometry better suits your style. For everyday riders who want to cross town and back on two wheels, there’s no better value than the RadCity.
Expand your hauling capabilities with one of these commuter bags or backpacks—because not every commuter bike has an integrated rear rack like the RadCity.
Our 2021 Gear of the Year pick for its reflective fabric and plentiful pockets
Converts from a backpack to a tote
Lots of high-tech features, no unnecessary space
Ergonomically designed with lots of space inside
Lightweight and durable at an excellent price
Matt Allyn is the features director for Bicycling and Runner's World magazines. He's run nine marathons and come heartbreakingly close to BQing three times. In addition to running and cycling, he's also covered beer for more than a decade and is a certified beer judge.
