Rad Power Bikes has finally added a trike to their lineup! They've put their own spin on it too; most trikes are big and bulky, but the RadTrike is relatively compact and just 33" wide which fits through standard sized doors. It can carry up to 415 pounds of weight, although - unlike most trikes - it doesn't include any cargo baskets, but you can pay extra for some at checkout (or attach your own). The drivetrain is a simple single speed, so you'll be relying on the motor quite a bit, with both pedal-assist and throttle drive modes. The RadTrike is also limited to a top speed of 14mph, lower than most trikes at 20mph... but if you've ever ridden a trike you know you probably don't want to go much over 14mph anyways. Other unique touches include the backrest-equipped seat, reverse throttle mode, and a coaster brake in the right rear wheel. Don't worry, there's also a mechanical disc brake in the front wheel!
General
Frame and Contact Points
Electronics
Bicycle Components
What Other Experts Are Saying
Before purchasing a personal electric vehicle costing hundreds or even thousands of dollars, it's important to do your research to make sure you get the right one! Even though we'd love to personally review every single EV out there, there's just too many out there for us to possibly cover them all. That's why we've worked hard to curate reviews from other experts in the industry. We only show an excerpt of each review here; please use the "Read Full Review" button to get the full story on their website and support their excellent work!
"As a three-wheeler, it’s a bit of niche product. But it’s also not as niche as you might think. There are millions of former riders out there who would love to get back on a bike despite not having the same balance or leg strength they used to have. Enter: the RadTrike. It’s purpose built for these types of riders. This electric three-wheeler is a comfortable, stable and modestly powerful setup that can work ..."
"The RadTrike lends itself equally well to PAS or throttle use and Rad has wisely made the decision to keep the max speed to 14 mph. You don’t want to travel too fast on a delta trike (one wheel in the front, two in the back) because taking a corner at speed can cause the trike to raise up onto just two wheels. The choice to keep the trike at manageable speeds is a smart one. The 750 watt front-hub motor is as powe..."
"The oversized left brake lever engages the front brake and provides a reassuring amount of braking from the front tire. On a traditional bike, around 70% of the stopping force comes from the front, so it’s nice to have the standard front brake lever in the normal location. The left front brake handle also has a parking brake feature, which is really nice. When stopped on the trike, you simply pull the front brake l..."
"To coin a phrase, riding a tricycle ain't like riding a bike. You have to be much more deliberate with your turns, and resist the urge to lean into the curves, as you would on a bicycle. In fact, you sort of have to lean to the outside of the curve, so as to counterbalance the weight of the trike. The RadTrike has a top pedal-assist speed of 14 miles per hour — anything over that, and you'd risk tipping over when ..."
"There’s no suspension fork or seat post here… but you could probably replace the rigid seat post with a suspension post if you wanted, since the saddle uses traditional rails to mount. Keep in mind that most seat posts with suspension just aren’t as long as this 440mm post, and they will add three inches of additional minimum saddle height. Given the lower speeds on offer here, I didn’t find it to be uncomfor..."
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