I’ve ridden two Rad cargo bikes on this channel, the RadRunner 3 Plus and the RadWagon 4, but I haven’t ridden the current Rad RadRunner Plus. This page is built from Rad’s official product page, warranty and refund policy, the CPSC, news coverage of Rad’s sale and two independent reviews, all linked at the bottom. Prices and stock were checked on Oct 27, 2026; the rest was checked on Oct 26, 2026. Where I compare with the bikes I filmed, my riding notes are about those bikes, not this one.
Should you buy one?
Rad lists the RadRunner Plus at $1,799 (as of Oct 27, 2026), in Matte Black only. For that money you get a 750W rear hub, a 624Wh Safe Shield battery, Gemma hydraulic disc brakes, a 65mm suspension fork, a Shimano 7 speed, a 120 lb rear rack, and a passenger seat, footpegs and wheel skirt in the box. It’s a Class 2 bike with a 20 mph top speed on throttle and pedal assist.
The questions to settle first are about the company and the paperwork, not the bike. Rad went through Chapter 11 and was bought by Life EV in early 2026, and the new warranty only covers bikes bought on or after May 15, 2026. The product page still showed “Back Order” on Oct 27, 2026, even though Rad’s store data reported the variant as available, so ask Rad for a ship date before you order. And returns aren’t cheap, which I’ll get to below.
The motor and the class
Rad rates the rear hub at 750W, the federal limit for a low speed electric bicycle. Rad’s product description and feature copy both give 70 Nm of torque, and Ebike Escape’s review uses the same figure. (One line in the spec table still says 60 Nm; 70 Nm is the figure Rad repeats.)
Pedal assist runs off a cadence sensor, with five levels plus a zero setting. Ebike Escape says power comes in after about a quarter turn of the cranks, and that levels 1 and 2 suit relaxed cruising at roughly 10 to 12 mph. In its hill test, the bike climbed the whole hill on throttle alone while holding at least 13 mph, though the review doesn’t give the grade.
When I reviewed the RadRunner 3 Plus, I said I wanted a torque sensor at that price. The new Plus is still a cadence sensor bike.
The throttle is a half twist grip on the right. Ebike Escape says it works from a stop and ramps up gradually. Rad doesn’t list a Class 1 or Class 3 setting, so 20 mph is the ceiling. Class 2 bikes are legal on roads in most states, but some paths ban throttles; check your state on our e-bike laws hub.
Battery, range and charging
The battery is Rad’s Safe Shield Advanced External pack, 48V 13Ah, or 624Wh. It mounts outside the frame and locks with a key. Rad’s page says that key is shared across Rad locks, so it keeps the battery seated but isn’t real theft protection.
Rad rates the range at 17 to 55+ miles. With a second battery on Rad’s Range Extender, its page gives both 120+ and 121 miles. I couldn’t find an independent range test of this 624Wh version. Electric Bike Report tested an earlier RadRunner Plus with a larger 672Wh battery and got 26.22 miles at PAS 5 with a 17.2 mph average. The current, smaller pack would most likely do a bit less under the same conditions. With a passenger or a loaded rack, I’d plan from the low end of Rad’s range.
The charger is 48V 2A. Rad doesn’t give a charge time.
Brakes, fork and gears
The brakes are Gemma GA 950E hydraulic discs with 180mm rotors, 1.8mm thick. The fork is an Exsho with 65mm of travel and a bolt on axle, and Ebike Escape says it makes a noticeable difference over bumps and cracks. The drivetrain is a Shimano 7 speed with an 11 to 34T freewheel and a 52T chainring.
Those three things, the gears, the fork and the passenger kit, are what separate the Plus from the $1,499 base RadRunner, according to Ebike Escape. Rad also sells the RadRunner Max at $2,299 (as of Oct 26, 2026) if you want Class 3 speed and more payload.
Ebike Escape also notes the Plus uses a side kickstand. A two leg stand would be steadier when a passenger is climbing on.
Fit, weight and carrying people
It’s one size, and Rad lists riders from 4’11” to 6’2” with a 26 to 37 inch inseam. The standover is low at 16.5 inches, and the seat goes from 30.5 to 41 inches. Ebike Escape describes the moped style seat as something you can drop all the way down to cruise or raise to pedal properly, and says some riders may find it firm.
Rad lists 75 lb with the battery and 65 lb without it. Electric Bike Report weighed its earlier Plus at 74.3 lb. This is a bike you roll, not carry.
The weight limits need a little math. Rad lists a 350 lb payload, a 275 lb maximum rider and a 120 lb rear rack, and puts the rider inside the payload figure. So a 230 lb rider with a 120 lb passenger is already at 350 lb, with nothing left for bags. A 180 lb rider with a 100 lb passenger is at 280 lb, but can only add 20 lb more to the rack. Ebike Escape notes that 120 lb is fine for kids or cargo but may be too little for some smaller adults.
Safety and certifications
Rad’s product page lists the bike as certified to UL 2849, the e-bike electrical system standard, tested by ACT Labs, and the battery as certified to UL 2271. Ebike Escape reports the same pair. If your building requires proof for indoor storage, ask Rad for the certificate.
On Nov 24, 2025, the CPSC warned consumers to stop using certain Rad batteries, models RP 1304, RAD S1304Y and HL RP S1304, after reports of 31 fires. It was a warning, not a recall, and it named earlier RadRunner Plus bikes. The current bike ships with the Safe Shield pack, which isn’t on that list. If you’re buying used, check the label on the battery. When I searched the CPSC database on Oct 26, 2026, there was no recall for the RadRunner Plus.
For lights, Rad lists a 100 lumen (40 lux) headlight with an ambient light sensor and a tail light that doubles as a brake light. There are no turn signals. The bike is rated IPX6, though Rad’s warranty still excludes water damage. The color display can be locked with a passcode and has USB C charging.
Warranty, returns and the company
Rad Power Bikes filed for Chapter 11 on Dec 15, 2025. Life EV bought Rad’s assets for $13.2 million, and TechCrunch reported on Mar 6, 2026 that Life EV officially owned the brand. Bikes are now sold under Rad Life Mobility.
The Rad Life Mobility warranty applies to bikes bought in the US or Canada on or after May 15, 2026. It covers the frame and listed parts for 2 years, the battery for 2 years or 300 charge cycles, and pedals, drivetrain parts, the saddle and accessories for 1 year. It excludes wear items, water damage, rust, and fire or thermal incidents, and you pay shipping on parts. For a bike bought before Dec 15, 2025, Rad Life Mobility says it has no warranty obligation, which matters if you’re looking at a used or old stock bike.
Returns are allowed for 30 days. An unridden bike has to come back in its original box, and Rad charges $149 for return shipping. A ridden bike can only come back if it has under 20 miles, and then there’s also a 30% restocking fee. My math: on a $1,799 bike, that’s about $689 to return a bike you rode.
How it compares with the Rad bikes I filmed
Against the RadRunner 3 Plus: the new Plus is close on paper. It has the same 120 lb rack and 350 lb payload and nearly the same weight (75 lb versus Rad’s 75.5 lb for the 3 Plus). It has a slightly smaller battery (624Wh versus 672Wh) but a higher range claim, 5mm more fork travel, and a 275 lb rider limit against 265 lb. My verdict on the 3 Plus was that it’s worth it if you’ll ride it to work five days a week or use it to replace a car. The new Plus keeps a cadence sensor.
Against the RadWagon 4: that’s a longtail, with more room behind the rider and a rigid fork. The RadRunner Plus is shorter at 71.5 inches, has a suspension fork, and comes with the passenger seat in the box. Neither filmed bike was listed in Rad’s store when I checked.
FAQ
Have I ridden the RadRunner Plus?
No. I’ve filmed the RadRunner 3 Plus and the RadWagon 4. This page uses Rad’s official page and the sources listed below.
Can it carry an adult passenger?
The rack is rated for 120 lb, including the seat and anything else on it, inside a 350 lb total payload.
Pros and cons (from the specs and sources)
Pros: passenger kit in the box; 120 lb rack; hydraulic brakes, suspension fork and 7 gears at $1,799; Safe Shield battery; low 16.5 in standover; IPX6.
Cons: warranty only for bikes bought on or after May 15, 2026; 75 lb; cadence sensor; Class 2 only; shown as Back Order; costly returns.
Who it’s for
On paper, this is a bike for a parent carrying one child, an errand rider who wants a big rack and a low step over, or a shorter rider down to 4’11” who finds most cargo bikes too tall, as long as 20 mph is fast enough.
Price
$1,799 on radpowerbikes.com as of Oct 27, 2026, in Matte Black, with the page showing “Back Order.”
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