Aventon Abound vs Rad Power Bikes RadWagon 4

I reviewed the Aventon Abound and the Rad Power Bikes RadWagon 4 as new bikes. Neither one is sold new by its maker today. Aventon’s old Abound page now redirects to the Abound LR. The RadWagon 4 page returns an error, and the last archived copy I found (May 31, 2026) showed it out of stock. So if you’re shopping for one of these in 2026, you’re almost certainly looking at a used listing.

So how each rode for me is only part of the decision. Recall history, which battery it has and whether any warranty applies matter as much. This guide covers all of that, plus the two current replacements.

One thing up front: I didn’t range-test or speed-test either bike. Range and speed figures here come from the makers.

Read this first if you’re looking at a RadWagon 4

Check these three things before you hand anyone money: two official CPSC safety actions and the warranty situation.

1. The tire recall (CPSC recall 23-709, recall date Nov 3, 2022). The CPSC recalled about 29,300 RadWagon 4 bikes sold from September 2020 through August 2022. Two problems were covered. The rim strip could be misaligned, letting the tube pop, and tires with a ribbed sidewall could go flat unexpectedly. The remedy was a free repair that replaces both tires and rim strips (CPSC recall notice, checked Oct 26, 2026; Rad’s recall page).

I need to correct something from my own video. In it I said the RadWagon 3 was the one pulled over tires, that Rad had brought the tire design in-house, and that my RadWagon 4 was “the first RadWagon after their issues” (4:43 to 4:53). The CPSC notice says the RadWagon 4 itself was recalled. I had zero safety concerns on my bike, on-road or off-road (5:01 to 5:12). But on a used RadWagon 4, don’t assume the tires were replaced. Check them.

2. The battery warning (CPSC warning 26-118, warning date Nov 24, 2025). The CPSC warned consumers to immediately stop using Rad batteries with model numbers RP-1304, RAD-S1304Y and HL-RP-S1304. It said they can ignite and explode, especially after exposure to water and debris, and it cited 31 fire reports. The RadWagon 4 is one of the models listed. The CPSC says to remove the battery, dispose of it through local hazardous waste procedures and “not sell or give away these hazardous batteries.” It also says Rad refused to agree to an acceptable recall and told the agency it couldn’t offer replacements or refunds to all consumers (CPSC warning, checked Oct 26, 2026). CPSC files pages by fiscal year, which is why the URLs say 2023 and 2026. The model number is on a label on the back or rear of the battery.

In plain terms: if a used RadWagon 4 has one of those batteries, the federal safety agency says not to use it, and the seller shouldn’t be selling it. Budget for a different battery or walk away.

3. Warranty after the bankruptcy. Rad Power Bikes filed Chapter 11 on Dec 15, 2025. The brand has been under new ownership since Feb 27, 2026. Rad’s current warranty is issued by Rad Life Mobility (RLM) and covers bikes bought after May 15, 2026. RLM says it “has no obligation to provide warranty or other service for Products purchased prior to December 15, 2025.” Claims on those bikes go through the bankruptcy’s proof-of-claim process (Rad warranty page, checked Oct 26, 2026). Any used RadWagon 4 falls into that group, so treat it as having no factory warranty.

How they rode for me

The RadWagon 4: the school-run bike

Most of my RadWagon 4 riding was family errands. I used it to take kids to the pool and around town and to run to the grocery store. The big win was parking. You hop on and get “Rockstar parking” wherever you go (7:12 to 7:28).

The front basket mattered more than I expected. Rad lets you mount the headlight on the front of the basket, which keeps it visible (2:08 to 2:12). On the school run, when one of our kids didn’t want to wear a backpack, it went straight in the basket (2:14 to 2:21). The twist throttle works from zero, which helps when you’re starting out loaded with two kids (2:21 to 2:28).

There’s a spring behind the front wheel that keeps the bars and front tire pointing straight. I hadn’t seen that on an e-bike before, and it reads as a safety feature when the bike is parked and loaded (2:51 to 3:04). The kickstand is stable and kept the bike steady while loading. I’d still hold the bike while kids climb on and off (6:01 to 6:24). The low center of gravity made it stable and easy to maneuver loaded (3:07, 5:28 to 5:36).

The weak spot was the shifter. It felt cheap, and out of the box I had to adjust the gears because they weren’t shifting all the way through. That may have been my unit (2:31 to 2:45). One part on my bike came bent in shipping, which I said isn’t typical, and it took some twisting to fix (1:58 to 2:06). Rad’s monkey bars are adjustable, so you can snug them in for smaller kids, and the seat cushions are sold one at a time. If you have two kids, order two (3:27 to 3:53).

The Abound: the do-everything bike

The Abound felt more like a commuter that happens to haul. In my video I described the 750W rear hub as built to handle hills and headwinds (1:00 to 1:11) and said it makes climbing hills reliable (2:22). The step-through frame makes it easy to get on and off, even loaded (1:40). The throttle works from zero (2:39).

The details were good. The turn signals shut themselves off after about 10 blinks, so you’re not riding around signaling (3:53 to 3:58). Aventon’s phone holder adjusts horizontally or vertically and fits most phones, case or not. It’s handy for maps, or music for the kids in the back (4:04 to 4:26). The dropper seatpost lets two parents of different heights swap with one lever (7:00). The handlebars adjust for height and fold down for storage (5:21 to 5:38).

Three things I didn’t love. The headlight sits under the front basket. I thought Rad’s basket-mounted light was more visible (2:52 to 3:02). And there’s no chain slap guard. My frame was scratched by the end of testing, and some paint protection film would have helped (6:48 to 6:56). Turning it on is a two-step process: press the battery button, then hold power on the display (4:41 to 4:49).

In the video I called the wheels 26-inch (6:08). That was wrong. The Abound uses 20-inch wheels.

Side by side, as originally sold

The video timestamps are mine. The rest comes from archived maker pages: the Abound from the Wayback copy of Aventon’s page dated Jun 22, 2024, and the RadWagon 4 from the Wayback copy of Rad’s page dated May 31, 2026. Where an archived page didn’t list something, the cell says so.

On paper, the Abound is the more modern bike. The RadWagon 4 is simpler, with mechanical brakes, a rigid fork and a cadence sensor.

Passengers and child seats

What the makers and I can actually tell you:

• RadWagon 4. I rode with the monkey bars and seat cushions installed, and I took kids to the pool and around town (3:27 to 3:50, 7:17). Rad’s current site has a “Passenger Seating” accessory section.
• Abound. In my video I called it a bike that can carry your kids (0:00). I didn’t film a passenger ride on it. Aventon’s current accessories for the Abound LR include an Extended Rear Bracket with Passenger’s Chair, a Child Carrier Kit and Handrails, and the LR page says it carries “two children” (Abound LR page, checked Oct 26, 2026).

What I can’t tell you is the maximum passenger weight or child age for either rear rack. That’s not listed in what I have. Stay under the rack limit (143 lb on the Abound, 120 lb on the RadWagon 4), and follow the seat maker’s age and weight rules. A helmet on every kid, every ride.

Used-bike inspection checklist

Bring this to the meetup. Most of it takes five minutes.

Both bikes

1. Ask for the original receipt. Aventon’s warranty requires dated proof of purchase, and some coverage depends on registration. Rad’s warranty doesn’t cover bikes bought before Dec 15, 2025 at all (see above).
2. Test the throttle from a stop. On both bikes it should work from zero.
3. Test every assist level on a short ride, plus the brakes, the headlight and the tail light.
4. Shift through every gear under load. On my RadWagon 4, the gears didn’t index all the way through out of the box (2:31 to 2:45).
5. Look at the rack, kickstand and passenger hardware for cracks, bends or missing bolts. These bikes carry kids.

RadWagon 4 only

6. Read the battery label. If it says RP-1304, RAD-S1304Y or HL-RP-S1304, the CPSC says to stop using it and not sell it. Don’t buy that battery.
7. Check the tires against the recall. Ribbed sidewalls on the 22 x 3 tires are in the recall’s scope. So are tires sold separately as Rad Power Bikes by VEE Tire Co. If you see ribbed sidewalls, assume the recall repair wasn’t done.
8. Check the front spring and steering. The bars should return to center (2:51).

Abound only

9. Check the frame where the chain hits. There’s no slap guard, and my frame was scratched (6:48).
10. Work the dropper post and the front suspension.
11. Ask whether the turn signals work. They should auto-cancel after about 10 blinks (3:53).
12. Ask whether the bike was registered with Aventon within 90 days. The lifetime structural frame coverage is for the original owner only and doesn’t transfer, so expect a used Abound to have, at most, whatever is left of the standard 2-year terms.

Warranty and returns, used vs new

Sources: Aventon warranty, Aventon returns, Rad warranty and Rad terms of purchase, all checked Oct 26, 2026. Rad also says the owner pays shipping on warranty returns.

If you’d rather buy new: Abound LR and RadWagon 5

I haven’t ridden either of these bikes. Everything in this section comes from the makers’ product pages as of Oct 26, 2026, not from my testing.

Sources: Aventon Abound LR and Rad RadWagon 5, both checked Oct 26, 2026.

What stands out on paper: both replacements add hydraulic brakes and a torque sensor. The RadWagon 5 adds Rad’s Safe Shield battery, which the CPSC warning says Rad described as not subject to that warning. It also carries less payload than the Abound LR (375 lb vs 440 lb).

Class and legal notes

Rad’s archived RadWagon 4 page lists it as Class 2. Aventon’s archived Abound page lists a 20 mph top speed, and the bike has a throttle (2:39), which makes it a Class 2 setup under my e-bike classes guide. Rad’s RadWagon 5 page says “Class switchable 1 to 3”, and Aventon’s Abound LR page lists Class 2 (both checked Oct 26, 2026). If you switch a RadWagon 5 to Class 3, check your state’s rules on age, helmets and where you can ride. Start at my e-bike laws by state page.

Who should buy which

• A used Abound if you want a torque sensor, suspension, 440 lb of payload and a step-through frame, and you can confirm its age and proof of purchase.
• A used RadWagon 4 only if you can confirm its battery isn’t one of the three CPSC-listed models and its tires aren’t the recalled ribbed-sidewall type. You also have to accept that it has no factory warranty.
• A new Abound LR or RadWagon 5 if you want a warranty, hydraulic brakes and a return window. Remember I haven’t ridden either one.

Who shouldn’t buy either

• You can’t store a 75-plus-pound bike at ground level. The RadWagon 4 is 76.7 lb per Rad’s archive, and the new Abound LR and RadWagon 5 are 88 and 86 lb.
• You need an adult passenger regularly. I only recommended an adult passenger lighter than the rider on the Abound, and I didn’t test that on the RadWagon 4.
• You want a cargo bike you can fold or put on a light hitch rack. Neither of these does that.
• You can’t verify a used RadWagon 4’s battery. Don’t buy it.

FAQ

Is a used RadWagon 4 safe? It depends on its battery and tires. If the battery label shows RP-1304, RAD-S1304Y or HL-RP-S1304, the CPSC says to stop using it (Nov 24, 2025). The 2022 recall covered ribbed-sidewall tires and misaligned rim strips. I had no issues on my bike (5:01 to 5:12), but check yours.

Does Rad still honor warranties on the RadWagon 4? Rad’s current warranty provider, RLM, says it has no obligation for products bought before Dec 15, 2025. Claims for those go through the bankruptcy’s proof-of-claim process.

Can the Abound carry two kids? Aventon says the Abound LR carries “two children” with its passenger accessories (Abound LR page, checked Oct 26, 2026). I didn’t film a two-kid ride on the original Abound. Stay under the 143 lb rack limit.

Which has better brakes? The RadWagon 4 has Tektro Aries mechanical discs, per Rad’s archived page. The original Abound’s brake model isn’t on the archived page I used.

What wheel size is the original Abound? 20 inches. I misspoke and said 26 in my video (6:08).

Full reviews and videos

• Aventon Abound review and video
• Rad RadWagon 4 review and video

Sources

• My Abound video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R382LMIhvQg
• My RadWagon 4 video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fertvj_8ZMc
• CPSC RadWagon 4 tire recall 23-709 (Nov 3, 2022): https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2023/Rad-Power-Bikes-Recalls-RadWagon-4-Electric-Cargo-Bikes-Due-to-Fall-and-Crash-Hazards-Recall-Alert (checked Oct 26, 2026)
• Rad’s recall page: https://www.radpowerbikes.com/pages/recall-radwagon4-tires (checked Oct 26, 2026)
• CPSC Rad battery warning (Nov 24, 2025): https://www.cpsc.gov/Warnings/2026/CPSC-Warns-Consumers-to-Immediately-Stop-Using-Batteries-for-E-Bikes-from-Rad-Power-Bikes-Due-to-Fire-Hazard-Risk-of-Serious-Injury-or-Death (checked Oct 26, 2026)
• Archived Aventon Abound page (Jun 22, 2024): http://web.archive.org/web/20240622212435/https://www.aventon.com/products/abound-ebike
• Archived Rad RadWagon 4 page (May 31, 2026): http://web.archive.org/web/20260531182416/https://www.radpowerbikes.com/products/radwagon-4-electric-cargo-bike
• Aventon Abound LR: https://www.aventon.com/products/abound-lr-ebike (checked Oct 26, 2026)
• Rad RadWagon 5: https://www.radpowerbikes.com/products/radwagon-electric-cargo-bike (checked Oct 26, 2026)
• Aventon warranty and returns: https://www.aventon.com/pages/warranty and https://www.aventon.com/pages/terms-of-service#returns (checked Oct 26, 2026)
• Rad warranty and terms of purchase: https://www.radpowerbikes.com/pages/warranty and https://www.radpowerbikes.com/pages/terms-of-purchase (checked Oct 26, 2026)