Rad Power Bikes RadCity 5 Plus Review, 2024

In addition to a redesigned motor, Rad says they tinkered with the battery on the RadCity 5 Plus to squeeze more efficiency and range from the 672Wh unit.

We haven’t reviewed the previous model of the RadCity so we don’t have a great way to test that claim, but the new version of the bike did perform well in our range testing.

We did two range tests on the new RadCity 5 Plus, one in the highest pedal assist level (PAS 5) and the next in the second lowest pedal assist level (PAS2). In PAS 5, the bike lasted for 31.10 miles before running out of juice. And on PAS 2, our test rider made it 51.39 miles before dying.

Those are good results that are very comparable to the distances we’ve seen from some of the RadCity’s competitors, such as the Blix Aveny Skyline, Aventon Pace 500 and Velotric Discover 1. But one area the RadCity sets itself apart from its competitors, is in its remarkably high 14.3 mph average speed we recorded in the PAS 2 long distance range test. That’s quite a bit quicker than the other bikes I mentioned above by a margin of 2 mph to 3 mph.

Uphill, Rad says the new RadCity 5 Plus’ motor has been retooled to climb 40 percent quicker than its predecessor.

Like the claim that the battery has been made more efficient, this is a tough thing for us to fact-check as we haven’t reviewed the old RadCity. But what we can do is put the bike to the test on our test hill to see how it stacks up against the competition.

On Hell Hole, our beloved test hill that’s a third of a mile long with an average grade of 12 percent, the RadCity 5 Plus climbed decently well. In PAS 5, the bike cleared the top in 1:28.00 with an average speed of 12.3 mph. Using just the throttle, it carted me to the top in 2:01 with an average speed of 9 mph.

Compared to other e-bikes we’ve reviewed, and even other e-bikes we’ve reviewed in the electric commuter category, the RadCity 5 Plus’ results are generally good in the PAS 5 category but fall a little behind in the throttle only category. This is a trend we’ve noticed in many of the Rad e-bikes we’ve reviewed, that they pedal uphill very nicely but aren’t blazing fast on motor power alone.

How you interpret this data is going to vary depending on your pedaling versus throttle preference, but I’m generally impressed with the Rad City’s performance uphill. Not only does it clear our test hill, which was deliberately chosen to stress even the most powerful e-bike motors, but it does so with an air of ease. Never once have I heard a concerning rattle or groan from this new generation of Rad motors, which is something I can’t say about all the bikes we’ve tested on Hell Hole. That gives me confidence that, while you may not set any uphill speed records on this bike, you’re going to be able to rely on its 750W rear hub motor to power up and over the steep stuff again and again.

It’s been a long time since we saw a record broken on one of our Electric Bike Report leaderboards, but finally that day has come: With an average stopping distance of 10-feet-11-inches, the RadCity 5 Plus has set a new best braking distance of all the bikes we’ve reviewed so far.

The RadCity 5 Plus and its set of NUTT hydraulic disk brakes with 180mm rotors front and rear unseated the Aventon Aventure for the top spot, which was equipped with Bengal Ares 3 hydraulic disk brakes. To be honest this usurping is something we should have seen coming, as several of the new NUTT-equipped Rads we’ve reviewed in recent months have all performed well in our brake test. The RadRover 6 Plus, for example, previously claimed the fourth-place spot on our brake test leaderboard and the step-through version of the RadCity 5 Plus claimed sixth overall in its test.

The RadCity 5 Plus earned its spot on the top of the braking leaderboard by recording the shortest average braking distance of five full-power stops from 20 mph. And though those NUTT brakes played a huge factor in the result, the Rad-branded tires (likely made by VEE Tire Co.) and the bike’s geometry also had a large impact on the performance.

There’s lots to love about the RadCity 5 Plus’ handling and ride experience.

For starters, it’s a very comfortable e-bike. Rad gave it gently sweeping handlebars, a relatively upright riding position and an adjustable stem that allows you to easily customize the distance between the seat and grips.

Unlike the RadCity 5 Plus Step-Through we reviewed at the end of last year, which has the exact same componentry but with a frame design that’s more easy to get on and off of. The standard frame RadCity 5 Plus fits taller people just fine.

Handling wise, Rad made the RadCity 5 Plus very balanced and forgiving. Even with a fully loaded rear rack, the RadCity steers and balances very easily. I wouldn’t describe it as a bike that’s inviting to aggressive and fast riding, but for getting around town, riding to work or running errands, it handles wonderfully.

On the handlebars is Rad’s new dual display system, which splits some of the riding metrics into two different screens. On the center screen, you get information like speed, distance and time, and on the left-hand display you get battery life and pedal assist level. I really like this setup — it made everything very easy to read. We do have one complaint with the display system, however, and it’s that the left display can be tough to read in direct sunlight.

Rad seems to have spent a lot of time thinking about how the RadCity 5 Plus could be used.

What sort of rack needs to be included to make it a functional commuter e-bike out of the box? What if the rider is a parent and needs to drop their kid off on the way to work? What if they need more rack space to pick up groceries on the way home? What should the bike ride like to make it safe and functional in a bustling city environment?

The RadCity 5 Plus has thoughtful solutions to all those questions and more. What’s also impressive is how well the bike performs, particularly how well its motor performs. We’ve talked at length about how the RadCity’s 750W motor isn’t a speed demon, but what it’s lacking in speed it has replaced with function and utility. It’s got ample power to climb hills and carry heavy loads, and, maybe most importantly, it’s become very clear in our testing that Rad has paid very close attention to making sure its motor would last. We do our best to push bikes to their limit in our tests, and sometimes we see components — particularly motors — begin to show wear or even fail. We never saw those signs from the RadCity, and in fact it seemed like the motor could handle much, much more than what we threw at it.

Overall, we’ve been thoroughly impressed with the RadCity 5 Plus.

Rad sells the RadCity 5 Plus on its website and will ship the bike directly to your door. Or, if you’d prefer the bike be professionally assembled upon delivery, you can have the bike shipped to a shop in your area for assembly.

‘Happy Riding, make sure to let us know if you have any questions down in our comments section or if you think we left anything out in this review of the Rad Power Bikes RadCity 5 Plus.