Rad Power Bikes RadCity Step-Thru 3 Electric Bike Review Part 1 – Pictures & Specs
Rad Power Bikes continue to improve their electric bike models and the new generation 3 RadCity Step-Thru is in for testing & review.
The RadCity Step-Thru is a comfortable eCommuter bike with the easy get on and ride step-thru frame, high capacity 48V 14ah lithium battery, 750 watt motor, disc brakes, and a lot of accessory options.
In this first part of the review you will get a detailed look at this bike with a BUNCH of pictures and the specifications.
Part 2 of the RadCity Step-Thru review will give you info on the ride characteristics, results from the range test, pros, cons, and overall thoughts on this eBike.
Alright, let’s take a closer look at the Rad Power Bikes RadCity Step-Thru!
The Rad Power Bikes RadCity is all about a comfortable and easy get on and off step-thru frame design that has a low 17″ standover height.
The RadCity Step-Thru is designed to fit riders in height between 4’10” – 6′.
A white color is also available.
Additionally the RadCity is also available in the triangle frame design in an 18.5″ frame size that fits riders in height between 5’11”- 6’5″.
Now let’s take a closer look at the details of the RadCity Step-Thru 3.
Hydroforming is used to bend and shape the 6061 aluminum tubing to create the low 17″ step-thru area and reinforcing is used to create strength where it is needed.
A big highlight of Rad Power Bikes is the use of a high capacity 48V 14ah lithium battery with Samsung cells that is attached to the seat tube.
This is a good location for the battery weight because it is low and centered which is good for overall bike handling.
This is a good example of tubing reinforcing around the battery for additional strength in the step-thru area and it provides some protection of the battery.
2 keys are supplied to unlock the battery and once the battery has been unlocked it slides up and off the frame for removal.
There is a charge level indicator at the top of the battery that is illuminated by pushing the white button on the left.
There is also a charge level indicator on the handlebar display.
Once the battery has been removed from the bike you can see the battery mount that is attached to the seat tube of the frame.
The seat does not need to be removed to remove the battery.
When the battery has been removed the bike weighs 58 pounds. The total bike weight with the battery is 66 pounds.
Here is a look at the charger plugged into the the left side of the battery.
The battery can be charged on or off the bike. The battery weighs 8 pounds.
Charging time is about 5 to 6 hours to charge a completely empty battery.
This is the controller for the eBike drive system that is attached to the seat tube just behind the battery location.
Here is another good example of a reinforcing gusset for the connection of the downtube to headtube. This is a high stress area, especially for a step-thru that does not have a top tube connection.
In this view you can also see internal cable routing within the downtube that provides cable protection and a cleaner look for the bike.
At the front of the headtube are 4 bolts that are for the connection the front rack that Rad Power Bikes offers as an optional accessory.
Here is a look at the front rack bolted to the headtube. A small or large basket can be added to the front or rear rack.
There is a bolted connection for a water bottle cage or lock holder along the downtube.
Another frame highlight is the rear rack that is welded directly to the frame and it has a 45 pound cargo capacity.
There are a number of reinforcing tubes as well as bolted connections for a larger platform, basket, or kids seat.
Below is a look at a few of the accessory options for the RadCity.
This is the small basket attached to the rear rack.
And the Thule Yepp kid seat.
And the Fremont pannier bags. All the RadCity accessories can be found here.
A new feature for the RadCity Step-Thru 3 is the wheel lock attachment points just under the seat stays of the frame.
Check out the video below for a look at the installation and operation of the ABUS wheel lock.
Now let’s take a closer look at the drive system on the RadCity Step-Thru.
Providing pedal assist and throttle is the 750 watt Shengyi direct drive rear hub motor that provides assist up to 20 mph.
The RadCity is a Class 2 electric bike which is pedal assist and/or throttle up to 20 mph and 750 watts max.
The Shengyi motor has regenerative braking that will provide some charge to the battery when the brake levers are engaged.
It helps to scrub off some speed while the front and rear brakes still provide the majority of the braking power.
Another big highlight of the Shengyi motor is that it very smooth and quiet. More on that in Part 2 of this review.
Smoothing out the ride on the front of the bike is handled by a Suntour suspension fork with 80 mm (3.15″) of travel, preload adjustment, and a lockout option.
The lockout dial on the top right side provides for a more efficient ride when riding on smoother roads.
The preload dial on the upper left side sets the spring rate for your weight and riding style.
Kenda K-Rad 26″ x 2.3″ tires with K-Shield puncture-resistant liner are used front and rear.
These have an efficient road tread pattern with some off-road capabilities.
Each side of the tires have reflective striping for help with being seen.
Tektro Aries mechanical disc brake provide the majority of the stopping power with 180mm rotors, in addition to the regenerative braking from the motor.
This is the front brake on the Suntour suspension fork.
This is the Tektro Aries mechanical disc brake with 180mm rotor mounted to the 750 watt Shengyi direct drive rear hub motor.
The RadCity Step-Thru has an upright and comfortable ride feel that is evident with the swept back design of the handlebars.
There is an adjustable angle stem so that you can dial in the ride style that fits you best.
It has a wide spectrum of adjustability between upright and shorter reach down to a position with lower and further reach if preferred.
On the left side of the handlebar is a faux leather grip with ergonomic shape for wrist support, the front Tektro disc brake lever with integrated bell, and the control pad.
The up and down arrows adjust the pedal assist levels and the center mode button turns the bike on/off and cycles through information on the display.
The front brake lever has an integrated bell that is easy to ring by pulling on the small lever and it has a good ring to it.
There are sensors in each brake lever that will stop the assist and activate the regenerative braking that recharges the battery while helping to slow the bike down.
Each brake lever has a rubber surface that provides a solid grip in wet or dry conditions.
The LCD display is located in the center of the handlebars and provides the following information:
- Battery level
- Odometer & trip distance
- Current speed, average speed, max speed
- Pedal assist level. There are 5 levels of pedal assist. Cadence sensor for the pedal assist system.
- Watts that the motor is providing
There is a backlight option for riding in low light and it can be turned on by holding the up arrow and mode button on the control pad for a few seconds.
That also turns on the front and rear lights.
Under the display is a USB charging port for charging a smartphone, tablet, or other USB device when you are out and about.
The right side of the handlebar features a faux leather grip with ergonomic shape for wrist support, twist grip throttle, rear Tektro brake lever, and Shimano 7 speed shifter.
The twist grip throttle can be used to provide a boost when using the lower pedal assist levels and it can be used as pure throttle without pedaling.
The Shimano 7 speed shifter has a lower push button that shifts to the smaller cogs for riding in flatter terrain and the upper lever shifts to the large cogs for climbing a hill.
Double chain guards help to keep the chain on the 46 tooth front chainring and they provide some protection for your pant legs.
The Wellgo aluminum pedals have a wide platform with a solid grip surface and there are reflectors on each end of the pedal.
A Shimano Acera rear derailleur shifts through the 7 speed freewheel with a 11 tooth to 34 tooth range.
There is also a guard to protect the rear derailleur if the bike were to be dropped on the right side.
Here is a closer look at the 7 speed freewheel with a 11 tooth to 34 tooth range.
The Velo Plush seat has a wider profile that matches the comfortable ride style of the RadCity well.
Rad Power Bikes offers a suspension seatpost as an optional accessory for further smoothing out the ride.
There is a handle on the back of the seat to make it easier to pick up and maneuver the bike.
The LED headlight is attached to the front fork and it is powered by the eBike battery.
It is turned on by holding the up arrow and center button on the handlebar control pad.
A LED taillight is attached to the rear rack and is also powered by the eBike battery. It has flashing and solid light modes in addition to a brake light.
There are full coverage plastic fenders with mud guards front and rear.
The kickstand is bolted to the chain stay of the frame and the height is adjustable so that you vary the tilt of the bike when it is parked.
Rad Power Bikes RadCity Step-Thru Electric Bike Specifications
Frame: 6061 Aluminum with internal cable routing.
Fork: Suntour Suspension Fork with 80 mm of Travel, Preload Adjustment, and Lockout
Motor: 750W Brushless Shengyi Direct Drive Hub Motor with 40Nm of Torque and regenerative braking
Battery: 48V 14Ah (672Wh) with Lithium NMC Samsung 35E Cells, Rated for 800 Charge Cycles. The battery weighs 8 pounds.
Assist Options: 5 pedal assist levels (cadence sensor) and twist grip throttle.
Speed: Pedal assist and/or throttle up to 20 mph which makes this a Class 2 eBike
Display: LCD display that provides information on the battery level, odometer and trip distance, current speed, average speed, max speed, pedal assist level (5 levels), and watts. USB charging port under the display.
Drivetrain: 7 Speed drivetrain with Shimano Acera derailleur and Shimano shifter.
Brakeset: Tektro Aries mechanical disc brake with 180mm rotors and motor cut-off sensors in the brake levers.
Tires: 26’’ x 2.3’’ Kenda K-Rad tires with K-Shield puncture-resistant liner and reflective striping
Seat: Velo Plush with Lifting Handle
Accessories: Built in rear rack, front and rear plastic fenders, front and rear LED lights, bell, kickstand.
Sizes: One Step-Thru frame size that fits riders in size from 4’10” to 6′. Also a triangle frame option for riders sizes of 5’11”- 6’5″.
Colors: Black or white
Weight: Bike without the battery = 58 pounds. Battery = 8 pounds. Total bike = 66 pounds.
Price: The RadCIty Step-Thru is competitively priced so the buyer gets a great value here!
Now checkout Part 2 of the Rad Power Bikes RadCity Step-Thru 3 review with info on the ride characteristics, the range test, pros, cons, and overall thoughts!
-Pete
Review Note: Each company pays a fee for a review on Electric Bike Report because of the considerable amount of time that it takes to provide an in-depth review of each eBike. A lot of time is spent on the full range test with distance & elevation profile, the wide variety of detailed pictures, in-depth video, and the write up with the specifications, ride characteristics, pros, cons, and overall thoughts. The reviews on Electric Bike Report are focused on providing you with a detailed “virtual” look at each eBike to help you determine if it is the eBike for you or not.
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Steve Moore says
When is part 2 on Rad Rover city, coming for our review⁉️
How does the Acera Derailer (sp) compare to Surface 604 Rook’s detailed. Also how does the electronica sensor compare?