Rad Power Bikes RadRover Step-Thru Review Part 1 – Pictures & Specs
Looking for the latest review of the RadRover? Click the following link to see the Rad Power Bikes RadRover 5 Review for 2021
The 2020 Rad Power Bikes RadRover Step-Thru combines go-anywhere electric fat bike features such as 4″ wide tires with a new step-thru frame to suit a wide range of riders.
Highlights of the RadRover Step-Thru include a 750 watt geared rear hub motor, large 48V 14ah (672Wh) lithium Samsung battery, RST suspension fork, pedal assist & throttle, and much more.
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 RadRover 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 RadRover Step-Thru!
The RadRover Step-Thru is available in white as above or black as shown below.
There is also the original RadRover that has the triangle main frame with very similar features and components for the same price.
The bike has many of the features of the original RadRover, which features a crossbar frame. Unlike that model though the Step-Thru version has a lower standover height and less distance between you and the handlebars.
The 6061 aluminum frame has a 20.25″ step-thru height from the ground, a short handlebar reach of 16″ (nose of seat to handlebar), and a seat height of between 28″-37″ (measured from the bottom of the pedal stroke).
The RadRover Step-Thru is designed for riders in height from 5’0″ to 6’2″.
There are rack / basket attachment points on the frame’s headtube and Rad Power Bikes offers a number of rack and basket options that can be attached directly to the headtube for a very solid connection.
There are also attachment points for a rear rack that Rad Power Bikes also offers as an optional accessory.
Here is another look at the headtube area from a different angle showing the reinforcing gusset as well as the internal cable routing that adds to the nice clean look of the frame.
The single downtube is rectangular with rounded corners for a smooth look and appears to be very durable.
A closer look at the downtube shows extra material on the underside for extra strength.
There is also reinforcement between the downtube and seatpost for extra frame strength which additionally provides some protection to the vertically mounted battery. The frame has a 275 pound (125kg) total payload rating.
The high capacity 48V 14ah (672Wh) lithium battery is attached to the downtube of the frame. This keeps the battery weight pretty low and centered and is a good location for overall bike handling.
The battery slides vertically out of the frame for easy charging indoors, though it can also be charged on the bike too.
The battery weighs 7.9 pounds (3.6kg). The charger is about the size of a laptop charger and it takes 5 to 6 hours to charge an empty battery via the charging port which is protected from wet weather by a rubber cover.
The controller is located behind the downtube and battery.
Here is a look at the 26″ x 4″ wide Kenda Juggernaut tires on the RadRover Step-Thru.
These tires, with their moderate off-road tread are what really make the RadRover Step-Thru an all terrain eBike, capable of tackling mud, sand, snow, and pavement. They also feature a K-Shield puncture-resistant liner.
They are fitted onto double wall rims with 36 spokes which should all ensure a strong rim.
Here’s more detail about Rad Power Bikes partnership with Kenda.
“Fat” tires have a lot of air volume with their 4″ width and they can be run at lower pressures to provide a lot of traction as the tire conforms to the terrain.
They also have a built in suspension effect because of their large air volume. This will be covered more in the ride characteristics portion of the Step-Thru review (Part 2).
This is the 750 watt Bafang geared rear hub motor that provides assist up to 20 mph and 80 Nm of torque. It has a fairly compact size considering that it is a 750 watt motor!
The RadRover Step-Thru is a Class 2 electric bike which is pedal assist and/or throttle up to 20 mph with electric assist and 750 watts max.
Here is the rear hub motor seen from the other side where you can also see the mechanical Tektro Aries disc brakes with 180mm rotors.
The same Tektro Aries brake and 180mm rotor is used on the front. Mechanical disc brakes are a reliable and powerful low maintenance braking solution.
The drivetrain features seven derailleur gears with a neoprene frame protector on the chainstay to protect it from marking due to ‘chainslap’ (when the chain goes slack and may bounce around during changing gears – quite common off-road).
A Shimano Acera rear derailleur shifts through the 7 speed cogset.
There is a bash guard to protect the rear derailleur from being damaged by obstacles or if the bike is dropped. It also helps to protect the electric cable entry into the rear hub motor.
The 11-34 tooth rear sprocket provides a good gear range for zipping around 20 mph along with the low 34t cog for steeper hills.
The 42 tooth front chainring has 2 guards on both sides to keep the chain on the chainring in addition to protect pant legs from getting greasy or becoming tangled in it.
And on closer inspection you can see the cadence sensor on the inside of the 170mm length crank arms. This tells the motor to provide power when it detects a forward pedaling motion when you are in pedal assist mode. Of course you have the option to use the throttle-only option too.
The RST suspension fork uses a steel spring system and has 3″ (80 mm) of travel which along with the fat tires help to smooth out the ride.
On the left top side of the fork is a preload setting so you can adjust the ‘strength’ of the suspension according to rider weight and riding style.
The adjustment dial on the top right of the forks lets you lockout the forks for when you are riding on smooth road, preventing the forks from bobbing up and down.
Now, let’s take a look at the command center of the RadRover Step-Thru.
The riser handlebars give you a nice upright position for a comfortable ride. There is a slight swept back profile to the handlebar.
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 control pad adjusts the pedal assist levels with the up and down arrows and the mode button turns the bike on/off and cycles through info on the display. Combinations of buttons control the lights and other features of the bike.
On the right side of the handlebar is a faux leather grip with ergonomic shape for wrist support, twist grip throttle, rear Tektro brake lever, and Shimano 7 speed shifter.
The Shimano shifter uses a combination of a push button and a lever to change up and down the gears, and the twist grip throttle has a wide spectrum of power adjustment.
Here is a closer look at the Tektro disc brake lever with integrated bell. The brake levers have sensors that will stop the assist as soon as either brake lever is engaged. You can also see the rubber grip surface on the lever that helps with a solid grip in wet or dry conditions.
The LCD display as pictured above provides information on the
- Battery level
- Odometer & trip distance
- Current speed, average speed, max speed
- Pedal assist level. There are 5 levels of pedal assist. The RadRover uses a cadence sensor for the pedal assist system.
- Watts (power) assistance that the motor is providing
The display is located in the center of the handlebars for easy visibility during a ride.
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 the front and rear lights on.
The display on the RadRover Step-Thru model also has a USB charging port just under the display so that you can charge your smartphone, tablet, or other USB device when you are out and about. It is rated to give a 5V, 0.5 amp charge.
Here is a look at the wide Wellgo forged aluminum platform pedals with a solid grip surface.
The Velo Plush seat has a wider profile with a center relief for a comfortable ride.
The Velo Plush also has a handle on the back to make it easier to pick up and/or maneuver the bike.
The front Rad Power Bikes LED headlight is powered by the eBike battery so you don’t have to worry about charging separate batteries for the light.
That goes for the rear LED light too. This also has brake light functionality, activated any time the brakes are applied.
The alloy kickstand has a solid attachment point on the frame.
Completing the comprehensive accessory package are these substantial looking plastic fenders on both front and rear wheels. The above picture also shows the reflective sidewall stripe on the tires, another nice safety feature.
Rad Power Bikes RadRover Step-Thru Specifications
Frame: 6061 hydroformed aluminum step-thru frame
Fork: RST 3″ (80mm) of travel with preload and lockout dials
Motor: Bafang 750 watt geared rear hub motor rated at 80Nm of torque
Battery: 48V 14Ah (672Wh) lithium battery with Samsung 35E cells
Assist Options: 5 pedal assist levels and thumb throttle. Cadence sensor for the pedal assist.
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.
Drivetrain: Shimano Acera 7 speed derailleur with 42t chainring and 11t to 34t cogset. Trigger & button style shifter with dial indicator.
Brakeset: Tektro Aries mechanical disc brakes with 180mm rotors and motor cut-off sensors
Tires: Kenda Juggernaut 26″ x 4″ fat tires, K-Shield puncture-resistant liner
Seat: Velo Plush with lifting handle
Seatpost: Promax, 350 mm x 27.2 mm, quick release adjustable
Accessories: LED headlight and rear light with integrated brake light, fenders, double-sided chainring guard, derailleur guard, bell and kickstand.
Bike weight: 63.8 pounds (29kg)
Battery weight: 7.9 pounds (3.6kg)
Total bike weight: 71.7 pounds (32.5kg)
Incentives: Monthly payment options
Warranty: 1 year warranty
Now checkout part 2 of the Rad Power Bikes RadRover Step-Thru 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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[…] Make sure you check out part 1 of this review with large pictures and specifications to get a detailed look at this e-bike. […]