Rad Power Bikes RadRunner 2 E-Bike Review – 2023

The RadRunner 2’s 48V, 14Ah (672Wh) battery gives the bike a solid range that, at least in our testing, out-performed Rad’s claimed range envelope of 25 mi to 40 mi.

We did two range tests with the RadRunner 2, the first on PAS 2 and the next on PAS 4, to give us an idea of how the battery would perform in low power and high power scenarios.

In the low power scenario (PAS 2), the RadRunner 2 lasted 46.65 miles at an average speed of 14.7 mph. And in the high power scenario (PAS 4), the bike lasted 31.06 miles at an average speed of 16.7 mph. Both of these are great results that are fairly comparable to Rad’s other e-bikes we’ve reviewed.

Uphill, the RadRunner 2 again performed nicely, logging times up our test hill that are remarkably similar to the times we saw on many of the other Rad e-bikes we’ve tested.

But most notably, the RadRunner 2’s times were almost perfectly mirrored the times of its slightly upgraded sibling, the RadRunner Plus.

Using just the throttle, the RadRunner 2 cleared our test hill Hell Hole in 1:46.00 with an average speed of 10.2 mph, which is just two seconds slower than the Runner Plus’ time. With the help of my legs in PAS 4, the Runner 2 logged a 1:27.00 with an average speed of 12.5 mph, which is exactly identical to the time and speed of the Runner Plus.

The times themselves are good, but what really strikes me about these results is that they demonstrate the uncanny consistency of Rad’s 750W motors. There are innumerable variables that can affect an e-bike’s time up our test hill, but somehow, despite those variables, our two RadRunners have managed to mimic each other even though they were tested half a year apart.

This is a trend we see across Rad’s entire lineup; that their e-bike drive systems perform almost identically. We’ve also noticed how little Rad’s motors seem to stress on Hell Hole, a third-of-a-mile hill with a 12 percent gradient on average, which is usually plenty to push motors to their max. The Rad’s, however, seem to manage Hell Hole fine, with nary a whine or rattle no matter how many times we run them up the hill.

The Tektro Aries mechanical disk brakes on our RadRunner 2 review bike performed incredibly well, coming to a stop at an average of 10-feet-6-inches. That’s good for second best on our overall leaderboard of the best stopping e-bikes we’ve reviewed.

Aside from their fantastic stopping performance, one of my favorite things about the Aries brakes is how tunable they are — an incredibly important feature for mechanical disk brakes. While widely regarded as poorer performing than their hydraulic counterparts, a properly set up set of mechanicals will do just as good or better than hydraulic brakes — a statement that I think is backed up by the Runner 2’s second place result on our all-time leaderboard.

Though they’re easily adjustable, mechanical disk brakes can be tricky to set up. I’d highly suggest having them looked at by a professional bike mechanic.

The most notable updates to this new version of the RadRunner are to the bike’s handling, changes Rad accomplished by making some very small tweaks to the RadRunner 2’s geometry.

Among a handful of geo changes, Rad gave the Runner 2 a one-inch longer wheelbase and shortened the chainstays by an eighth of an inch. That longer wheelbase helps with overall stability, while the shorter stays tuck the rear wheel tighter underneath the rider to help keep the bike nimble.

These are subtle changes that, instead of totally changing the personality of the bike, refine it instead. I’ve logged lots of miles on this new version of the RadRunner and the tweaks aren’t something I detected until I dove into the geometry charts. What I can say is this bike handles superbly well, even with a considerable amount of weight added to the back.

It’s tough to pin down a good definition for how the RadRunner 2 feels while riding simply because there are so many different ways to ride it. That’s part of the beauty of this e-bike; it’s just so versatile.

In general terms, the RadRunner 2 is a very comfortable e-bike. And though it has an adjustable seat that can be raised for better leg extension, I think most Runner 2 riders are going to find themselves reaching for the half-twist throttle instead of pedaling. That’s OK in my book; I’m usually an e-biker who prefers pedaling over throttling, but even I found myself scooting along on motor power alone. I think throttling is just part of the RadRunner 2’s overall vibe and styling. Plus, the 750W motor doesn’t really need help from your legs, so why not just let it do the work?

At the handlebars, Rad gave the Runner 2 a very simplistic LED-based display (not to be confused with an LCD display) that lacks a screen but uses bright LED lights to communicate battery life and which PAS level you’re in. There are also large buttons to turn on the lights, turn the bike on and cycle through the PAS levels. It’s not terribly common to see an e-bike lacking a screen nowadays, but I actually kind of liked this. It helped declutter the handlebars and the display is so simple it’s hard to get lost in the functions. Obviously without a screen you’re going to have to use a phone or another device to track ride metrics, but with the proliferation of smartphones I hardly think that’s a dealbreaker.

Simple, cheap and functional; Rad Power Bikes seem to have nailed the e-bike trifecta in their RadRunner 2.

Every time I spend time on any variation of the RadRunner, be it the first generation, this second generation or the upgraded Plus model, I’m always reminded as to why so many people gravitate towards this e-bike: It’s honestly just fun.

Its looks are fun; its ride quality is fun; and the fact you can easily tote another person along for the ride is also just fun (not to mention you can easily tote some cargo, too). I think a lot of e-bike buyers, especially those new to the space, really are attracted to the idea of one bike that can do lots of different things, and the RadRunner 2 seems to be directly catering to that crowd.

As we’ve mentioned several times, Rad offers a mess of accessories and add-ons for the bike that amount to 330 different configurations. That’s 330 different ways this bike can be used, ridden and played with. For most cases, I really do think most people would find a good use for the RadRunner 2.

Like all e-bikes from Rad Power Bikes, the RadRunner 2 is sold online and can be shipped directly to your door. It’s fairly easy to assemble yourself, though Rad does offer the option to have the bike shipped to a local bike shop for professional assembly — a service I’d highly suggest you consider.

‘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 RadRunner 2.