Rad Power Bikes RadRunner 3 Plus E-Bike Review – 2023

One of the most common questions we get is, “How far does this bike go on a single battery charge?” That’s why we test ride all e-bikes at the minimum and maximum PAS levels. The minimum PAS test tells us what the absolute furthest this bike’s battery can provide usable power to get you to your destination. Impressed by the RadRunner 3 Plus’ performance in the Circuit Test, we decided to use PAS 1 for the minimum PAS Range Test.

Equipped with one 48-volt 14 amp-hour (672 watt-hour) battery, the RadRunner 3 Plus is claimed to have a range of 45 miles. This e-bike put smiles on our faces by going much further than we expected. In the minimum PAS test, using PAS 1, this bike went 60.19 miles. We like it when a manufacturer gives a conservative estimate – it gives us more confidence in the reliability of their data when testing.

The maximum PAS test tells us how far the battery will take you when you have to use the highest amount of pedal assistance. Riding at PAS 5, and again contributing only basic pedaling, the RadRunner 3 Plus completed 26.43 miles before conking out. This was a really respectable result, especially considering this is a utility/cargo bike, not a lightweight commuter e-bike. It’s worth noting that the last bar of the 10-bar readout had noticeable power loss, but that’s not uncommon on e-bikes either, and the total mileage here is what counts the most. Good job, Rad Power Bikes!

With more than respectable range from our tests (and remember, your results may vary depending on a host of factors) we also like what’s on the horizon with the Runner 3 Plus. Rad announced they’re in the works on a second battery you can mount under the rear rack to double your range. The prospect of pedaling a 75lbs bike on your own should the battery die can scare some people off of taking longer trips. We’re always happy to see brands come up with solutions for letting people ride further with fewer instances of needing to charge up the batteries.

The Hill Climb test is on a local trail, called Hell Hole Trail, 0.33 mile long and a 12 percent average grade. We scale our test hill twice — once using only the throttle and once on the highest pedal assist setting. This tells us how strong the bike is on its own, and with rider assistance.

Any e-bike worth its salt will help you climb a hill with ease, or just climb it for you altogether. So naturally, we were hopeful that the 750W motor of the RadRunner 3 Plus would deliver – and deliver it did.

Truth be told, Rad motors are some of the most consistent of any Brand we’ve tested. We have 11 hill tests worth of data (Runner 3 Plus included) now across all our Rad Power Bike reviews and, excluding the RadTrike, they are all within 10 seconds of each other on the PAS test.

Rad even claimed the Runner 3 Plus’ 750W hub motor should climb hills 10% better, and although it’s a little hard to compare as our Runner hill tests were all done by different testers, we did see it get the fastest ever PAS result to date.

Bikes like the Runner 3 Plus without a motor would NEVER make it up a hill like hell hole. The modest 7-gear range, wide 3.3” wide tires, and upright riding position are all working against you if you’re riding a non-motorized bike on a hill. So when you can enjoy all the benefits and non of the drawbacks of the design thanks to a motor that can climb even intense steeps it just makes the utility style bike that much better for the user.

Earlier I noted how stable this bike feels when riding. The brake system is a big part of that, as I discovered in my time of riding this bike and with our brake test results.

Here at EBR we bring bikes up to 20 mph (the class 2 limit) before quickly pulling the brake lever for an immediate stop, and then measuring the distance it took to reach a complete stop. We run this test multiple times for a clean average. The Tektro HD-E350 hydraulic disc brakes with 180mm rotors, we were able to bring the bike to a stop at an average distance of 20’8”.

This average is about 2 feet shorter than comparable e-bikes and this can really instill confidence in the rider, knowing that.

The brake system also represent a hard upgrade from previous models. The hydraulic disc brakes are a first whereas older Runners featured mechanical disc setups.

The test results are nice, but we happened to have two real-world anecdotes from testing this bike out that help better illustrate the value of good brakes:

First, during my initial test ride I performed a few brake slams from high speeds to get a feel for how it would do, and I feel like I slowed down without deviating from my line even a single degree. I even finished in a seated track stand that I was able to hold for a few seconds – it’s just a well balanced bike and does a good job slowing the rider down in a hurry if needed.

Second, when my colleague Forrest from the Electric Bike Report staff rode around town, during the school rush hour, he had to stop abruptly when a car pulled in front of him. There was no planning, as opposed to a brake test. He just reacted. Fortunately, the brakes did a fabulous job stopping very quickly, and all he had to do was smile and say, “I’m okay,” to the embarrassed driver as she pulled away.

None of us look forward to having close calls when we ride. I am a strong believer in paying attention to my surroundings, and not letting myself get distracted when I ride. It’s really comforting to pedal onward, knowing that this bike has got my back!

Like any product that has numerous features and individual parts, this bike earns its merits with the smaller details, too, including those touched by your hands. The cockpit layout has a lot to do with the exceptional comfort and control riders will enjoy with the RadRunner 3 Plus.

To start, Rad Power Bikes made a great decision putting a wider handlebar (710mm) than what your normally find on this type of e-bike. Wider bars make the bike easier to steer, and easier to handle when slaloming around daily obstacles. It also helps provide a slightly lower profile than the earlier RadRunner models, making turns cleaner and diminishing that sense of being top-heavy.

One thing we would like to see Rad do in the future, is offer and adjustable stem on this bike’s steering head. This will help taller riders and riders with shorter arms a chance to adjust the handlebar better to meet their comfort level.

Speaking of comfort, the saddle is MUCH improved from the old RadRunner Plus. To be blunt: it was one of my least favorite saddles to date as padding was thin, the shape was odd, and there was zero adjustment beyond raising or lowering the seat post. The saddle is more traditionally shaped, and generously padded. The nose is a bit wider than most, making me notice it more than is typical, but it wasn’t uncomfortable by any means. I’m still dubbing it an improvement.

If you like faux leather grips then you will be happy with the ones on this bike. They are ergonomically designed to comfortably fit your hands. Word of caution, though, if you like to ride barehanded, then you will want to keep your hands dry from perspiration or rain. Faux leather tends to be slippery to handle when wet.

I’ve often described the original RadRunner Plus, and RadRunner Two as e-bikes I could recommend to somebody even if I knew nothing about them. It fits most people, is easy to use, handles well, features a super reliable motor and can be tailored to your needs with all the accessory configurations. If you’re dreaming up a bike that would work for most people, I just described it. It covers age ranges and use cases across the board.

The RadRunner 3 Plus continues that trend of being an e-bike I recommend to just about anybody based off of how easy it is to use, fun to ride, and adaptable to the needs of the rider with the plethora of ways to outfit it.

There’s a lot that the bike does well. Beginning with the power range on the 750w rear hub motor, it engaged well with the rider at each PAS level. The acceleration levels were predictable and consistent. We never felt like this bike was trying to pull away from us.

The 14 amp-hour battery worked great providing suitable power to travel a longer range than expected. If you plan to ride this bike often and to considerable distances, then you will likely be happy with the results – or you can soon equip it with more range with the upcoming second battery.

The Shimano 7-speed drivetrain shifts easily, provides a workable range of gearing, no matter what your speed and pedal difficulty is, and it came close to eliminating the ghost pedaling at top speed issue we find with so many e-bikes. An eighth gear would be welcome in the future, but the lack of one now in no way holds the bike back.

Safety is enhanced, and riding ability improved thanks to the great stopping power from the Tektro brakes. I mentioned our staff’s experiences, and how this gave usgreater confidence when riding this bike, knowing it would do a great job stopping when needed.

Stability and handling are assisted by the excellent suspension forks, shortened to 60mm travel to make uphill pedaling and cargo hauling easier, and safer. The new frame design, extending tubing from the bottom tube across to the seat tube and seat stay tube, are a great solution for strengthening the frame, giving a stiffer ride, and making this bike more able to safely carry a passenger and/or cargo.

But with this one 17” frame size, and 20” wheels, this bike’s overall geometry still makes this bike super comfortable for most people to ride. And the simple design of the cockpit layout makes it easy to ride. The bottom line is that this bike is built by one of the leading e-bike companies in the US. They have been building e-bikes longer than most companies on the planet, so you will know you’re getting a bike that will be reliable and is sure to satisfy a lot of your needs.

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 RadRunner 3 Plus.