Rad Power Bikes RadWagon 5 Review, 2024 | New Features, New Ride

Rad Power Bikes gave the RadWagon 5 a 720Wh battery, which is a pretty standard size for an e-bike in this price range. Rad Power says it can provide 20-60 mi. of range per charge, which seems reasonable considering the presence of a torque sensor, which can help riders conserve battery power.

We performed our usual battery of two range tests, one on PAS 5, and another on PAS 1. Both tests were performed with the RadWagon 5 set for Class 2 operation, with a maximum assist speed of 20 mph.

On our max power test we were able to exceed Rad Power’s 20 mi. estimate by going 26.8 mi. That gave us an average speed of 17.9 mph. This was an impressive result considering motor power and battery capacity.

After we juiced the battery up again we went back out for a minimum power (PAS 1) test. We covered 48.25 mi. at an average speed of 10.5 mph. That’s a bit less than Rad Power’s estimate of 60 mi., but it’s still a solid result. My takeaway is that the RadWagon 5 can handle a full day’s needs of commuting and errand-running.

One thing I was less satisfied with was the 2A charger. It used to be that I didn’t criticize a 2A charger, but with more and more e-bikes coming with 3A on what I’d label as ‘affordable’ e-bikes, well, I’d challenge Rad to do the same. A 2A charger needs roughly 7.5 hours to fully charge the 720Wh battery. A 3A charger would cut that to just five hours.

Prospective RadWagon 5 buyers—particularly parents—need to keep in mind that adding a child or two will cut this e-bike’s range. The greater the mass, the greater the energy required to move it. This would be where I refer back to our max power test and say that if we can cover more than 25 mi. at a good pace, then parents combining kid pickup and dropoff with a work commute shouldn’t have any trouble with commutes of less than 20 mi.

No matter how factually accurate a company’s marketing copy is, motor wattage and torque figures are just numbers until you get to the bottom of a hill. The real test of a motor’s power is how it climbs. That’s why we subject every e-bike we test to Hell Hole, our ⅓ mi., 12-percent grade bike path. We even further standardized our test by having Justin perform all of our hill tests. Having the same rider on all the e-bikes eliminates the variation we would see as a result of the fact that there is more of me than there is of him.

For our throttle-only test, the RadWagon 5 climbed the hill in 1:26, for an average speed of 12.6 mph. In PAS 5 we chopped 9 seconds off that time, arriving at the top in 1:17 for a quicker 14.1 mph clip.

When we average all of our hill test results, the combined throttle average stands at 1:33 and the max PAS average comes in at 1:23. Clearly, the RadWagon sits in the upper half of all the e-bikes we’ve tested, but we need to remind everyone that as a longtail cargo e-bike, the Rad Power Bikes RadWagon 5 is heavier than most e-bikes, which makes this performance a bit more noteworthy.

More important than this, in my book, is that because this is a cargo e-bike, ease of control is a big deal. Add 100 lbs.-worth of kids and this e-bike’s low center of gravity makes handling that weight easy. And unless the e-bike feels stable when loaded, faster speeds don’t matter.

One of our few criticisms of the RadWagon 4 was that it was equipped with mechanical disc brakes. While they were powerful enough to stop the RadWagon 4, a cargo e-bike seems like the sort of e-bike that deserves 2-piston hydraulic disc brakes, at minimum. With the RadWagon 5, Rad Power Bikes has upgraded the Tektro Aries mechanical calipers to a much more powerful 2-piston Tektro hydraulic setup. For parents who will be riding with kids as passengers, this may be the single most important upgrade to the RadWagon from the 4 to the 5.

We performed our standard brake test, taking the RadWagon 5 up to 20 mph and then bringing it to a stop; we perform this test three times and then average the result.

Thanks to those brakes, the RadWagon 5 stopped in 18 feet 7 inches. To put that in perspective, the current average of all the brake tests we’ve performed stands at 21 feet 10 inches. The RadWagon 5’s result is exactly what we want to see on an e-bike that will be carrying kids.

I’ve tested a lot of cargo e-bikes. Often a company’s first edition of their cargo bike will look like a copy of other brands’ designs. This, however, is the RadWagon 5, which should give you a sense of all the changes Rad Power Bikes has made to this design over the years in order to give riders the best experience and highest value possible.

Part of what makes the RadWagon 5 so great are the little details that don’t show up in our tests. Take, for instance, the wheel skirt, which will protect your child’s feet from the spinning spokes of the rear wheel. Another touch that’s easy to miss until you begin riding the RadWagon 5 on a daily basis is the lifting handle on the seat. This is a big bike and moving it can be a bit awkward; that handle is super-helpful.

While having a folding handlebar mast or stem can make transporting an e-bike easier, I keep my cargo e-bike in my garage; I suspect most cargo e-bike owners do the same. This isn’t the sort of e-bike people drive to the place they want to go ride. For that reason, the BMX-style riser bar isn’t a problem, it’s a benefit. The hi-rise bar allows me to sit up more and gives me a rock-solid feeling on this e-bike and helps the handling. Plus, if I need to look back to check on my kiddos, that’s easier to do if I’m sitting up.

Rad’s latest innovation in it’s newest e-bikes include the Safe Shield tech in it’s batteries. It coats them in resin for better shock absorption and for helping prevent thermal runaway. This is on top of UL certifications – safety innovation is always welcome.

The RadWagon 5 also has all the hallmarks of an updated/improved ride: better displays, a shift to a torque sensor for better motor engagement, and even embracing of class 3 speeds again (absent from the previous few Rad models).

There aren’t many things on the RadWagon 5 that could be improved, considering its price. I think the cable management could be cleaned up a bit, but that’s a minor point. All things considered, the Rad Power Bikes RadWagon 5 looks and feels every bit as good as any similarly priced cargo e-bike I’ve tested – possibly a bit better than most even.

I was excited to see the RadWagon 5 arrive at our offices. As a parent with small children, cargo e-bikes are both near and dear to my heart. At the outset of this review, I began with a fundamental question: Does this cargo e-bike keep pace with the competition? As this segment of the market has become more competitive, it has become harder to stand out, with good reason. The answer to that question is yes—it is competitive with other similarly priced cargo e-bikes, and Rad Power Bikes has even found ways to make the RadWagon 5 stand out from its competitors. The combination of the new frame design, the 20-in. wheels and riser bar combine to yield an e-bike with great handling.

The telescoping seatpost gives the RadWagon 5 a greater flexibility in sizing that we usually see with one-size-fits-most e-bikes. The suspension fork definitely makes this e-bike more comfortable, and it makes a bigger difference than it might with some e-bikes because more of the rider’s weight is on the front wheel.

The new, more powerful motor helps acceleration and climbing, there’s no doubt, but what may make an even bigger difference is the addition of a torque sensor. It gives the rider more control over the e-bike’s speed and acceleration; some kids can be frightened by an e-bike that accelerates too quickly.

Rad Power Bikes offers a huge selection of accessories, whether you want this to be a grocery-getter or kid-hauler, or both. What’s nice is that even though they managed to shorten the wheelbase by 3 in., the RadWagon 5 didn’t suffer any loss of functionality or stability, and the increase in maneuverability is welcome.

Having gone through such an extended evolution, the RadWagon 5 is a very mature design. This is backed up by the fact that our only criticisms—cable management and charger power—are pretty minor. There’s no doubt that it has the power and range necessary to serve a family looking to park or even eliminate a car. Substituting an e-bike for a car can be harder than people think, but the RadWagon 5 can fulfill that role.

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