Rad Power Bikes RadRover Electric Fat Bike Review Part 1 – Pictures & Specs

We have since updated this review of the RadRover. Head to the following link for the Rad Power Bikes RadRover 5 Review.

The all new 2018 Rad Power Bikes RadRover electric fat bike with 4″ wide tires and 750 watts of power is ready for mud, sand, snow, and fun rides around town.  

Some of the highlights of this eFat bike are a 750 watt geared rear hub motor, large 48V 14ah 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 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!

The RadRover is ready for all sorts of terrain and adventures at an affordable price of $1,499. 

In addition to the black color, Rad Power Bikes offers the RadRover in this white color.

Here is a video from Rad Power Bikes for a closer look at the new 2018 RadRover:

Frame construction is of 6061 aluminum with hydroformed tubing to create a frame design that fits a wide range of riders from 5′-4″ to 6′-2″.

The high capacity 48V 14ah lithium battery is attached to the downtube of the frame for low and centered weight distribution. This is a good location for overall bike handling. 

In this picture you can see how the top tube slopes down significantly to provide more standover clearance for the 18″ frame that fits a wide range of riders. 

Here is a look at the other side of the frame. Those 4″ wide fat tires are amazingly large!

New for 2018 is the front rack/basket mount attachment point at the headtube. 

Rad Power Bikes offers a number of rack and basket options that can be attached directly to the headtube for a very solid connection. 

At the headtube area you can see the solid connection point of the top & down tubes at the headtube. There is internal cable routing in the top & down tubes for protection of the cables and a clean look. 

This is the top tube to seat tube connection with the internal cable routing exiting the top tube. There is a quick release at the seat post for easy adjustments of the seat height when you are out and about. 

Rad Power Bikes also offers a rear cargo rack, standard fenders, and……

Full coverage fenders for the RadRover. 

The RadRover is an all terrain eBike with its versatile 4″ wide tires. Mud, sand, snow, and pavement are easily handled by “Fat” tires. 

“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 ride characteristics portion of the RadRover review (Part 2). 

Here is a look at the frame clearance at the 4″ wide Kenda Juggernaut rear tire. There is a substantial amount of clearance for mud and snow. 

The Kenda Juggernaut fat bike tires have a moderate tread pattern for on and off road riding. 

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 is a Class 2 electric bike per California law which is pedal assist and/or throttle up to 20 mph with assist and 750 watts max.

Here is a look at the other side of the 750 watt Bafang hub motor with the Tektro Aries mechanical disc brake. 

The controller for the eBike system is housed behind the seat tube. 

New for 2018 is the high capacity 48V 14Ah (672 Wh) lithium battery pack with Samsung 35E cells. It is located on the downtube of the frame for centered and low weight distribution. 

You can see the charging port (has a rubber cover) on the upper side of the pack. The battery can be charged on or off the bike. 

The battery lock is on the left side of the battery and the bike comes with 2 keys. Once the battery has been unlocked it slides up and off the frame for removal. 

Here’s a look at the frame after the battery pack has been removed. When the battery has been removed the bike weighs 59.4 pounds which makes it a little easier to pick up and load onto a car rack. The total bike weight with the battery is 67 pounds. 

The battery can be charged on or off the bike. The battery weights 7.6 pounds. The charger is about the size of a laptop charger and it takes 5 to 6 hours to charge an empty battery. 

This is the RST 80mm (3.15 inches) suspension fork that has a substantial amount of clearance for mud and/or snow. This fork was custom built for Rad Power Bikes. 

The RST fork has a lockout lever on the top right side of the fork. The lockout prevents the fork from moving so you get a more efficient ride when riding on smooth roads. 

Tektro Aries mechanical disc brakes with 180 mm rotors are used on the front and back of the RadRover. This is the front brake at the RST suspension fork. 

And this is the Tektro Aries disc brake with 180mm rotor on the back of the RadRover. 

Now, let’s take a look at the command center of the RadRover. 

New for 2018 is the riser handlebars that give you a nice upright position for a comfortable ride. 

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. 

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. 

Here is a closer look at the LCD display that 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 that the motor is providing

The display is located in the center of the handlebars for easy visibility during a ride. 

There is a backlit 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 headlight on. 

There is 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. 

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 twist grip throttle has an on/off button that helps to prevent accidental activation and allows you to only use the throttle when you want to. The Shimano SL-TX50-7R 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. 

Here is a closer look at the Shimano shifter, twist grip throttle, and the Tektro brake lever with rubber grip surface. 

The front chainring has 2 chainguards that keeps the chain from falling off in rough terrain and it helps with keeping your pant legs clean. 

This is the Shimano Acera rear derailleur that shifts through the 7 speed Shimano freewheel with a 14 tooth to 34 tooth range. 

Here is a look at the wide Wellgo 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. 

This the 300 lumen LED headlight that is powered by the eBike battery.  

A rear LED taillight is attached the seatpost. It is powered by 2 AAA batteries that come with the bike. It has flashing and solid light mode options. 

The alloy kickstand has a solid attachment point on the frame. 

Rad Power Bikes RadRover Electric Bike Specifications

Frame: Hydroformed 6061 Aluminum with internal cable routing

Fork: Custom Rad Power Bikes RST Suspension Fork with 80mm of Travel, Preload Adjustment, and Lockout

Motor: 750W Brushless Bafang Geared Hub Motor with 80Nm of Torque  

Battery: 48V 14Ah (672Wh) with Lithium NCA 18650 Samsung 35E Cells, Rated for 800 Charge Cycles. The battery weighs 7.6 pounds. 

Assist Options: 5 pedal assist levels (cadence sensor) and twist grip throttle with on/off button. 

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 rear derailleur with Shimano 7 speed freewheel with 14 tooth to 34 tooth range.

Brakeset: Tektro Aries mechanical disc brake with 180mm rotors and motor cut-off sensors in the brake levers.

Tires: 26’’ x 4’’ Kenda Juggernaut Fat Bike Tires

Seat: Velo Plush with Lifting Handle

Sizes: 18″ frame that fits riders in size from 5’4″ to 6’2″

Colors: Black or White

Weight: Bike without the battery = 59.4 pounds. Battery = 7.6 pounds. Total bike = 67 pounds.

Now checkout part 2 of the Rad Power Bikes RadRover 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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