In a market that is becoming increasingly more crowded (for the better, as getting more people on bikes is good for all of us), Seattle-based Rad Power Bikes has planted its flag as a brand that offers the fun and utility of an ebike at a lower cost than its competitors, thanks in large part to its direct-to-consumer model.
What started as a single-product brand quickly grew into what it is today: North America’s largest ebike manufacturer, with a line that includes off-road bikes, cargo bikes, folding bikes, and even a trike. The RadRunner Max takes one of the brand’s cornerstone models and jacks it up with plenty of upgrades, new styling, and cutting-edge battery technology aimed at keeping its owners safe.
Some Assembly Required
Photograph: Michael Venutolo-Mantovani
As a certifiable bike nut and a bit of a wrencher myself, I was not very concerned about assembling the bike when its massive, cartoon-adorned cardboard box arrived on my doorstep a few months ago. Armed with my portable bike shop (a fishing tackle box full of small bike tools and parts), my trusty torque wrench, and a rag or two, I cut open the box and emptied everything onto my garage floor and discovered that a Rad bike is no different than a piece of Ikea furniture. All I needed to build the bike was a trio of Allen keys and a small adjustable wrench, all of which were included in the packaging. Of course, a torque wrench wouldn’t hurt, as the bike’s assembly guide offers helpful torque recommendations for anything a user needs to tighten.
Going from a sealed box to a rideable bike took about 25 minutes, since all that required assembly was mounting the handlebars, front wheel, kickstand, front fender, and 450-lumen headlight. Everything else was ready to go straight out of the box.