Rad Power Bikes may close soon

[Browneye]

Stopped by the forum for a peek...haven't been around for a year. I'm shocked at how little activity there is, even my thread that was huge hasn't had a post for over a year, and the most vociferous members have gone dark as welll.

I'm shocked to hear about RAD. I moved from so-Cal to eastern WA, so they're not that far away now. LOTS of folks in CA had bought their bikes.

So I guess Aventon is still going, what about Ride1Up? There were another go-getter bike brand in CA. And the other CA brands, like Canyon, YT, and SantaCruz? YT closed?

 

[jabberwocky]

Bike industry is getting killed. But hey, maybe our nascent world oil war will increase demand for ebikes!

 

[RunForTheHills]

Bike industry is getting killed. But hey, maybe our nascent world oil war will increase demand for ebikes!

I think that states like New Jersey and California's war on ebikes will negate that.

 

[Rás Cnoic]

Bike industry is getting killed. But hey, maybe our nascent world oil war will increase demand for ebikes!

I want a mad max movie but with e-bikes- by day lounging in the desert as the solar panels charge the batteries, by night raiding the car peoples encampments.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

California's war on ebikes

What war on ebikes? Sure, an overdue war on (1) fake ebikes like Surrons operated illegally on public infrastructure, and (2) reckless and underage, undertrained riders.

But that has to be done to preserve future legal ebike access to our wealth of bikeways and trails. And as a California ebiker, driver, and pedestrian, I'm all for it.

Here on the ground in SoCal, certainly doesn't feel like a war on legal, responsible ebikers like me. California's generally very bicycle-friendly, and that still shines through to legal ebikes.

 

[Chargeride]

Local high end bike shop shut down.
Tbh it was empty every time I went there.

 

[RunForTheHills]

What war on ebikes? Sure, an overdue war on (1) fake ebikes like Surrons operated illegally on public infrastructure, and (2) reckless and underage, undertrained riders.

But that has to be done to preserve future legal ebike access to our wealth of bikeways and trails. And as a Californian ebiker, driver, and pedestrian, I'm all for it.

Here on the ground in SoCal, certainly doesn't feel like a war on legal, responsible ebikers like me. California's generally very bicycle-friendly, and that still shines through to legal ebikes.

New laws won't make Sur-rons any more illegal than they already are. A proposed law to require DMV registration and license plates for currently legal class 2 and class 3 ebikes does nothing to solve the emoto problem. Enforcement of existing laws will take care of that. Putting up road blocks to buy currently legal and safe ebikes is a war on ebikes and discourages ebike use.

You ride your bike for recreation and exercise and maybe you don't mind if bikes outside of your use case are progressively restricted and eventually banned. But other people buy ebikes for transportation and utility purposes and a class 1 ebike may not suit their needs. If the goal is to encourage the use of bicycles to replace cars (probably will never happen in the US due to culture and poor infrastructure), class 3 ebikes would be part of the solution.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

You ride your bike for recreation and exercise and maybe you don't mind if bikes outside of your use case are progressively restricted and eventually banned. But other people buy ebikes for transportation and utility purposes and a class 1 ebike may not suit their needs. If the goal is to encourage the use of bicycles to replace cars (probably will never happen in the US due to culture and poor infrastructure), class 3 ebikes would be part of the solution.

Oh, I'd definitely mind. I respect utility riders, including commuters. My fitness/recreation ebike's a Class 3, but I could easily set it up for other duties. Also have a Class 3 commuter for utility and beach rides.

Have been following CA laws regarding ebikes for the last 4 years. Remind me when legal Class 3s were put under threat for responsible, age-appropriate riders.

 

[RunForTheHills]

"California Assembly Bill 1942 (AB 1942), introduced in February 2026 as the "E-Bike Accountability Act" by Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, proposes mandatory DMV registration and license plates for all Class 2 and Class 3 e-bikes to improve safety and accountability."

 

[MrHyak]

"California Assembly Bill 1942 (AB 1942), introduced in February 2026 as the "E-Bike Accountability Act" by Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, proposes mandatory DMV registration and license plates for all Class 2 and Class 3 e-bikes to improve safety and accountability."

They never do that for safety reasons, its always about the money. I would just put a Class 1 sticker on my bike and let them prove otherwise..... =)

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

"California Assembly Bill 1942 (AB 1942), introduced in February 2026 as the "E-Bike Accountability Act" by Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, proposes mandatory DMV registration and license plates for all Class 2 and Class 3 e-bikes to improve safety and accountability."

Hmmm, first I've seen that proposal. Way beyond every other CA regulation effort I've seen. Definitely an overreaction. Betting it won't pass.

But I'll give you that Bauer-Kahan's waging a war on ebikes. Just not prepared put that on the whole state.