New Rad City, as expected now a geared hub
- Thread starter ExPatBrit
- Start date
AHicks
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Snow Bird - Summer S.E. Michigan, Winter Gulf Coast North Central Fl.
Holy cow.....They did it, and it's right in there regarding price. They're in stock, and there's even local assembly available. This will be a home run for them....
www.radpowerbikes.com
RadCity™ 5 Plus Electric Commuter Bike
Our new RadCity 5 plus electric city bike is a stylish ebike commuter you can customize for your urban lifestyle. Boost up hills and around your community!
www.radpowerbikes.com
Explorer-1
Have bike, will travel
- Region
- USA
- City
- Boston North Shore
Nice bike, but sad to see the price increase along with all the no-name (RAD) components. With all the no name components and drive train down grade I would have expected they could hold the price even in the current environment. I suspect their markup on this is now much more than in the past. Looks like a great bike over all though. Love that they went with 27.5" wheels.
The no-name components is pretty common now, as they grow their business they will contract with the suppliers to brand it as a Rad part.
My current e-bike has hydraulic brakes branded with the bike assemblers name, but they are Tektros.
The price increase is somewhat justified, geared hub, hydraulic brakes and the new wheels are great.
During the pandemic peak, used Rads were selling for more than some folks paid new.
They will sell out real quick.
My current e-bike has hydraulic brakes branded with the bike assemblers name, but they are Tektros.
The price increase is somewhat justified, geared hub, hydraulic brakes and the new wheels are great.
During the pandemic peak, used Rads were selling for more than some folks paid new.
They will sell out real quick.
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theemartymac
Well-Known Member
Is it a 'real' 750 hub though, or the 500w core? I thought the true Bafang 750w Hubs were limited to fat widths?
theemartymac
Well-Known Member
Looks like they answered it discretely in the spec page...
AHicks
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Snow Bird - Summer S.E. Michigan, Winter Gulf Coast North Central Fl.
Yup, saw and wondered the same. Also saw that they were claiming the manf wattage rating as you show above. Trick here is they aren't claiming it's a Bafang motor either, or if so, I've missed it. To further add to the mystery, conventional motors (not Fat motors) generally run 135mm drop out dimensions. Here, they're saying they running 154 mm.
Dropout Width
Front: 100 mm (this is normal)
Rear: 154 mm (this is unusual)
That's kind of an unusual dimension....about half way between the conventional 135mm and the Fat 170-190mm you see. Not sure why that might be?
On a more positive note is what is seen under shipping options. In addition to the commonly seen assemble it yourself option, they list 3 local to me outfits that are presumably willing to assemble and deliver this bike, all done in a fairly timely manner....
Not sure if that service is available everywhere or not. If it's widely available though, they've managed to break through that "if we don't sell it we won't work on it" bull stuff..... Clearly a huge leap ahead the way I'm seeing it.... -Al
theemartymac
Well-Known Member
Ahh, I think I just read into it based on the Rad Rover history. Will be interesting to see how it tests.
And if you look at the rear shot, it seems like it's got an unusually wide rear stay spacing, and significant offset. More than you need for just a disc brake...
JRA
Well-Known Member
It would seem if the rear spacing is in fact 154mm that it is an odd non standard spacing. Strange but along with the branded components and moves like the odd wheel size of their cargo bike that they may be looking to get some after sale action going from their brand loyalists. Need a new derailleur? Might as well get one from RAD etc.....
Their efforts to get their repair vans and other avenues like independent shops on board is smart and also a good way to ensure brand loyalty. The fact that their pricing is creeping up from their original $1500 is within reason I feel given the nature of the supply chain/shipping as discussed on here. COL just went up 5.9%. so it goes....
Their efforts to get their repair vans and other avenues like independent shops on board is smart and also a good way to ensure brand loyalty. The fact that their pricing is creeping up from their original $1500 is within reason I feel given the nature of the supply chain/shipping as discussed on here. COL just went up 5.9%. so it goes....
AHicks
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Snow Bird - Summer S.E. Michigan, Winter Gulf Coast North Central Fl.
Not putting too much emphasis on the drop out spacing. It could be a new standard, or some other good reason we're not aware of yet. Pretty sure they aren't doing it just to be different.
As far as the price, my bet is they've built something into it to make this bike delivery program attractive enough where they're sure to get the shops interested. What may make the RAD bikes even more interesting for the shops, is an assurance they will have product available on the floor for sale. My bet is, with the supply chain in the condition it's in, a shop might find an assured delivery pipe line of RAD product in this price range pretty attractive....
Just guessing, looking at it from a small business perspective. For the good of all of us with an interest in e-biking, I hope this new business model works for them. Betting it's a game changer at this point...
As far as the price, my bet is they've built something into it to make this bike delivery program attractive enough where they're sure to get the shops interested. What may make the RAD bikes even more interesting for the shops, is an assurance they will have product available on the floor for sale. My bet is, with the supply chain in the condition it's in, a shop might find an assured delivery pipe line of RAD product in this price range pretty attractive....
Just guessing, looking at it from a small business perspective. For the good of all of us with an interest in e-biking, I hope this new business model works for them. Betting it's a game changer at this point...
theemartymac
Well-Known Member
And looking at all the "Damaged in shipping" posts on here, it's got to be a serious pain in the ass for sellers to have to be constantly chasing couriers for reimbursement as well as supplying the components to buyers, who may or may not have an LBS to help them with the install.
A name like Rad is certainly targeted at the broader masses, and not specifically the demographic likely to be able to perform their own assembly and repairs. I agree it's a key item in the long-term growth and stability of a brand.
AHicks
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Snow Bird - Summer S.E. Michigan, Winter Gulf Coast North Central Fl.
We'll see I guess....
theemartymac
Well-Known Member
More likely they simply asked the manufacturers for something to meet a spec, and this was already in the system at a known price point. Easier to change the bike frame at production to be a few mm's wider, than to build a custom hub option. A lot of product design comes down to what we can actually get and build with, instead of what we actually want in a perfect world. But that's just for discussion, who knows for sure...
Explorer-1
Have bike, will travel
- Region
- USA
- City
- Boston North Shore
The custom motor and drop out spacing go hand in hand. The motor wires are on the non drive side and do not come out through the center of the axle. This requires some extra space I guess with their motor. Looks like they took a page from the Grin motor design book, but probably not for the same reasons.
I don't feel the price increase is justified because the components are not the same. They are just taking advantage of the current environment. Moving to a geared motor is not worth more as it is a new custom motor with non standard design, but most important all the competition is already using a geared hub motor.
Still at this price point it is what it is, if you have access to RAD support network then it's viable. Otherwise I’d go for maybe some less elegant earlier designs with standard components, even if they don't look as sharp.
I don't feel the price increase is justified because the components are not the same. They are just taking advantage of the current environment. Moving to a geared motor is not worth more as it is a new custom motor with non standard design, but most important all the competition is already using a geared hub motor.
Still at this price point it is what it is, if you have access to RAD support network then it's viable. Otherwise I’d go for maybe some less elegant earlier designs with standard components, even if they don't look as sharp.
AHicks
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Snow Bird - Summer S.E. Michigan, Winter Gulf Coast North Central Fl.
Similar thinking here. If my guess is right, they've gone with a motor manf. they have some control over to help avoid/eliminate shortages. Even somebody like RAD is a drop in the bucket to Bafang. It looks like they might be playing the long game here. We'll see how this works out for them in the coming years....
Same motor as the new Rover 6 Plus. The cable entry on the brake disc side is better IMHO much easier to switch out the freewheel. As to the rest of the components until someone gets their hands on one we don,t know. I suspect it’s private label stuff.
Bafang makes a motor with cable exit on the left side also, this could be a clone or not. I do see the spokes are thicker on the rear wheel. Not sure if they did that on earlier models. I have heard of broken spokes on older RADs.
Bafang makes a motor with cable exit on the left side also, this could be a clone or not. I do see the spokes are thicker on the rear wheel. Not sure if they did that on earlier models. I have heard of broken spokes on older RADs.
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