RadRunner Plus Review?.......??

[EasyRiderDude]

I'm quite interested in the RadRunner Plus. It seems like a well appointed model & a pretty good value. I am a 1st time prospective ebike buyer & i'm not really sure how long this model has been available? I don't see any review of it here on EBR, or maybe I missed it somehow? Could there be a forth-coming review?

Do any of the members here own a RadRunner Plus? Their website calls it a "Limited Release." Does this mean that next year (or sooner,) this model will no longer be available? I hope there are no unique parts built into it else in a few years those parts would be difficult or impossible to attain. Also these "custom" 20 X 3.3 tires.... I already inquired with Kenda, their website does not list any such tire size & when I inquired with them, They said the tire is available exclusively through Rad Power bikes. So it sounds like if this is your tire size, there's only 1 option. Not sure that's a good thing.

Anyways.... just a few things I'm mulling over in my mind. If any of you have any feedback or Own a RadRunner Plus I'd love to hear from you.

Ride on...
ERD

 

[cuekwe Jones]

i'm not really sure how long this model has been available?

The RadRunner Plus is a "Limited Release" version of the RadRunner 1 (lots of YouTube reviews for the latter bike). I believe the RadRunner 1 was first announced in August of last year (2019), and bikes probably first began shipping around September/October.

RPB (Rad Power Bikes) announced the RadRunner Plus and began taking pre-orders in late April of this year, and just today I saw the first YouTube video of one in the wild; see here:

.

However, according to the RPB website (as of today), a Plus pre-ordered today will not ship until at least October. I pre-ordered mine in early May and it still has not shipped. Note that if you pre-order a bike through RPB, you will be charged the moment you place the order, not when it eventually ships.

All that being said, the RadRunner Plus improves on the RadRunner 1 -- by coming equipped with:

• 7 speed Shimano gear set
• Front suspension forks
• A larger, slightly brighter front headlight

In addition, the Plus comes pre-equipped with a rear passenger seat package, front and rear fenders, and a digital LCD controller display -- these are all options for the RadRunner 1, hence the "Limited Release" (which may just mean: Limited to how many they can sell -- I am not aware of a predetermined cut-off date/number for when RPB plans to stop making/selling the Plus).

Both the Plus and RadRunner 1 come with custom sized tires (20" x 3.3"), which to my knowledge can currently only be purchased through RPB. Similarly, the 20" x 4" inner tubes are not easy to find elsewhere online (in stock), and so you may also be forced to purchase these through RPB. Word of caution -- RPB charges an exorbitant rate for shipping. However if you order spare parts/accessories with the purchase of a new bike, you will receive free shipping on all of these items.

I believe the Bafang motors on the Runners are also custom -- they are not the true 750W geared hub motors available direct from Bafang, but something like 672W. Also, the rider seat and seat post are fully custom, and bolted together -- if you want to replace the saddle (which you likely will), you will also have to purchase a new seat post.

For what it's worth, I also currently own a RadRunner 1; had it for about a month and love it -- in my view, this is probably the best utility ebike on the market in terms of both quality and value, particularly coupled with RPB's outstanding reputation and customer service.

 

[EasyRiderDude]

Thanks for posting,.... with the preorder lead time & lack of units out there in the wild, no real online reviews or rider experiences to give you that warm fuzzy feeling: It's a tough decision to throw that kinda coin out & not see anything for it for 3 MONTHS, Who knows, could be even longer with this pandemic and all on the go.

Thanks again tho... lots of good info & I enjoyed the video.
Ride ON
ERD

 

[sc00ter]

I ordered a RadRunner 1 as I wanted simple. But the Plus version was kinda tempting. Mine has a ship date of September. I ordered fenders and a extra charger for work at the same time. Already here and waiting in the garage for the bike to arrive. My reasons for a 1 version:
Have no intention to carry a passenger.
Don't want gears.
Don't care how fast or far I ride. No need for the full display.
Using it for commuting. Gonna put a 39 liter SHAD trunk on the back.
Don't need front suspension.
But the Plus is a good value if you want the extras. I hear the fenders are a PITA to install for some reason. We'll see when the bike arrives.

 

[cuekwe Jones]

But the Plus is a good value if you want the extras.

I agree, relative to most of RPB's competition. But internally, it strikes me as curious why the Plus is priced $200 above several other Rad bikes that are equipped with essentially the same components (except, perhaps most notably, the rear passenger seat, yet arguably also a throw-away front rider seat). Maybe it's the perceived caché of owning a "Limited Release" bike, again whatever that means??? I shelled out the extra dough for a Plus, nevertheless. But at $200, caché is one accessory that I can do without (Actually, it was the shift-able gears coupled with the utility of the RR1 that sold me on the Plus -- I could do without most everything else).