RadRunnerPlus - journal

[gioflowers]

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I purchased my RadRunner Plus in September 2021
I am using this thread to record my experience with the company and the bike
Main use: gas vehicle replacement, but my not only ebike in my fleet.
My height: 5'1" - height specific gear I wear when riding:
Footwear:

• Demonia Cult boots
• Dolls Kill (La Moda) boots
• New Rock boots (haven't not tried this brand)

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TERRAIN
Pacific Northwest. Coastal. Hills.
Coastal Storms = lots of roadside debris/roadside furniture
Wet = Streets slippery with wet leaves. Large protruding trail roots.
Bike Lanes = rare
Pole lines, Trails, Offroad = expect extra large puddles and washouts
Carry the right gear to manage situations
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Owner's Manual
Kingmeter Display - SW-U-II LCD - manual
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The little fleet plus an Apollo City scooter

 

[gioflowers]

Nice!

What's your next mod?

My next mod will be to make this bike more user friendly for my area as it is gutless on hills, and hills is what my area is all about.
I have a number of accessories coming in the mail. I've got a bike trailer coming and I am concerned that this bike won't be able to handle what I need to put it through for towing purposes on hills. My Rize Liberty (1000w, dual battery) will likely have to do the heavy lifting until this bike gets modded out for that work.

 

[gioflowers]

I know you said you're gonna focus on small things, but have you ever heard of Bolton (now called Area 13) kit?

They sell controller, display and motor.

As you can see, the stock motor has pretty small stator, and it's fairly easy to swap.

Display & Controller

The Upgrade Kit

By far the most popular upgrade available, The Upgrade kit includes a new motor controller and new color display. The combination allows you to finally unleash the full potential of the stock motor and battery. This is THE upgrade kit your friends have been talking about. ***Taillight/Brake...

area13ebikes.com

Motor
(you can swap the internal, so you would not have to re-lace the motor)

750 Watt Fat Bike Hub Motor Core 175mm OEM

area13ebikes.com

Also 52V battery swap can be done too.

I've edited my post about not being ready for suggestions.
I was thinking that I would let the warranty run out before upgrading motor. etc.
But man this thing needs upgrading to give it some power on hills. It's great on flat ground, but . . .
Thanks for your suggestions.

 

[gioflowers]

Rad doing some lifting for the Rize upgrade.

 

[gioflowers]

UPGRADE VIDEOS:
two
three
four

Regarding deleted brakes issue video - I didn't follow through with Rad Customer Service (as per below emails to me) because the problem was that I needed to do a few things on the brakes myself. Did not follow through with contacting garage for an appointment. I went to a different garage and the assistant showed me a few things to do. I paid for the mini lesson. I need more one on one lessons.


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The Rad Power Bikes Customer Service Department
*******************************************************
Merlin (Rad Power Bikes)
8 May 2022, 17:24 CEST

Hello G,

Thank you for reaching out to us here at Rad Power Bikes!

My deepest apologies for the delay in getting back to you!

We are currently experiencing an abnormally high volume of requests and are doing everything we can to keep up!

We really appreciate your patience!

I would be more than happy to help!

Here is the closest bike shop we partner with in your area!

ADDRESS
PHONE
If you have any further questions or concerns of any kind, please do not hesitate to reach out. RIDE RAD!

Thanks again for riding RAD,
Merlin S
Product Support Specialist
RadPowerBikes

May 17, 2022
The red 2pin brake connector keeps unplugging/detaching. Happened again and the brakes were for naught. I had forgotten that this was a thing with this bike and didn't check for a few weeks. Today I found that it was detached again. I made sure that nothing was pulling on the connector, that there was some slack. This time I taped the connector together. I hope that is ok to do that.

WISH LIST
I am exploring a repair hoist or stand. I like the motorcycle ones that easily lifts the rear wheel. They appear light and easy to store. I noticed two videos on home-made hoist using a ladder. I like that one. I need to get my bike up off of the floor and start learning to do maintenance. Add it to the list. . .

 

[gioflowers]

Good news - my local garage will do the motor upgrade for me.
Searching the threads for discussions on conversion kits for this bike.
I think that Timpo ( https://electricbikereview.com/forums/members/timpo.15778/)
gave me some good advice regarding ordering an upgrade through Area 13.

My garage emailed me today to tell me that they would upgrade the RadRunner+ when I get a kit for them.
There is no way that the RadRunner + can haul a trailer around my hilly location without an upgrade.
I am just going to go for the kit first (controller and display).
Area 13's 750w motor is out of stock.

Ordered Today:
instructions start at 2:53
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Area 13

boltonebikes.com

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http://www.szktdz.com/upload/file/20180814/20180814091428_61636.pdf - or search: KT-LCD8H E-Bike Display manual

 

[gioflowers]

So Bolton didn't have a motor?

Try Electro Bike World.

48 - 60v 750w Bafang geared rear hub motor

This rear-drive motor, which is compatible with the disc brake, has a rated power of 250-750W, a reduction ratio of 1: 5 and a maximum torque of 80 N.m, providing ideal power for vehicles. Strong and efficient, this motor, working together with a fre

electrobikeworld.com

The 750w is out of stock on Bolton's website.
I just placed my order for the 750w from Electro Bike World.
Can't wait. It will be a new bike.

 

[ExPatBrit]

Buy a new freewheel , it’s very difficult to get the old one off without the special tool. Bolton has the tool but it’s $$.

The DNP freewheels are available for around $30

 

[gioflowers]

I am exploring getting a controller cover or having a fabricator make a metal plate to protect the new controller once it is installed on the Rad.

 

[gioflowers]

5 May 2022, 21:28 Electro Bike World LLC Hello G, Re: 750w motor Your order has been shipped. Thank you for your business.​

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UPDATE: May 8, 2022
I was contacted by UPS to pay the import fees for this shipment: $22.00 CAD
The motor is on its way to a new life with me.

UPDATE: Delivered May 13, 2022. Now, get it ON! (I love Friday the 13th.)

 

[gioflowers]

Would stock skid plate good enough?

I don't know how much you want to cover it up because it could over heat.

I may look at what the stock plate cover looks like and try to use that as a template to deisgn a larger plate. According to some of the reviews, the upgraded controller from Area 13 is larger in size than the stock Rad controller so you can't use Rad's plate to fit over the upgraded one.

I will have to find the measurements for the new controller again. I think that it is not a standard size, but I may be mistaken.
Thanks for tip that you shouldn't cover up a controller due to over-heating.

 

[gioflowers]

As a forager and plant enthusiast my Rad helps me to explore the wild woods and to sometimes, if I am lucky, bring home beautiful Rose Hips. I'll have to wait until next fall for my next harvest to take pictures of my rose hip hunts. Will post about my herbal studies with my Rad.

 

[JohnJohn]

What part of BC are you in? Curious of the size of the hills.

 

[gioflowers]

Northern - Pacific Northwest on the coast

 

[JohnJohn]

Ahh cool. I saw the trees and it reminded me of the family places I've visited on the coast of the island. I could actually smell the trees looking at the photos.

How big are the hills? Just curious. I'm in the east but we have some doozers and I've never had an issue whatsoever.

 

[gioflowers]

Speaking of the island - do you know Ryan Road, heading up to the ferry in Courtenay?
My hills are like that and steeper, but shorter. The community is terraced with three levels of inclines.
There are three main drags. The lower one closest to the ocean, the middle level main, and then an upper level main street.
So, I am constantly zigzagging with this 500w motor.

The RadRunner Plus at stock does not do well here. This power deficet makes for a short day and not getting everything done. My Rize Liberty with the 1000w motor and 52v battery can charge straight up the hills. I also don't trust the Rad's brakes - the cable keeps detaching. I will eventually upgrade to hydraulic but I will wait until the power upgrade is done with breathing room till the next upgrade.

There are two monster hills in town (double clutching) that I haven't tried with the Liberty yet.
With the Rad sitting at stock, I have to zigzag my way up btw terrace levels going along side roads to avoid straight up hills.
At zigzag points going up hill a short distance to get to the next level of side streets, the Rad does scoot, but it struggles after a minute or so.

 

[gioflowers]

RAD ACCESSORIES
mri-denver.com
area 13
big game bikes

ULTIMATE WISH LIST
Bikes At Work Trailer

 

[gioflowers]

Front Mounted Basket - I am trying to purchase the front-mounted basket off of the Rad website but the system is not allowing to me make the purchase due to shipping problems in my area. Rad not answering calls.
UPDATE: May 10, 2022, phoned and still having issues with shipping to my area. Waiting for Rad to call back.

 

[JohnJohn]

Small world. I do know Ryan road and well. I spent a fair amount of time at my relatives up in Courtenay and would take an old clunker steel mountain bike and ride up it often. Quite the ordeal.

The handling on big hills is a bit strange. I'm in the east now and we have some hills like that but I've never had any problem going up them in PAS 5 and pedaling. Or seen much battery drain either. Maybe it's there but I've just never noticed it. I'll have to do a run this weekend and pay closer attention. And I'll check the incline and distance and compare it to Ryan.

I tweak my brakes every couple weeks with the alan key to keep them tuned. So say maybe every 500k or so. But other than a little slippage in the setting every now and then I haven't had any issues and I've put a lot of kms on.

 

[gioflowers]

Definitely not the same experience with my RadRunner Plus. I'm on the throttle more than yourself. That is what I like about e-mopeds - the throttle. If I wanted to peddle I wouldn't be riding this kind of ebike. The Ryan Rd. grade of incline is common in my area and steeper. Climbing these hills on throttle is not for this bike at stock. Your mileage may vary for good reasons.