First, I do love my Rad bikes. I have two, and besides having to constantly true the rear wheels from motor torque, they've been pretty free of issues. (Although last year, my RadWagon initially arrived with a crushed rear wheel, that they promptly replaced).
TIL NOW. I took delivery of a new Rad Mission in late October that had flat tires due to defective valve cores. Rad acknowledged and offered to send me some new tubes, (TWO MONTHS AGO). In the meantime I put down my own $$$, so my wife could ride her new bike.
In a very short time, the Chain Tensioner Pulley Cage ended up rubbing against the spokes. I first thought it was poor design and replaced the button-head screw with a countersunk one to increase the clearance. Yesterday the Tensioner COMPLETELY FAILED and drifted over hard into the spokes. Upon close inspection, the only thing retaining the pulley cage on it's pivot mount, away from the wheel, is a small soft aluminum roll-pin, which wears down and/or shears off after minimal use.
The RAD website already shows a How-To for replacement of the tensioner, which leads me to believe that they are aware of the problem, but are treating it on a case by case basis.
Based on the possibility that such a failure could lock up the rear wheel ejecting the rider and causing injury , I would feel RAD should, at minimum, potentially contact ALL Mission owners advising of the potential risk and provide an inspection protocol.
I personally am currently waiting to hear back from them.
TIL NOW. I took delivery of a new Rad Mission in late October that had flat tires due to defective valve cores. Rad acknowledged and offered to send me some new tubes, (TWO MONTHS AGO). In the meantime I put down my own $$$, so my wife could ride her new bike.
In a very short time, the Chain Tensioner Pulley Cage ended up rubbing against the spokes. I first thought it was poor design and replaced the button-head screw with a countersunk one to increase the clearance. Yesterday the Tensioner COMPLETELY FAILED and drifted over hard into the spokes. Upon close inspection, the only thing retaining the pulley cage on it's pivot mount, away from the wheel, is a small soft aluminum roll-pin, which wears down and/or shears off after minimal use.
The RAD website already shows a How-To for replacement of the tensioner, which leads me to believe that they are aware of the problem, but are treating it on a case by case basis.
Based on the possibility that such a failure could lock up the rear wheel ejecting the rider and causing injury , I would feel RAD should, at minimum, potentially contact ALL Mission owners advising of the potential risk and provide an inspection protocol.
I personally am currently waiting to hear back from them.
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