Three Years with my RadMission, new brake pads

[fuyume]

This month, I passed the three year mark on my 2022 RadMission (see this thread: https://forums.electricbikereview.com/threads/new-radmission-mid-step-on-the-way-to-me.48412/ ), and last weekend, I finally got around to replacing my brake pads. They were worn down past the point where they should have been replaced. I had actually ordered replacement pads in October 2022, but what I actually needed at that time was to readjust my brakes.

I'm happy to say that my RadMission has been performing flawlessly all this time, and my battery life still seems to be really good. I took an 11 mile grocery shopping ride this week, and used up 40-50% of my battery on full assist (by the display, who knows how accurate that actually is). I never counted on getting more than 20-25 miles out of a full charge, so that seems pretty reasonable to me.

I did discover once I got the old brake pads out that I'd bought a different compound replacement, but Tektro doesn't really give a lot of info on this. The OEM pads are the Tektro P20.11 "overall balanced resin" compound (red painted backing plate), while the E10.11 pads I bought to replace them are a "less noise resin" compound (black painted backing plate). I feel like the E10.11 are a lower temperature pad that will probably wear out faster, but if they last 1-2 years with my riding patterns, I'll be happy. The E10.11 seems to have faster initial friction. Note that neither of these compounds are advertised by Tektro as being semi-metallic, despite what you might read elsewhere online.

The RadMission is an easy bike to live with, and has enough power to tackle the hills in my town (albeit slowly) even without multispeed gearing. It's a shame they decided to stop making it. I still wish I had bought a second one when they were put on clearance sale for $700 off, but I was broke at the time. I would have kept one with studded tires on for Winter use, since I ride year round in Northern New England.

OEM options:
1. front basket
2. rear rack
3. fenders
4. kickstand

Modifications I've made:
1. Rad Power upgraded display (with USB phone charger)
2. Rad Power premium headlamp
3. Ergon GP1 grips
4. Serfas LSD100 waterproof gel saddle
5. Farmplast 24 qt milk crate to rear rack (bolted directly to the rack with stainless steel machine screws)
6. Cat Eye Auto Rapid 3 tail lamp
7. Hafny rear mirrors
8. Fenix PD36 TAC flashlight on ALB-10 handlebar mount
9. Nite-Ize Wraptor iPhone mount
10. AVA Block XXL frame lock and ULC130 plug-in chain
11. Kryptonite New York Standard U-Lock
12. M-Wave rear panniers (gift from a friend)

 

[juggernaut1]

One of my bikes has Teatro brakes too. They came with the green coloured backing plate pads which were useless for slowing down from higher speeds. So I changed to pads to the red P20.11, upgraded to Shimano ice tech rotors with a larger front rotor…..and cancelled my life insurance! I need to change my pads about every year on both my e-bikes.

 

[spokewrench]

I also bought a Radmission in the 2022 sale, and I love the way it rides, after I raised the handlebars and moved the seat back. I wish the wheelbase were a little longer and that it had a gearshift so I could manage more hills without motor assistance.

I'd never liked the OE tires on my Radrunner, and at the time it seemed nothing else was available for those rims. I love the OE Radmission tires. (I replaced the tubes with less porous ones.)

The OE controller may have provided 500 electrical watts, but It produced only 350 mechanical watts. What's more, humidity caused it to malfunction on several occasions. A 25 amp aftermarket controller with a KT display gives me 700 mechanical watts, in case I'm in a hurry or a hill is steep.

It horrified me that the tail light lens didn't have a reflector. WHAT WERE THEY THINKING!!!! Just below the seat I installed a 3" red reflector that cost $1 or so.

My pads were fine until the summer of 2024, when the Radmission sat because I rode on another bike. The air was very humid, and the pads absorbed enough moisture that they didn't hold well and wore very rapidly. A hair dryer would have prevented that.