Before he was the Founder & Chairman of North America’s largest ebike maker, Mike Radenbaugh was a teenager tinkerer. He’d spend hours in his parents' garage soldering spare electronic parts to an old bicycle in hopes of developing a better way to complete his rural and hilly 15-mile ride to high school.
The result was “The Frankenbike,” a battery-powered ride that could outpace cars — and get him to class without breaking a sweat. His mom suggested a catchy name for the new project: Rad Power Bikes.
Charging ahead
Mike made a name for himself converting traditional bicycles to electric bikes, selling them by word-of-mouth, at local craft fairs, and through newspaper ads. Some years later, the “ebike guy,” as he was known to locals, had a vision for a professionally crafted, rugged, comfortable, and high-performance ebike that could replace car, truck, and SUV trips at a massive scale.
He teamed up with Ty Collins, his childhood friend and marketer, for an exciting next step: crowdsourcing the development of Rad’s first flagship product.
Within 30 days, Rad raised $320,000 to start building the all-new RadRover, an electric fat tire bike that would go on to transform the entire industry.
Full throttle
Following the breakthrough success of the RadRover, Mike started exploring other designs that could get people out of their cars and into the bike lane.
The RadWagon electric cargo bike was the next to join the line-up. It raised the bar for what people could do on two wheels, thanks to an elongated frame, a roomy staging area for child seats, and a jaw-dropping 350 lb. weight capacity.
Next came the RadMini an electric folding bike fine-tuned for both apartment-dwellers and RV explorers. Then the RadCity for commuters looking to sidestep traffic. Step-thru models soon entered the mix, tearing down longstanding barriers to cycling and solidifying Rad’s reputation for accessibility.
With each new model, Rad’s engineering team grew, which set a pace for better, more innovative bikes every year. The batteries slimmed down, the frames grew more refined, and with so many new riders eager to take them for a spin, Rad Power Bikes quickly found themselves as the leaders of an emerging industry.
Today
With over 550,000 riders across the globe, and more jumping in the saddle every day, Rad Power Bikes is committed to more than award-winning electric bikes. We’re laser-focused on redefining transportation at large.
The innovative spirit behind Mike’s first ebike continues to guide us, whether that’s through bold new offerings like the RadRover 6 Plus, a robust customer support team, or new retail stores that can bring the power of electric bikes directly to your community.
But we don’t stop there. As the pioneers of the direct-to-consumer ebike movement, we’re dedicated to helping you start your adventure on your own terms.
It’s all a reflection of our longstanding one-on-one approach: design products that address customers’ specific needs and empower them with the support to stay moving.
And do you want to know the best part? The ride’s just getting started.
CLINTON RIDES + RAD POWER BASICS.
OK, so what is an electric bike?
Really, ebikes are just bikes. What makes them unique is a small electric motor, one that can give you either a gentle boost or enough power to conquer almost any hill.
Who can ride an ebike?
Men and women. College kids and senior citizens. Hardcore cyclists, people who have been sidelined by injuries, and first-time riders. We build bikes that are designed for everyone.
How old do I have to be to ride an ebike?
You must be 16 or older to operate a Rad Power Bikes ebike. Children under the age of 16 may lack the necessary judgment and skill to safely operate the ebike. A parent or legal guardian should always decide whether a child should operate or ride on an electric bike or any other vehicle.
Some localities may require ebike riders to be older than 16, so know and obey local regulations regarding rider age and other qualification. (17 in NJ)
Can I pedal it like a normal bike?
Yep! One of the best things about ebikes is that you can put in as much or as little effort as you like. You're free to pedal like crazy, doing all the work, or if you're in a hurry, let the pedal assist solve your need for speed.
What is pedal assist?
With the click of a button (followed by the stroke of a pedal), you can control how much power the motor generates. This doesn't move the bike by itself, but it does put some oomph behind your pedaling.
On most models, there are five levels to choose from. When you go with pedal assist level 1, it will feel like someone is giving your bike a soft push while you ride. When you're at pedal assist 5, it feels like your legs have been replaced by a pair of mighty stallions.
Most of our riders hover around the pedal assist 2 range, but you always have the choice to go with whatever suits you best.
Can they be powered without pedaling? What does the throttle do?
Yes! Pedal assist is just one way you can call up power from the motor. The other is the twist throttle (U.S. and Canada spec bikes).
When you go for the throttle, the back wheel will spin automatically, making it feel like a professional cyclist has stepped in to pedal for you. It's great for those times when you have to get up to speed quickly or just need to take a break from pedaling and don't want to stop your ride.
How fast do they go?
All of our bikes have a top speed of 20 mph (25 km/h in the EU).
To put that into perspective, the average bull in Pamplona’s Running of the Bulls hits about 15 mph. We're not saying that you should use our bikes to outrun raging bovines through the streets of Spain, but the important thing is you could.
How long does the battery last?
The battery is where the “power” in Rad Power Bikes comes from. It's a lightweight, energy-dense alternative to the lead-acid batteries you’d find in most cars.
You can remove it from the bike and charge it using any standard power outlet. They're designed for roughly 800 charge cycles and can last up to 6-7 years.
With proper care, you can expect a range of 25-45 miles per full charge.
According to the Verge, “as electric bikes become more popular in the US, the risk of deadly fires stemming from cheaply made batteries has become an unfortunate side effect that risks derailing the momentum of an important climate change fighting tool.”
While Rad has always equipped our electric bikes with top-tier batteries loaded with high-quality cells, the folks at the Rad Lab set out to go above and beyond with our latest release.
Safe Shield is a first-of-its kind ebike battery designed to stop fires before they start — and as our friends at electrek put it, "it’s hard to overstate how pivotal this will be for the ebike industry."
Here’s why we’re getting charged up about our new cutting-edge battery – and why you should too!
1. UL Certified
Safe Shield batteries are UL Certified to UL 2271 standards.
This means that they’ve been put through a rigorous series of tests to meet standards set by UL Solutions, a global safety science leader.
Heads up: We’re starting to see more local communities set up regulations that will only allow UL Certified batteries in their neighborhoods, so going with a Safe Shield battery is a great way to future-proof your ride.
2. Thermal-Resistant Technology
Safe Shield Batteries are more durable and powerful, and feature industry-leading thermal-resistant technology for an extra layer of safety, whether it’s on or off your ebike.
Each cell is wrapped in a unique heat-absorbing resin that can effectively stop the spread of a localized thermal event, and can even extinguish it.
3. Compatible on All Current Rad Ebikes
Safe Shield Batteries are compatible with any ebike currently sold by Rad – and not just our new lineup.
That means if you have a RadRunner 2 or RadRover 6 Plus, you can still enjoy the benefits of a Safe Shield battery.
They’re available à la carte and come in both semi-integrated and external styles. Simply choose the one that matches the battery your current Rad ebike accepts, and you’ll be ready to roll.
4. More Range
Our batteries have gone from 14 Ah to 15 Ah – but what does that mean for you as a rider?
In short, these batteries can store more electricity, which means you can enjoy longer rides, fewer charging sessions in between, and a longer battery life cycle.
5. High-Quality Cells
The same high-grade lithium-ion cells that were once reserved for electric cars now power your electric bike, giving you added capability, greater efficiency, and a longer battery life cycle.
Each Safe Shield battery is built with reliable Samsung or LG cells.
Safe Shield Batteries are just one piece in our new lineup’s suite of advanced safety features. Check out what you can expect when you ride Rad.