Rad just sent an email about a new model coming 12/6/22. What do you think it might be? Hard to tell by the attachment image.
Looks like some sort of stepthru frame with pullback bars? A MiniST 3, maybe?
I'm curious as well. I sold my 'Runner and now miss it. I just don't think my wife would like the high passenger pegs on a RadRunner Plus. So I'm holding out till the big reveal! What's your wish list? Mine: Low passenger pegs, true 750watt motor (or higher?) and possible dual battery option!
If its truly the "most requested" then we should have seen it posted here more than 100 times.
Probably not a tandem but maybe a trike.
Looks like a trike - 2 rear fenders look like they are peaking out in the picture.
Someone on a Reddit thread said it is a trike and that they had ridden one in the testing phase. Their comments were that they popped it up on two wheels a number of times when turning corners - they weren't impressed. We'll have to see.
Hopefully it doesn't have exploding tires or batteries that short in the wind. . .
I can't tell what the bike is from the pictures as the whole thing is mostly just black. However, I would LOVE to see a RW with 20 inch tires so we're not stuck with one off type tires.
Totally agree - no more proprietary tires.
<added> I see a picture here
https://electrek.co/2022/12/01/rad-power-bikes-releases-teaser-image-new-electric-bike/
It is a trike. Preview article was inadvertently posted then pulled, but its still cached in google.
https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:tsaH0GhvBoMJ:https://cleantechnica.com/2022/12/02/rad-power-bikes-takes-a-bold-step-into-the-world-of-three-wheelers-with-the-radtrike/&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=firefox-b-1-d (https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:tsaH0GhvBoMJ:https://cleantechnica.com/2022/12/02/rad-power-bikes-takes-a-bold-step-into-the-world-of-three-wheelers-with-the-radtrike/&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=firefox-b-1-d)
I'm definitely thinking Trike - a more consumer friendly version of the RadBurro....
Interesting that it is a trike. I wonder if it has a differential or if pedaling only drives one rear wheel like some current trikes.
Here it is: https://bit.ly/3iHx4Pb
We did an unboxing you can check out here: https://ebikeescape.com/rad-power-bikes-radtrike-review/
Full review out within the next day or two. Let me know if anyone has questions and I'll do my best to answer them 8)
Thanks for the link. I do see a second bike in the future for me. A trike may not be so bad if I want to take a "non-bicyclist" with me for a ride. Some people can ride a bike - but for whatever reason, is still intimidated riding longer distance like 2 miles even on an easy bike path. This can be like driving a car. I can put in a basket and carry a dog. I currently have a bike dog trailer but this is interesting.
Interesting. I wonder what the buying strategy would be - one might want to buy it right away. Remember the Expand? It came with a low introductory price to get good reviews and then without warning Rad raised the price. Of course, there is the cautious approach of waiting and seeing other people's report.
I am concerned about the tires described as "Exclusive Rad Power Bikes by Kenda Kontact 18" x 2.25", K-Shield puncture-resistant liner." Does Amazon sell a 18 inch by 2.25 tire? Or is Rad the only source?
I can't tell if it has a differential. Now that I think about this concept, if I had one, I'll probably just pedal to keep in shape and use mostly electric assist so maybe the differential is not important.
I am interested in what happens if the trike hits a speed bump at speed. What happens if you hit it at an angle? What happens if you are riding on a decent speed on a cement path and one wheel goes off road, drops an inch and hits the grass?
I prefer a lower handlebar. I suppose it is not so bad because I can replace the handlebar with a flat bar.
Thanks
The owner's manual is available for download and viewing on Rad's webpage. https://radpowerbikes.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360036980374-Download-My-Owner-s-Manual-or-View-Assembly-Video
Not a bad-looking bike but it is capped at 14mph out of the box.
My guess is that this Trike is aimed at the disabled and seniors as a scooter alternative and not at the biking community at large. ( but this is just my opinion)
Quote from: Si1Dia on December 06, 2022, 08:41:29 AM
My guess is that this Trike is aimed at the disabled and seniors as a scooter alternative and not at the biking community at large. ( but this is just my opinion)
Insightful.
Eric7, I think you are right. I believe the price is an introductory price and it will be raised soon. $2400 USD for an electric trike is a good price. It looks well made and I wonder what trike accessories will be available for it. Although I don't want one, and I'm in Canada and it's not listed here yet, I'm looking forward to Ryan's evaluation.
Will there be a roll cage add on? ;)
That's a lot of money for no racks, no front suspension.
Nice to see it has a reverse gear of some sort; for the intended audience that'll be very useful.
Radio Runner, Yes. I remember the 3 wheel ATV ban. My initial thought is that I am not going 20 mph or even 14 mph with a tricycle.
With an internal hub brake, I don't think this was meant to go fast or too far and is probably more of a mobility device.
JimInPT, I think the intended audience would prefer a longer wheelbase so they don't have to tuck cargo even a little bit under the seat. With a tricycle, compact size is not a big consideration. Also a big wire basket with a wood floor front and back since it appears to be a low-speed mobility device.
No differential but the left rear wheel freewheels. Thus the drive/brake side is on the right. I've seen so many comments about lack of stability. I realize I am not the target demographic but it was way more stable than I thought it was with the caveat that it's not meant to turn at high speeds.
Thank you Ryan for your hard work and sharing.
How does the geared hub work? Does it freewheel? I've never heard of a geared hub that goes backwards. Can the trike roll down a hill smoothly without electricity or is it like a direct drive where there is a drag is there is no power?
Thanks again.
Good question, from what I was told it's the same motor found in other models. Unfortunately, I don't know how they made it go backward. The drag seems the same as the other Rad motors unlike a direct drive motor.
No doubt with 18? wheels the low center of gravity makes it stable. However 18? tires are another conundrum of limited selection. 20? would have been a better choice at only a slight cost in stability if that.
I don't have experience riding a trike but here is an interesting point or question.
The left wheel freewheels. The right wheel is on a coaster brake. So say a person is going downhill and is uneducated in the workings of this trike, and the person only apply the rear brakes - which in this case is only the right wheel brake.
Is the right rear brake only sufficient to stop a bike + rider + luggage going 12 mph without the application of the front brake?
Would the trike pull hard to make a right turn if only the right rear brake is applied? How much steering correction is needed?
I am a bit hesitant, I'll wait for the long term reviews.
Naturally, the safe way is to apply all the brakes all the time on a bike regardless of whether it is a 2, 3 or 4 wheels.
On the plus side of things, it seems to be a modular system - to a point. Even if Rad stops making it, you can add your own front drive system. This actually reassures me knowing I am not dependent on one company. Of course, if the rear drive breaks, one would still have a hard time if Rad stops making it but that's (not having a second source for all the parts) pretty standard I think for trikes.
Quote from: Ryan on December 08, 2022, 08:40:11 AM
Good question, from what I was told it's the same motor found in other models. Unfortunately, I don't know how they made it go backward. The drag seems the same as the other Rad motors unlike a direct drive motor.
The motor may be the same, but the standard motor has a clutch that the planetary gears are mounted to. Reverse would not work with the clutch, so Rad most likely eliminated it, and compensated for the drag with virtual freewheeling. Of course this raises a question: If there is no clutch in this model, is regenerative braking available?
Quote from: Eric7 on December 08, 2022, 01:37:28 PM
I don't have experience riding a trike but here is an interesting point or question.
The left wheel freewheels. The right wheel is on a coaster brake. So say a person is going downhill and is uneducated in the workings of this trike, and the person only apply the rear brakes - which in this case is only the right wheel brake.
Is the right rear brake only sufficient to stop a bike + rider + luggage going 12 mph without the application of the front brake?
Would the trike pull hard to make a right turn if only the right rear brake is applied? How much steering correction is needed?
I am a bit hesitant, I'll wait for the long term reviews.
Naturally, the safe way is to apply all the brakes all the time on a bike regardless of whether it is a 2, 3 or 4 wheels.
On the plus side of things, it seems to be a modular system - to a point. Even if Rad stops making it, you can add your own front drive system. This actually reassures me knowing I am not dependent on one company. Of course, if the rear drive breaks, one would still have a hard time if Rad stops making it but that's (not having a second source for all the parts) pretty standard I think for trikes.
If a person applies the rear brake only, hard, the wheel will just skid and be dragged. Maybe on wet ice there would be an issue with control, but on pavement or dirt, you still have 66.6% traction on the other 2 wheels (depending on loading conditions). Ideally, they could have had inboard disc brakes on both back wheels, but the cable would be a complication on a bike that's designed to be unbolted and split in half.