Author Topic: 2020 Rad city 3 step thru and Bolton upgrade  (Read 3134 times)

mbates50

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2020 Rad city 3 step thru and Bolton upgrade
« on: February 01, 2021, 05:08:42 PM »
Anyone put their 35amp controller own their rad city (2020)?

DCH3416

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Re: 2020 Rad city 3 step thru and Bolton upgrade
« Reply #1 on: April 19, 2021, 12:18:52 PM »
I bought the same type of controller/display bolton sells for my 2019 RadCity about a month ago. The stock display stopped working and I got tired of waiting rad to turn around (3 weeks) a replacement.

It does work fine. Some observations for anyone considering an aftermarket controller on this model rad:

- Acceleration feels much more powerful. It's more of a linear acceleration rather than the "soft start" off the stock controller.

- The motor vibrates a bit more at lower speed. The aftermarket controller sends a square wave instead of the sinewave you get stock, not as smooth but not a big deal.

- Top speed is still no greater than a bit over 25mph. This is probably a limit of the direct drive motor. You can easily exceed 25mph downhill unlike the stock controller.

- This controller does seem to chew through the battery a lot faster. Time will tell as I get the settings dialed in.

- Regen braking is louder.

- I also observed the motor feels a lot hotter. (May shorted its life?)

- There's more a delay in acceleration at speed, this affects both pedal assist and throttle. If you let go of the throttle completely and then apply, it takes about an extra half second to start accelerating again compared to stock.

- I have the color display. I find it a bit harder to read under hard sunlight. Also a bit too bright at night.

- Aftermarket display buttons are nicer feeling and easier to press.

In conclusion. It's not a bad investment if you're looking for a bit more acceleration and a more "raw" feeling bike, at the cost of range.
Otherwise, stock I think these bikes are about as good as they'll get.

DCH3416

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Re: 2020 Rad city 3 step thru and Bolton upgrade
« Reply #2 on: April 19, 2021, 12:22:38 PM »
And this is the configuration I started with:


LIM: 72 km/h --- LOL  I wish... just want to see what is possible with the &^$%^#*&^ of a motor on these bikes
DIM: 26"
UNT: 3
P1: 46
P2: 5
P3: 1
P4: 0
P5: 15
C1: 3
C2: 0
C3: 1
C4: 0
C5: 06
C6: 3
C7: 1
C8: 0
C9: 0
C10: N
C11: 0
C12: 4
C13: 1
C14: 1

L1: 0
L2: 0
L3: 1
L4: 5

mambo99

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Re: 2020 Rad city 3 step thru and Bolton upgrade
« Reply #3 on: May 20, 2021, 11:22:18 PM »
How/where did you mount the controller to the RadCity? I've heard that the Bolton controller is a bit larger than the stock controller and can bump up against the fender if installed in the same spot at the stock controller.

DCH3416

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Re: 2020 Rad city 3 step thru and Bolton upgrade
« Reply #4 on: May 21, 2021, 08:35:49 AM »
I wedged it into the same spot as the stock controller. Tight fit but it works.

Rad Power Bikes Owners Forum

Re: 2020 Rad city 3 step thru and Bolton upgrade
« Reply #4 on: May 21, 2021, 08:35:49 AM »