Quote from: 2wheeler on February 12, 2021, 11:45:26 PMI have installed 35 amp controllers and color displays on both the Radmini and the Radrover models.

Was that the standard Mini or StepThru, and which controller mod did you use?  I have the StepThru and have yet to hear about anybody squeezing a new controller into that model, but I suppose it's possible.

Did they give you the $100 discount sale price on the Mission?  I keep getting emails about that, but absolutely happy with my Mini StepThru.

I received my Mini Step-Thru in March and like you I had my doubts about the CST Big Boat tires and tread, but I have to say I like them very much.  They are puncture-resistant, but I hit 'em with Slime anyway and they are holding 30 psi pressure very well after 150 miles, including a lot of simple trails with rocks and smallish thorns.  They are fine on packed dirt and gravel trails and very nice on pavement.  Quiet as well and less rolling resistance than a knobby tread.

I'd live with them for a while and see if you feel the same about them; you can always order and install the Kenda knobbies - I've decided not to do that for now as I start to rack up the miles and hours on the Big Boats.

Slowing them down a bit is always a good idea, but using a cable that lies on the ground makes it much easier to cut.  With large enough bolt-cutters, the concrete surface provides plenty of leverage assist to cut through as you can apply full body weight to the top handle.

Here is an example of what I mean, showing bolt cutters used on a U-lock; there are many videos online with ideas for better bike security:



If it fits through your floor ring, a high-quality hardened and huge security chain would be better than a cable as long as the lock mechanism is as high off the floor as possible; something like this:

I'm thinking of ordering this carrier.  Reviews online are pretty good and the price is right, but I'm wondering how adaptable the support spacing is for the RadMini's wheelbase and tire diameter - all the reviews/photos I've found either illustrate a motorcycle or larger Rover-sized e-bike.   It's supposedly rated to 400 lb, so a 90-lb Mini should be no problem.

I think it'd work fine, but would rather discover reasons why not before ordering.

https://www.harborfreight.com/400-lb-receiver-mount-aluminum-motorcycle-carrier-62837.html

EDIT 30 June 2021: I bought a blank key on eBay to see if they really do unlock the batteries.  Yep, they do; it immediately unlocked mine and every other recent-model Rad owner's battery I've tried so far!  So beware - for $7 to get a key, it's easy to steal the battery!

EDIT 12 March 2022:  This mod might work on the new Expand5 models too; the frame under the seat seems to be very similar to the MiniST2, if not identical. 

After looking around at the locking post clamp and other approaches in this thread, I came up with a solution that others might find useful.  Note that this is for my RadMini Step-Thru 2 bike and works perfectly, but might not work on other frames without modification.  For this bike, it's just what I needed and cost only about $25.

I've attached some photos - you can see that I previously removed the quick-release seatpost clamp and replaced it with a standard clamp, after replacing the stock bolt with a tamper-resistant Torx bolt.  That makes it a lot harder to steal the seat and Redshift suspension post, but does nothing to protect the battery.

So I did a lot of searching and finally ordered this small U-lock for about $17:  https://amzn.to/3g370KV  Note that the identical item is sold under several Chineseium names from various vendors if this one happens to be out of stock.  It's surprisingly strong and well-made; perhaps the locking mechanism can be picked, but it's almost impossible to get to it with a pick tool the way I have it mounted - it will definitely slow down even an accomplished thief and cutting it won't be easy, quick or quiet.

But by itself, the shackle is too loose; it can easily be wiggled up and over the seatpost clamp, clearing the way for battery removal.  So I went to the hardware store and bought 1-foot of 1-3/8" outer-diameter nylon-reinforced thickwall plastic tubing to push on over the U part of the lock.  I just eyeballed it in the store, but got lucky and it's exactly the length I needed.  But, it's very stiff at room temperature and won't install over that tight of a curve.  Solution?  Boil it in a pot of water for 10 minutes to soften it up (it won't soften a lot, but enough), then right out of the water use insulated rubber gloves to quickly shove it over and around the U before it cools off - it works.  Then put it into the sun with the points down to drain it for a couple minutes, then invert with the open side up to evaporate the remaining drops of moisture inside to help prevent rust (the entire lock mechanism is already rubber coated except at the very tips of the U).

Voilá - it's a perfect tight fit; I had to really wedge it in there to be able to reassemble the lock and remove the key.  Perfect!  No wiggle, no rattle, no movement - it protects both the battery and the seatpost clamp; they are going nowhere and everything is rubber-coated to protect the paint.  Bonus effect: it also jams up the controller and toolbag (mounted between frame rails above rear fender) a bit, making them slightly harder to mess with.  If you look closely at the lock by itself, you can see an indent at the top of the U where it relaxed in the sun to mold itself around the seatpost clamp; as a result it's a tiny bit smaller and much easier to lock in place than it was at first.  It's a bit of a hassle to remove that lock even with a key, so I've switched to just charging the battery on the bike in the garage instead of removing it each time.

Works great and doesn't cost a lot - hope this might help somebody else, especially another Mini Step-Thru owner.

Cheers!

Quote from: RadJohn on April 22, 2021, 04:37:46 PM
For those who remove and carry their Rad batteries around, if you're anywhere near as paranoid as I am about dropping one of the shiny, slippery, expen$ive things, a C.E. Smith Draw Bar Storage Bag (for a trailer hitch) fits the battery like a glove, has handles and is built like a brick outhouse:

https://amzn.to/3iqsNNW

Thanks for that tip!  I just ordered one and think it's a shame (and maybe a company liability) for Rad to ship batteries worth $500 with their bikes that can all be removed with a key blank.  Imagine the outcry if Tesla did that.  It's ultimately the battery manufacturer's design fault through their choice of lock vendor; does anybody know if any other brands are affected?

UPDATE: received the bag and you're right - it fits my Mini's battery like a glove!  Very much appreciate the tip.

I also swapped out the stock seat torture device with a Cloud-9 Cruiser Select within a couple days of putting my Mini ST on the road.  It's a big improvement but my butt is still somewhat sore after 30 minutes or so (it only took 4-5 minutes with the stock seat).  So I have a Bikeroo Senior (https://amzn.to/3bhjg7v) on order, due to arrive next week, just to see if it's a bit better.  I think seats are like shoes; you have to try them on to see if they fit, and maybe I just haven't developed the right butt callouses yet.

The Cloud 9 is a bit heavy, but very well built and solid - to install, remove the included C9 post adapter and just mount its rails directly to the stock Rad Mini post.

UPDATE June 14: I've now tried the Bikeroo and a Velmia, both are well-made seats but just didn't improve things.  After adding a Redshift suspension seatpost, I eventually settled on a different Cloud 9 seat, their Cruiser Gel Sofa model, which is wider and flatter than the Cruiser Select and for me the best of the bunch so far.  https://amzn.to/3helhU7 The nose on this one is about 1.5" too long IMHO, but doesn't get in the way.  Unfortunately, you have to keep trying seats to find the best fit, but a good return policy for the rejects helps. 

My butt still gets sore, not as much, but shifting around a bit helps and the Redshift really helps smooth out the bumps along the way.

Wow, about 50 views and nobody had ideas.  Ok, I'll answer my own question.


This one (BV Classic Bike Saddle Bag), even in Large size, fits fine: https://amzn.to/3w47iqf

It's easy to install under the stock seat, a little tougher when under my replacement Cloud 9 Cruiser Select (barely clears the springs, but it works), but it still fits even with the seatpost within 4" of the bottom, and with both a rear rack and small basket installed.  The back side of the bag runs right up to the basket, so you have to loosen the straps for access to the stuff inside, but that makes it a little more secure and harder to steal.


Pretty nice bag, by the way; a Vibrelli pump fits (diagonally) along with a Milton pressure gauge, 4 Gorilla tire levers, Handlebar Jack, Crankbrothers M19 multitool, patch kit etc. - without having to open the expansion pocket at the bottom.

EDIT: after adding a Redshift suspension seatpost, I moved this bag down to atop the rear fender, between the frame bars just forward of the rack, to avoid interfering with the seat movement or rubbing against the rear basket.  Pic below; works great.

There may be very large ruggedized cases from Pelican or similar companies that will do the trick, with the type of foam inserts that you can pick out to form-fit to your bike.  Probably big money at that size, though.

You might consider having a good carpenter or shipping company build you a custom reusable crate, perhaps with built-in cross-bracing, supports and padding and hinged top or even drop sides to make it easy to get in/out and inspect at airport security.  In a past life, I used such crates for instrumentation or other equipment shipping all over the world.  If built well and with easily-accessed grab handles and armored corners, they survived many long flights and really poor handling by carriers.

Before I start sifting through many dozens of available underseat tool/patch/pump bags, does anybody have one on their Mini StepThru that they love?  I'm planning to swap out the stock seat for a Cloud 9 Cruiser Select saddle soon, if that makes a difference.

Thanks!