The dimness of the pedal assist display is a problem that has been known since the City 5+ came out and has apparently not been corrected. I like my bike, but this does not reflect well on Rad.

I posted this on another thread about the same issue, but I'll also post it here.

I finally made the switch! Looks better. I went to the mother ship (Seattle Rad store) and asked them about the situation. The sales guy was clueless; they have a bike for display with the wrong configuration. A service guy gave me more helpful information. He said that Rad made a decision to change the setup after getting reports that the original configuration was leading to complaints about the rear fender "slapping" the rear wheel. He said the photos on the website were taken pre-production and had not been changed. That seems somewhat plausible, but I took a test ride after changing it and encountered no such problem; this included riding on a very rough stretch of road and going over speed bumps at 18 mph. As the OP said, just do it!

This is admittedly a rather minor problem that does not affect Rad's revenue or much affect the bike's function. But it seems like Rad should correct it if it was done mistakenly.

Has anyone who made the switch had problems afterward?

Has anyone done the switch and had problems?

I finally did it! Looks better. I went to the mother ship (Seattle Rad store) and asked them about the situation. The sales guy was clueless; they have a bike for display with the wrong configuration. A service guy gave me more helpful information. He said that Rad made a decision to change the setup after getting reports that the original configuration was leading to complaints about the rear fender "slapping" the rear wheel. He said the photos on the website were taken pre-production and had not been changed. That seems somewhat plausible, but I took a test ride after changing it and encountered no such problem; this included riding on a very rough stretch of road and going over speed bumps at 18 mph. As the OP said, just do it!

I did the very same thing, touching my key to the charging port. The battery then only took a 70% charge according to the LEDs. I took it in to Rad (luckily, I live in Seattle) and they just gave me a new battery (the bike was still under warranty). I was all prepared for a lengthy argument about how--even though it was technically user error--it was an easy mistake to make if one wasn't fully alert, and that it pointed to a design problem. But that wasn't necessary. I think they should at least have a warning in the manual (correct me if I missed it).

I had a minor accident with my City 5+, falling into a bush and twisting the handlebars so that one of the brake lever cables came apart. Reattaching was no problem, but afterward no throttle or PAS. Apparently it was the wiring harness--no visible damage, but replacing the harness fixed it.

Duct tape it inside of a fender.

$109 to correct the problem on the 5 Plus? Rad should offer it for free or at minimal cost.

I got a different one off of Amazon, which I trimmed down, but yours looks like a better option. I put it on my City 5 Plus simply because I have had two accidents r/t unexpected stopping, where I didn't have the presence of mind to use the throttle quickly. I think it is going to help. I also lowered the seat, but I'm inching it up gradually because as a former road biker, I find the low seat very uncomfortable.

Thanks for the post, Muskie1! Indulging my vindictive side: did the perp get ticketed?

Very good advice. I'm 3 months into a Rad City Plus and have had several tip-overs, despite having been a road biker for years. Be very careful at low speeds and get used to the throttle! I think Rad and other companies should emphasize this more.

I use a handlebar extender with power bank, like this:

https://amzn.to/3Olmicp

I haven't tested it extensively, but it seems like a workable solution.

"I locked up my bike a couple of times today while running errands around town. I used the Abus frame lock with the additional chain. This was the same lock I used with a different e-bike a few months ago and I really liked it. Feels heavy duty and it's easy to carry with me while riding. I felt relatively confident that the bike would be safe."

I concur about the ABUS frame lock with chain--very good all-around choice except for high-security needs.

I have a City 5 Plus and right away bought a fairly expensive ABUS folding lock, but now I don't usually carry or use it. I have the frame/wheel lock on my rear wheel, and the chain that plugs into it. I believe it is adequate security for an hour or two in public places. I really consider it two locks because you would have to cut the chain and defeat the frame lock (I'm not sure how). I also have a motion alarm that I sometimes engage.

I just took my City 5 Plus in for the free tuneup (a bit late at 200 miles). They noticed some damage to the front tire, I think the sidewall, and gave me a new tire--they said it was a known quality problem. You might want to check your tires.