Rad Power Bikes Owners Forum

Discussions by Rad Model => RadCity => Topic started by: pjiaria on February 03, 2022, 07:58:25 AM

Title: Waiting for 3rd City 5
Post by: pjiaria on February 03, 2022, 07:58:25 AM
1st one - code 30 (tried everything), while sitting on kickstand after only one 8 mile ride.
2nd one - DOA, no power to motor, displays not reporting battery level correctly (main - not at all), physical oddities. (details on request)
3rd one - Out for delivery - Odds look good based on my experience being the only one here....

Follow up - 3rd time is the charm (so far). If it doesn't code 30 next week, I've made progress. This one had a cleaner pack job and more materials than the last.


Follow up - 35 miles and over 2 weeks all is good! Great ride!!!
Title: Re: Waiting for 3rd City 5
Post by: Radding Along on February 03, 2022, 11:57:57 AM
I haven't heard of a lot of issues with the City 5 Plus out of the box. Most people seem to love them. Check to see if you have a black cloud over your house.

Seriously, I'm sure the new one will be fine. 3rd times a charm!
Title: Re: Waiting for 3rd City 5
Post by: pjiaria on February 03, 2022, 03:27:14 PM
That's possible, FL weather.  ;D - All good with #3 so far. I really am hoping this was bad luck.
Title: Re: Waiting for 3rd City 5
Post by: Radding Along on February 07, 2022, 07:24:40 PM
Glad to hear it. Now put some major miles on your new toy!
Title: Re: Waiting for 3rd City 5
Post by: jcvdd on February 08, 2022, 07:24:15 AM
Quote from: pjiaria on February 03, 2022, 07:58:25 AM
1st one - code 30 (tried everything), while sitting on kickstand after only one 8 mile ride.
2nd one - DOA, no power to motor, displays not reporting battery level correctly (main - not at all), physical oddities. (details on request)
3rd one - Out for delivery - Odds look good based on my experience being the only one here....

Follow up - 3rd time is the charm (so far). If it doesn't code 30 next week, I've made progress. This one had a cleaner pack job and more materials than the last.
Hello-
Like yourself, I'm waiting on my second RadCity 5 Plus. Purchased one 10 days ago and it never worked as the controller died. If my second RadCity 5 Plus is also dead,
no way am I buying another....Good Luck 
Title: Re: Waiting for 3rd City 5
Post by: pjiaria on February 08, 2022, 03:09:43 PM
Never worked? So far #3 is ok, only 5 miles, time and weather problems here in the Sunshine state.
Title: Re: Waiting for 3rd City 5
Post by: jcvdd on February 11, 2022, 05:19:27 PM
Hello-
Just got my second RadCity 5 Plus bike and like the first, DOA right out of the box.
I have lost all faith in this company and as soon as this bike is returned back for a second
time, its Aventon for me.
Title: Re: Waiting for 3rd City 5
Post by: Slowrider on February 13, 2022, 05:46:56 PM
Quote from: jcvdd on February 11, 2022, 05:19:27 PM
Hello-
Just got my second RadCity 5 Plus bike and like the first, DOA right out of the box.
I have lost all faith in this company and as soon as this bike is returned back for a second
time, its Aventon for me.
Good luck with the Aventon.  I hear their customer service is nonexistent but I've never owned one so I can't say for sure.  Maybe it will work and you won't need it  :)
Title: Re: Waiting for 3rd City 5
Post by: pjiaria on February 13, 2022, 06:12:06 PM
Wow, just took my second ride on #3. No issues yet. Yikes on QC. Gotta say CS has been great to work with. Stay calm. Maybe they'll toss you a big gift card... (hint)
Title: Re: Waiting for 3rd City 5
Post by: pjiaria on April 13, 2022, 11:59:44 AM
3rd RC5 died today. 106 miles, 3 charges, maybe 8-10 rides. 2 months. Code 30 while on kickstand (2nd bike, second time). In garage not ridden for about 6 days. Battery shows 6 bars. Remote display reads 1 bar, then the error 30 occurs. They are sending a controller and harness.

I cannot recommend this model. I only hope they offer us reliable controller for our 2 thousand dollars BEFORE warranty runs out (or their bankruptcy...)
Title: Re: Waiting for 3rd City 5
Post by: Slowrider on April 14, 2022, 01:42:40 PM
Quote from: pjiaria on April 13, 2022, 11:59:44 AM
3rd RC5 died today. 106 miles, 3 charges, maybe 8-10 rides. 2 months. Code 30 while on kickstand (2nd bike, second time). In garage not ridden for about 6 days. Battery shows 6 bars. Remote display reads 1 bar, then the error 30 occurs. They are sending a controller and harness.

I cannot recommend this model. I only hope they offer us reliable controller for our 2 thousand dollars BEFORE warranty runs out (or their bankruptcy...)

I just finished replacing the controller on my RadCity 5.  It wasn't code 30 but for some reason it made the speedometer go down to 0 when coasting.  Otherwise it worked perfectly but that was just annoying enough for me to want to fix.  I suspect Rad is working hard to fix the controller issue because the new controller I got was revision M vs the old one was revision G. 

Take your time and even take some photos of the screws before taking them out.  Read the instructions online.  They're not as good as I'd like but they do help.  On the battery mount and key lock there are two different types of screws.  One is a short T9 Torx and the other a longer T8 Torx.  Double check your connectors as well.  Right after I replaced it the bike would intermittently not want to turn on and if it did the headlight didn't come on.  It was one of the connectors not secure enough.  I did the high step but there's even a video for the step over.
Title: Re: Waiting for 3rd City 5
Post by: pjiaria on April 27, 2022, 09:13:14 AM
Been a few days since I successfully replaced the controller and harness in the RC5. So far so good. It was rough finding the screw holes in the controller during mounting... Holding onto hope with the revision I got.
Title: Re: Waiting for 3rd City 5
Post by: Rover on April 29, 2022, 03:15:57 PM
Controller went sideways after 70 miles. The numbers became jumbled for everything. I could still tell the speed, but that varied with each numeral. Same effect on the clock, total miles, etc. But everything did work--I just couldn't see the numbers on the controller well. RAD sent a new one. Unfortunately rain has hampered my riding since then so I know it works but we'll see how long. I'm guessing they have this figured out. Though a few on this site have had controller issues, RAD sells very large numbers. I once had a Sonders and the controller went out. They were very reluctant to send a replacement. CS was almost impossible to reach. By that comparison RAD has been top shelf on the CS side so far.
Title: Re: Waiting for 3rd City 5
Post by: NeilCutcliffe on May 29, 2022, 04:47:06 PM
New Rad City 5 high step, got code 30 out of the box. Rad sent a new wiring harness and motor controller. Wiring Harness arrived first. I replaced it but still got code 30. New motor controller arrived yesterday and I installed it today.

Now code 30 is gone. But I only get power for about 1 or 2 seconds and the power to the motor cuts out. The display and side panel are still on, no errors reported. The headlight and taillight are still on. But no power to the motor in response to either hand throttle or PAS mode.

I had the same rough time as pjiaria finding the screw holes in the controller during mounting.

Very discouraged. I'll contact RAD CS tomorrow, see what they propose next.
Title: Re: Waiting for 3rd City 5
Post by: cerebrix on May 29, 2022, 07:33:06 PM
Sitting here reading this thread, while thinking about how my e-bike has been sitting at what is mostly an ebike rental store.  Which I'm pretty sure only employs 1 person part time that actually knows how to build a bike.

Yeah I'm pretty much shitting my pants right now.

I'm totally screwed aren't I? 

Give it to me straight.
Title: Re: Waiting for 3rd City 5
Post by: Eric7 on June 02, 2022, 07:42:06 AM
Quote from: pjiaria on February 03, 2022, 07:58:25 AM
2nd one - DOA, no power to motor, displays not reporting battery level correctly (main - not at all), physical oddities. (details on request)

● What were the physical oddities?  You mean something mechanical vs. something electrical?  I am just curious.

● I guess I am just old school.  I really don't like those connectors.  I think I am fairly strong and I have a good grip but those connectors are physically very difficult to open.  And, when opened those wires look thin and flimsy.  At first I thought, what do I know.  Maybe I am just too old and too conservative.  But they have been giving me a lot of trouble.
Title: Re: Waiting for 3rd City 5
Post by: Rover on June 02, 2022, 08:35:42 AM
Eric7--totally agree about how difficult they are to take apart.
Title: Re: Waiting for 3rd City 5
Post by: FL-GK on June 02, 2022, 10:44:59 AM
Quote from: NeilCutcliffe on May 29, 2022, 04:47:06 PM
New Rad City 5 high step, got code 30 out of the box. Rad sent a new wiring harness and motor controller. Wiring Harness arrived first. I replaced it but still got code 30. New motor controller arrived yesterday and I installed it today.

Now code 30 is gone. But I only get power for about 1 or 2 seconds and the power to the motor cuts out. The display and side panel are still on, no errors reported. The headlight and taillight are still on. But no power to the motor in response to either hand throttle or PAS mode.

I had the same rough time as pjiaria finding the screw holes in the controller during mounting.

Very discouraged. I'll contact RAD CS tomorrow, see what they propose next.

To mount the controller screw one of the mounting screws partially in, slide the controller up keeping the back pressed against the side, once you hit the screw let it down and push the controller up, now tighten the screw so it's hitting the controller and slid up some more and it will hit the hole. Once you partially screw in the first the second goes right in just don't fully tighten one, tighten them both at once.

I too have experienced controller problems. Bought bike in Feb. worked one short ride got error 30, called and got a new controller - 2 weeks from ship to delivery BUT it was for a step through and I needed it for my high step. So they sent out another one (2 + more weeks) this one was for a Rover 6 (which is not compatible with the motor). So out goes another and I get it, it's branded on the bag as 5 high step BUT it's ANOTHER Rover 6 (2 + more weeks go by). The only saving thing is I was able to temporarily use the controller from the step through so I've been able to ride. I don't know what I would have done because when you add up the time... wow! So anyway I received a controller this week and it looks right on a quick glance but I WILL be checking carefully as putting these in IS a pain BUT unfortunately I've gotten really good at it. The 6 controller looks exactly like the 5 high step (different model numbers etc. of course) and since it said 5 on the bag I did NOT check it any farther (a mistake).

I will say that overall Rad support has been great BUT in my experience they will NOT expedite any replacement parts (although they tell you they did) nor do they have a shipment point on the east coast so I think those are major problems they will have to overcome.
Title: Re: Waiting for 3rd City 5
Post by: pjiaria on June 07, 2022, 02:37:17 PM
Still going, the newer controller may be a updated version, I HOPE. If you got a lemon, you should ask about replacing it BUT the newer controller is what you're after. Good luck to all.
Title: Re: Waiting for 3rd City 5
Post by: pjiaria on July 07, 2022, 07:32:30 AM
Controller still holding BUT the center display is gibberish. Some half lit, some missing legs of numbers. No part of display is working normally. Warranty part coming from CS, who has been outstanding. Let's build a working bike before the warranty runs out.
Title: Re: Waiting for 3rd City 5
Post by: pjiaria on August 02, 2022, 06:06:14 PM
The physical oddities on that 2nd bike was bird shit on the handle bars and tree, shrub dirt on the rear hub... YUP.