Quote from: Traildad on January 31, 2024, 09:33:41 PM
I?m 65 and not very strong on the pedaling so most of the work will be done by the motor. I have an IR thermometer so I?ll give that a try along with taking some cool down breaks. Thanks for the replies.

If you find yourself wanting/needing to keep an eye on the motor temp with an IR thermometer, may I suggest this:  https://www.thermoworks.com/ir-pocket-20/ - I assume you have a larger dogleg handheld like the ones I use in my kitchen and pizza oven?  This little thing would carry easily in any bike bag or even pocket.

I don't own one of these, but if I needed it I wouldn't hesitate - I have about a dozen other Thermoworks products and they're just outstanding, as is their service.  If you get on their email list, you can watch for one of their frequent discounts on either products or the entire line, if you're not in a hurry.  If you're nice to them, you just might find a tiny little bag of Jelly Bellys in the box too.  Now you've got me thinking this might not be a bad idea to have available on my 1600w MiniST2 during the summer.....

Good luck!

Always a good idea to specify the bike's location.

Sounds like you've got a nice little pocket-rocket there; hope you enjoy it for another 8k miles at least.  I love my little 35A 2021 MiniST 2.

The Expand Contract still seems very overpriced, considering how much they stripped off of the MiniST 2 (which as I recall had sold as low as about $1,100 and has more features) to create it.

Every now and then I'm tempted to hug my 2021 MiniST 2 in appreciation for having it.  It's perfect for me and I've seen nothing better from Rad since.

Quote from: Traildad on December 30, 2023, 05:27:31 PM
I had my controller installed by a shop and I don?t have a manual. How do you enter setup mode?

IIRC, you power it up, then within 5 seconds press Up and Down simultaneously.

Here's the manual:  https://www.manualslib.com/manual/2979751/Kunteng-Kt-Lcd8hp.html

Quote from: Traildad on December 30, 2023, 05:02:23 PM
Took it out for a quick spin around the block. I like the new controller. It has good acceleration but not so powerful that it would ride out from under me.

If you don't have the manual for that controller, here's a link to view/download:  https://www.manualslib.com/manual/2979751/Kunteng-Kt-Lcd8hp.html?page=26#manual

I believe the C5 parameter controls how fast the power amps up when applying throttle, so you can adjust how lively it is off the line.  There are other settings that also affect power delivery and top speed.   I have mine maxed out to scoot through busy intersections from a stop.  Plus, it's fun having a stealthy, innocent-looking little pocket rocket that pulls pretty good at just under 1,600 watts.

Have fun!

If it were me, I'd try putting a 10,000mAH battery pack into a frame-mounted water bottle bag (not a wire-frame holder, a bag) and charging from that.

I use one like this: https://amzn.to/4b2J9VU strapped to the handlebar riser tube to carry a GoPro mounted on an extender, batteries etc.  Works great.

Quote from: handlebar on December 17, 2023, 12:28:24 PM
That was me honking at a darned pedestrian in the next aisle.

Nice display spoiler-fin there, man.  I betcha get another 1-2 mph on the top end as a result.

Quote from: inoxa on December 17, 2023, 12:27:39 PM
Here is an option so that you don't have to put new brake levers on your bike and still upgrade to hydraulic. 

https://amzn.to/3u369nd

I can vouch for those, which I bought through Area 13 at a better price, but that was over a year ago.  I'm very happy with the slight but noticeable increase in braking power, less need for adjustments and the fact that the pistons push from both sides instead of just one like the factory calipers, so they don't distort the rotors.

Quote from: pehayes on December 08, 2023, 12:53:37 PMI select charging time based on my level of use and drain status of the battery.  It charges for that time period and fully disconnects.

That's the smart approach for safety and battery longevity.  I use a timer like that on my water distiller, because it always runs for exactly the same amount of time, but for my bike charger I use a smart plug in the garage ceiling outlet (where the door opener is plugged in) set up on my Alexa network and programmed with several different-time routines.  I have an Echo device in the garage for playing internet radio and listening for commands, so I just connect to the battery and say "Echo, ebike 2 hours" or 4, 6 or maximum 7 hours depending on the battery state of charge.  Hands-free and handy; got the smart plug (one of many in my house) on a one-day sale for less than $10.

Just a slightly-geekier way to do the same thing, which is to limit the charging time - that's the important thing.  I wish the fancier programmable battery-monitoring chargers weren't so damn expensive - I'd love to just be able to program 85% charge level and be done with it, instead of guessing how much time it'll need to get to about there.

Quote from: dcdear on November 19, 2023, 08:43:28 PM
Thanks -- this helps. I'm a 30 inseam.

You're very welcome.  Say, if you end up buying a Rad bike, please consider using Ryan's (this forum's owner/operator) link at the bottom of the page to get him a little kickback from the sale - doesn't change your order or cost you anything.  I got a lot of help here in my early days, so I'm happy to do what I can to support it.

How tall are you, and leg inseam?  I'm 5'7" with 29" inseam, my 2021 MiniST2 fits me like a glove and is about the same size as a Runner or Contract (my name for the Expand, which is a de-featured MiniST, sadly).  A Rover or even City would be too tall for comfortable stops especially, and would be a handful on the hardpacked-dirt woods trails I like to ride (not mountain-bike stuff, just mucking about on the walking/horse trails).

If you want baskets; I'd recommend one in the rear for two reasons: the extra weight on the steering geometry and a headlight that is fixed and doesn't turn with the front wheel (a front basket moves the headlight to the front of the frame-mounted basket).  And depending on age/agility, I would HIGHLY recommend a stepthrough model from any manufacturer, especially if you expect to have tall bags of groceries etc. in a rear basket, for me that's a swingover height my knees/hips just won't do anymore.

For my height, inseam and needs, I wouldn't sell my MiniST2 at gunpoint.  It's just right.

Hope this helps a bit.

I just wandered over to http://area13ebikes.com/ to get a link to their caliper upgrade and discovered they are having a VERY nice sale on many items including both the 35A controllers and hydraulic-hybrid brake calipers for Rads.  I installed and love both of these on my 2021 MiniST2 but they'll work for most Rad models except the ones with semi-integrated batteries and hydraulic brakes:

https://area13ebikes.com/products/radkit

https://area13ebikes.com/products/juintechm1

So FYI, gang!

Sorry I can't give you the model number, but I can recommend a replacement front/rear caliper set, which happens to be on a very good 1/3rd-off sale until Nov 30th (noticed that when I went to get this link for you):

https://area13ebikes.com/products/juintechm1

I installed these on my 2021 MiniST2 but I think they're used on most/all Rads except the newest models with hydraulic brakes, so your Runner should be no problem.  Very easy to install, a video is on the link above to illustrate, just remove original caliper and drop right in (spacers are included but I don't think I needed any) - they improved brake performance noticeably on the steep downhill grades.  It's double-acting as well, unlike the factory singles, which only move on one side of the rotor.  These are mechanically-actuated hydraulic calipers, so you keep your existing brake cables.

Definitely recommended and I wish I'd been able to get this price a year ago.

Good luck!

Thanks for the heads-up, Ryan.  I think Lectric is just kicking Rad's butt all over the field for trike sales and maybe other categories as well.  I couldn't believe the lack of features on the Rad model for a thousand dollars more IIRC than Lectric when it came out.

Still quite happy and content with my 2021 MiniST2.