Tricycles are generally seen as a bike for kids who can’t yet balance on two wheels, but RadPower thinks it’s time for a tricycle for adults.
I had a chance to take a short test ride of RadPower’s electric RadTrike last week; Here’s what I thought about their new bike, how much it would cost, and when you’d be able to buy it.
RadPower RadTrike: price and availability
The RadPower RadTrike goes on sale today (Dec. 6) for $2,499, and will start shipping to customers in January.
The price is steep, but it seems reasonable. You can find a number of the best electric bikes under $2,000, and there are plenty of cheap electric bikes for around $1,000. (And if you search online, you’ll see that there are plenty of electric beaters out there for about the same price.)
RadPower RadTrike: Design
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The RadTrike features a classic tricycle design, with an adjustable tall seat that rises from the middle of the bike. Behind the seat is a cargo area, but the RadTrike also has a mounting point in front of the handlebars; The company sells a wide range of accessories, from storage racks to canisters to storage bags, so you can outfit the bike however you see fit.
RadPower plans to release an umbrella for RadTrike, so you can keep the sun from falling on your head. (It’s pretty open otherwise, so I don’t know how effective it would be in the rain.)
There are no accessories to add a second passenger or child seat. It’s something I hope the company will address, though that can be tricky, because adding too much weight to the rear can cause the bike to tip backwards.
On the left handlebar, there’s a small but bright display that lets you adjust the level of pedal assist, as well as a button to turn on the tricycle’s lights. The left handlebar also has a handbrake, with a small additional lever for the parking brake. The right handlebar has a throttle handle, in case you want the bike to do all the work for you.
Like other RadPower bikes—like the RadCity 5 Plus—there’s a mess of wires hanging from the handlebars to the rest of the bike; It’s a bit messier looking than other electric bikes that run their wires through the frame, but the RadPower runs the wires through a small casing.
In terms of carrying capacity, the RadTrike can carry up to 415 pounds, which is on the low side when compared to some of the best electric cargo bikes—for example, the Yuba Supercargo CL can tow up to 500 pounds—but you’ll still be able to Take a lot with you.
While not light, the RadTrike isn’t overly heavy, and the handlebars fold down for (slightly) easier storage.
RadPower RadTrike: The Riding Experience
To coin a phrase, riding a tricycle is not the same as riding a bike. You have to be more attentive in turns, and resist the urge to lean into curves, as you would on a bike. In fact, you kind of have to lean outward from the curve, in order to balance the weight of the tricycle.
The RadTrike has a top pedaling speed of 14 mph—anything more than that, and you risk tipping over when you try to turn.
In the locked parking garage where I test-ride the RadTrike, 14 mph felt a bit too fast for me. The ride was also fun. In no time, I was strolling through the parking garage, as comfortable as I was a little girl.
I couldn’t speak to the smoothness of the ride, as there weren’t any cracks or bumps in the garage, but the Rad Trek rides on three 20-inch tires, which should help keep things comfortable.
RadTrike has a 750-watt front hub motor, as does its RadRunner 2 electric assist bike. Because of the motor’s high torque, it gets you moving quickly from a stop—helpful if you’re hauling a lot of stuff. Cleverly, it has a reverse gear, so you can prop the bike up to fit it in a tight space.
Aside from the front disc brakes, the RadTrike also has a rear coaster brake—the pedals lock backwards, and the bike slides to a stop—just like you would a kid.
RadPower says the trike’s battery should be good for 20-35 miles before it needs to be recharged; We’ll have to see how well this works in practice.
RadPower RadTrike: Outlook
RadPower isn’t reinventing the electric bike with the RadTrike, but it’s an interesting new option for those who want an e-bike, but aren’t as stable as they used to be on two wheels.
At the same time, the RadTrike also looks like a fun ride for those who want a relatively affordable cargo bike to go to the grocery story or run errands around town. Looks like it would be a great beach bike, too.
However, the RadTrike is much larger than your average bike – electric or otherwise – so you’ll need plenty of space to store it. We’ll wait until we can do a full test run of it before deciding whether or not it belongs on our list of the best electric bikes.
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