Rad Power Bikes’ RadRunner 3 Max — CleanTechnica Tested

The Rad Power Bikes RadRunner has been one of the top selling electric bikes on the market since it was first introduced, and for good reason.

It was well-designed to accommodate a wide range of rider sizes, has a wide range of accessories that allow it to be customized for a range of use case and activities, and is backed by a strong brand that stands behind its bikes with a local support team and a growing number of retail locations across the United States.

Updated for 2025

This year, Rad Power Bikes is refreshing the RadRunner with a host of upgrades. Right out of the gate, the RadRunner will be split into a tiered system that Rad Power Bikes introduced with some of its other models.

For starters, the base $1,499 RadRunner 3 comes with a single speed just like its predecessors, keeping things simple and easy. Sometimes you just want to hop on the bike and get to where you’re going without too much thought. The base config is a great entry point into electric bikes and is built around the RadRunner’s classic, tubular, low-step frame. It’s no slouch, with a 13Ah battery that can support up to 55 miles of range per charge and a solid set of hydraulic brakes across the RadRunner 3 range to bring you back down to earth safely when you’re done riding.

Stepping up to the $1,799 RadRunner 3 Plus gets you increased cargo-hauling capacity, stepping up from 320 pounds to 350 pounds of capacity. The motor puts out slightly more torque, with a boost from 65 Nm to 70 Nm. You also get a 7-speed mechanical drivetrain out back, a suspension fork up front, and fenders with the Plus.

For the upper echelon, the $2,299 RadRunner 3 Max comes with an upgraded frame that boasts an impressive 420 pound capacity. They pull out all the stops on the electrical powertrain with a larger 14Ah battery for 61 miles of range (vs 55 miles in the other two models) and let you unlock it as a Class 1, 2, or 3 ebike from the settings menu. The motor gets some additional love, bumping torque up to 90 Nm. The Max also gets upgraded lighting with a 100 lux, 450 lumen LED headlight that can push out 750 lumens with its high-beam function.

This year, Rad Power Bikes introduced a number of new features that raise the bar for their brand, the RadRunner, and the entire ebike industry. Right out of the gate is their new rear-facing radar. This is one of those things you don’t fully understand the use of until you get out and ride one for yourself.

High Tech

Rad Power Bikes’ new RADar keeps a watchful eye out behind you as you ride, highlighting approaching vehicles on the LCD screen. This is a fantastic feature for cities or even on bike paths.

When a vehicle or person approaches from the rear, the color LCD lights up with a yellow accent on the side they’re coming from. This lets the rider know without having to look that something is coming. Adding a bold, informative notification on the screen gets your attention just enough to to let you know something is coming so you can pay a little bit of extra attention.

Rad Power Bikes also bumped up the security on the RadRunner 3 with the addition of a passcode/RFID card system. When enabled, the rider must enter a pin or tap their RFID card to unlock the bike. It’s a nice step up from the fairly basic displays we’re used to seeing on ebikes.

Assembly

The RadRunner 3 Max shows up in a large cardboard box weighing around 100 lb. Assembly typically takes about an hour, which includes unboxing the bike, bolting up the handlebars, mounting the front tire, airing up the tires to the recommended pressure, mounting the pedals, and disposing of the packaging tasked with keeping the bike safe during transit.

It’s definitely worth considering working with a local bike shop ahead of your purchase and having it shipped directly to them for assembly. This is especially true for buyers uncomfortable with bike assembly or for people who aren’t sure they can lift and maneuver the bike as necessary to get it out of the box.

Bike shops make their living putting bikes together and keeping them tuned. More importantly, building relationships with your local bike shop is a great for when you inevitably need maintenance down the road.

Riding the RadRunner 3

After getting the bike put together, we hit the streets. From the first stroke of the pedals, we found the RadRunner 3 Max to be an absolute dream to ride. The new motor and updated programming work together like a finely tuned machine for one of the quietest rides we’ve experienced on any ebike.

The silent drivetrain makes it feel like you’re just ripping along on a traditional bike with superpowers. The easy to use controls summon the power of the motor to electrify and amplify your pedaling with hardly a thought. After a few rides, twisting the throttle or increasing the pedal assist come so naturally, they might as well be hardwired to your brain.

At 82 pounds/37 kilograms, the RadRunner 3 Max is heavy, which is definitely a factor for anyone living in an area where they will need to lug it upstairs to an apartment, on an RV, or down to a boat. For most customers, the weight likely won’t be an issue, as the motor and battery help offset the weight penalties when you’re actually underway.

The color screen is easy to read, with the speed being the most prominently featured element. The new left-mounted control pad is chock full of buttons, with everything centered around the power-up and power-down buttons that allow you to summon assistance from the motor.

Imagine approaching a hill in your daily commute or coming to a stop at a stoplight. It’s no reason to be nervous, as you can just give the right-mounted throttle a twist for an immediate boost of power to give you a headstart. The throttle is a new design for 2025, featuring a thinner profile and a less rubberized coating on it. That makes it blend more seamlessly into the handlebars for what I found to be a more comfortable grip throughout the ride. The tradeoff is that it does require a bit more grip when it comes time to use it. It’s something you’ll likely get used to after the first day of riding.

Running in parallel to the new twist throttle, Rad Power Bikes adopted trigger shifting on the right side of the handlebar, making it far more intuitive to hop through the eight manual gears at the rear of the bike.

Having the ability to change mechanical gears in parallel to the electrical pedal assist allows riders to dial the bike in to their sweet spot. Whether that means slogging up a hill with minimal assistance for a solid workout or leaning heavily on the motor with the throttle to get to school without breaking a sweat, the RadRunner 3 is up to the task.

Customizable

The low-step, highly accessorizable frame design of the RadRunner 3 Max has been one of the keys to the success of this bike since it was first introduced. It is easy to step into, with a set of cruiser handlebars that can be adjusted to accommodate a range of rider sizes.

On top of that, Rad Power Bikes has made it easy to configure the RadRunner 3 Max for a wide range of customers. To add storage, drop a locking storage box into the low-step area of the frame. For deliver applications, front and rear platforms can be mounted and kitted out with a few different sizes of insulated delivery containers.

Want to carry a friend home from school? Drop a passenger kit on the rear and you’re off to the races. The most common configuration I see whether it’s in cities, rural areas, or just running around the suburbs is a RadRunner 3 Max with the passenger package, which is extremely popular with the teenagers.

You can also add a range extender and bonus battery (optional $$) for support for up to 125 miles of range per charge.

Overall

Overall, it’s great to see Rad Power Bikes pushing the envelope on new technology bundled with incremental improvements and continuing to make it one of the best values out there. The Base RadRunner 3 is a great value, and with the ability to customize it later, it’s a great option for someone curious about ebikes and looking to see if they might be a good fit.

The three tiers of the RadRunner 3 allows customers to choose their price, point, and features that are the most important to them and invest accordingly if they’re looking for more tech, more range per charge, or want to haul more weight.

Head over to the Rad Power Bikes RadRunner 3 website for more information about Rad Power Bikes and the new RadRunner 3 family.

Disclaimer: Rad Power Bikes provided the RadRunner 3 Max to the author free of charge for the purposes of this review.