Electric Bikes are becoming one of the main sources of everyday commute. It is not a surprise as it’s a win-win situation for both nature and yourself. With this rise in popularity, there has been competition between tens and hundreds of electric bikes. Choosing among them varies depending on weight, payload, speed, power, and whatnot. To assist you in your choice of eBike, we have compared two of the most popular electric bikes from Rad PowerBikes i.e Rad City 4 vs RadRover 5.
Before we start with the comparison, if you are looking to buy an electric bike in the near future, you may check our buying guide on ebikes under $1000 and $1500. I did all the research for you and listed some of the best ones in those articles. Off to our comparison now.
The products being compared are as shown below.
PREVIEW | PRODUCT | |
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RadCity 4 Commuter Version | Check Price |
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RadRover 5 Fat Tire Version | Check Price |
First Impression
RadCity 4 is a combination of a large aluminum frame with a narrow tire as per the Radbikes standards. With an integrated rack and front headlights, RadCity seems like an all-around commuter bike.
Coming to the RadRover 5, with a 26″ fat tire, it can drive over any sandy or snowy terrains with a sporty look and standing tall at 30.5″. RadRover is simple and elegant.
Physical Features
RadCity 4 is a combination of a large aluminum frame with a narrow tire. Let us have a look at the physical features of RadCity and RadRover in detail.
Break, Suspension and Tires
RadCity 4 has a Suntour spring folk 100mm whereas RadRover has its own RST 80mm suspension fork with lockout and preload adjustment. Both of them are powered by 180mm mechanical disc brakes. Since RadCity uses a gearless motor, along with normal brake pads, regenerative braking is applied.
RadRover has Kenda Juggernaut 26″ x 4″ tire which is a fat tire whereas RadCity uses Kenda K-Rad 26″ x 2.3″ tire which is slightly narrow compared to RadRover. The fat tire provides more traction and comfortable even in irregular terrains. Both these tires are puncture-resistant.
RadCity 4 | RadRover 5 | |
Model |
Electric Commuter Bike |
Electric Fat Bike |
Type | Commuter eBike | Off-Road and On-Road |
Frame | 18.5″ Aluminum | 18″ Aluminum |
Brakes | 180 mm front and rear | 180 mm front and rear |
Weight | 64lb | 69lb |
Gear | 7-speed gear | 7-speed gear |
Tire Size | 26″ x 2.3″ | 26″ x 4″ |
Technical Features
Have a look at the technical comparison between the two electric bikes.
Motors
As you may know, motors are one of the most important parts of an eBike as it is responsible for moving your eBike. RadCity 4 is powered by a 750W 40Nm torque direct drive hub motor that is completely different from the RadRover 5 which is powered by a 750W 80Nm torque geared hub motor.
Direct drive hub motors or gearless motors can tolerate more load and lasts longer compared to geared hub motors as there are no moving parts that wear out. This is what makes RadCity the commuter eBike where you can use it every day and still lasts a decade.
On the flip side, a gearless motor produces less torque which is very much required to climb hills or mountains are often bulky and heavy. Whereas in geared motor, small gear is sufficient which weighs less and produces more torque but has more moving parts.
Geared Hub vs Direct drive hub motor
RadCity 4 | RadRover 5 | |
Battery | 48V 14AH Lithium-Ion | 48V 14AH Lithium-Ion |
Motor | 750W Direct Drive Hub | 750W Geared Hub |
Max Speed | 20mph | 20mph |
Mileage | 25-45 miles | 25-45 miles |
Charge Time | ~6 Hours | ~6 Hours |
If you look at the above table, apart from the motors, technically there is not much difference between these two eBikes. Being powered by a 48V 14AH battery coupled with a 750W motor, both eBikes a 5level pedal assist and throttle assist with a top speed of 20mps. RadCity and RadRover miss out on fast charging and requires around 6 hours to charge.
RadCity vs RadRover: Which one to consider?
Except for tires and motors, both of these bikes are almost identical and choosing one comes down to a simple choice.
If you are looking for an all-around electric bike, for daily commuting, occasional off-roading or utility purposes, go for RadCity 4. Also expected life of RadCity is greater due to the direct drive hub motor. If you are looking for a complete outdoor adventure in irregular terrains, snowy or sandy terrains, choose RadRover 5. The fat tire provides more grip and is more comfortable like riding on a cushion of air.
PREVIEW | PRODUCT | |
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RadCity 4 Commuter Version | Check Price |
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RadRover 5 Fat Tire Version | Check Price |
If you have any questions or concerns, please leave a comment. Consider buying using our links if you found this article helpful. It will help us to make more useful content.
I’m assuming the Direct Drive motor would be considerably quieter? What have you found?