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Rad’s sleek city commuter is a comfortable and zippy ride with low maintenance thanks to the belt drive.
It’s a quintessential Rad bike; it has a predictable feel that’s true to the bike’s styling with its agile and nimble touch on the roads, but the wider-than-most handlebar gives it a sure feel instead of a twitchy one. You can easily navigate around pedestrians and traffic, and with the lights, fenders, and rack, you have all you need for daily commutes.
The RadKick doesn’t overlean into the city bike attributes, though, and sacrifice approachability; it’s a city bike with characteristics that give it a broader appeal to more riders.
We loved the low step-over height of the step-through frame and the adjustable stem that allows you to be more upright or more forward-leaning and engaged. It’s overall pretty comfortable, especially with the help of the suspension fork. Our specific test model is a single-speed belt drive, so each ride felt actively involved. With no other gears to select and a more subtle motor experience, it felt like a more active ride than many other e-bikes.
The ‘subtle’ remark isn’t a knock to the bike either; the amount of motor power is purposeful and feels great. It’s slight yet effective—like adding a dash of cayenne to the pot of chili to give it just the right amount of “kick.” This bike is meant to be pedaled, and its torque sensor gave it an intuitive feel that enhanced our abilities making each ride fun.
The bike felt simple in the best sense of the word. It’s got a clean look to it, and it operates efficiently. Turn on the power, hit your desired assist level, and ride.
Outside of some of the usual concerns that plague any one-size-fits-all e-bike, Rad did an excellent job of making a user-friendly e-bike for those who want something lighter and more active with fair value.
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E-Bike Category:City
E-Bike Class:Class 1 (pedal assist to 20 mph)
Class 2 (throttle to 20 mph)
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Rad Power Bikes RadKick Video Review
ELECTRICAL SPECS & FEATURES
Battery:10Ah 360 Wh Safe Shield Semi-Integrated Battery, Tested by ACT compliant to UL 2271 Display: LCD color display Motor: Mivice, 500W hub motor, 40Nm torque Headlight:50 lumens LED headlight with built-in reflector Taillights:Integrated taillight with brake light Pedal Assist: Torque sensor, 5 PAS Levels Claimed Range:15-35 miles per charge Throttle:Half twist grip throttle App:N/A UL Certification:Tested by ACT compliant to UL 2849 and UL 2271Weight & Dimensions
Claimed weight: 55 lbs Tested Weight: 55.2 lbs Rider height range: 5’2” – 6’2” Total payload capacity:275 lbsComponents & Accessories
Brakes:Hydraulic Disc, Gemma GA-950, 180mm rotors Fenders: Full coverage front and rear Fork: EXSHO suspension fork, 80mm travel, straight steerer, bolt-on axle Frame: Aluminum Drivetrain: Single speed belt drive, 64t-22t Grips: Lock-on ergonomic rubber comfort grips Saddle: Lightly padded flat touring saddle Handlebar: Aluminum, 710 mm wide Kickstand: included Pedals: Aluminum Tires: 27.5″ x 2.25 Rack: rear rack included, 55 lbs capacity
The RadKick is a comfortable ride with the ability to raise the stem, and a nice 80mm suspension fork.
The Mivice motor has the right amount of ‘kick’ to it. It’s quiet, efficient, and helps make your own pedal effort more thrilling.
You have options on the RadKick: either opt for a clean and low-maintenance belt drive, or you can look into the 7-speed option if you have frequent lots of hills where you ride.
Rad equips the RadKick with a 500W Mivice hub motor. On the belt drive model we tested, it operates with a torque sensor, which measures the rider’s pedal force and responds with corresponding motor power: light pedal effort yields light motor assistance, while greater effort provides a stronger boost. Notably, the 7-speed version of the bike lacks this sensor, which may result in different speed experiences.
The chart above shows the speed results I recorded for each pedal assist level (PAS). There’s a smooth, consistent distribution across levels. Interestingly, I didn’t feel much difference at PAS 1, despite what the chart shows, so I consider PAS 2 the functional “low” mode. At this point, it’s clear the motor is helping.
The belt drive model features a 64-tooth chainring paired with a 22-tooth freewheel. This ratio effectively balances low-speed ease of pedaling with a sufficient “bite” for higher speeds. Even if you need to ride without motor assistance, whether by choice or due to an uncharged battery, this setup is manageable on flat terrain.
The RadKick is fairly lightweight at 52 pounds, and the tires provide a smooth roll. However, hills can be a challenge with the single-speed drivetrain—just keep that battery charged to avoid struggles!
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The one-size-fits all frame is fairly adaptable. Riders up to 6’1” can ride it comfortably, and the low 17” stepover height is nice for shorter riders too.
The color display is simple, but effective.
Rad is one of the few brands that utilize potted batteries. It better protects battery cells from shock damage and can mitigate chances of thermal runaway.
Just like finding extra fries at the bottom of the bag, I love getting more than expected. That was exactly the case with the RadKick’s range test.
Rad claims a range of 15-35 miles from its 360Wh battery. This estimate seemed reasonable; with a motor power of 500W, which exceeds the ideal 1:1 ratio between motor wattage and battery capacity in watt-hours, a shorter range estimate was expected. Fortunately, our results were much better than anticipated.
On our Max Power Test, the RadKick achieved nearly 10 miles more than estimated, reaching 24.85 miles—a significant win. That’s 63% more than expected and a clear example of under-promising and over-delivering.
The results were equally impressive on our Min Power Test. We slightly exceeded the 35-mile quote, achieving a 38-mile range. Not bad, especially since we ran the test at PAS 2 rather than PAS 1. We found the lowest power level didn’t provide sufficient assistance on hills, so we opted for a more practical PAS 2 setting. Exceeding the quoted range even with this adjustment was another big win for the RadKick.
To set realistic expectations, results may vary, and Rad’s quoted range might be based on the 7-speed version, which uses a cadence sensor that is typically less efficient. That said, this range is impressive for a lightweight bike, offering enough practical range to meet the needs of most city commutes for a day or two.
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As expected, the throttle-only attempt didn’t make it up the hill. This result wasn’t surprising, as no city e-bike we’ve tested has managed to climb on throttle power alone. If that’s what you’re after, a more powerful motor on a dedicated commuter e-bike would be a better choice—Rad offers this with the Radster Road, which we reviewed previously.
However, the PAS test was impressive. When comparing it to similar city bikes, the RadKick achieved one of the best times we’ve recorded, reaching the top in 1 minute and 34 seconds. While this time is around average for all e-bikes we’ve tested, it’s an outstanding result for a city bike. This style typically has smaller motors and expects the rider to actively contribute pedal power, so within its category, the RadKick performed exceptionally well.
The main takeaway is that if you have steep hills to tackle and don’t mind adding your own leg power, the RadKick is a solid option for urban riding. And if you face a lot of hills, you might consider the RadKick 7-speed, which will provide even better climbing capabilities.
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With lights, fenders, and a rack, this city bike can pull full commuting duties, while the weight is more manageable than the full power commuters.
We were big fans of the brake setup. A lot of lighter city bikes opt for mechanical brakes, so we appreciated the inclusion of hydraulics with 180mm rotors.
Ring ring, vroom vroom! The included bell will let people know your approaching, and the half-twist throttle will take over when you need a break from pedaling.
I was happy to see Rad didn’t skimp on the brakes here and went with hydraulic brakes. While both mechanical and hydraulic brakes have their pros and cons, I generally recommend hydraulics for their superior stopping power, and the test results likely benefited from this choice.
The RadKick achieved an average stopping distance of 21’8”, which is an excellent result given that this bike style currently averages 23’7”. This contributes to a strong sense of safety and reflects the overall value of the bike.
The Gemma brakes aren’t the most common type we test, but they’re not unusual either. A good mechanic should be able to service the brakes with no issues.
27.5 inch tires help raise the bike up for good visibility.
The rear rack can hld 55 lbs of weight. It’s one arm on either side approach looks sleek, and it’s a beefy bit of metal for support.
The saddle has good comfort and support.
There is 90mm of adjustability with this stem. That makes it good for finding the right height, or for changing up your posture to be aggressive or relaxed.
However, the RadKick includes an adjustable stem for customizing height and body positioning, an 80mm suspension fork that smooths out rough roads, and comes exclusively as a step-thru frame, which remains relatively stiff and stable. This design makes it more approachable than many of its competitors.
The RadKick’s ride is also pleasantly predictable; motor engagement is smooth and controlled, with a good level of top-end power. The belt drive is a great touch—clean, efficient, and true to the bike’s overall simplicity.
Rad Power Bikes has equipped the RadKick with everything you need for commuting: front and rear lights, fenders, and a sturdy rack with a 55 lb weight limit. The rack’s design uses only two slightly thicker support arms, which gives it a sleek look while remaining functional.
The frame is a one-size-fits-all, which is typical for the brand. While the single frame size works, it’s a bit disappointing that color options are tied to the belt and 7-speed models.
The full-size tires handle corners well and have held up to over 100 miles of riding with no flat issues. The LCD display is clear and simple, showing all the essentials like speed and battery life.
An added benefit of a new product like this, which launched only a couple of months ago, is that you’re not taking much of a gamble. With over 600,000 people already on Rad bikes, Rad Power Bikes has built a solid service network to support customers despite its largely direct-to-consumer model. Good infrastructure brings good peace of mind.
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The Chaoyang Arisun tires hold speed well, and have decent puncture protection.
The integrated taillight also has a brake light.
The grips are solid and fairly tacky. Swetay palms shouldn’t be a problem.
710mm is larger than a lot of other city bikes we test. It makes the handling a little more stable.
Recapping the brake and hill test results, it’s clear how consistently it outperformed other bikes in this category. The range test also exceeded expectations, adding to the bike’s impressive value.
The data is useful for comparison, but the RadKick also stands out as a genuinely enjoyable ride. It’s lighter than most e-bikes, and you can feel that difference on the road. The handling strikes a balance between performance and comfort, making for a smooth, responsive ride.
This bike has broad appeal and could suit a variety of riders:
Apartment dwellers Urban commuters Riders looking for a simplified experience Those seeking low-maintenance rides Anyone wanting something lighter and more approachableIf the one-size frame fits you and you don’t mind the limited color choices, the RadKick is definitely worth a closer look.
Happy Riding! Make sure to let us know if you have any questions or if you think we left anything out in this review of the Rad Power Bikes RadKick down in our comments section.
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