I also like that the functions being actuated by the buttons are located next to the buttons. Most people check their battery level once in a while, and pedal assist level is kind of a set-it-and-forget-it thing. That’s all important data, but not something you’re constantly looking at. Then on the left bar end there’s a combined remote and display that provides less frequently used info like pedal assist level, battery charge, and headlight status. The main display is still in the center of the bars and offers up important data like speed, distance, power, etc. The former simplistic LCD display has now been split into two LED displays. This is likely to be a divisive feature, but I’m a fan. The last major eye-catching update is the pair of new LED displays. The RadCity 5 Plus flew me up some super steep hills with an ease that surprised me. Rad claims a 40% increase in hill climbing speed and I believe them. I took the bike up some steep Seattle hills and the new motor worked great on both throttle-only and pedal assist riding. The new motor is lighter, smaller, better at hill climbing, and doesn’t look like such an eyesore in the rear wheel. The upside is… just about everything else. The downside is that you lose the regenerative braking option (even though that gave back only marginal battery charge). Now Rad has moved to a smaller, lighter but torquier geared hubmotor in the rear. Those were big, dinner plate-size motors that took up a lot of space in the rear wheel. The last RadCity was the final holdout in the Rad lineup for direct drive motors. The second major update that will likely catch the eye is the new motor. I’ve ridden plenty of Rad Power Bikes e-bikes and range has never been issue. It offers reasonable range of around 25-50 miles depending on if you’re ripping on the throttle or taking it easy with pedal assist. The battery is still 672 Wh, which is on the larger size of the e-bike battery spectrum. On the Step-through version, it allows the frame to be even more accessible with extra room to swing a leg through. Not only does that create a sleeker package by hiding away the battery, but it also frees up a lot more space in the triangle of the step-over frame. Just like the RadRover 6 Plus, the RadCity is getting Rad’s newly designed battery pack that slides down into the frame. The first and most obvious is a new battery. There are a pile of new updates to the RadCity that turn it into the RadCity Plus.
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