And yet, the utilitarian ride from one of the most popular e-bike companies in the country further convinced me that an electric bicycle is the best way to get around a city. Not least because the RadMission proved that you can get all of the myriad benefits of e-bike ownership — and some extra perks — at a welcoming price point. Rad Power Bikes first unveiled the RadMission 1 last summer with a starting price of $999, but it has since bumped up the price to $1,099.
I didn't attempt to max out the range, but I can say that the battery held up excellently over the course of multiple long and short rides, even on frigid New York days, and I didn't find myself topping up the battery too often. The RadMission 1 transformed the way I got around New York for the three months I had it. Although I had many fewer places to go than normal when I did venture out, it was often by way of the RadMission.
The ride quality isn't cushy, but that's to be expected from any bike without suspension. The RadMission's airy tires — which are fatter than those on a road bike but skinnier than the motorcycle-like rubbers found on some other e-bikes — helped soak up some imperfections on New York's streets and gave me the confidence to lean into corners.
When it came time to haul the RadMission in and out of my building, I found it reasonably easy to lug around. Weighing in at 48 lbs, the RadMission isn't a featherweight by any means, but it's a solid 15 lbs lighter than Rad Power Bikes' other models. It wasn't much more challenging to maneuver around my apartment than a normal bike, and its relatively slim profile meant I could stick it in a corner without too much fuss.
A no for me, purchasing an expensive electric bicycle is not a good investment to me, including if maintenance to this model is more costly in comparison to pedal bicycles.
Regular pedal bicycles are just as awesome. bcgp
It sure beats scooters
How are things with the capitol now?