Rad Power Bikes RadMini Review — Folding E-Bike Utility Champion

Rad Power Bikes RadMini Review

RadMini Folding Bike
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RadMini 4 is everything an e-bike commuter could ask for—a compact, foldable, fat-tire electric bicycle that performs well in urban and off-road settings.

Rad Power Bikes has made a name for itself with stocky fat-tire e-bikes that overdeliver on comfort and accessories.

While RadMini shares some of that all-or-nothing philosophy, it comes in a downscaled package that’s a lot easier to manage on a day-to-day basis.

RadMini doesn’t have top-shelf components, which is fine considering it costs only $1,299. The list of specs is impressive nonetheless, consisting of features such as 3″ tires, suspension fork, 750W motor, 672Wh battery, lights, and more.

Find out why this might be the perfect commuter to replace your car and allow you to do more things in more places than ever before.

 

RadMini Quick Specs

RadMini Folding Electric Bike

As said before, Rad Power Bikes is known for reliable and comfortable electric bikes. This one is no different, let’s take a closer look.

  • Motor: 750W geared rear hub motor
  • Battery: 48V 14Ah (672 Wh)
  • Range: 25-45 mi (45-72 km)
  • Top speed: 20 mph (32 km/h)
  • Payload: 275 lb (125 kg)
  • Frame: 6061 aluminum (step-over or step-through)
  • Suspension: 80 mm front suspension fork
  • Drivetrain: Shimano Altus 7-speed
  • Brakes: Mechanical disc brakes
  • Extra Features: Fenders, battery-powered lights, kickstand, PAS and throttle, puncture-resistant tires, throttle
  • MSRP: $1,299

 

Get From Rad Power Bikes

 

Compact Foldable E-Bike

RadMini folded up

One of RadMini’s most unique features is the compact, foldable frame. It’s available in step-over and step-through variations, both of which fold down small so you can easily store or move the bike around.

This is not the smallest folding bike out there, but that’s to be expected considering the 20″ x 3″ fat tires and a beefy battery. Even so, the 41″ x 22″ x 28″ folded dimensions are pretty respectable.

Thanks to the folding, telescoping handlebar stem, and the mid-frame hinge mechanism, you can transform RadMini into a small bundle in a matter of seconds.

If you struggle with free space in your apartment or garage, or you need an e-bike that’s easy to carry in your car trunk or RV, RadMini is exactly what you’re looking for.

Consider also: RadExpand — the improved version of the RadMini

 

Electric Motor and Battery

Battery of the RadMini

When it comes to electronics, RadMini packs a strong punch, even though its size and retail price might fool you into thinking otherwise.

This tiny e-bike is powered by a 750W brushless geared rear hub motor that operates via five pedal-assist levels and a half-twist throttle. It boasts 80 Nm of power and the top speed is capped at 20 mph. Therefore, you’ll get great climbing performance even if you exploit the entire 275 lbs. payload capacity.

The 672Wh (48V, 14Ah) battery sits behind the seat tube and provides up to 45+ miles of range. If you want to come close to that, make sure to stick to pedal assistance and use the throttle only when necessary. If you rely on the throttle too much, expect to get around 25–30 miles per charge, which is still very decent.

RadMini also has a large backlit LCD screen that shows the charge indicator, speedometer, odometer, trip distance, pedal assist level, wattmeter, and more.

Perhaps most importantly for a lot of folks, it also features a USB charging port, so you can keep all your devices charged to the brim on long rides.

 

Dependable Components

A Closer Look at the Components of RadMini

There’s nothing fancy about RadMini’s components considering this is a $1,299 electric bike. However, the drivetrain, brakes, and suspension are all quality entry-level parts that easily get the job done even for high-demand commuters.

The Shimano Altus rear derailleur puts 7 gears at your disposal and the Tektro Aries mechanical disc brakes lend more than enough braking power for any situation.

The 80mm suspension fork is another nice surprise as it makes urban and off-road rides a lot more comfortable and enjoyable.

This fork features preload adjustment and lockout, so you can easily adjust how sensitive you want the suspension to be or you can lock it completely if you’re riding on perfectly smooth roads.

 

Practical Accessories

RadMini's puncture resistant tires

A plentitude of accessories is one of the most recognizable features of any Rad Power bike. Luckily, RadMini is not an exception.

This capable compact commuter sports full-length front and rear fenders, a kickstand, a bell integrated into the left brake lever, and front and rear lights.

The headlight is super bright so feel free to finish your rides at night, whereas the rear light doubles as a brake light, so it improves upon the overall safety.

You’ll also get puncture-resistant 20″ x 3″ Kenda tires which is one of the most important features for commuters. The last thing I’d want when trying to get to work on time is to be late because of a flat tire.

If you want to customize this bike further, you can always personalize it by including a front or rear rack/basket, a mirror, phone mount, suspension seat post, water bottle holder, and a lot more.

Looking for more Rad Power Bikes that would be just as capable (if not even more)? Take a look at our other reviews of RadCity 5 PlusRadWagon, and RadRover 6 Plus.

 

FAQ

RadMini is a fat-tire folding electric bicycle. Its folded dimensions are 41″ x 22″ x 28″, so it folds down into a small bundle that’s easy to carry around or store in a corner. Thanks to a mid-frame hinge mechanism, you can fold RadMini in a matter of seconds.

RadMini folds with a mid-frame hinge that basically shortens the bike’s length in half. The telescoping custom stem also folds down toward the center of the bike, and you can also lower the saddle and fold the pedals as well. The result is a 41″ x 22″ x 28″ bundle.

RadMini is a class 2 electric bicycle with a 20 mph maximum assisted speed. All Rad Power Bikes’ models have the same top speed which makes them road legal in all of the United States. Of course, you can ride faster than that, but the motor won’t help you do it.

The RadMini weighs around 67 lbs, which is not super lightweight, but it’s pretty standard for a bike of this kind and in this price category. People who are not very physically strong might struggle to lift it up into the truck bed, but anyone should be able to carry it around with a bit of effort.

There are two ways to make the RadMini faster. You can derestrict the bike in the settings and increase the maximum assisted speed, which would turn RadMini into a class 3 e-bike. Otherwise, you can remove some of the accessories to make it lighter, which would make the bike faster, especially when climbing.

Rad Power bikes are class 2 electric bicycles which means they have both pedal assistance and throttle. Therefore, you do not need to turn the pedals for the motor to engage and propel you. Keep in mind that relying just on the throttle will discharge the battery a lot faster compared to pedal assistance.

 

Final Verdict

suggestedAll things considered, I’d wrap this review up by saying that RadMini is a practical and fun folding fat-tire e-bike with a price that underpromises but features that overdeliver in the real world.

For just $1,299, RadMini will meet and exceed the expectations of any commuter, leisure rider, or traveler when it comes to utility, pedal assistance, accessories, and even looks.

It’s a compact bike that I’d be happy to have on hand when doing a quick dash to the grocery store, riding to work through busy city streets, or just have in my car trunk in case I want to ride and enjoy a scenic road.

That said, RadMini doesn’t come with top-shelf components and lacks some expensive features, but if these matter to you, you’ll have to spend significantly more than what this bike sells for.

See Available Options on Rad Power Bikes

One thought on “Rad Power Bikes RadMini Review

  1. Love our Rad Mini’s we’re just upset we can’t buy the rear carrier for them. we’ve been trying online for the last 12 months. we finally got desperate and purchased the front carriers but because of the was they attach and the steering turns it makes it seem a little awkward. Also when you fold them they don’t fold quite as much. If they have discontinued the back rack, it sure doesn’t make me want to purchase another Rad bike if they discontinue accessories!!!!!!!

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