Recreational ebikes

Rad Power Bikes RadRover 6 Plus First Look

A return to the brand’s fat-tire roots, with a sleeker look and semi-integrated battery.

July 20, 2021

Rad Power Bikes fattens up its line with the new RadRover 6 Plus.Rad Power Bikes

Calling it “a next-level riding experience,” Rad Power Bikes has launched its newest model: the RadRover 6 Plus, an upgrade of its highly popular RadRover line of fat-tire electric bikes.

Priced at $1,999, the RadRover 6 Plus is available for preorder immediately, with the first consumer-direct deliveries starting by September 30.

Based in Seattle and with a growth trajectory that would have made a young book-selling Jeff Bezos envious, Rad Power has become North America’s largest-selling ebike maker with a formula of pumping out lower-cost ebikes that appeal to older riders with their large-volume tires, throttles that enable riders to scoot along without pedaling, and sturdy, confidence-inspiring frames that appeal to nontraditional bicyclists.

The RadRover 6 Plus also comes in a step-through frame.Rad Power Bikes

The RadRover is the brand’s original model, launched in 2015, and the consumer-direct brand has introduced five new iterations of the flagship model including a step-through-frame version in 2020. The RadRover 6 Plus is a return to Rad Power’s roots following the launch of its previous new model, the RadMission 1.

The RadMission 1 was a singlespeed that signaled an effort by the brand to appeal to a younger audience, with a $999 introductory price and a hipper aesthetic for millennials and riders turned off by the fat tires and upright seating position of many Rad Power models.

Weighing 73 pounds, the RadRover 6 Plus sticks to the brand’s tried-and-true strategy.

“The RadRover 6 Plus is more than just an upgraded version of North America’s bestselling ebike,” the company’s press materials state, “it’s a next-level riding experience.”

The company also touted the bike’s “innovative features designed to help you get more out of any adventure, from all-new hydraulic brakes for superior stopping power, to a custom geared-hub motor that provides more power, more efficiently.”

A semi-integrated battery gives the new model a more modern look than previous Rad Power ebikes.Rad Power Bikes

The semi-integrated battery is a big improvement in terms of styling, giving the RadRover 6 Plus a sleeker look. The removable battery includes a built-in grip for easier carrying, and a 10 LED light display for tracking battery power.

This is the first Rad Power model to feature hydraulic disc brakes. The RadRover 6 Plus also has ceramic brake pads for greater longevity, a nice upgrade as heavy bikes wear out pads quickly. The company says it has redesigned the handlebar-mounted display interface for simpler use, with oversized buttons for easy power changes while riding, plus real-time stats including mileage, power output, and trip time.

Hydraulic brakes, rather than cable-actuated stoppers, are a first for Rad Power with the new RadRover 6 Plus.Rad Power Bikes

A new 750W geared hub motor boosts climbing ability, according to Rad Power.Rad Power Bikes

The company has introduced a new 750W max-power geared hub motor on the RadRover 6 Plus that it says offers “greater hill climbing ability that tackles hills faster than the RadRover 5 by an average of 25 percent.” Other features include a suspension fork with 60 millimeters of travel, Halo headlight, and a taillight with an integrated brake light.

The RadRover 6 Plus is set to start delivering to customers by September 30, at an MSRP of $1,999.Rad Power Bikes

The frame comes in a step-over or step-through styles, and Rad Power says it has redesigned the frames to “better accommodate riders at the bottom end of our height recommendation range.” It says the frames also offer better ergonomics and a lower center of gravity.

Based on Rad Power’s photos, the RadRover 6 Plus marks another step forward in terms of the brand’s styling. Cycle Volta looks forward to getting a review bike in the coming months to test on the streets of Seattle.