If you are looking for an affordable and reliable class 2 e-bike that will last for years, the RadMission 1 from Rad Power Bikes is an excellent choice.
After thoroughly analyzing, researching, and testing many of the top electric bikes, we selected the RadMission 1 as our pick for the best overall e-bike in 2021 and the best cheap electric bike.
Rad Power Bikes is known for creating very high quality electric bikes at affordable prices. They sell their bikes directly to customers so they are able to cut out the retailers and their high price markups. This allows Rad Power Bikes to use more expensive and durable parts without increasing the price tag.
The RadMission is my personal e-bike of choice for city commuting and city riding. I purchased the bike over one year ago and I ride it three to four days per week for commuting to work, exercising, and just going for joy rides.
After riding the e-bike for thousands of miles, I am going to share everything that I have learned about owning the bike and things you should know before you buy the bike for yourself.
This in-depth review of the RadMission 1 will include:
- Overview: Specifications, features, and capabilities
- Benefits
- Drawbacks
- Purchasing and ownership tips
- My experience and honest opinion about the bike.
- Price
- Warranty & Returns
- Is it worth buying?
Overview: Components, features, and capabilities
Two size options: Mid-step and high-step
Mid-step frame
- 28” standover height
- Ideal for riders between 5’2” and 6’2”
High-step frame
- 31” standover height
- Ideal for riders between 5’7” – 6’4”
Pedal Assist Mode and Throttle Assist Mode (Class 2 e-bike)
Easily switch between the five pedal assist options with your left hand using the LED controller or simply twist the throttle with your right hand to accelerate without pedaling.
Top Speed: 20 mph
The throttle power will max out at 20 mph and the pedal assist will turn off when you exceed 20 mph. However, you can reach higher speeds by manually pedaling after the pedal assist turns off. You can read more about the RadMission 1 top speed here.
The battery lasts 45+ Miles per charge
48V, 10.5 Ah Lithium-Ion Battery
I have gone over 50 miles using the lowest pedal assist level and still had about a quarter of my battery life left.
500W high-torque
geared hub motor
Easily climb hills without pedaling.
Traditional narrow tires with double aluminum rims
The narrow tires provide less rolling resistance and are much lighter than the popular fat tires on most e-bikes. These tires make it feel like you are riding a normal commuter bike.
Tire size: 27.5″ x 1.95″
Tire brand: Kenda Kontact tires with puncture-resistant liners and reflective sidewalls.
Single-Speed Drivetrain
Single-speed electric bikes are easier to ride and require less maintenance.
Headlight and taillight (with brake light)
Stay safe and stand out while riding in the dark.
Bike Weight: 48 lbs (22 kg)
48 pounds is considered lightweight compared to other e-bike models.
It is much heavier than your typical road bike or mountain bike, but it is light enough to lift into your vehicle or carry up a small set of stairs without assistance.
Weight limit: 275 lb (125 kg)
The payload capacity including the rider weight and any additional items carried on the bike is 275 lb (125 kg).
Benefits:
The RadMission 1 is lightweight compared to most e-bikes. It is light enough to carry up and down the stairs of your apartment, but much heavier than your typical road bike.
It has both pedal assist and throttle assist and you can easily switch between the two. Just twist the throttle if you don’t want to break a sweat!
There are five pedal assist modes so you can choose to get a workout pedaling or just enjoy the ride with the highest pedal assist level.
If you find yourself riding in the dark, the headlight and tail brake light will help you see the path ahead of you and help other people see you.
The RadMission 1 has a basic but stylish design. It doesn’t look obnoxious and silly like a lot of other e-bikes that I see in the city. Many onlookers don’t even realize it is an e-bike because the slim battery is mounted on the frame.
I personally like the design because it doesn’t attract too much attention and it has the cool look and feel of the original electric conversion bikes.
Single speed e-bikes are low maintenance. I almost considered not getting this bike because it was a single speed, but during my first ride I realized you do not need gears when you have a motor on your bike. You can climb hills with ease using the pedal assist power. That’s the point of riding an electric bike. The motor replaces the need for gears. If you want to buy a bike that has gears, you should consider buying a non-electric road bike because they are much lighter and better-suited for that purpose.
Drawbacks (but not dealbreakers)
The only real downside of my RadMission 1 bike is that my rear brakes squeak when I come to a stop. The front brakes do not squeak at all so this could just be an issue with the bike that I received.
I contacted customer support about the squeaky brakes and they mentioned it is a common issue and swapping the brake pads can will usually stop the squeaking.
This bike is designed for roads but sometimes I take it on dirt trails. The bike does not have shocks, so it is not very forgiving when you hit rocks, bumps, stumps and cracks in the road.
The bike does not arrive fully assembled. It is set up about 80% of the way though.
The proper tools are not included to assemble the bike on your own.
The RadMission 1 does not come with a kickstand. However, you can pay an additional $15 to add one.
Purchasing and ownership tips
Here is an overview of the things you should know before you buy the RadMission 1.
- The Bike does not arrive fully assembled. You will need to complete the set up before you can ride it or you can pay an additional $250 to have a mobile bike shop set it up for you.
- Purchase the proper tools for setting up and maintaining the bike. Rad Power Bikes provides a simple tool kit for assembling the bike but they recommend you use the proper tools for your safety.
- The assembly process should take about 40 minutes with the proper tools.
- Rad Power Bikes has an amazing instructional video showing up to assemble the bike on their website.
- Keep the box and packaging materials so you can easily return it if you have any issues.
- Retighten the handlebars and pedals after riding the bike for about 50 miles.
- If you are considering buying accessories, buy them with the bike to avoid paying high shipping costs for those items in the future. You will get free shipping when you purchase your bike.
My experience owning the RadMission 1
I have owned the RadMission 1 for over a year now and my experience with the e-bike has been incredible.
Setup
The setup was easy and I was riding the bike within hours of receiving the package.
Problems
I have been riding the bike three or four times per week for over a year and have not had a single functional issue yet.
Battery life
The battery life doesn’t seem to have diminished much after a year of use. I go on bike rides over 50 miles and still have some charge left in the battery when I’m done.
Power
I was surprised by how much power the motor has. It accelerates from a stop to 20 mph much faster than I expected.
Storage
The bike fits perfectly in my small apartment hallway and it doesn’t get in the way.
Fun & Exercise
The RadMission 1 so much fun to ride and it is a great way to convince yourself to go outside and exercise. Yes. Even though it is an electric bike, you can still get a good workout when using the lower pedal assist modes.
Price
The RadMission 1 electric bike is available for $999.00 on the Rad Power Bikes website.
Return Policy & Warranty
Rad Power Bikes offers free returns within 14-days of receiving your package. You also must have less than 10 miles on your odometer. Make sure you read the full return policy before purchasing.
The bike also comes with a 1-year warranty for any defective parts.
Is the RadMission 1 worth buying?
After personally owning the RadMission 1 and comparing it with other e-bikes in a similar price range, I can confirm it is worth buying.
This e-bike is possibly my favorite purchase ever and I am happy to say that Rad Power Bikes’ products offer incredible value for the price.
I actually purchased this bike when it was listed at $1099.00 and Rd Power Bikes recently lowered the price to $999.00. I thought the bike seemed like a bargain at the higher price point and I was still thrilled with my purchase even after I saw the price drop.
I highly recommend the RadMission 1 to anyone looking for their first e-bike on a budget.
RadMission 1 E-Bike Review – Rad Power Bikes
We tested and reviewed the RadMission 1 from Rad Power Bikes. Here are the results:
Our overall rating: 9.8/10
Quality: 9
Price: 10
Durability: 9
Design: 9.5
Return Policy & Warranty: 8
Pros
- Affordable
- High quality components
- Easy setup
- Lightweight
- Battery lasts 45+ miles per charge
- Pedal assist and throttle power
- Low maintenance
- Sleek design
- Headlight and brake light
- Fast shipping
Cons
- The brakes squeak a little
- Does not arrive fully-assembled
- Proper tools are not included
