Radrover Electric Fat Tire Bike Review!! 800 Miles Later

[@jacob688]

one of the most honest and helpful reviews with real experience that I've seen in my time researching before i buy my first e-bike. Thanks.

[@JohnDDyer]

Oh man thanks Jacob that means a lot! I am actually working on a similar long term review of my wife’s rad city step thru, hopefully knock that out later this year😃😃

[@notdomix9881]

@@JohnDDyer Great video! I live in Canada and the majority of the year its winter. If I want to bike to work during the winter, should I remove the battery and leave the bike outside (if i cant bring the whole bike inside)

[@eielson1978]

I love at 1:19, while you're talking about "Why get an E-Bike" you look at the camera and there is a change in your expression that I can see the "Light Go On". There is a WoW that that Look Shared with me about Getting an E-Bike for Myself. My "Moment" came when I watcher a KZbin video from Coalcracker Bushcraft.

[@AlaskaTeacherTech]

Thanks for sharing this review. I bought a fat tire eBike a year ago, and I've put 1200 miles on it. Almost all my riding has been on trails in Alaska and the Yukon, with probably more than half on snow in temperatures down to -25ºF / -32ºC. Mine is a Felt Outfitter with a Bosch mid-drive motor and pedal assist only. Its quite a different beast from the RadRover, but incredibly fun to ride. Tires and tire pressure make a huge difference on snow. I run 4" Schwalbe Jumbo Jims in summer, and 5 inch studded Dillinger 5's in winter. In soft snow, I may run as low as 2-3 psi or up to 8 psi on hard pack. The slushy conditions you are riding in SC are more like what we might see here in mid-October or early May.

[@JohnDDyer]

Thanks John! Yea my tires did not seem ideal for those conditions but It was still a ton of fun! Alaska with an ebike must be amazing!

[@plasticadam]

Great constructive real world review and links from a proper person! Currently waiting in the UK for stock of the 750 to arrive in Europe (not sure if they will give me $50 off over here - but going to try!). Oh, yes and your town and cafe look great - love the drone shots of the river! Stay healthy everybody.

[@JohnDDyer]

Thanks big time! Hopefully you will get it soon. My wife and I have been loving our ebikes with these empty roads! Stay safe out there...

[@sharinglungs3226]

Nice to hear what they’ve upgraded since you bought yours.

[@JohnDDyer]

yea they have been making small improvements but all in the right direction!

[@2507471]

New to ebikes, haven't bought mine yet. This video is the most informative and clearly presented Ive seen. Good stuff.

[@JohnDDyer]

Oh man thanks! That really means a lot. I’m glad it helps!

[@MyMonkeyMind7]

I second that motion!

[@MyMonkeyMind7]

Great sound track too ;p

[@JohnDDyer]

thanks Matt! I spend so much time trying to find songs I like! its the best and the worst lol

[@codyballiet867]

I have mine. Haven’t even had it 8 months and I got 900 miles on it. Great bike for cities

[@Altema22]

Loved the video, thanks! I'm actually waiting on my Radmini 4 today as I'm writing this... and I trying not the wear down the carpet going to the window every time I hear a truck, lol.

[@JohnDDyer]

hahaha thats awesome, I really wanna try a mini, everyone seems to love them!

[@Altema22]

@@JohnDDyer I've had it about a week now, and put 143 miles on it already. Love it so far, except for the small headlight beam, and the kickback over bumps from it being a heavy hardtail. I already ordered a Nitecore headlight and installed a suspension seat post. I like the power and I've been able to climb some steep hills in 4th gear with PSA level 3.

[@dinga11128]

Hi John, I have the same Rad Rover bike without fenders or rack and love the headlight and the fenders you have. Can you tell me where you got them and also the rack that works with those fenders? Thanks great video.

[@Pazburdem]

Hi, is that battery bag-cover 7:30 custom made for the ebike or a modified regular bag? I would like something similar to hide it, and looks like there is space to put items in!. please advise. thx

[@JohnDDyer]

It’s a cheap ibera bag from amazon that I just cut a slit in and then removed the battery holder and slid the bag over it and then bolted the batter holder back on top of it. I’m not sure the larger 2018+ batteries would fit in the bag but its worth a shot! I keep some tools in mind. It’s super helpful to have. I have a link to it on my ebike accessories portion of my gear page on my website. vanboardbike.com/gear/

[@Lovenpain]

John, try this.. As soon as you turn on your lcd power, hold down + and - and see if the screen goes into the advance settings that are available on the controller.

[@sangokudbz79]

Love your mindset, if it makes you use less car, go outside and is fun, get one!

[@jayv9779]

Awesome review! I just ordered the rad rover 5 I grew up near Greenville and have been looking forward to visiting family and trying out jackrabbit trail. This video was a twofer for me. A good snow is rare there too.

[@enargins]

I'm sure others have shared this, but you can change the max speed from 20 to 25 MPH through the control panel on the display.

[@JohnDDyer]

I actually didnt on purpose bc of laws around max speed of 20mph...but yea I did that too :)

[@randyerickson2154]

My biggest thing is turning at night. Wiping out at night on ice during the winter time. This is why I'm looking for a bike that can last in the cold winter months.

[@pgutz]

Great review. Just bought the Rad City Step Thru. I was considering the RadRover, RadRunner and RadCity. Your other video on your wife’s RadCity pushed me to hit the order button. Thanks for listing all your favorite accessories. I was wonder which surfboard bike rack you have on your bike and if you recommend it. I don’t surf, but will need more storage for beach chairs and umbrellas. Thanks!

[@JohnDDyer]

thanks Paolo! I actually have a DIY rack, I just searched for bike surfboard rack on youtube and made it from PVC, totally worth it!

[@kennethprice4292]

Great video! Funny, I own a Rad Rover and I just so happen to have been in Greenville last week with my bike. And my wife also has the Rad city step threw. Great little town. Thanks for posting.

[@JohnDDyer]

Oh man small world Kenneth! Yea we love our town. Super lucky to have landed here!

[@66windar]

Keep bolts tight with loctite.I have a 2018 rad rover and I know The kick stand bolts do become loose as they are supporting a 70 lb bike.Use loctite to keep bolts from backing out

[@66windar]

Ive Gone to work in -35 celcius on Rad rover.Studded winter tires and extra lights Just another Canadian day lol.Loving it!! Good thing work is only a mile away lol Never cold if I wear right gear!!!

[@JohnDDyer]

Heck yea man that’s awesome!! Gotta love the rad. I bet the studded tires are awesome!!

[@JohnDDyer]

Thanks man. I’ll def do that the next time around. About time to replace them again lik

[@66windar]

Yes they are .if its packed snow or ice ,but I wiped out 3x in deep snow and it didndnt hurt cause snow cushioned me.When I got home .relief!! The rover is a tough bike to withstand these harsh conditions in BC Canada.I ride to work in sometimes -35 celcius Insane weather up here but trending warmer now ,but yes down to -35 celcieus on certain days.I have gear for -50 if needed but rad rover would probably lock up lol!!! PS studded tires do nothing for you in deep snow..Only good on hard packed Great riding up here now sunny and not super cold and no more snow for a while@@JohnDDyer

[@johnpossum556]

Glad I saw this post. I checked mine today and they have loosened somehow. Will correct it tomorrow.

[@justincase9519]

Well done! You’ve got talent, young man, just keep plugging along.

[@JohnDDyer]

Thanks Justin!

[@TSniper79]

I cannot wait to get my ebike. I am going to start commuting with all summer to work.

[@freshlycharged]

Great video! How does the cold effect the battery and range?

[@JohnDDyer]

I haven’t done a true back to back but it doesn’t seem to change much. I don’t leave it on the bike outside when I’m not using it tho.

[@johnpossum556]

It seems to go to half of what they say. They say 25-45 miles. It will never do 45 miles. In the winter I would charge it between each ride and my round trip ride length is 6-7 miles. It'd be down to one bar of charge after that.

[@Guitarsdetectors]

The regeneration comes from conservation. The more you pedal the less battery you’ll use and the further you can go.

[@HillOrStream]

Great job putting it together. Love the drone clips.

[@JohnDDyer]

thanks! yea I love using that thing, do you have one??

[@HillOrStream]

@@JohnDDyer No, but would like to get into it. Need to learn more and probably get an inexpensive one to learn with.

[@jhlondt]

How do you keep your bike clean in the winter? Any issues with rust? We use a ton of salt up in Wisconsin.

[@JohnDDyer]

I don’t get a ton of salt here in South Carolina since we only get snow a couple times a year but I tried to follow rads recommendations to clean and oil the chain. I found that my beach riding also rusted the area around the pedals and battery controller bolts so you may want to pay attention to those areas too. They may have upgraded those materials since my 2017 though. Link to Rad’s winter riding tips. www.radpowerbikes.com/blogs/the-scenic-route/winter-riding-advice

[@dougsfan9984]

Hi great vid! What headlight so you have?

[@JohnDDyer]

It’s a 12v motorcycle headlight. I had to get a voltage convertor to step it down to 12v. Really easy tho.

[@JohnDDyer]

Here are the links if you are interested. Harley Style headlight for ebike( voltage converter required) amzn.to/2tkxkKz Voltage converter for new 12v headlight: amzn.to/2RNUYcB

[@dougsfan9984]

@@JohnDDyer thank you very much! Sadly link for headlight doesn't open

[@rosschiasson1183]

Hey John, Are you using the stock tires in this video? I'm looking to ride through similar conditions during the winter and wondering if I'll need to upgrade to studs. Thanks!

[@BoogieNN]

I had an issue with the tail end of the Rad Rover getting away from me in the snow.

[@JohnDDyer]

yea I could see that too, the ice and leaves below the snow got to me when i was turning lol

[@ikkuranus]

The thing that worries me is they stopped carrying replacement batteries for their early fat tire models. What's to say that won't be the case with the 2019 model several years down the road?

[@JohnDDyer]

Yea it’s possible. But I don’t think it’s very hard to just splice in an aftermarket battery. They still carry the 2017 now. It wouldn’t stop me from buying one for sure. They are so much fun!

[@EcoSpeeder]

-- Thanks ! I am waiting to get a bike of similar spec and was great to see such in the riding conditions I expect to be riding in.

[@JohnDDyer]

Anytime Michael! I hope you don’t have to wait too long. They are a blast!

[@EcoSpeeder]

@@JohnDDyer -- I used to ride ATV and I loved being in the back woods. more-so close encountering wild animals. I always wished I could travel in the woods much quieter. And now I can without selling an organ.

[@JohnDDyer]

Yea man! It’s so nice these things are getting cheaper. I can’t wait to see what options we have in 10 years. It’s going to be crazy!

[@EcoSpeeder]

@@JohnDDyer -- Hydrogen fuel cell powered.

[@EcoSpeeder]

@@JohnDDyer -- modular systems integrated E-that allow for two e-bikes to easily quick lock together to become a 4 wheeled side by side or in-line independent tandem E-configuration.

[@willywonkalucretia]

Thanks for the post, I only have about 20 miles on my 2019 rover and no issues.

[@JohnDDyer]

Yea man anytime! I’m jealous of your battery!

[@johnwigren4429]

I like the cargo bike and the rad Rover what do you think is better and more fun?

[@KingdomUploader]

Would we be better off using this bike along with a small cargo trailer(for groceries) OR should we look at getting the RadWagon instead? IYO. Thanks

[@JohnDDyer]

Well I can get a bunch of groceries in my bushwhacker paneers so it depends on how much you are getting. The other thing is the wagon has about half the torque of the rover since it has a different motor so if it’s really hilly where you are you mig prefer the rover.

[@joebentry]

Love the Swamp Rabbit Trail & Greenville - as a visitor from the Burgh, a buddy of mine (now in Greer) showed us all around a few years back👍🏼 Had a great laugh after seeing the signs warning of the Train Track crossing - then “falling” anyway 🙄 😊 BTW - have a 2020 RadRover on order👍🏼 Thanks for the great review along with the GREAT VIEWS 🚴‍♂️

[@JohnDDyer]

my pleasure man, yea I am super lucky to live in such a pretty area totally by accident too lol

[@danmanr]

Excellent review. Glad to see a guy my size say he likes the size of the frame. I have been wondering. It sucks that I can't test ride one before ordering. We have no dealers close. So can you pedal beyond 20mph with assist on? I would think you could, or does the motor stop helping at that point? Thanks for posting such a great review.

[@JohnDDyer]

Hey Dan anytime. The assist will cut out at 20mph (by law) unless you modify the tire size in the computer to trick it. But the bike is geared to really only pedal 20mph, any faster and you are pedaling really fast.

[@larryhendren9111]

John, nice video. Love my RadRover, but was not aware of the kickstand issue that I will now monitor. The number ONE question I get about my RadRover and electric cars is "What is the Range?". Like you, I reply "It depends............."

[@JohnDDyer]

Thanks Larry! Yea the range question is def always a little tricky lol. Over and over again 🤣

[@familyoffour8020]

Love love LOVE your video! Just sold my motorbike to get an ebike for all the reasons you mentioned (minus the cousin in Rome😅) I will use your link to get you (and me!) the $50! Thanks for making this video - just what I was looking for. Sub's & liked. Who are the 23 people that clicked dislike????🙄

[@JohnDDyer]

Awesome! Super excited for you, you’re gonna love it!!!! Thanks for $50😃😃😃

[@JohnDDyer]

I need to make another vid for my wife’s step through. She has absolutely loved it. It’s on the list lol

[@DougFrazier1]

Great video for someone trying to decide on a first ebike. I bought the one that's easily upgradeable in December of 2016. I have not upgraded the power train yet but I'm ready to go to 25 amp controller for more torque. Mine is 36v, 350 watt bafang motor. Do I have to change the LCD and/or the throttle?

[@JohnDDyer]

Hey Doug I honestly don’t know much about upgrading them but I would check out the Facebook group ‘Electric Bike Owners’. There are lots of great guys on there that can prolly help you out!

[@SunShine-yd5xu]

I like your helmet , the light behind it and sun ( snow ) visor ( on top of your forehead ). Where did you get them from and cost ? Thanks.

[@JohnDDyer]

I actually have the helmet and light both on my ebike accessory page on my website vanboardbike.com/gear/

[@LeslieDugger]

Lower the psi on the tires when riding in snow and sand

[@JohnDDyer]

Yea I will try that next time!

[@menoninblack]

Hi, do you do anything special with the battery? WIll it die if its outside for a few minutes in the winter?

[@JohnDDyer]

I have never done anything while I’m using it but I do take it inside with me if it’s really cold out. If you leave it outside it will loose a good bit of range...

[@markpennington5763]

How slow will it go wiith pedal assist power.?..I.e steep rocky off road hills.... average range?

[@JohnDDyer]

It will go as slow as you want with pedal assist. You can use as little as 10% of the motor or all of it. As far as range goes it depends on a bunch of factors but worst case scenario if you are going up a really really steep hill and using full throttle or level 5 pedal assist the whole time you can go about an hour. (Since you have a 670watt hour batter my and use 750 watts per hour at Max throttle or pedal assist).

[@jetli3333]

Awesome. I plan on getting the Radmini 2019 this month

[@JohnDDyer]

Sweet! You can get $50 off if you use the link I have in the description, and I get an amazon gift card too since I purchased a rad.

[@MultiCheck123456789]

thanks man for that discount its not much but its something !!! i bought my 1st ebike i cant wait to test it out !!!!

[@JohnDDyer]

Awesome!! Yea I wish it was more of a discount for sure... let me know when u get it!!

[@MultiCheck123456789]

John D Dyer wont get it due to back order and the pandemic so I’ll have to wait a month or so. Hopefully it’s sooner then that !!!!! NY is getting warmer and would like to ride !

[@JohnDDyer]

Oh man that sticks. Hopefully it will come fast. With less people driving it’s been an amazing time to get on the streets!

[@Sentientfx1]

Excellent review. Thanks for posting. Some people say that you need to be a 6 footer to ride it comfortably but this video seems to contradict that. I'm only 5' 8" but I've ordered one anyway. We'll see in a few days..

[@JohnDDyer]

My mom loves mine and she is 5'8" and my 5'3" cousin loves it too. I hope it works for you I sure love mine! Did you get the awesome black friday deal? I was tempted to upgrade to a 2019 and sell mine lol

[@Sentientfx1]

@@JohnDDyer Ah, the Black Friday deal is a sore point. I ordered the bike on Sunday and the deal came in to play less than 12 hours later. I asked them for mercy but they didn't even reply to my email.. :-(

[@randyerickson2154]

So how does it do in the snow? Yeah.

[@johnpossum556]

I ran my Rad Ebike City ST through winter on a pair of winter marathon Schwalbe's with 536 studs and it was awesome. I'm surprised to hear about your kickstand issues because I think that is one of the more impressive feature on the bike. While changing a rear flat I noticed it is even adjustable on the length. Look for an allen bolt on the inside of the bottom part. I replaced it now with a KMC chain but my only real surprise with the bike is that the chain broke when I had under 400 miles on it. All the bikes I've owned over all the decades I'm shocked this broke so early ESPECIALLY when I almost never pedaled the thing. It was super annoying when it broke, too, because the chain would slap then get stuck on the rear shifter braze-on. My only other complaint is that when I typed in my honest review it never got posted. This is how the company has all 5 stars reviews online. Mine was respectfully honest but it was 4 stars. Their web site only has 5 star reviews and it says the "Shop Administrator" needs to OK it. So that is so much dishonesty for a company that otherwise has a very good product. The only other issue I had in the winter is the disc brakes squeaking. I would wipe the discs down after every ride with rubbing alcohol and that cured that. Oh yeah, the headlight would unplug by itself when running a standard velcro on schwinn map bag. THIS is poor design as the cable that mounts the headlight is too short. The fix is the front rack (which includes a cable extension ) but was not available when I bought the bike and over and over again. Also the bike store guy said to use new tubes to prevent a pinch flat when I put on the Marathon Winter tires but it went flat within 2 weeks. I haven't diagnosed the tube in a tub of water yet but since I was also running Armadillos it looks like it was somewhere near the valve. Their rims seem to have a few burrs near that hole and they do use an extra long tube. BTW waiting for parts to become in stock on their website is probably my second biggest annoyance of the company. Now I'm looking for a heavy duty seatpost suspension for big/heavy riders because the winter up here was horrible and the streets are in real bad shape with tons of potholes. If any one knows of a good one, please share&reply!

[@johnpossum556]

BTW I was going to mention the reason I liked the kickstand: I haul a lot of groceries with mine and it always keeps the bike upright and very stable while I'm packing it. I usually take the kickstand off every bike I own because they never work right. I have bought several of the double kickstands for other bikes in my fleet and those are the only kickstands I will leave on my bikes. Even with the issues I've had I'd still recommend the bike to others but I would say buy an $8 KMC narrow chain and replace it first thing. At least you can get home on the electric motor when the chain goes.

[@JohnDDyer]

Man that sucks they didnt post your review, but hey thats the nice the about youtube is you can post it here! I did adjust my kickstand and make it taller to reduce the load and it has held up better with the second round of bolts and the adjusted kickstand. Glad you like yours too, they are a blast to ride :) Hopefully I wont have any chain issues but atleast I know what to do if I ever do, thanks man!

[@johnpossum556]

@@JohnDDyer Yeah, I appreciate the heads up because I checked my KS bolts and they were starting to get loose. I just cleaned them up with rubbing alcohol and reinstalled them with red loctite. I'm a huge believer in red loctite on bikes because vibration is like the number one thing I have a ongoing fight with. One of my pet peeves is putting food in my pack and by the time I get someplace all I have is a baggie full of crumbs!

[@JohnDDyer]

oh nice glad you caught it! I also adjusted the height on mine to reduce the load a bit and make the bike lean a little less. I usually ride with the tires aired down pretty low which helps with the vibes but it does effect the range...

[@johnpossum556]

@@JohnDDyer I don't dare do that because I ride downtown and with the potholes we have this year it could fracture a rim. I keep my tires around 60-65psi. I do like that this is basically what used to be called a "balloon tire bike" which I used to deliver 350 papers every sunday when I was a kid. It was my income for almost 6 years. They were always smartly made and needed almost no repairs, just some basic regreasing from time to time.

[@fredripley6909]

I was also thinking of getting a rad rover fat tire bike next year , this is the first review I see in cold weather . Do you find that the cold weather is hard on the battery ? I was thinking of using mine from april to october for work , however there are days in winter that the roads are dry .do you find the battery draina faater in the cold ?

[@JohnDDyer]

I don’t see much of a difference as long as I take the battery inside with me. I live riding mine in bad weather because the roads and parks are empty and it’s really peaceful 😃

[@1954mje]

No Parking...aren't bicycles required to follow vehicle laws...oh darn apologies. It depends on the operator's interpretation of signage and applicable traffic laws. Of course you may do as you wish, but I always follow applicable traffic rules and laws.

[@codyoliver3125]

Just so happen to click on you video and right off the bat I said Hey!!! I know that area thats where we live. Love the drone shots!!

[@JohnDDyer]

Oh now way. You live in a great place! ;)

[@abernal907]

Awesome review, you sold me on one. Looks like the 2019 will be coming out soon so I will be sure to mention your name to get the discount!

[@JohnDDyer]

Thanks man! I hope you love it!! I hope that gift card works too!! ( I have never tried it so let me know if it doesn’t...)

[@boatrvme8478]

2019 is out based on email I got from radpower.

[@JohnDDyer]

Mark Lancaster nice! Don’t tell my wife lol 😂

[@MyMonkeyMind7]

What? Im waiting to get the new 2019 in a couple weeks. Is there really a discount available by referencing John?

[@JohnDDyer]

They have a refer a friend program so if you enter my name at checkout you should get a discount or credit, I think its now a $50 amazon discount. But no-one has ever done it to know it it works lol. www.radpowerbikes.com/pages/refer-a-friend

[@4771cu5H]

How does the display and electronics hold up in the rain or snow? Any problems getting water in the display?

[@JohnDDyer]

It’s been totally fine for me. I use the bike all the time in the rain and have never had any issues.

[@66windar]

cold weather will effect lcd a bit as far as display but okay when it thaws out. But if your not in Canada ,no worries!! @@JohnDDyer

[@antonhavenor1317]

Great video! Yeah the stock tires that come on the Rover are garbage, for snow, and everything else for that matter. I put some 45NRTH Van Helga's on and they transformed the bike.

[@JohnDDyer]

Oh nice! Yea I definitely want to upgrade. Just trying to get the most out of the stock ones...😃

[@seanpeine9258]

How well does the battery hold up with the cold? If you leave it out side in the cold all day do you find the battery still holds it’s charge for what you said an hour of riding.

[@JohnDDyer]

I haven’t had any issues when it’s around 30-40F going to a cafe for an hour or grocery shopping but I never did a solid drain it till dead range test. But I will just take it in with me if it’s really cold and the bike will be lit for a while.

[@seanpeine9258]

Thanks for your response, living in Colorado and temps are in the 20’s and I return my electric bike because it would not work in the cold. Get maybe 3 miles on the battery. Then it would die. Then when it warmed up after being inside it would show a full charge again with out being charged.

[@WineIsTruth]

If you really want to ride in snow, you can get studded fat tires, but if you take the pressure down to 3/4 psi, it will work a lot better. I carry a small pump and a 0-15 psi gauge to adjust on the fly. I replaced the rear freewheel with the one they put on the 2018 (Shimano MF-TZ31 Tourney Freewheel 14-34T Mega 7 Speed) to get higher pedaling speed, $15 on amazon. worth the time and hassle, you do have to modify a freewheel tool to slip it over the power cable by cutting a slot in it. You can also adjust the max powered speed to 25mph (40 kmh), at the risk of breaking local laws (shhhhhh).

[@JohnDDyer]

Thanks man, if it snowed more here I would def look into that. I have looked that replacing the freewheel too but it looked like a pain... oh and I know of the speed hack 😜 (sshhhh)

[@WineIsTruth]

It seems daunting, but it's mostly just tedious, i used a dremel (a hacksaw works too) to cut a 1/4" slot vertically in my Parktool shimano freewheel tool, then once the wheel is off, you just slip it over the cable and swap out the freewheel. If you haven't done a freewheel before, they are normal right hand thread, which means riding actually tightens them so I put a piece of pipe on the end of the ratchet handle to get the leverage to break it free. Putting it on is easier because you just snug it down, the riding again will tighten it. It completely changed my riding experience, with the max speed up to 25, you can actually still pedal with it to full speed with the 34 tooth Megarange 7th gear. That extra 5 mph makes a huge difference in traffic

[@66windar]

studded tires are only good on hard pack.For snow you want deep lug tires

[@thefish5861]

I think if you take the tire pressure down to about 5 psi you'd see a big difference.

[@JohnDDyer]

thanks Bob, I'll have to try that next time. Im not sure if we are done with the snow here for the year or not, it was almost 70 yesterday lol.

[@mdarnell08]

Any feedback on how these compare to the Juiced Hyper Fat bikes, or how Juiced and Rad compare overall?

[@JohnDDyer]

Well I have only ridden my rad but the juices seem a little more expensive, they have hydraulic brakes which is nicer but I haven’t had any issues with my brakes. They also do seem to be more hunched over like a mountain bike, I really like the upright sitting position on the rad rover (I didn’t even know it was a thing until I got the rad lol). Much easier on my neck.

[@skipgardiner]

Great Video and review !!

[@JohnDDyer]

Thanks Skip! I had a blast making it!

[@JamesBondJB007]

I wish it would snows in the south sometimes, just so I can ride my Radrover in the snow too.

[@JohnDDyer]

Yea man, we usually only get one or 2 snows here in Greenville every year but it’s fun when it happens!

[@RickSanders58]

Great video. How do you get your overhead shots? Do you use a drone?

[@JohnDDyer]

Thanks Rick. Yea I have a DJI MAVIC 2 zoom drone. Any DJI drone is amazing!

[@JohnDDyer]

amzn.to/2S4gjM0 it’s really amazing, I need to do a vid of it too honestly. The range is awesome, over a mile in the middle of downtown Greenville and it’s really pretty quiet too, especially compared to the smaller spark I used to have. And 30min flight time is so good. But it’s pricy🙄 for the money the spark is a really good value.

[@arnoldshauling]

Its cold over there I'm wondering how long the batteries last?

[@JohnDDyer]

I didn’t notice much difference because I don’t store the batteries in the cold ( I remove them when I’m not using it) but I have heard people say you can loose up to 25% of the range. The batter companies have charts that show range vs temp (Panasonic 18560 for example)

[@MatthewFling]

Awesome video!

[@JohnDDyer]

thanks Matt! it was fun to make, it was nice to have the bad weather to get me out on the bike again, I forgot how versatile it is...

[@Tardisius]

I have a 2018 Rad Rover and never had issue with the Kick Stand =)

[@JohnDDyer]

niiiice, did they upgrade it in 2018??

[@martyannunziata8077]

Awesome review loved the drone shots, question, I have 735 miles on mine and I noticed the back tire is wearing a lot faster then the front tire. Have you had to change the rear tire yet?

[@JohnDDyer]

I have only put about 800 on my stock tires since I swap back and forth with the Duro beach bums but it seems pretty even

[@kwamejones9519]

Where did you get that front headlight?? I’m looking for one just like that!

[@JohnDDyer]

Amazon! I actually have a link in the description of the vid but its (amzn.to/2RXhkbP). I did have to use a dremmel to cut off a little of the support bracket to make it fit. Then I had to add a Voltage regulator (needed to go from 48 to 12V for headlight): amzn.to/2S6idMi It was a little less than $40 for the whole setup, maybe took me 2 hours to get it done. totally worth it because I just love the way it looks! Good luck!

[@therookienomore88]

Awesome video! I have a custom e-bike shipping out to me as I write this. I noticed RadPower Bikes reduced pricing just this last week across the board. I wish i had known that was going to happen before I bought my eBike... You remind me of David from the show "Travelers" on Netflix

[@JohnDDyer]

Oh man sorry about that....I’m sure ur customer will be great too tho! Never seen travelers I’ll have to check it out 🤣

[@jorgesolari8952]

Hello John, I really enjoyed your video and I'm hoping to have it delivered to RadRover. I wanted to ask you a question: what's the brand on your helmet? and if possible the model, it is difficult to find one. Thank you very much

[@JohnDDyer]

hey Jorge! I use 2 helmets, when its cold I actually use a snowboarding helmet amzn.to/2t9D2eU (they dont make my exact one anymore but its similar to that. When its not snowing I wear a thousand helmet and love it!! amzn.to/2WUw9vI I saw a youtube video about the creator and was hooked (kzbin.info/www/bejne/rJ-oaGmseJ2Babs) My wife has one too and now some of my friends lol.

[@jorgesolari8952]

@@JohnDDyer Hello John , Thanks for the tips !! Served me a lot !!

[@smckinnon]

John D Dyer probably already mentioned but the tires are fine, you just need to get the PSI down below 10

[@JohnDDyer]

Yea man I need to try that next time for sure. Still not sure if it will help me with frozen leaves and snow on top lol

[@smckinnon]

@@JohnDDyer You'd be surprised. The tires turn into tank treads at anything below 10 PSI, great video man, keep em coming!

[@keith606]

I am also 6’1 with a 34-35 inch inseam. Do you have the seat adjusted to its maximum height? What is your inseam length? Also, Is the reach to the handlebars long enough?

[@JohnDDyer]

hey Barry, I have ~33-34" inseam but I dont have the seat all the way, I would imagine you would be fine. I love the position of the handlebars and the more upright position, way more comfortable for my neck, but not as upright as my wifes step thru, to me its the perfect balance.

[@keith606]

Thanks John.

[@MyMonkeyMind7]

Great video! I am super glad to have all that info, especially product links for the accessories. What about winter maintenance? Do you leave your bike outside 24/7? Do you wash it every day? Thanks, Matt

[@JohnDDyer]

I have a basement that I keep the bike in so it stays covered. to be perfectly honest I dont take care of the bike very well. The only times I have washed it are when I come back from riding on the beach. And I think I even forgot to do it a few times after that lol and ended up with a few rusty bolts :)

[@HackHunter1835]

Kickstand bolts are a known problem from the factory. Didn't come with loctite on the threads, kept coming loose. Put the blue loctite on the threads and they've never come loose since. (5000+ miles) I have the 2017 City and trust me, the "regen" is highly overrated. Nice review John.

[@JohnDDyer]

Oh nice I’ll try that on my next set! 5000 miles that’s awesome! Any issues with yours? Stock battery etc??

[@HackHunter1835]

@@JohnDDyer Stock battery. Bought the bike Nov 2017. Looking to buy a new battery for the Spring. Only issue was the display being blotchy when the backlight was on. Had to tighten all the spokes, other than that, no probs.

[@JohnDDyer]

Nice that’s awesome! What battery are you going to get??

[@HackHunter1835]

@@JohnDDyer Here's the deal. Rad tells me they are working on the Upgrade 14.6ah batteries for the pre-2018 City, Rover and Wagon. The standard 11.6ah are out of stock, soon to be "in stock" They cant tell us when the 14.6ah are going to be in stock. I will pay the extra $ for the 14.6 but i cant wait on it indefinitely. I may be forced to buy the 11.6ah battery which is selling at $399, the 14.6ah i think sells for $550 whenever they hit the market.

[@JohnDDyer]

Nice. Good to hear they are making a larger battery work for the pre-2018s. Hopefully they will come out early enough for you! My wife has the step thru and I am jealous of the extra battery capacity for sure...

[@beltedsleet]

It might help to let some air out in your tires. I don’t have fat tires on my bike but I use studded tires and keep it kinda flat and it works well on snow and ice.

[@JohnDDyer]

Thanks man. Yea studded would have been awesome. We get such little snow that I don’t have dedicated tires for it.

[@woofdog4219]

Use Handwarmer packets for your battery .

[@JohnDDyer]

oh thats a good idea, would fit right in my little baggie too

[@colinallcars5239]

What do you mean you can only pedal to 19mph? What stops you from going faster?

[@JohnDDyer]

just the gearing, you start having to pedal really fast if you want to go much over 19...

[@gordjohnson70]

Feet can't keep up any more. Pedals are spinning too fast.

[@stacysalinas22]

Thanks for the video! Best wishes!

[@JohnDDyer]

My pleasure Stacy! You gonna get a rad???

[@stacysalinas22]

Saving up now, actually! Looks great. I'm going to move out in the boonies, so it would be nice to have.

[@JohnDDyer]

Oh nice! We sure love ours! Feel free to use my friends and family code in the description to get $50 off. It’s not huge but every bit helps!

[@josephfoster105]

Any idea what the maximum tyre clearance is? Thanks

[@JohnDDyer]

Oh man I’m not sure. Is it something you want me to measure?? Not sure what you mean exactly.

[@josephfoster105]

@@JohnDDyer I mean the maximum tyre width possible. It's all good though.

[@JohnDDyer]

I have heard of people going as wide as 4.8 inches. Which I have thought about myself 😃

[@proto204n4]

What tire pressure were you running in the snow?

[@JohnDDyer]

It was about 15psi, I think I would have aired down more. Have you biked in the snow before??

[@proto204n4]

@@JohnDDyer I've never biked in the snow but I am looking at this and the Rad Mini for my short commute and would absolutely consider using it in the winter.

[@JohnDDyer]

yea Matt I have loved mine, the mini looks like a great bike too, jealous of the larger batteries on the 2018/2019 compared to my '17....

[@gtjoshua]

Try running 10-12 psi in the snow. That’s what I run on soft sand beaches and you’ll be quite surprised in the handling difference.

[@GoingNoWhereFast]

Nice ! I was going to get one of them, but I got a dog instead :-)... It gets me outside, but your bike probably doesn't eat your furniture ! Hhhhmmmmm Maybe I'll rethink this ! Great Vid !

[@JohnDDyer]

Hahhahaha yea the bike definitely doesn’t eat the furniture lol

[@DougFrazier1]

Do it !! I'm 64, I've had my ebike for 2 years, it gets me off the couch, makes me feel like a kid again and I get some exercise !!

[@66windar]

Get one and your dog will run with you!!!It will change your perspective of life.Its a different pace where you notice everything and very different from car as you can hear birds, kids ,everything!!

[@marcelnight1978]

I wanted to go with rad but I choose Juiced crosscurrent S because of more miles per charge and overall top speed.

[@JohnDDyer]

cool man, how do you like it? anything you dont like?

[@canadainboy24-graeme91]

woow! great video :) i like it im surprized about the eletric bike with that throtal that was awesome!

[@JohnDDyer]

yea man it is really cool, very versatile! I honestly forgot how much fun it is, too much boosting and onewheeling lol :)

[@douglassterry8236]

Leaf under the snow and grass clipping are your enemy in riding in th winter a tip from bufffalo N.Y. ice is not a problem keep a strate Trac now sudden turn of the handlebars

[@JohnDDyer]

Yea thanks! That turn got me🤣

[@jaimelinwu]

Thank you for the $50 discount. Hope you get yours too.

[@JohnDDyer]

thanks man!! Im sure I will, Rad has been really good about sending them out. I hope you love your bike as much as I have!

[@Thoracius]

Your referral link is expired.

[@JohnDDyer]

I just updated it so it should work now, sorry about that...

[@eddiebaby22]

Tyres not letting you down, on snow try letting them down, low pressure in tyres = better grip and travel over snow.

[@JohnDDyer]

Thanks Eddie, I’ll def aid them down more next time! Do you get to bike much in the snow? This was my first time lol.

[@eddiebaby22]

@@JohnDDyer not much, mainly mountain. My dad's looking at your bike so just looking at your video. Looks like a great bike. I have a haibike myself, different but does what I want.

[@JohnDDyer]

oh nice, yea I really like mine, dont have too much to complain about. I need to get it out on some more mountain trails tho

[@BillCullins]

Nice Video 👍

[@JohnDDyer]

Bill Cullins thanks Bill!

[@boatrvme8478]

Love my 2018 rover. Take it with me while rving U.S. nice video!!

[@JohnDDyer]

Thanks Mark! Yea they are great for exploring that’s for sure!

[@VideoMusicManiacPlace]

Best rack that works with the fenders is the 1UP, with Fat Tire Kit!!!!

[@JohnDDyer]

That rack looks awesome but with the full rear fenders on my bike and the step thru it would be applying a lot of pressure on the fenders. I didn’t think that would be good. Have you tried it with full fender bikes??

[@VideoMusicManiacPlace]

@@JohnDDyer I have full fenders. The rack after adjustment, doesn't touch them and yet hold the bike well.

[@JohnDDyer]

@@VideoMusicManiacPlace very interesting, I would love to see a pic of that! If i upgrade my rack that one is def up there on the list

[@David-y8m8z]

Cool bike. But my friend had his stolen. So hesitant to get one. So many sticky finger out there. Gotta lock it up good

[@JohnDDyer]

Oh man that sticks. Did they break his lock??

[@jetli3333]

What helmet do you wear or recommend? Thanks

[@JohnDDyer]

I wear a Solomon snowboarding helmet in the winter and a thousand helmet in the summer.

[@hellno6609]

Dude I put 800 miles on my rad Rover within 4 months! I hope this thing holds up! LOL! Go rad😂

[@JohnDDyer]

Hahha thats awesome! Yea I would have been on that track had I not gotten a boosted board lol. But I still love my Rad!

[@frankierays]

So 3” tires will work on the rovers stock rims?

[@JohnDDyer]

Yessir. I tried out an eBay set last year, but I missed the fatties!

[@pmathews109]

$6000 bikes? Really? Do they do the $1500/$1600 range which are becoming very popular?

[@JohnDDyer]

not sure what you mean Paul, my Rad Rover was $1500...maybe my audio wasnt good and you miss heard me???

[@tims6246]

your rear view mirror isnt the best// get a mirrocycle that connects to the inside end of the handlebar// much better visibility.

[@JohnDDyer]

Yea I tried a couple other ones too and haven’t been happy with any honestly... better than nothing but not great...

[@Seune205]

I tryed a radrover but it felt heavy to ride with and cheap parts the motor was 750watt but it doesnt went fast

[@JohnDDyer]

Yea It never really felt cheap to me. Did u find anything else better for the money??

[@Seune205]

John D Dyer i mean the parts used on the bike like disc brakes with a cable, and the shiftings is acera or altus, that is 10y old and designed for road use only. Here in belgium they kost 1700€ that is about 1800$ i guess and it goes max 20m/h (24km/h)

[@stevehatfield117]

Driving an ebike with fat tires in snow and slush would be like driving a car with wide tires in snow and slush. Narrow, skinny tires will let you get down to a more solid surface for traction. To prove this, take your wide tired equipped car out, and have a friend bring his/her Model T. I'm not a Ford guy; but, the Model T will go through mud, snow and slush with no problem that would bog down other 'modern' cars.

[@JohnDDyer]

Makes total sense Steve. Thanks! The only caveat to that would be when there is a layer of ice or frozen leaves under. Then aired down wide tires might help, kinda like on sand.

[@STEVEARABIA1]

I'd be terrified of what the salt in that slush would do to the bike.

[@JohnDDyer]

Well after a bunch of beach riding and snow salt riding my bike is ‘ok’ after 3 years of abuse lol. Def have some rust here and there but I still love it!

[@NaeMuckle]

Buy stainless steel bolts and you only need to buy once.

[@JohnDDyer]

Yea that was my bad for sure...

[@fatbike349]

Beautiful landscape but also bike :)

[@JohnDDyer]

thanks! do you have a fat ebike??

[@fatbike349]

@@JohnDDyer yes :)

[@WookieSenshi]

Great review! I just subbed.

[@JohnDDyer]

Thanks Chris!

[@Kevin_geekgineering]

awesome

[@mountaincam3520]

Thanks, I've ridden my ProdecoTech Genesis e-bike on the Swamp Rabbit Trail, but not in the snow. Rad Rover seems to be a value packed bike for the price. Jekyll Island greenway is another great ride. Here is a link to my ride around the island recently. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aZyUZ4GipbCWrMk

[@JohnDDyer]

Thanks man I’ll have to try that out. We are about to buy an RV ( I think ) and we might have to check out Jekyll, only been once for a quick stop. Have u camped there??

[@eBikeGeneration]

Nice video John, good insights. Rad do make a good ebike, good for the price point. Have you tried Quietkat? they are marketed more towards hunters but they can be used for any offroad rides. The full collection here: ebikegeneration.com/collections/quietkat you can find also their new smaller frame sizes. You should try out their Zion or Canyon

[@JohnDDyer]

Thanks! I have not tried Quietkat, they looks really awesome though!! A little outside of my price point tho🙄🤣