Cargo Bike Roundup - Under $2,500 Test - Rad Power, Lectric and Aventon
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- čas přidán 5. 06. 2024
- #aventon #radpower #lectric
Aventon Abound - bit.ly/42VPgWQ
Lectric XPedition - lectricebikes.sjv.io/9Wvvj0
Rad Power Rad Wagon 4 - bit.ly/3NGBkvv
We bring these electric cargo bikes head-to-head to decide which is the best deal for you. All three of these bikes have a 750w motor and are considered long-tail cargo bikes.
The Aventon and Lectric both share 20" wheels and a shorter wheelbase, while the Rad Power has 22" wheels and is noticeably longer. All of these bikes have many of the same accessories available to them, and the Lectric even has a dual battery option.
Is a cargo bike in your future? What are you looking for when looking at a cargo bike? Let us know in the comments.
Check out the full reviews of each bike here: www.electricbikejournal.com/b...
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#lectricxpedition #radpowerrawagon4 #aventonabound - Sport
Find your Cargo bikes here:
Aventon Abound - bit.ly/42VPgWQ
Lectric XPedition - lectricebikes.sjv.io/9Wvvj0
Rad Power Rad Wagon 4 - bit.ly/3NGBkvv
WHY do they do that! If you’re going to talk …talk, if not play soft soothing. ANNOYING!😵💫
Good reviews. I really like the Aventon, but I kinda feel like they glossed over some of the Lectric advantages. They talked endlessly about the physical length of the Rad but the power, speed, & mileage differences between the three (more important factors to me) weren't really compared. There was also a lot said about the accessories available for the Rad. The lectric certainly has just as many.
They also made an error when discussing classifications. The Aventon and Rad are class 2 machines (20mph max speed). The Lectric is delivered using a 20 mph beginner mode but it is a true class 3 bike. The mode can be changed in the menu system to enable class 3 performance. (28 mph). If you want to go further/faster the Lectric is probably the better option.
Range PA1:
Rad - 40 miles
Aventon - 50 miles
Lectric - 150 miles
Thanks for the watch and the good words.
As a roundup we were hoping to not bore anybody with too much in depth info since we have standalone reviews of each bike.
Good to know power is a major concern for you and I’d assume many others. Just a note the lectric range of 150 is with a dual battery setup and half that with a single.
Thanks again! Happy riding!
@@ElectricBikeJournal Yes that is the two battery setup. It just made sense to include the max range. The other bikes don't offer two batteries & the Lectric with the two battery upgrade is still the least expensive option.
They all hub driven so they god plenty of power , mid motors suck on these types of bikes idk why they even put them on mtb's only for the bare minimum assistance maybe on the uphills .
The Abound has really impressed me . The power is applied smoothly and the hydraulic brakes brings you to a controlled stop. I wish Aventon would allow Class 3 to be unlocked for those times I'm riding alone. It would also help me feel more secure riding in traffic. Ride safe.
@@joeargyle Agree, the two battery setup wins this for me. If you manage the battery state of charge between 30-75percent it will still have the range of the others, but many more cycles over time. Draining the battery is a good way to shorten it's life. At these prices, I could buy a good used car. My current daily driver cost me about the same as these bikes and I've driven it now for a couple of years and over 30k miles. It may last another 3-10years. Any ebike needs to last 5+ years of solid use to just break even in most cases. Just bough the Lectric XPedition today, so time will tell.
Loooooose the music PLEASE
+1000
+infiniti
The fact that you can get the Lectric XPedition Dual Battery for a more affordable price seems like a no brainer to me. Then you can use the money you're saving to buy all the accessories you need. But I do have to admit the Aventon from a looks standpoint is pretty nice.
The Xpedition's price point, looks, durability, and speed sold me. I have 250 miles on the bike so far. I commute back and forth to work and put in 50 miles a week on a route mixed with roads, paved bike trails, several hills, and long upgrades. If I push it hard, I can make it to work, five miles one way, in about fifteen to seventeen minutes. I love that I can get as much of a leg workout as I want. Taking my time, using pedal assist 2, I can make it to work in about twenty to twenty-four minutes. The only thing I wish they would upgrade is to add a rear brake and turn signal light. Highly recommend it, especially if you are transporting precious cargo, like grandchildren, on our paved walking/bike trail. Nice review!
Glad to hear you are enjoying it and putting it to use! You can get a helmet that has turn signals on it, with a wireless button on your handlebars to use(Giro Ethos)There are also motion detecting lights that sense when you are slowing down and brighten up (Lezyne).
Also, weight is a big factor. The Lectric is the lightest at 68 pounds with one battery. You are really going to notice the weight if you have to lift the bike up steps, like the front steps going into your house for example.
I would def mention the higher speeds of the lectric as that's what personally sold me on it. The flexibility to go 28mph when I'm not carrying my kid and then go slower when I do have cargo is nice. The higher weight capacity and speed makes it the best in terms of 'utility'. But I would have picked the aventon if those factors were not as important to me.
I agree. I just got a Lectric Xpedition and I've been blown away by the performance, quality and range. I've had a RadRover for 6 years and it's a fun bike, but the Xpedition has so much more power and the ability to go 28mph on PAS is awesome. Also, I don't know what they're talking about regarding the stability. I haven't felt any apprehension going fast on the Xpedition. My biggest concern was the folding stem, but it's been rock solid.
But I think the biggest selling point is that for $300 less than the RadWagon and $500 less than the Aventon you can get the Xpedition with twice the range. The lack of range anxiety has been such a relief. I rode it 10 miles today to work on a full charge and when I got home it had only lost 10% of the battery.
I gave you a like, but let me play devil's advocate as a Lectric XP 2.0 owner. My ebike *can* go 28 MPH, but in order to reach those speeds, I need to frantically pedal like a maniac on the flat in order to reach 28 MPH to the point where I feel like I look silly to people watching in the area.
Maybe this Lectric's cargo bike is more powerful, but it also will weigh more, so that might be a wash when comparing.
I feel like the class 3 28 MPH mode was enabled in software as an afterthought in order to check a box on ebike comparison websites. And honestly, I've just been used to traveling at 10 MPH anyway just to optimize for range instead of speed. And 20 MPH is exhilarating enough for a joy ride.
Where Lectric does outshine the completion is that they are head and shoulders cheaper than all of their competition without sacrificing safety.
Freewheel and chainring upgrade will let you ride 28mph with ease.@@ex0stasis72
@@ex0stasis72thank you VERY much for this info. Now I don’t have fomo as I bought the Aventon lol
With the current Black Friday sale on the Abound ($1599) and another $500 in free accessories it was a matter of bang for your buck. Found a $75 coupon to boot. I don’t need 150 mile range when shopping is >3 mi. away. Panniers, cargo rack, front basket, seating for the grandkid. Class 2 vs class 3 for a non commuter is fine. Great review.
Absolutely a great video guys, I'm a tall guy and the Rad power meets my needs. Thank you for this great video! 🔥👌
The long chain on the Rad Wagon without a tensioner is a no sell to me.
Finally a awesome YT Channel review with the 3x Best Cargo eBikes ( affordable )in the World! Maybe could add the Addmotor M81 ebike to this great review! Unfortunaly here in EU, we only have 250W Radwagon for sale, but the power and price is ridiculous. Congrats!!
I had a radwagon and now I have a Specialized Haul ST.
The Haul is twice as fast.
It’s 1000 more but well worth it.
I have an Abound on order, it’s UL certified which is important to me as I live in a Condo so need to be cautious, also I have a dealer in town where I can get it serviced.
good choice and being able to get it serviced locally is great.
I'm going to be ordering the Lectric offering. Mostly due to it having a dual battery option. I own an Aventon Level, the Step Through model and that has been excellent. A year and a half of ownership, 8,500 miles ridden with no major breakdown. From other videos that I have seen, the Abound appears to be locked to 20mph top speed whereas the Xpedition can be unlocked for Class 3 speeds. If I am riding alone I definitely want 28mph top speed. So Class 3 capability and a dual battery option is why I want Lectric's offering. The Abound is a better looking bike though, in my opinion.
The Lectric's longer range and higher speed, I would think would be huge for a cargo bike where range and speed equals cash for someone making deliveries, and that's mainly what these bikes were made for, making money! Other than that the the Rad is good if your taller and the Aventon is good if you need a pretty CARGO bike!
Too bad the AiPAS A6 wasn't included in this comparison. It is closely related to the Lectric but with significant improvements such as front suspension fork and improved battery placement for better balance. At $1,600 it's a definite bargain. The biggest negative thing about all of these bikes though is the hub motor. A cargo bike is expected to carry a lot of weight so the ability to make use of the gear cluster by the motor on hills is a huge advantage. Mid drives can do that plus they can produce more low end torque than a hub drive of similar wattage. Unfortunately, cargo bikes with mid drives cost at least double what any of these bikes cost which puts them out of my budget range, hence my interest in the AiPAS A6.
My initial problems with my Abound were the heel knockers and learning how critical it is to avoid loose gravel. 😵
The Rad bike must have gotten that spring idea from a bike that was made in the late 60’s called the swing bike that allowed you to steer the rear wheel for tricks. 😊
one feature really worth pointing out about the radwagon is the super wide and stable kickstand.. it's like loading up a parked pick up truck, while your kids climb all over it. and you can get in in orange!
i envy you americans for the chill regulations and pricing! in eurobucks for the 250W EU legal radwagon4 currently goes for 2300eur / 2560usd. but it's still so worth it! and that was the cheapest legal long tail i could find
Looks like Rad's reign is coming to an end. I just bought a Rad Expand 5 and it will do the job I was looking for but it is a low value offering compared to something like the Lectric XP 3.0. I hope torque sensing becomes more popular with these rear hub motor bikes- I can't imagine it adds more than $100 to the cost of an ebike at scale.
It is nice to see other companies coming in at that price range with better tech at a lower price for sure. Agreed hoping the torque sensing comes to more bikes, makes for a nicer experience.
Rad sucks now. Overpriced for what you get. Competition offers more for same price or in lectrics case less
I mean.... both the wagon and expand LOOK nicer.... but XP 3.0 and lectrics cargo offer so much more for the money
Just bought a Radwagon today, its a great bike. Super stable, lots of power, going to be riding with my 4 year old on the back. Also was on sale $1600.
Right on!
Ordered the Aventon after test riding it (this was before seeing this review). Got tired of firing up the my truck every time I needed to go 2 miles down the road. Looking forward to this being a wise decision (meaning I hope it doesn't suck!) Thanks for doing the review. I was looking at all 3 of these bikes.
how'd it go?
Great comparison video! I have the XPedition and regret not test riding the Abound for the torque sensor and suspension. I'm not happy with the unchangeable PAS levels and how the cadence sensor surges the motor on/off.
Huh? Cadence works fine in the rad
I own the radpower wagon4 and I agree its a fun bike. But after 500 miles of me riding it to haul my two kids Im getting rid of it. There are two things that are a deal braker for me. The brakes suck, cant believe they put mechanical disc brakes on such a heavy bike that is meant to carry kids. Second its quick release on the front wheel. I get it they wanted to make it convenient to change a flat. But I constantly find myself readjusting it so that the rotors dont rub. Which leads me to the question what happens when you put a lot of braking force? Like in an emergency? Is the QR going to brake and the wheel fall off? So not secure enough for my liking. I just bought an aventon and considered the lectric but I could buy the aventon through a bike shop so if anything goes wrong I can go back to them. My experience with customer service with RadPower was also bad. I get it with these bikes you should be able to work on them yourself or find a shop to build a relationship with. RadPower told me to replace a bad fuse on the battery myself, I would've done it but this happened the day I unpacked it. Had to threaten to return it before they shipped me new fuses. Like the reviewers say the fit and finish is much better on the other two. Better quality components and safer, particularly the price to value ratio of the aventon is good. Yes RadPower has much more accessories, but they are all of cheap quality as well, I have must of them. Hopefully RadPower starts selling bikes with more quality components into their products that also prioritize safety.
I have an older Surly Big Dummy. I’m seeking a Bufang, likely. The 2 kids are bigger, and much heavier, now! There’s a Voilamart front hub motor still on package 1000 watt and 48v. I’m considering it, too.
I love your reviews! Your the best “team” channel for PEV’s, honestly I don’t like the rest. I hope you guys stay working together! And post more videos! 😀
Thanks! Much appreciated!
Bought 2 Velotric Packers on their Black Friday sale for $1,500 each. No regrets
Enjoy!
Nice overview thanks
Thanks for watching!
Nice overview in general, but some slightly odd choices in terms of things to highlight and/or ignore when comparing the various bikes.
FWIW, the Aventon has essentially all the same size/portability "advantages" of the Lectric -- i.e. it has a similar wheelbase (roughly 50 inches), a folding and telescoping stem, and a QR seat that collapses nice and low. Why that's a decided advantage for the Lectric but not the abound, no idea.
Likewise, some of the pros for the RadWagon 4 have their own drawbacks; for instance, the larger tires are nice, but they're also custom/proprietary, so replacing them isn't always easy (and basically has to happen through Rad Power). Similarly, while that length can be nice, Rad failed to add a chain tensioning device like Aventon and Lectric (on their notably shorter bikes...), so that extra long chain is slapping around and more prone to dropping over rough terrain. Not the end of the world, but worth noting.
Finally, a big selling point for the Aventon to me was that it's the only "budget" e-cargo bike I could find with a rack that will accept standard (i.e. Ortlieb-style clips or simple spring clips) panniers. If you already have saddle bags that fit normal bike racks (or just want to use one of the million options out there), that's a big plus -- especially if you want bags that only take up half the length of the rack so you can mount a kid seat **and** carry things easily (most of the OEM saddle bags are so big it's either/or with a kid seat).
these are exactly the 3 i was trying to decide from this is THE perfect combo of bikes.
Awesome to hear, there are definitely other great contenders out there. These three were available to us and we wanted to put them together for y'all.
Really appreciate these reviews, guys. Radwagon 4 is $1599 until 8/31, just to add another data point for anyone trying to decide btwn these three.
Thanks!
An obvious problem with the Aventon vs the other two: it is apparent that the seat goes way back into the rear cargo area, prohibiting larger items from being carried.
I ordered the lectric xpedition and it never turned on. It was such a nightmare to get my money back
My concern with the Rad Wagon is that they use proprietary tires, so you have to buy from them. That said, they do have a local dealer here so that is an advantage with regard to test drives and servicing. Might also be worth mentioning that Lectric's return policy is kind of scary. You have to pay shipping to send it back (about $200) and apparently if you have more than a mile on it, they will also charge you an additional $250 restocking fee (I don't know if this is true or not, but a local dealer who rents them told me that that is the case).
Questions: How would you compare the experience (and maybe efficiency) of the torque sensing of the Aventon vs. the Cadence sensing of the other two. Is it a notably better experience? I am very much drawn to that feature because it feels like it would be more like a bike vs. an electric scooter? Specifically, with the cadence sensing, are you actually doing any work on your own? Or are you just pedaling as a sort of speed control, but the bike does all the work?
There's a video by a European couple who found a moped tire size that fits the Rad Wagon. They changed out the rear tire for more load capacity and reliability.
18” Michelin (city pro) mcy tires are a great replacement, for the RW4. Tough to get a flat and still sturdy with reduced air
Cadence works fine on rads- people overthink this
I want the Aventon just based off looks alone. The rest of the features are gravy.
CORRECTION 15:48 “They all have the same class rating…”
The Abound is limited to class 2 and I’ve read that anything above 20mph with the Abound approaches ghost pedaling territory. I SO wish the Abound were class three. I’ll not always be carrying a passenger or cargo and feel safer being able to better keep up with traffic.
The class two rating is (unfortunately) a deal killer for me. Otherwise, an Abound would be in my garage.
The option to switch to class 3 for the Lectric xpedition is what sold me for that same reason.
Have you been riding the Xpedition? Thoughts?
Feels like rad wagon is rellaying in its name. The parts on its own cost half the others
As a tall rider (6' 5") I wanted to go with the Rad Wagon but that lower load capacity was a deal breaker. A couple of kids plus backpacks and your quickly at or over capacity.
If you're still looking for options, we have been pretty impressed with the Velotric Packer which would have been in the roundup if it had been released at the time.
The 22" Rad Power Wagon tires & tubes will not be easy to find. Most bicycle shops will not have them.
Seems most responsible to share all the info regarding these manufacturers. Do a google search, “Lawsuits, layoffs and blown tires: it's been a rough year for Rad Power Bikes
The Seattle-based e-bike company recalls the 30,000 RadWagon 4 E-cargo bikes in use”
“After two rounds of big layoff -totaling 22% of the work staff it started the year with- the Seattle-based company then got hit with two lawsuits and now, is recalling its RadWagon e-cargo bikes in collaboration with the US Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Labelled a "Fall and Crash Hazard," the recall is centered around the RadWagon's rim strips. “
Yes, they have had a rough year as many companies have. We do know about the recall and can say about that is they took action recalled those bikes. Many companies have recalls, even Tesla.
For this video we were focusing on the bike and how it rides, and our experience with the bike. Not as the company as a whole. Thanks for pointing that out for people who may not have heard of it.
They also started shipping bikes with pathetic radius brand Chinese brakes, without informing buyers that they would not be getting Tektro brakes that were advertised
FWIW, my intention wasn’t snark or to denigrate Rad. It is concerning that this particular ride has had a number of issues, including safety with such a late iteration of the product. You mentioning Rad refining the product over the years is what caused me to think of this. I hope Rad is able to regroup and come out stronger.
I am currently heavily debating between the Aventon Abound and the Lectric Xpedition. I am unable to test drive both of these bikes to help make my final determination. Are you able to comment on how you would compare Lectric’s PWR to the Aventon’s torque sensor? I have watched many reviews and it seems that most are impressed with the PWR from Lectric over a traditional cadence sensor.
They are work pretty similarly, the PWR from Lectric is much better then a traditional cadence sensor for sure. The torque sensor on the Aventon is also much better, and it our opinion has a more natural pedal feel.
Have you guys tested the Flyer L885? If so would love a comparison to the Rad Wagon.
We haven't tested it long term, but we had a chance to ride it in Austin at the Electrify Expo. We thought it would've made a great addition to this roundup sadly it wasn't available to us at the time.
Which ones of these has highest mph speed.
How is it on hills, off road, etc. something very important for us that live in trails & mountains. Thanks!
For the purpose of our testing these bikes over the last year, we can really only speak towards hill performance. The off road use we have is on general bike paths in outdoor rec spaces.
What class of e-bike is the lectic? I want a bike that can handle camping gear but my state laws restrict e-bike trail access to only class 1 e-bikes.
The XPedition is a Class 1,2, or 3. this means that you can adjust the overall speed parameter to 20mph to meet the class 1 standard.
Would that make it legal for me to ride on class 1 restricted trails through? I’ve been doing as much research as i can into e-bike laws in my home state and I can’t seem to find the answer.
@@treeceratopsowotake the throttle off if your so concerned
@@treeceratopsowo in most states, "motorized vehicle" is the classification which would have you hosed if you rode on a non motorized trail.
Lectric sounds great even if it cost the same as the others honestly
It is a solid bike.
The one you can afford.
Didn’t see you you guys measured up as riders. Height and weight of each guy? I’m 6’3” 215 so the last thing I want is to feel cramped or have an underpowered bike. I like the range of the Lectric but it looks small. Like the size of the Rad but no dual battery and proprietary tires?
Oh we are 6' and 5'8"
Check out the Velotric Packer, we've got a video here on the channel, it'd be a good one to compare.
Just bought two of the Packers. Awesome bike
Where's the Blix Packa?
We’re wondering the same thing?! How do you think it stacks up?
You didn't mention that the RadWagon is not very robust on hills, the Lectric is an absolute flying Bomb for hill power, and Lectric PWR is a torque-based system. Front suspension forks are not a really big deal when it comes to mainly street use especially on those big 3" tires. The addition of a ThudBuster seat post, or the like, can take the sting of any little street bumps out of your ride. I'm truly surprised you both picked the RadWagon overall. For my money, at $1400 (single batts) & $1600 (dual batts), with 450lb capacity at lightest weight 68lbs, hill power to burn, hydraulic brakes, best ever stem and bars, and $450 worth of accessories included absolutely free, the Lectric Xpedition is the hands down choice for me. My arrives mid next week, I'm super happy with my choice.
As a motorcycle rider, just watching you pedal is wearing me out...
I want one, but I don't want to pay used motorcycle prices, so I'll probably break out the stick welder and some old bikes and go to town...
One thing is for sure, all these electric bikes are making my 1985 Honda Rebel 250 pony bike motorcycle look super much more appealing... I've pedaled 6 miles before on a foldable bike, it's not fun. Done 20 miles on a 10 speed. I'll take the motorcycle any day of the week over either.
Main advantage of an e-bike over a motorcycle in urban areas is accessibility to areas on the e-bike that are illegal/closed to motorcycle road access.
Places like bike trails in parks, riding on sidewalks in many areas and the ability to take an e-bike into an apartment saving parking cost and theft risk again not available on a motorcycle.
Add in the registration/insurance along with rider licensing fees again the e-bike for those traveling within closer range distances and certain areas make an e-bike an attractive option.
I have been riding motorcycles for decades and as a senior that mainly trips are within like a few miles and to pick up a few groceries an e-bike makes a whole lot more sense and cheaper to own and operate than a motorcycle.
UMMMMM it is obvious they are not motorcycles. If you want to be lazy, and listen to the racquet of an ice engine, orrrrrrrrrrr perhaps feel the vibration of some pistons, why would you even be looking here? Somehow I am a motorcycle rider and understand that this is a bicycle. Plus most people aren't ignorant enough to load 2 kids on the back of a motorcycle... most...
How can I bought tis the orange colour 🚲 from Singapore
We are not sure how you could get that there, may be best to reach out to Radpower
@@ElectricBikeJournal ok thk.q
Electric offers same things and much cheaper price
Great job! Nobody wants to hear about the battery or range.
The 22in wheels on the rad are a huge negative rather than a positive, they aren't standard to anything else, you can't just walk into a bike shop and purchase a new set, and there aren't any alternatives except for the stock tires rad sells. That is what steered me away from the rad completely
We've heard and seen a lot of people mentioning the 22" tire size as an "issue" and normally we would agree, but we actually think that its a pretty minor detail. We figure that most people, if they ride often, might look for a new tire once a year. That's plenty of time to order a backup to have on hand whether it be for a repair or wear.
We understand that details like this have their levels of being annoying and we definitely agree that some of the proprietary decisions made by brands really does cause maintenance issues down the road.
Radwagon brakes require constant adjustment. They suck.
FYI It’s impossible to get the accessories for the Lectric bike…..they keep on pushing back shipping dates. I got the bike in May and they have pushed the shipping of the accessories now back to end of August. Fustrating.
I've got all of mine. Ordered in early June, all accessories were delivered within a few weeks. You may want to give them I call. I have mirrors, foot platforms, upgraded seat, barrow bar, rear bench seat, cargo basket, & net.
Yeah try all these on a hill, until they figure out how to haul me and my stuff plus their 100 lb frame up a hill I am good.
We rode each of them up hills, you can see how they did in the individual reviews we have of each of the bikes.
My Abound gets me up any hill by my house. My street is 32% grade and it’s a minimal pedal effort! Kinda cool that way…
How are these riding down hills (rather than up hills) with lots of cargo (e.g., multiple kids plus stuff)?
Whats with the phone ringing in the background? You could not put your phone on silent?
Haha not us. Just the normal world existing around us.
The weight limit of the Rad is a deal breaker for me. Regret buying it. Also it has trouble with hills fully loaded.
My oldest is terrified to ride her own bike so I need a higher weight limit to keep taking her to school with the younger one.
I don't like any of them they're very goofy looking to me 😂 wouldn't be caught dead riding one I like the more normal-looking bike they have way too many pipes involved in that frame
Dam you hella insecure
It’s all about what your needs are and it is great that you don’t like the look of them! For me, I am needing a bike large enough to fit my 5 and 2 year olds on the actual bike with me. Can’t do that with another style of bike unless I want to fork out 6k for the front loader style cargo bikes.
I care about practicality. For me, it's not a fashion show and I don't care what anybody else thinks.
I will go with lectric.
I know these guys try hard to sold other e-bike over Lectric but they can’t win most viewers in here we all see who the real winner is
Happy to see anyone out there on any of these bikes.
Why not just buy a good ebike?
Great question. What defines a “good” ebike for you?
Different purpose? Why you think people buy a truck? Usually for work right? And why do you think people buy family vans? Maybe for a family?? Think man
In the US, E-bikes are for healthy abled young men.
Ride on the sidewalk, yell at the walker to get out of my way.
They do it because nobody(including policemen) tell them not to.