Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Outdoors

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

Why we love the updated Rad Power RadRunner 3 ebike

RadRunner 3 review: It's kind of e-great with a little bit of e-verything

By

Rad Power has been consistently on my radar ever since the beginning of the recent ebike revolution. The brand has quickly made a name for itself, producing the best ebikes that are practical, customizable, versatile, and, well, rad. If you live in a city, one of its sleek showrooms is quite possibly near you.

The company produces several electronic bike lines intended for different purposes — commuting, cargo hauling, off-roading, and more — regularly updating each as the tech progresses. Now it’s released the RadRunner 3 — a versatile rider that has go-anywhere capability thanks to its fat tires — and I’ve had the pleasure of taking it for multiple whirls. And I do mean pleasure. While it leans into its role as a working bike, it’s also a lot of fun.

Rad Power RadRunner 3
Rad Power Bikes

What’s new about the Rad Power RadRrunner 3 ebike?

First and perhaps most notable, the RadRunner 3 is the first Rad release to be compatible with the company’s battery range extender, which is in development and should be released relatively soon. Once available, this will increase its range to over 100 miles.

Recommended Videos

More immediately, you’ll notice that the RadRunner 3 has improved hill-climbing capabilities. The previous edition’s 750-watt motor was already no slouch, and now the upgrade absolutely charges up hills. It’s also been upgraded with an extended rear rack (upon which you can mount all manner of add-ons — more on that below), a better saddle, and a front suspension fork that really smooths the riding experience.

The overall design has also been improved. While the previous version of the RadRunner was a bit clunky looking, the update is more streamlined.

Rad Power RaRrunner 3
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Extremely customizable

One of the best qualities of Rad Power ebikes in general involves their superior customizability. Rad offers a slew of accessories: cargo boxes, front baskets, lock and bottle holders, netting, bags, racks, safety equipment, passenger seats, and canopies, and now even trailers and pet carriers.

In the case of the RadRunner 3, you can either choose your own options or select one of several pre-designed kits. I’ve been riding the “Around Town Kit,” which comes with an extended passenger seat, rearview mirror, front-mounted basket, and an uber-tough ABUS Bordo Granit X-Plus 6500 folding lock. It’s great — I can carry a friend around with me and still have a place to put my stuff up front.

Rad Power RadRunner 3
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Final review

Starting at $2,299, the RadRunner 3 isn’t a cheap ebike (on par with competitors like Juiced), but it’s worth the investment — particularly if you’re looking for a workhorse of a bike that will replace a car for running errands near home.

But it’s not limited to urban riding. I’ve taken mine over loose gravel surfaces and some moderately bumping trails, and the fat tires and new suspension make it highly capable.

An all-around solid bike — this is one of the best grocery store (and sometimes off-road!) cruisers yet.

Editors’ Recommendations

Topics
Nick Hilden
Nick Hilden
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Nick Hilden is a lifestyle and culture writer whose work has appeared in the Washington Post, Esquire, Rolling Stone, Afar…
Study reveals haunting truth wabout getting lost in the wild—and how to avoid it
Do you have the wilderness survival skills you need?
A man looking up in the woods, seemingly lost

We usually don't think to brush up on survival skills when we're out enjoying the country's best national parks. But it's important to be prepared, even if you're hiking or camping in a popular tourist destination.
Let's dive into a recent study that reveals how people get lost in the great outdoors and, more importantly, how they survived to tell the tale. And to make sure you stay safe on the trail, I'll include some helpful tips you can use if you ever find yourself lost in the wild.

The alarming truth behind getting lost in the wilderness
There are plenty of ways to get turned around in nature, but hiking is by far the most common way to get lost, with 48% of missing persons losing their way on foot. Men aged 20 to 25 and 50 to 60 are the most likely to get lost, and it most commonly happens during the warmer months of the year.
You're more likely to get lost if you head on your hike in the mid-afternoon, likely because of the shorter timeframe of light and thinning crowds that help keep outdoor enthusiasts on track. People usually wandered 1.1 miles off of their trail.
The National Park Service shells out between 6 to 7 million dollars on thousands of search and rescue operations each year, not including the costs associated with fire services and law enforcement or volunteer efforts and donations.
It's a huge part of the NPS budget, and unfortunately, these numbers are likely to increase as park popularity rises.

Read more
3 things I wish I knew before buying my first mountain bike
3 considerations for buying a mountain bike
Opening and beginning to build the Canyon Spectral CF 8

I bought my first mountain bike in the early 2000s. Back then, there weren’t as many mountain bike options, and they certainly were not nearly as expensive. I worked an entire summer and spent the entire $750 on a new mountain bike.

Fast forward to 2021, and I was getting back into the sport after a long hiatus. Mountain bikes had changed significantly—for the better—and I was quickly playing catch-up. One thing that had certainly changed in the nearly two decades since I purchased my first mountain bike was the price. 

Read more
Best 4th of July grill deals: Save on Traeger, Blackstone and more
An opened Classic Joe III with food cooking, from Kamado Joe.

Are you ready for the full intensity of the summer ahead? We can already predict that this summer will be hotter than usual, but that also means that it will likely feel longer. As a result, there are going to be more evenings and, later, great autumn days to be outside and spend time with our families. At least, that's what we hope. Taking advantage of 4th of July grill deals, then, will be an excellent way to celebrate. Whether you're looking for traditional grills and smokers, charcoal grills, or even gas grills, there are great deals to take advantage of right now. The following are our favorite for this season.
Coleman 4-in-1 Portable Propane Camping Stove — $70, was $125

This one is a bit tinier than the rest, with only a 100 square inch cooking surface, but its got a price and versatility level to match. With a tripod base and a small 14.4 x 10.5 x 13.9 inch body, you can easily take this will you and set it up on any bench. It has versatile cooking modes that include a grill, grill, wok, and even stove. It's recommend for groups up to four, but with a bit of raw veg and good drinks, we're sure you have the ingenuity to stretch the meal to five or six. This is not an advanced grill, but it doesn't have to be if you're looking to be on the go.

Read more