Radster Trail E-Bike Review

The Radster Trail may just be the Goldilocks electric bike you’ve been looking for. Rad Power Bikes has optimized nearly every aspect of its popular all-terrain models, hitting the sweet spot between sleekness and off-road performance so you can have one e-bike to rule them all. I recently tested this Trail version of the Radster to see if it’s really as radical as they claim— check out my comprehensive review below.

All-Terrain Electric Bike

At first glance, the Radster Trail just looks nice. It’s clear that Rad Power Bikes invested serious time and effort to produce a model that adds something new to its fleet, this version slotting in as a sleek all-terrain e-bike— commuter bike meets trail-ready hardtail. It’s a refreshing take on beefy fat tire e-bikes with the Radster Trail being much more nimble and stylish.

Knobby tires and front suspension mean it’s ready for off-road fun while the fenders and rear rack add tons of functionality. The Radster Trail has a sibling, the Radster Road, that shares all the same specs except for the mountain bike tires.

The Radster Trail reminded me a bit of the Aventon Ramblas— both models are slimmed-down versions of the fat tire e-bikes that initially propelled these popular brands to huge sales. Rider preferences have skewed towards lighter-weight e-MTBs with component upgrades, leading to these finer-tuned models. Compared to the Radster Trail, the Aventon Ramblas is a higher-spec e-bike with a mid-drive motor and fancier suspension.

Front Suspension

The Radster Trail has an SR Suntour suspension fork with 80mm of travel and hydraulic lockout. The short-travel fork is great for comfortably riding around town, dirt tracks, and gravel but isn’t sufficient for singletrack routes. During testing, the Radster felt sufficiently stiff and responsive over light terrain and provided enough cushion over the bumps.

The Kenda Havok 27.5 x 3.0” mid-fat tires look excellent with their tanwalls and have grippy, evenly-spaced knobs. The hydraulic Tektro disc brakes provide solid off-road performance, but the disc rotors could be thicker for more stopping power and better heat dissipation.

28 MPH Top Speed

A 750W rear hub motor produces the power to get the Radster Trail zooming at speeds up to 28 mph. Rad Power Bikes seems to have optimized this motor for smoother performance instead of chasing high peak output which is a choice I agree with. This motor peaks at 750W instead of 1000W+ like other models and is tuned to deliver a whopping 100 Nm of torque.

I took notice of the Radster’s buttery-smooth power delivery and pedaling of the improved motor during testing. The premium torque sensor provides natural-feeling acceleration that responds great on cold starts and climbs. The Radster has five pedal assist levels and a half-twist throttle. With all this power and speed, the minimum rider age is 16 years old and Rad Power Bikes recommends wearing a helmet (all cyclists should be wearing a helmet anyway!).

Battery Capacity

The Radster Trail stores its energy in the Samsung 720 Wh battery slotted into the downtube. As I’ve said before, I’m a big fan of the semi-integrated battery design— it allows for a smaller downtube and cleverly tricks the eye into seeing a sleek profile. The battery is super easy to remove for off-bike charging and meets both UL-2271 and UL-2849 safety certification standards. There’s even a USB-C port to provide power to smaller accessories or phones. One downside, however, is the relatively weak 2-amp battery charger which means a slightly longer charging time.

Weight

The Radster Trail comes in at 78 lbs. including the battery. The maximum payload is 370 lbs. so you can fully load up the rear rack when commuting or journeying off-road. The e-bike is available in two frame sizes: Regular (4’11” to 5’8”) and Large (5’7” to 6’4”). The Large frame has a mid-step frame shape while the Regular model features step-thru geometry.

Components

Blurring the line between commuter hybrid and hardtail e-MTB, the Radster Trail is equipped with a capable setup of 27.5” wheels with knobby 3” Kenda Havok tires and Tektro hydraulic disc brakes. The riser handlebars are more reminiscent of hybrid bikes with plenty of room to mount accessories. The Shimano Acera 8-speed gearing has a 50-tooth chainring that’s sufficiently large to avoid ghost pedaling at higher speeds.

Technology

The Radster shows off Rad Power Bikes’ latest display with a big full-color screen and the most intuitive interface I’ve maybe ever seen. The center-mounted display allows riders to easily navigate through tons of controls without getting lost in poorly designed menus.

Riders can quickly toggle between Class 1, 2, and 3 settings to adapt to your local trails’ speed restrictions, for example. The e-bike can be unlocked via a fob or personal security code on the display for an added level of protection. The illuminated turn signals work excellently and are indicated on the display just like in a car.

The Fall of the 4” Fat Tire E-Bike?

The era of oversized and overpowered fat-tire electric bikes is fading— and that’s music to my ears. And if that lengthy e-bike category description felt like a mouthful, it’s because it is and they often ride like one too if not properly designed. I believe that huge fat tire e-bikes are simply too much bike for most riders who are better served by sleeker, lighter models.

It’s the European model perhaps— whether looking at sturdy Dutch bikes or fully-loaded commuter ebikes, those Euro classics are still slimmer than behemoth fat e-bikes. Riders have realized that they probably don’t require 4” tires, rear shocks, and a foldable frame when zipping around town or exploring off-piste. The Radster Trail effectively trims off the fat to emerge as one of the most versatile and fun ebikes for all-terrain riding.

Radster Trail Electric Bike — Pros and Cons

Pros

• Perfectly Balanced Components: Mid-fat tires, efficient motor, and semi-integrated battery combine sleekness and performance.
• Beautiful Design: Tanwall tires, eye-catching frame, and slim downtube look great.
• Fully Loaded: Fenders, rear rack, turn signals, and modern display come in handy on every ride.
• Off-Road Versatility: Hydraulic brakes and knobby 27.5” tires let you take your adventures off-road.

Cons

• Short-Travel Fork: The 80mm suspension fork could be longer for additional trail capability.
• Beefier Disc Brakes: The disc rotors could be thicker for better stopping power and heat dissipation.

Overall Impression

I’m enjoying this burgeoning trend of finer-tuned, entry-level electric bikes that take advantage of all the new tech and design advances from the past few years. The Radster Trail ($2,199) creatively splits the difference and emerges a kind of off-road commuter and touring hybrid with plenty of traction, comfort, and utility. If your daily ride to the office goes through a forest, this is probably the perfect e-bike. And for those of us dreaming of that kind of lush commute, the Radster Trail confidently explores varied terrain and so much more.

Related E-Bike Commuters

1. Himiway A7 Pro E-Bike
2. Luckeep X2 E-Bike
3. State Bicycle Co. 6061 Commuter E-Bike