Rad Power Bikes RadWagon 4 review

Should you buy one?

Buy the RadWagon 4 if you want a straightforward longtail for carrying kids around town and can find one at a good price. I used mine for pool runs, trips around town and grocery stops. It’s stable, the throttle gets a loaded bike moving from a stop, and it was the first RadWagon after Rad fixed the tire problems with the RadWagon 3.

Skip it if you want a torque sensor, built-in turn signals or a polished drivetrain. The shifter on mine felt cheap, and I had to adjust the gears out of the box.

The deciding factors: price and availability. Rad’s last listing showed $1,299, down from $1,799, but marked out of stock, so the RadWagon 5 is the one you can buy new.

See the RadWagon 5 at Rad Power Bikes (affiliate link from my video description; the RadWagon 4 is out of stock, and the RadWagon 5 is the current model).

Quick specs

Sources: Rad’s archived RadWagon 4 page (Wayback, May 31, 2026), because the live page now returns 404. It lists the bike as Class 2, with a 12-magnet cadence sensor, a half-twist throttle, Tektro mechanical disc brakes, a rigid steel fork, full fenders and rider heights of 5’1” to 6’4”. The original price was $1,799.

Who it’s for

• Parents carrying one or two kids to school, the pool or the park.
• Riders who want a throttle that works from zero. With two kids on the back, that first push off a stop is the hardest part.
• Families with riders of different sizes. Rad lists rider heights from 5’1” to 6’4”, and the stem and seatpost adjust.
• Shoppers buying used, or catching a leftover RadWagon 4 deal.

Who should look elsewhere

• If you want a smoother assist that responds to how hard you pedal, the Aventon Abound has a torque sensor. The RadWagon 4 uses a cadence sensor.
• If your passenger would rather ride next to you than behind, look at the MOD Easy Sidecar.
• If you want new and in stock today, you’re shopping for the RadWagon 5, not this bike.

RadWagon 4 vs Aventon Abound vs Abound LR

RadWagon 4 figures are from Rad’s archived product page. Abound figures are from Aventon’s archived page, except the 440 lb payload, which comes from my Abound video. Abound LR figures are from Aventon’s current page.

The RadWagon 4 price is Rad’s last listed sale price, and the bike was shown as out of stock. For more detail, read Aventon Abound vs Rad RadWagon 4.

Setting it up

My bike arrived with one part bent in shipping. It took some twisting to straighten it, and I don’t think that’s typical. The gears were a bigger problem. They didn’t line up and wouldn’t shift through the whole range, so I had to adjust them before the bike rode right. It could have been my unit, but plan on a basic tune before your first loaded ride, or have a shop do it. Rad’s own page rates the build difficulty as hard.

The cockpit

The grips are elongated, which is comfortable on longer rides. The front brake is on the left. The display shows pedal assist from 1 to 5 and a battery fuel gauge, so you know when to head home. On the right, a twist throttle works from zero, which makes it easy to get going with two kids loaded.

The shifter is the weak spot. The 7-speed setup felt cheap in my hand, and while it did the job once I’d adjusted it, it’s the one part of the cockpit that feels built to a price.

A viewer asked about the speed on my display. That reflected my wife’s settings, not a limit of the bike.

How it handles a load

Right behind the front wheel there’s a spring that I hadn’t seen on another e-bike. It keeps the handlebars and front tire pointing straight. In the video I said I think it’s just added safety.

The long frame and Rad’s custom 22 x 3 inch tires keep the center of gravity low. Rad lists a 350 lb payload and a 120 lb rear rack.

The 750W rear hub motor is what makes hills and intersections manageable. I said in the video it has the power to tackle hills and zip across intersections.

What the specs mean on the road

Cadence sensor. The motor turns on when the pedals turn, at a set level for each of the 5 assist settings. It doesn’t measure how hard you push.

Rigid steel fork. There’s no front suspension. The 3 inch tires are what soften the ride.

Mechanical disc brakes, 180mm rotors. These are cable brakes, not hydraulic.

672Wh external battery, 25 to 45+ miles. With two kids and groceries, expect the low end.

350 lb payload, 120 lb rack. The payload includes you. Two kids on the rack count against both numbers.

USB port. Rad lists one 5V 1A port.

The tire story

The RadWagon 3 was pulled because of a problem with its tires. From what I understand, it was a supplier issue. With the RadWagon 4, Rad brought the tire design in-house. I rode mine on-road and off-road and had zero safety concerns and zero issues.

Carrying kids

The “monkey bars” around the rear seats adjust. For smaller kids you can tighten them, which reduces the chance of a child sliding out. The caboose and running boards give kids somewhere to hold on and put their feet.

One ordering tip: the seat cushions are sold one at a time. With one child, buy one. With two, order two, or one kid ends up sitting on the bare rack.

The dual-leg kickstand is sturdy, and the bike stays steady even when it’s loaded. Still, hold on to the bike while kids are getting on and off.

For visibility, there’s reflective striping on the tire walls, an LED headlight, and an integrated tail light that doubles as a brake light. The bright orange paint helps too. If you have the front basket, the headlight mounts to the front of it. I really like that design. It also means a backpack has somewhere to go: on a school run, when one of the kids was whining about wearing theirs, we just threw it in the basket.

Daily life with it

My routine was simple: kids to the pool, kids around town, a run to the grocery store. Parking was easy, since a bike can pull up close almost everywhere. Rad rates the range at up to 45 miles. I didn’t run a formal range test.

The mid-step frame makes getting on easier than a full top tube, and the adjustable handlebars and seatpost make it easy to share between riders.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Throttle from zero makes loaded starts easy
• Steering spring and a low center of gravity
• Adjustable monkey bars, caboose and running boards for kids
• Sturdy dual-leg kickstand
• Reflective tires, headlight, and tail light with brake light
• In-house 22 x 3 tires after the RadWagon 3 tire issues

Cons

• Shifter felt cheap, and the gears needed adjusting out of the box
• One part arrived bent on my unit
• Cadence sensor, not torque sensor
• Seat cushions sold individually
• Out of stock; the RadWagon 5 is the current model

FAQ

RadWagon 4 vs Aventon Abound: which is better?

The Abound adds a torque sensor, turn signals, a dropper post and a higher payload. The RadWagon 4 is the simpler, cheaper bike, with a steering spring and kid-focused rear accessories. If you can find a RadWagon 4 at its last sale price, it’s the value pick. The comparison page covers it in full.

What’s the RadWagon 4’s range?

Rad estimates 25 to 45+ miles per charge from the 672Wh battery. Kids, cargo and hills push you toward the low end.

Is the RadWagon 4 good for carrying kids?

That’s what I used it for. The adjustable monkey bars, the running boards and the stable kickstand are designed for it. Hold the bike while kids get on and off.

Are kids safe in the rear bars?

Tighten the monkey bars for smaller kids to reduce the chance of them falling out. Add a seat cushion for each child.

Did Rad fix the tire problem?

The RadWagon 4 uses Rad’s in-house 22 x 3 tire design. I had no problems on-road or off-road.

Is it the best cargo e-bike under $1,500?

At Rad’s last listed price of $1,299, it fit that budget. But it’s out of stock, so check availability before you plan around it.

Price

Rad’s last listing showed the RadWagon 4 at $1,299, down from $1,799, and out of stock as of Oct 22, 2026. Rad’s current page for the RadWagon 5 starts at $1,999 as of Oct 22, 2026, with some versions listed at $2,399.

Check RadWagon 5 pricing at Rad Power Bikes (affiliate link).

Related reviews and guides

• Aventon Abound review
• Aventon Abound vs Rad RadWagon 4
• MOD Easy Sidecar review
• E-bike guide for parents
• Types of e-bikes
• Compare e-bikes