The author transporting precious cargo to and from the beach on the RadWagon 5. Photo: Weisberg // The Inertia
About ten years ago, I vividly remember checking into a hotel with my now-wife, when a young dad – draped in bags, diapers, and strollers with several young, screaming children in tow – looked me right in the eye and resentfully dead-panned, “Enjoy your time not being a pack mule.”
Snap. Well, I did. I think.
But I’ve now crossed over to the other side. I am a pack mule. With two adorable daughters, life looks a lot different. And it requires that, at all times, I carry A LOT of things that they need. This bleeds into every facet of life, including e-bikes. Sleek, rugged, and racy may have been top priorities on an e-bike pick a few years ago. Today, practicality, storage, and safety top the list. Enter a previously irrelevant genre of bikes: cargo e-bikes. Yes, time for me to embrace the minivan of bicycles. As such, I was excited to get my hands on Rad Power Bikes Radwagon 5, which has made a name for itself as the go-to for the pack mules among us.
Check out the rest of our top picks in our guide to the Best Electric Cargo Bikes. Or, if your needs skew off-road or compact, take a look at our Best Fat Tire E-Bikes and Best Folding E-Bikes guides.
| Pros | Cons |
| Perfect for hauling kids | Intimidating size and weight for smaller riders |
| Feels sturdy, reliable, and safe | Not class-leader in range |
| Solid specs and accessory compatibility |
Sturdy and good-looking, just like a bike oughta be. Photo: Matt Medendorp//The Inertia
RadWagon 5: First Impressions
Throttle: Yes
Class: 2, 3
Range: 60 miles
Carrying Capacity: 375 lbs
Power Output: 750 W
Bike Weight: 86 lbs
For what it’s worth, the art on the box is nothing to sneeze at. I’ve tested quite a few e-bikes, and Rad Power Bikes gives its boxes a tuxedo of art and a nifty approach to unboxing. First impressions count, right? After ripping off the thoughtfully designed packaging, I was first struck by how sturdy it felt. The Radwagon 5 is beefy. It’s 86 pounds. And it feels like it.
The graphic display is extremely high quality and even features a USB-C charger, which is a nice perk. Everything about the bike feels sturdy. As a dad searching for a safe means of transportation for my kids to the playground and beach, the bike feels exactly as I hoped it would.
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It’s nice to see Rad using high-quality components. Photo: Matt Medendorp//The Inertia
Notable Features of the RadWagon 5
Most bikes have a side-leaning kickstand. Not the Radwagon 5. Interestingly, the kickstand is centered beneath the bike in front of the back wheel. You roll the bike forward over the dual-leg centered kickstand to engage it, which essentially levitates the entire bike a few inches off the ground while it’s stationary. This seems like a small detail, but it makes a huge difference when loading and unloading gear (and humans).
Also, to transport said young children, Thule Yepp Maxi seats click in like a charm, feeling safe and secure. When the kids get older, I plan to replace the seats with the RadWagon Caboose and Deckpad. The RadWagon 5 was thoughtfully designed to accommodate all sorts of add-ons. I’ve also loaded up a Moved By Bikes Longboard Rack and have the option to accessorize if I want to maximize this bike’s workhorse spirit.
When it comes to hauling cargo, the RadWagon features an impressive 375-pound payload, which includes 120 pounds on the rear rack. So whether it’s hauling kids, groceries, or a full-on expedition, the RadWagon 5 can handle it.
After reviewing local traffic guidelines, I opted to switch the bike from a Class 2 to a Class 3 using the menu settings, so I can hit 28 MPH while pedaling solo. I use the RadWagon to haul my longboard down to the beach when I’ve got limited spare time, so shaving a few minutes off the commute is appreciated. The RadWagon 5 also has a new front suspension feature, which comes in handy when descending bumpy dirt roads.
Kids aren’t the only thing you can haul on the RadWagon. The author attached a Moved By Bikes Longboard Surf Rack to make family beach days possible. Photo: Weisberg // The Inertia
Components on e-bikes matter, and considering the price point of the RadWagon, it’s nice to see name-brand components. Using Tektro brakes, Shimano 7-speed shifters and derailleurs, and Kenda fat tires translates to a smoother ride – especially when compared to a few e-bikes I’ve tested that have skimped on components. The RadWagon’s Torque sensor is smooth in its transitions. Where torque sensors on cheaper e-bikes can feel jumpy and unsafe, the RadWagon 5 feels high-quality in every sense.
I also appreciate the turn signals. Safely driving alongside cars while transporting children is daunting enough as it is, so I use the turn signals with bright taillights at every opportunity.
Drawbacks of the RadWagon
A relatively small issue, but despite Rad Power Bikes’ thoughtful branding and ease of assembly, it did not include a compact, Swiss army knife-style assembly tool that has become relatively common among e-bike manufacturers. All of the tools were supplied, yes. However, consolidating the majority of the needed tools into a single tool adds serious convenience points, and I expected to find one in the package. Assembly was still straightforward, but I missed that nifty little tool.
While the RadWagon 5 can accommodate a driver that’s 4’ 11” (and the lower step-through height to earlier versions helps), my wife who’s about 5’ 2” definitely feels intimidated by the size and weight of the bike – especially with the added responsibility of hauling our most precious cargo. I suspect most users who weigh close to 100 pounds would feel the same way.
As you can see the range on a nearly full charge using PAS 1 sits at 51 miles. On the same amount of charge, the range drops to 15 miles using PAS 5 when the bike is in use as a Class 3. Photo: Weisberg // The Inertia
On account of its size, the range varies drastically depending on the PAS and terrain. When I had the bike on Peddle Assist (PAS) Level 5 as a Class 3 (capable of hitting the 28 MPH limit) and climbed steep hills in San Clemente, the display indicated that a full charge would only get me about 18 miles. Alternatively, if I’m cruising flat land on PAS 1, the display indicated I had closer to the 60 miles advertised. Understandably, terrain, cargo load, and PAS play critical inputs when determining range.
From the playground to the beach, the RadWagon 5 is the ultimate cargo e-bike for hauling kids and gear. Photo: Weisberg // The Inertia
Final Thoughts on the RadWagon 5
Put simply, the RadWagon 5 is the ultimate family cargo bike. It’s a beast. It’s well-made with thoughtful attention to detail for the needs of parents with young kids, and the brand-name components make for a smooth, high-quality ride. It’s easy to use, and, as cargo bikes go, it looks nice, too. Car analogies can be risky, but I’ll go out on a limb and call it the Toyota Land Cruiser of e-bikes. Reliable. Durable. Capable of developing a cult following. At $2,399, the price of admission is high, but if you’re looking for a cargo e-bike that can seriously offset (or replace) vehicle usage with kids or lots of gear, then it’s totally worth it.
CHECK PRICE ON RAD POWER BIKESEditor’s Note: For more top e-bike picks, check out our guides to the Best Cargo E-Bikes, Best Fat Tire E-Bikes and the Best Folding E-Bikes. For more gear reviews and features on The Inertia, click here.
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