The stabilizing spring helps keep the front wheel steady while the bike is parked, and maybe it’s just in my head, but I swear it also helps me maintain steady steering when I have a heavy load on the front rack. The display has a hidden USB port for charging your phone, GPS, or other devices while you ride. There are smart design choices throughout that make this a fantastic investment at $1899 for all-around small-a adventuring fun. And like Class 1 eBikes, the motor assist cuts out at 20 MPH. It’s still pedal-assist, but it has a twist throttle (yes, like a motorcycle) to get you going from a standstill or to give you an extra boost. The RadWagon 4 is a Class 2 eBike, which means that, unlike Class 1 or 3 eBikes, it has a throttle.

This cargo eBike can haul me, my pup, and whatever fun we can shove into the bags (River gear? Books? A typewriter? Yes.) and get us about 20 miles away and back, depending on the weather, and that feels just about right. I wanted a bike that would satisfy my adventure cravings and take away the conceived necessity for a car by being able to haul a bunch of crap, including my dog, up whatever hills got me farthest from home while not venturing too far. I pre-ordered the Rad Power RadWagon 4 last spring when cabin fever and COVID precautions were both blooming. This article first appeared in the June 2021 issue of Adventure Cyclist magazine.

Rad power wagon 4 review