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RadRover 6 Plus

Written by Robb Dorr

Co-founder, Cycling Enthusiast

Ratings

 4/5

 2/5

 5/5

 5/5

 4/5

More About the RadRover 6 Plus

Year

2021

Class

Class I

Type of Bike

All Terrain, City, Fat-tire, Hunting

Types of Riders

Images from manufacturer's website

45 mi

RANGE

25 mph

TOP SPEED

4 hrs

CHARGE TIME

73.4 lbs

WEIGHT

Rear Hub

MOTOR TYPE

Could the Rad Power RadRover 6 Plus be the Humvee of electric bikes? With its beefy looks and comfortable riding style, its large dimensions make the Rad Rover a true beast on the trails.

With integrated lights and mudguards, the Rad Power RadRover 6 Plus is a good choice for riding in the U.S. northern states that get plenty of inclement weather. It’s also ideal for late-night riding, and thanks to its high-quality brakes, perfect for riding in the snow.

Overview

The RadRover 6 Plus is a heavy-duty cargo-carrying beast that will take on almost anything short of a large tornado or hurricane. It might even handle a New England Nor’easter complete with a foot of snow or two! Its strong, sturdy looks make for a heavy bike, coming in at over 73 lbs before you sit on it.

Most people won’t want to do 50 miles in a day on an e-bike. With the RadRover 6 Plus, you’ll get nowhere near that, so no problems there! You will, however, be able to carry up to 275 lbs of weight. That could mean a large-framed person carrying 75 lbs of gear wherever they need to go by e-bike.

When we say, “wherever they need to go”, this could be across a plowed field or over heavy snow thanks to the fat, 4-inch tires. The bike’s 7-speed gears aren’t as nimble as a bike like the Haibike FatSix series, but they’re still good enough for getting you through various terrains.

Reasons to Buy

If you want a bike with real presence on the road, this is definitely one for consideration. Its sturdy looks and comfortable riding position as well as large cargo capacity make for a machine that will get you and your gear around the city or suburbs in comfort.

On the standard configuration, you get high-quality hydraulic disc brakes, a 7-speed drivetrain, fenders, and lights that make for a great-looking beast of an e-bike. Not everyone pedals electric bikes, and the throttle will allow you to get you and your cargo around with complete ease.

We also like having the option of either step-thru or high-step frames.

Things to Consider

Range is a big issue. While a European e-bike with a 672Wh battery like the Haibike Trekking 9 could comfortably get 60+ miles, this machine doesn’t even try to get those numbers, with a realistic 35 miles even with pedal assist. Many riders of this machine won’t even bother with pedals most of the time, so expect a generous 25 on throttle alone.

The optional extras can blow a massive hole in your budget too. The basic machine’s list price is $1,499, but the All Terrain Adventure Kit takes it to $2,345.

Specs

Battery

589-672 Wh semi-integrated downtube battery

Motor

750W rear hub

Controller

48V, 750W frame-integrated controller

Tires

26"x4" Kenda Juggernaut, K-Shield puncture-resistant liner

Front Fork

RST spring fork 60mm travel

Gears

7 speed

Frame

High-step or step-thru

Optional Extras

Front basket (small, medium and large) Rear panniers Front and rear pannier bags Upgraded battery

The specs above come from the manufacturer and may vary from what you’ve experienced. Notice something that needs correcting? Let us know.

Ratings

Power

 4/5

While the RadRover 6 Plus sports a 750W motor, the bike itself is 73.4 lbs in weight. This means a lot of the effort from the motor is pushing the bike itself.

The fat, 4” tires will add friction, reducing your maximum speed considerably. They will, however, provide a lot of grip on gravel, mud, and sand — though thanks to the weight, don’t try riding on soft sand.

Where your state permits, you can use the throttle to ride this e-bike. It may be a bit slower on big hills, so we’d recommend using pedal assist for climbs.

Range

 2/5

Where throttle alone is used, you’ll get just 25 miles per charge. That increases to 45 miles on a charge using pedal assist. Such range will be achieved on flatter routes — if you’re tackling hills, be ready for 25 miles of range on a very hilly route or 30 on a moderately hilly route.

Factors that can affect range are the weight of the rider and cargo, how hilly the route you’re riding is, headwinds, and how much pedal assist you use.

Comfort

 5/5

In the trekking position of the RadRover 6 Plus, the rider will find their arms will get somewhat tired after a long day’s riding. However, this is more comfortable for longer distances than an entirely upright/classic position.

The ergonomic saddle is comfortable, though you can always look for an aftermarket saddle if this becomes a problem. For the lumps and bumps (both on and off-road), the 60mm travel sprung forks will take a bumpy track or backwoods ride without much discomfort.

Durability

 5/5

Pedego offers a five-year warranty on its electric bikes’ motors, frames, and forks. This should give you peace of mind that your investment will last — you may well end up riding it for 10 years if the machine is treated well.

You’ll need to change the chain about every 500 miles and the cassette about every 1,000 miles if you use a lot of pedal assist. Using the throttle more often requires less maintenance of the chain drive. This should be oiled on a weekly basis (if used every day) and after a rain shower. Keep an eye on the brake pads, as they’ll need replacing every 700 miles or so.

Style

 4/5

If the RadRover 6 Plus was a car, it’d be a Humvee or Ford F-150. Thirsty on energy, it’s built like a tank and has a very muscular appearance. This could well give you more confidence when it comes to road riding, as you’ll be noticed.

Though it would look out of place on European roads, it has a very North American look about it and sits well on our roads in that regard. Coming in a single color scheme of dark gray, it continues its “tank-like” look throughout. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so they say.

About Our Editorial Team

Written by Robb Dorr

Co-founder, Cycling Enthusiast

Robb is a massive cycling enthusiast who has more than 20 years of non-motorized cycling experience. He started eBikes.org to lower the barrier of entry to cycling and reduce the intimidation people can experience when getting into the cycling world.

Meet Our Editorial Team