Rad Power RadWagon Electric Cargo Bike vs Aventon Abound LR
Two cargo / family e-bikes at a similar price, compared on the same normalized specs. Both scored by us, both reviewed in full.
The verdict
Both hit basically the same range, battery, and Genius score, so this comes down to whether you value the RadWagon's lower price and lighter weight or the Abound LR's stronger pull and higher payload capacity.
Buy the Rad Power RadWagon Electric Cargo Bike
Buy the RadWagon if you want to spend $200 less and you'll be the one lifting the bike up steps or over curbs regularly - 11 lb lighter is real when you're wrestling a cargo bike.
Buy the Aventon Abound LR
Buy the Abound LR if you're hauling heavier loads or riders and climbing actual hills - the extra 15 Nm of torque and 90 lb more payload capacity matter more than the weight or price gap once you're loaded up.
The differences that matter
- Rad Power RadWagon Electric Cargo Bike costs $200 less.
- Aventon Abound LR pulls harder from a stop and on hills, by 15 Nm of torque.
- Rad Power RadWagon Electric Cargo Bike is 11 lb lighter, which you notice lifting it or carrying it up steps.
Who each one is for
Rad Power RadWagon Electric Cargo Bike
Parents and errand-runners who want to swap short car trips for bike trips on mostly flat-to-rolling terrain.
Aventon Abound LR
Parents and errand-runners who want to swap car trips for bike trips and need to carry real weight without watching the battery drain by noon.
Spec by spec
| Spec | Rad Power RadWagon Electric Cargo Bike | Aventon Abound LR |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,799 | $1,999 |
| Motor (nominal) | 750W | 750W |
| Torque | 65 Nm | 80 Nm |
| Battery | 720 Wh | 733 Wh |
| Claimed range | 60 mi | 60 mi |
| Weight | 76.7 lb | 88 lb |
| Max payload | 350 lb | 440 lb |
| Motor type | hub | hub |
| E-bike class | Class 2 | Class 2 |
| Brakes | Two-piston hydraulic disc (Gemma Hydraulic Disc GA-950E) | Tektro HD-E3520 hydraulic disc brakes |
| Drivetrain | 7-speed Shimano (1x7) | Shimano Altus RD-M310 8 Speed |
| Tire size | 22" x 3" | 20x3.0 |
Highlighted values are the better of the two where both brands publish the number. Where a spec isn't published we leave it blank rather than guess.
The short version on each
Rad Power RadWagon Electric Cargo Bike
What's good
- Carries up to 350 pounds, enough for two kids plus a week's groceries on the extended rear deck
- Big 720Wh battery with a strong claimed range, enough to string together school runs, grocery trips, and a park visit before you plug in
- A throttle lets you ride up to 20 mph without pedaling, a real help on hills and for keeping a loaded bike moving
What to know
- The 65 Nm of torque is about average for the class, so a long, steep climb with a full load pushes the motor near its limit
- The 22" x 3" tires are an unusual size, so tracking down replacements takes more hunting than a common 20" or 26" wheel
Aventon Abound LR
What's good
- 440-pound total limit carries kids, cargo, or both without you doing mental math at the curb
- The 733Wh battery is big for a 20-inch bike, so the up-to-60-mile claim holds up better than most
- 80 Nm of torque from the 750W hub motor gets a fully loaded frame moving from a dead stop
What to know
- At 88 pounds it's heavy even for a cargo bike, so getting it onto a rack or up a step is a two-person job
- The 440-pound figure is the total for rider plus cargo, not 440 pounds on top of you, so check the real headroom before you assume it hauls everything
Full Rad Power RadWagon Electric Cargo Bike review → Full Aventon Abound LR review →