Rad Power RadWagon 5 Electric Cargo Bike Review: 375-Pound Payload With a Throttle for $2,399
A powerful, well-sorted family hauler with plenty of range, priced a little above the rivals that carry just as much.
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What the stars are rated against
The stars compare this bike with other cargo / family e-bikes we have scored — 9 of them, priced $1,679–$3,119. They are a ranking inside that group, not an absolute grade: four stars means it beats most of that set on the measure, not that it hits some fixed standard.
Peers are drawn from a tight price band around this bike, so a $1,000 commuter is judged against other $1,000 commuters rather than against machines costing three times as much. Change the group and the stars would change with it.
The headline Genius Score is not decided by that group alone. It blends the category ranking above with a market-wide view across every bike we publish, so a bike cannot climb simply by sitting in a weak category. How we score.
A lot of car trips don't really need to be car trips: the daycare drop-off, the grocery run, the Saturday haul to the hardware store. The Rad Power RadWagon 5 Electric Cargo Bike is built to take those over. It's a real cargo bike with a , so the rear deck can seat two kids and still leave weight to spare for whatever else needs hauling. A pushing 750 watts and does the heavy lifting, and it lands a Genius Score of 61 out of 100: a genuinely capable hauler that costs a bit more than the numbers alone justify.
You also get a , so you can pull away from a stop or climb a hill on motor power alone, which is a real help when the bike is loaded down. It ships as , meaning throttle-and-pedal power up to 20 mph out of the box, and you can dial it up to Class 3 for 28 mph or down to Class 1 to suit your local trail rules.
Pros & cons
What we like
- The means you don't have to choose between passengers and cargo: load the rear deck and the bags on the same trip and you're still under the limit.
- With 750 watts and , the motor gets a fully loaded bike rolling from a dead stop and keeps it climbing on hills.
- The 720Wh is generous for a cargo bike, so a normal day of hauling won't leave you hunting for an outlet.
- A takes the strain out of the hardest moments, getting a heavy load moving from a standstill and holding your speed up a grade.
- Tektro give you the firm, predictable stopping power a heavy loaded bike needs.
Worth weighing
- Value is the soft spot here: at $2,399, a few rival cargo bikes carry and travel just as far for less money.
- The 375-pound payload comes with a 265-pound max rider weight, so a heavier rider eats into how much cargo you can pile on top.
Key specs
The motor & power
The RadWagon 5 runs a 750W rear making , and that pairing is really the whole point of a cargo bike. Getting a heavy, loaded frame moving from a standstill is the hardest thing you ask of a cargo motor, and this one has the muscle for it.
That steady, even delivery is exactly what you want with kids or groceries on board. On climbs, the 90 Nm keeps a loaded bike moving at a reasonable pace instead of grinding down to a crawl.
Rad doesn't publish a figure, so judge the motor on its 750 steady watts. By that measure it has plenty for the job.
Range & battery
The 720Wh is a good size for a cargo bike, and Rad estimates 20 to 60 miles per charge.
That's a wide spread, and there's a reason for it. The 60-mile figure assumes light, efficient riding; a loaded bike, hilly routes, and steady throttle use all pull you toward the low end. For most families doing school runs and errands, plan for something in the middle and you'll rarely get caught short.
The RadWagon 5 ships set to , which means the is live and both the throttle and cut out at 20 mph. In the display settings you can bump it up to Class 3 for pedal assist to 28 mph, or drop it to Class 1 to turn the throttle off and keep assist capped at 20 mph. The practical difference: the higher setting is for roads and bike lanes where you want more speed, while the lower Class 1 setting is often what makes it legal on shared bike paths and multi-use trails. Set it to match where you actually ride.
Ride & components
The RadWagon 5 rolls on 20" x 3.3" tires, and that small-wheel, wide-tire setup keeps the deck low and the whole bike planted when it's loaded. A low center of gravity matters a lot when you've got kids or heavy bags riding behind you.
Stopping a loaded cargo bike takes more than stopping a light one, so the Tektro HD-E395 are a sensible fit. They haul the bike down predictably even with a full load.
Gearing is a basic 1x7 Shimano setup that covers everyday riding fine, with the motor picking up the slack on the steepest loaded climbs. At 86 pounds, the bike is built to be ridden rather than carried, which is normal for a cargo bike this capable, so plan on wheeling it to the door rather than lifting it.
Price & value
At $2,399, the RadWagon 5 sits in the middle of the cargo-bike market, and you're paying for real power and a big battery on a proven platform.
The catch is value. A few rival cargo bikes match its carrying capacity and range for less money, so it isn't the most bike-per-dollar pick in the class. What the extra buys you is Rad's support network and a well-sorted cargo platform, which is worth something if you'd rather not gamble on a lesser-known brand.
Who it's for
The car-trip replacer
If your driving is really just short hops, the daycare run, the grocery store, the school pickup line, this bike is built to take them over. There's plenty of room for the passengers and the shopping on the same loop, and the means you rarely have to leave anything behind.
The no-pedal hauler
If the appeal is getting a loaded bike moving without cranking hard at the pedals, the plus 750 watts do the work for you. Just know that leaning on the throttle a lot pulls your range toward the low end of that 20-to-60-mile estimate.
The budget-first shopper
If your main filter is getting the most carrying capacity and range per dollar, shop around before you commit. A few rival cargo bikes do what the RadWagon 5 does for less, so part of what you're paying for here is the Rad name and its support.
The light-load solo rider
If you're mostly riding by yourself with a backpack and no real cargo, this is more bike than you need. A 375-pound cargo platform costs more and takes up more space than a standard commuter, and you'd get most of what you actually use out of something smaller and cheaper.
Frequently asked
Does the Rad Power RadWagon 5 Electric Cargo Bike have a throttle?
Yes. It ships in Class 2 with a , so you can ride without pedaling up to 20 mph.
Can you ride the Rad Power RadWagon 5 Electric Cargo Bike without pedaling?
Yes, using the throttle in its default Class 2 setting, which powers you up to 20 mph. Switch it down to Class 1 and the throttle turns off, so you'd have to pedal.
How far does the Rad Power RadWagon 5 Electric Cargo Bike go on a charge?
Rad estimates 20 to 60 miles from the 720Wh battery. A loaded bike, hills, and throttle use push you toward the low end, so for everyday hauling plan for somewhere in the middle.
How fast does the Rad Power RadWagon 5 Electric Cargo Bike go?
It tops out at 20 mph in its default Class 2 setting. Switch it to in the display and pedal assist goes up to 28 mph.
Can you change the class on the Rad Power RadWagon 5 Electric Cargo Bike?
Yes. It's switchable between Class 1, 2, and 3 in the display settings and ships in Class 2. Moving up to Class 3 raises assisted speed to 28 mph; dropping to Class 1 shuts off the throttle and caps assist at 20 mph, which is often what makes it legal on shared bike paths.
How much can the Rad Power RadWagon 5 Electric Cargo Bike carry?
It has a , with a maximum rider weight of 265 pounds. That's enough to carry a couple of passengers or a big grocery haul.
How much does the Rad Power RadWagon 5 Electric Cargo Bike weigh?
86 pounds with the battery installed, or about 75.6 pounds with the battery removed.
How it compares to its siblings
RadWagon 5 pushes torque to 90 Nm and payload to 375 lb and adds Class 1-3 switchable operation, but it's also the heaviest bike in the family at 86 lb and carries the lowest Genius score in the lineup (61). Battery capacity and claimed range match RadWagon exactly, while tires shrink to 20" x 3.3" and brakes switch from Gemma to Tektro. At $600 more than RadWagon for a torque and payload bump, most riders get more bike for the money from RadWagon unless the higher payload capacity is a hard requirement.
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Read the reviewRad Power RadWagon 5 Electric Cargo Bike is ranked on:
Guides worth reading
- E-bike classes explained: Class 1, 2 and 3Three classes, two questions: does it have a throttle, and how fast does the motor keep helping.
- Nominal vs peak watts on an e-bikeThe wattage in the headline is usually the peak figure, which can be roughly double the number the motor actually sustains.
- E-bike range explainedEvery range figure on every spec sheet is a best case. Here is how to translate it into what you'll really see.
How we score: the Genius Score blends a bike's capability against same-price peers with its value for the money, weighted for what this cargo / family buyer prioritises. Specs are pulled from the manufacturer's live page and normalised (nominal vs peak watts, true weight with battery). Ratings are our estimate from specs, not a lab test.