eBike News & Comparison
If you own a Rad Power Bikes ebike, or you're shopping for one in Canada right now, here's the short version: Rad Power Bikes filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on December 15, 2025, and its assets were sold to Life Electric Vehicles Holdings Inc. in a deal that closed March 5, 2026. The brand is still operating under new ownership, but warranty coverage now depends entirely on when you bought your bike. Purchases made before December 15, 2025 are not covered. Purchases made on or after that date should be honored, though parts and service are running slower than before the bankruptcy.
For anyone weighing a new ebike purchase, this is also a useful moment to look at what separates a bike built to last from one that risks becoming an orphaned product a few years in. Below, we cover what happened, what it means for current Rad owners, and how Scooteretti's Bosch-powered lineup compares on the things that matter long term: motor type, certification, range, and who's actually still around to back the warranty.
In this article
- What happened to Rad Power Bikes
- Is my Rad Power Bikes warranty still valid
- Does this change how you should buy your next eBike
- Rad Power Bikes vs. Scooteretti: how the specs compare
- Want more range or power: the step-up option
- What to look for in your next eBike
- FAQ
What Happened to Rad Power Bikes?
Rad Power Bikes was once the largest direct-to-consumer ebike brand in North America, with revenue peaking near $318 million in 2021. By 2025, that number had fallen to roughly $63.3 million, the company had churned through four CEOs in three years, and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a fire-risk warning tied to two of its battery models just weeks before the bankruptcy filing.
On December 15, 2025, Rad Power Bikes filed for Chapter 11 protection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Washington, listing about $32.1 million in assets against $72.8 million in liabilities. The company's assets went to auction on January 22, 2026, and the winning bid came from Life Electric Vehicles Holdings Inc., with a backup bid from Retrospec's parent company, Xander Bicycle Corp. The sale closed on March 5, 2026, for roughly $13.2 million. Life EV now operates Rad Power Bikes through a subsidiary called Rad Life Mobility, and the brand is still selling bikes at radpowerbikes.com.
Is My Rad Power Bikes Warranty Still Valid?
It depends on your purchase date. According to Rad Power Bikes' own warranty page, the company will not honor warranty claims for bikes bought before December 15, 2025. If you bought your bike on or after that date, your warranty should be honored under the new ownership.
Even for bikes that qualify, Life EV has acknowledged that parts availability and service turnaround haven't caught up to where they were before the bankruptcy, and may take time to improve. That's a real difference from buying through a retailer that's been profitable and stable the whole time, rather than one that's rebuilding its service operation after a bankruptcy auction.
Does This Change How You Should Buy Your Next eBike?
A bankruptcy doesn't automatically mean a bad bike. But it's a good prompt to ask a question that's easy to skip when you're just comparing sticker prices: who is actually going to be there in five years if something needs fixing?
That question points to two things worth checking before you buy: the motor type, and the financial health of the company standing behind it. Rad's lineup, including the RadCity 5 Plus, uses rear hub motors. Hub motors are simpler and cheaper to build, but our own service team consistently sees them start to develop issues between 5,000 and 10,000 km, need more frequent wheel truing from the added spoke tension, and become hard to source parts for within a few years of a model being discontinued, which is exactly the risk an orphaned brand creates.
Mid-drive motors, like the Bosch systems used across Scooteretti's lineup, sit at the bike's crank instead of the wheel hub. That gives a smoother, more natural pedaling feel, better weight balance, easier climbing, and a motor standard that's been at the center of premium ebikes since Bosch entered the North American market around 2014 to 2015. Today, mid-drive motors power 99% of the ebikes we sell each year.
Rad Power Bikes vs. Scooteretti: How the Specs Compare
For a fair comparison, we're matching Rad's popular commuter model, the RadCity 5 Plus, against Scooteretti's entry-level Bosch city bike, the Gazelle Medeo T9 City.
| RadCity 5 Plus (Rad Power Bikes) | Gazelle Medeo T9 City (Scooteretti) | |
|---|---|---|
| Motor type | Rear hub motor | Bosch Active Line mid-drive (Smart System) |
| Torque | Not published by Rad | 40 Nm |
| Battery | 48V / 14Ah (about 672 Wh) | Bosch PowerPack 400 (400 Wh) |
| Claimed range | 28 to 50 miles (about 45 to 80 km). Rad notes cold weather can cut this by 15 to 40% | Up to 90 km, per Scooteretti's listed figure |
| Drivetrain | 7-speed Shimano Altus | 9-speed Shimano Acera / Alivio |
| Safety certification | Not UL 2849 certified | UL 2849 certified complete electrical system |
| Frame warranty | Varies, see Rad's current warranty terms | 10 years (120 months) |
| Electronics warranty | Varies, see Rad's current warranty terms | 2 years (24 months) |
| Who backs the warranty | Life Electric Vehicles Holdings Inc., new owner since March 2026, post-bankruptcy | Scooteretti, a Canadian-owned, certified Bosch eBike Expert retailer since 2017, plus free lifetime VIP Platinum support |
| Price | $1,999 USD (approx $2835.00 CAD) | $3,499 CAD |
The Medeo T9 City costs more upfront than the RadCity 5 Plus. That gap reflects the difference between a hub-driven commuter bike and a Bosch mid-drive system backed by a 10-year frame warranty, UL 2849 certification, and a retailer that's been profitably operating in Canada since 2017, not a price difference for the same thing.
Bosch Active Line mid-drive, 40 Nm torque, up to 90 km range, 10-year frame warranty, UL 2849 certified.
Want More Range or Power? The Step-Up Option
If you're after more range, more torque, or a bike built for longer trips and bigger hills, the Riese & Müller Nevo5 is Scooteretti's premium pick. It's available with either the Bosch Performance Line PX motor (90 Nm) or the latest-generation Performance Line CX motor (120 Nm), paired with a 600 Wh or 800 Wh PowerTube battery for a claimed range up to 185 km on the highest-capacity configuration. Pricing starts from $7,919 CAD on the Touring Core trim and runs to $9,349 CAD and up depending on motor and battery configuration, so it sits in a different category than either bike above. It's worth a look once you've outgrown a basic commuter.
Bosch Performance Line PX or CX mid-drive, up to 120 Nm torque, up to 185 km range, 5-year frame warranty.
What to Look for in Your Next eBike
Whatever you end up buying, a few checks will tell you a lot about whether a bike will still be supportable in five years:
- A mid-drive motor rather than a hub motor, for longevity and serviceability.
- UL 2849 certification on the complete electrical system, not just the battery cell.
- A frame warranty of 5 years or longer.
- A retailer that's been financially stable and operating locally for years, not months.
- Ongoing support after the sale, not just a one-time purchase.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rad Power Bikes still in business in 2026?
Yes. Rad Power Bikes is operating under Life Electric Vehicles Holdings Inc., which acquired the brand's assets out of bankruptcy in a sale that closed March 5, 2026. Bikes are still sold at radpowerbikes.com.
Will Rad Power Bikes honor my warranty after the bankruptcy?
It depends on when you bought your bike. Purchases made before December 15, 2025 are not covered. Purchases made on or after that date should be honored, though parts and service are taking longer than before the bankruptcy.
Why did Rad Power Bikes file for bankruptcy?
Revenue fell from about $318 million in 2021 to roughly $63.3 million in 2025, the company went through four CEOs in three years, and a CPSC fire-risk warning on two battery models landed just weeks before the Chapter 11 filing in December 2025.
Are mid-drive motors better than hub motors for ebikes?
For most riders, yes. Mid-drive motors sit at the crank, giving a more natural pedaling feel, better weight balance, easier hill climbing, and generally longer service life than rear hub motors, which is why brands like Gazelle and Riese & Müller build almost exclusively around Bosch mid-drive systems.
What's a good Rad Power Bikes alternative in Canada?
Scooteretti carries Bosch mid-drive ebikes from Gazelle, Riese & Müller, Moustache, Cube, Tern, and Urban Arrow, all UL 2849 certified and backed by a Canadian retailer that's been a certified Bosch eBike Expert since 2017.
How long is the warranty on a Scooteretti ebike?
It depends on the model. The Gazelle Medeo T9 City, for example, carries a 10-year frame warranty and a 2-year electronics warranty. Every Scooteretti customer also gets free VIP Platinum technical support for as long as they own their bike.
Not Sure Which eBike Is Right for You?
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