Electric Bike ENVO D50 vs Rad City 5+: Comparison Review blog

ENVO D50 Electric Bike and the Rad City 5+ Commuter Electric Bike offer impressive features for city commuting. The ENVO D50, with its sleek design and lightweight frame, provides a sporty and comfortable riding experience. Its powerful motor, advanced monitoring system, and long-range make it a great choice for those seeking a high-performance electric bike. On the other hand, the Rad City 5+ combines a traditional commuter bike look. 

EbikeBC will compare the two models using a 14 metric chart which includes the technical parts, performance and appearance, to discover all the innovations from the newly launched Envo D50 and the City 5+, which already has a lot of feedback from riders. 

You might also want to check - Top city Electric Bike: Comparing ENVO D50 / Aventon Level.2.

ENVO D50 Electri Bike:

Price: $2,679 CAD - $2,009 USD
Weight: 28 kg (61.7 lb)
Motor: Brushless 48V/750W max/ Geared rear motor
System: PAS/thumb throttle, speed sensor
Sensor: Cadence 
Battery: 48V/14AH 3200 LG/Panasonic Lithium battery

Quality Score: 85/100

Rad City 5+ Commuter Electric bike:

Price: $2,599 CAD - $1,999 USD
Weight: 29.4 kg (64.8 lb)
Motor: 500W brushless geared hub motor, 5:1 planetary gear reduction.
System: PAS/thumb throttle, speed sensor
Sensor: Cadence
Battery:Removable Internal Lithium-ion 48V, 14Ah (672Wh) with LG cells

Quality Score: 75/100

Technical aspects of City5+ and D50 Electric bike  

Style and Design:

The ENVO D50 and the Rad City5+ electric bicycles have stylish, modern designs with integrated batteries. With the D50, you will have more of a leaned-up front riding position, while the Rad City will provide you with a more upright riding feeling. Both of the e-bikes are built with high-quality materials: The ENVO D50 features a modern and sporty design, while the City5+ has a more traditional commuter bike look. The D50 is built with a solid, super lightweight, stylish and unisex hydro-formed aluminum alloy frame in small and large frame sizes. The frame is specially designed to minimize all the vibrations and noise from the drive system and the right wheelbase for high speed and a pleasurable ride on both paved and unpaved roads. 

Ergonomics:

The ENVO D50 is available in two sizes: large and small, suitable for people from 5’ all the way to 6’6” tall riders. This electric bike has an adjustable stem and saddle to fit riders comfortably. The Rad City5+ comes only in 1 size (but has a step-through and a high-step frame style). This electric bicycle will be a good fit for people with a height from 5’4” to 6’5”. The same as D50 bike has an adjustable stem for added comfort. 

Performance:

Both electric bikes offer impressive performance capabilities. Their powerful motors and pedal-assist systems suit them for commuting and recreational riding. ENVO D50 is equipped with a sealed, powerful, geared hub motor that offers 750W power and 80Nm torque and up to 45km/h speed. The engine is lighter than the average e-bike motors on the market. These ENVO motors are developed for over 20,000Km maintenance-free rides. City 5 from Rad Bikes has a sustainable 500W motor output, the maximum street-legal in Canada. City 5 will offer around 58 Nm torque, which is enough for the city rides. If you are going on the trails or planning to use the electric bike on steep hills, you might need to consider getting a more powerful e-bike. 

Range and Efficiency:

The ENVO D50 offers a range of approximately 150 kilometres (90+ miles), while the City 5 provides a range of around 75 kilometres (46.6 miles). It's important to note that the actual range may vary depending on various factors such as terrain, riding conditions, and rider weight.

Control and Monitoring:

The ENVO D50 features a premium colour TFT display with advanced monitoring and parameter settings. It also includes a power-on-demand throttle with enhanced pedal-assist technology. D50 electric bicycle has a Smart Display with Bluetooth compatibility, allowing you to connect to the app and use the navigation feature. Furthermore, you can run a diagnosis analysis on your D50 using the mobile app. The Rad City5+ e-bike has a  Backlit LCD display with essential information about the ride. You can monitor your speed, battery life; distance travelled and more.

Component Grade:

Both electric bikes utilize high-quality components. The ENVO D50 features Tektro hydraulic disc brakes HD-E350, a SHIMANO ALTUS 9 speeds gear set, and a 29" Suspension fork with a travel of 80mm. D50 offers compatibility with 27.5''x2.5'', 27.5''x3.00'' (fat tire), and 29''x2.25'' tires. 27.5″x1.95 tires, the best proven outer diameter for a commuter bike (i.e. 700C) but more cushion, improving ride comfort, dynamic maneuverability, and handling in different terrains while generating minimum noise and drag for normal urban paved rides. 29''x2.25'' tires allow you to turn your D50 into a hard-tail mountain bike and explore the challenging trails. 27.5''x3.00'' tires are fat and knobby enough for the best grip on wet snow, asphalt paved, dirt or gravel trails.
The Rad City 5+ has hydraulic disc brakes with the Rad Power Bikes approved hydraulic brake calliper and aluminum alloy levers with a motor cutoff switch. Reach adjustable (2.5 mm Allen wrench). The bike comes with a Shimano Altus 7-speed drivetrain and 46T, 170 mm forged alloy, and a dual-sided aluminum bash guard. Rad City 5+ electric bike has custom 27.5" x 2.0" tires (, e-bike rated with puncture-resistant liner *tires received may not include branding).

Braking Performance:

The ENVO D50's hydraulic disc brake system, with a 180mm diameter rotor, provides excellent braking performance. The Rad City 5+ also utilizes hydraulic disc brakes for reliable stopping power.

Weight:

The ENVO D50 weighs 28 kg, while the Rad electric bike weighs slightly more at 29.4 kg. Both bikes are relatively lightweight, considering their electric components.

Serviceability and Spare Parts:

The ENVO D50 and City e-bike from Rad is designed to be easily maintained by the rider. These bikes' mechanical and structural components use industry-standard, readily available, reasonably priced parts.

Access to Service Center:

ENVO D35 and Rad City 5+ have dealers across North America, which is considered a big plus. Easy access to service centers that offer professional maintenance and repair services occupies the minds of many potential e-bike buyers. Proprietary service centers and certified dealers of manufacturing brands are always better to refer to when your e-bike needs repair. ENVO is headquartered in Burnaby, BC, with numerous distributors across North America. Rad's main office is in Seattle, USA, with stores across the US and one store in Canada. The company offers online support and warranty services.

Accessories Included:

Both electric bikes come with a set of accessories to enhance the rider's experience. These may include rear racks, fenders, lights, and more. It's essential to review the specific package details for each model.

Transport and Storage:

Neither the ENVO D50 nor the Rad City 5+ are foldable, but they can be transported using various methods, such as bike racks. 

Transmission Reliability:

The ENVO D50 utilizes a high-quality geared hub motor that is designed for reliability and efficiency. The City 5+ also features a geared hub motor known for its performance and durability.

Price:

The ENVO D50 is priced at $2,679 CAD, while the Rad City electric committer bike is priced at $2,599 CAD. The ENVO D50 offers more power and advanced features at a slightly higher price point.

Final Thoughts:

Both the ENVO D50 Electric Bike and the Rad City 5+ Commuter Ebike are solid options with their own strengths and features. The ENVO D50 provides a higher motor power output, greater range, and advanced control features.The Ead City 5+ offers good performance and reliability. Consider your specific needs and preferences to choose the electric bike that best fits your requirements.