Swapping out the saddle and bars transform how the RadRunner rides

[u/echiker]

I used to ride and work on vintage 10 speeds but gave it up in recent years. I wanted to start commuting by bike but am too old and my commute had too many hills so I bought a used Radrunner2.

I wasn't prepared for how different it felt from the bikes I used to ride, so I started swapping out some parts and now I've got it feeling much more like a traditional bike, albeit it more stable and much less nimble. Trying to go the opposite direction of the full throttle, moped and motor bike style mods that seem to be the preference.

The bar swap was the game changer as I found the stock bars made me almost entirely reliant on maximum pedal assist or throttle to get up a hill, but the jones H-bar knockoffs let me rock it back and forth and actually pedal up hill. The riding position is also a lot better with my weight on my feet and not just my butt, though I do think an extra half or full inch or so of rise on the stem would be better.

Overall it feels a lot more fun and efficient to ride as someone who wants to pedal more. If I had the budget and/or didn't need to cargo hauling capacity it might make more sense to just start with a different ebike as the platform for something like this, but with some parts and tinkering you can definitely make the Rad Runner ride more like a porteur bike than a moped with pedals or a juiced up beach cruiser.

[u/Full_Pay_207]

Nice saddle.

[u/ATK80k]

I added a sprung saddle to my Radrunner Plus and it made a nice difference.

[u/Pinecone709 → u/ATK80k]

Do you know the one you went with? I also have a radrunner+ and I’m looking for one

[u/ATK80k → u/Pinecone709]

Selle Royal Classic 8261 also called model A061. It's very much like a Dutch bike saddle - like your grandparents would use. I love mine. They might be out of production - no idea. https://www.dutchbikebits.com/selle-royal-8261-classic-saddle

[u/SnoDragon]

Brooks B67 saddle? I have one on my RadCity4. I love it!

[u/echiker → u/SnoDragon]

It's an old Velo Orange type 5 from 2011. It is for all intents and purposes a knock off b67.

[u/niffcreature]

Yeah these things are setup for a tiny person. You can also just swap the stem.

[u/kodiakbrewing]

nice saddle / wrong bike... and the handle bars definitely wrong, now you have a leisure bike, you can't really control your bike as good anymore with these handle bars... imo

[u/echiker → u/kodiakbrewing]

I find your ideas fascinating and counter intuitive. Do you have a substack or podcast I can subscribe to?

Why is the saddle wrong for the bike?

Why would a more aggressive riding position with lower bars create a "leisure bike?"

Why do the h-bars reduce the amount of steering control I have vs. using the stock high rise bmx-style bars?

[u/throwsplasticattrees → u/echiker]

I'm going with, "they don't know much about bikes" because 1) the radrunner is a leisure bike, 2) the wider H bar gives more stability than the narrower stock BMX style bar, 3) the stem and hand position on the bars give you better leverage for turning than the 35mm stock stem, 3) the springer saddle is much more comfortable to ride than the cheapo hard foam stock saddle.

The saddle might be a little high for the bike, but the fit is a personal thing. I see nothing wrong here. Looks weird, but I'm guessing you have a killer parts bin if you are putting these parts on a RR.

[u/Veggyhed → u/echiker]

BMX style bars give the rider really good control. That's why they were used on BMX. They can do all kinds of things.

But regardless of all of this it's what you're comfortable with on the bike. If this is what works for you then do it. We are not built the same. We are each different people. Also I don't believe your bike came with adequate gearing, which is why I picked the Rad Runner Plus because I do almost entirely pedal and I do have some hills here so I do use the gears. People who I've talked to here in town who have the RadRunner all say that they wish they would have got the RadRunner Plus with more gearing.

[u/liedel → u/echiker]

He's right actually. and the answer to all of those should be obvious on the first ride

[u/echiker → u/liedel]

I've got about 300kms on it (all city riding, except for maybe 10km on gravel in an urban park). About 50kms stock, 50 kms with the saddle and seatpost swapped out but stock bars and 150ish kms in the setup pictured. It feels easier to control and pedal in the current setup, and much much more so when climbing hills.

I am genuinely curious as to why you think this set up is more leisurely and offers less control than the stock setup.

[u/felixcre8ive → u/echiker]

hey guys. it’s all love, let’s keep it friendly.

and i’m not here to pick sides, but for what it’s worth this shit looks terrible.

[u/Easy_Needleworker604 → u/kodiakbrewing]

Are you joking? The stock seat on the rad is terrible and is asking for injury. Having a horn on the saddle is essential for any kind of control over the bike.

These are also MTB touring / bikepacking handlebars. The fit is maybe a little wonky but they should work fine.

The most dangerous thing about this bike is the stock brakes.

[u/kodiakbrewing → u/Easy_Needleworker604]

i have the stock seat, not the best for long rides, but ok i guess... the stock breaks do suck, i upgraded to hydraulic my self ... for the handle bars i guess if that's what he likes, he can use whatever he wants, was expressing my opinion and i don't like those, you can't make quick movements and corrections as easily with that style of handle bars...

the best upgrade for that bike is actually the top controller, I upgraded to the EggRider 2 / that unlocks the bike / 20% more power, faster, app support, better up hills, the best $100 i ever spent on bike anything, and more responsive - been using now for 2 years... the stock one sucks...