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Business Insider did a good comparison test between the Rush/Cty Speed ($5000) and the RadMission 1 ($1099) to see if the Rush/Cty Speed's extra price is justified compared to a less expensive bike.
They concluded that the RadMission 1 is a great bike for its price, but that the Rush/Cty Speed has better parts and a smoother ride that's worth the $5000 price tag.
www.businessinsider.com
Before I took the $5,000 Serial 1 Rush/Cty Speed from Harley-Davidson for a spin, I figured that high-end e-bikes — like most upmarket products — were all flash and no substance.
Boy was I wrong.
No doubt, a more budget-friendly e-bike like the $1,099 RadMission 1 from Rad Power Bikes gets the job done, and then some. The RadMission gets you to all the same places as a pricier bike in just about the same amount of time and looks decent doing it. It even has thoughtful features like built-in lights and a bell.
But shelling out the extra $3,900 for the Rush/Cty Speed — coming this summer — can pay off for those who can afford it.
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Looks are subjective of course, but I think the Rush/Cty has the edge here.
Instead of a bulky battery pack mounted to the downtube, Serial 1 models get their power from a battery that slots into the frame between the pedals. That battery pack — which uses the same technology as Harley's LiveWire electric motorcycle — is removable, so riders can charge up without lugging the whole bike inside.
Whereas the RadMission has a somewhat unsightly nest of cables up front running to the brakes, battery, and controller box, on the Serial 1, there's barely a cable in sight. That's because Serial 1 routed the bike's brake cables and other wiring internally through the frame. That's not all that functional, but it contributes to the Rush/Cty's sleek look.
They concluded that the RadMission 1 is a great bike for its price, but that the Rush/Cty Speed has better parts and a smoother ride that's worth the $5000 price tag.
I compared a $5,000 e-bike with a $1,100 one, and saw why it's worth spending more on a premium bike if you can afford it
The RadMission 1 is an excellent e-bike for the money. But the Serial 1 Rush/Cty Speed from Harley-Davidson costs $5,000 for good reason.

Before I took the $5,000 Serial 1 Rush/Cty Speed from Harley-Davidson for a spin, I figured that high-end e-bikes — like most upmarket products — were all flash and no substance.
Boy was I wrong.
No doubt, a more budget-friendly e-bike like the $1,099 RadMission 1 from Rad Power Bikes gets the job done, and then some. The RadMission gets you to all the same places as a pricier bike in just about the same amount of time and looks decent doing it. It even has thoughtful features like built-in lights and a bell.
But shelling out the extra $3,900 for the Rush/Cty Speed — coming this summer — can pay off for those who can afford it.
---
Looks are subjective of course, but I think the Rush/Cty has the edge here.
Instead of a bulky battery pack mounted to the downtube, Serial 1 models get their power from a battery that slots into the frame between the pedals. That battery pack — which uses the same technology as Harley's LiveWire electric motorcycle — is removable, so riders can charge up without lugging the whole bike inside.
Whereas the RadMission has a somewhat unsightly nest of cables up front running to the brakes, battery, and controller box, on the Serial 1, there's barely a cable in sight. That's because Serial 1 routed the bike's brake cables and other wiring internally through the frame. That's not all that functional, but it contributes to the Rush/Cty's sleek look.