Aventon often ships larger batteries than many Rad Power bikes, and a lot of Aventon models offer Class 3 pedal assist up to 28 mph. Lectric now posts clearer numbers on folding XP bikes and long-range cargo frames. None of that crowns a winner. The pack you can certify, the speed your city allows, and how you store bikes overnight still decide the purchase.
Which of those three should you weight first? For a rental fleet, start with battery warnings and whether you can track a missing bike. For a personal commuter, range and local Class 3 rules usually matter more.
That's the frame. Verify every SKU before you cut a PO.
Battery capacity and speed at a glance
Retailer editorials put many Aventon packs near 750Wh and most Rad Power packs at 672Wh. That's a real gap on paper. It is still model-specific. The Erik's Bike Shop comparison is editorial, not a lab sweep of every bike.
| Brand / example | Battery (approx.) | Assist and throttle | Source notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aventon (many models) | ~750Wh; Level 4 ADV listed at 800Wh | Class 3 assist to 28 mph on many models; some throttles near 20 mph | Erik's Bike Shop editorial; 99 Spokes on Level 4 ADV |
| Rad Power (48V 14Ah packs) | 672Wh | U.S. class varies by model; some EU pages list 25 km/h | Erik's Bike Shop; Rad Power EU spec sheets |
| Lectric XP4 | Wh not quoted on the product page; UL 2271 battery | Sold as Class 1, 2, or 3 | Lectric XP4 |
| Lectric XPedition dual battery | Dual pack; claimed range up to 170 miles | Cargo payload limits apply | Lectric XPedition Dual Battery |
Confirm watt-hours on the manufacturer page for that year and SKU. Claimed range assumes a light rider on flat pavement. Hills, cold, cargo, and high assist chew through it.
Aventon models that show up in city fleets
The Aventure.2 is the fat-tire bike people point at for mixed pavement. Tom's Guide and Outdoor Gear Lab describe pedal-assist and throttle, an integrated battery and wiring, a suspension fork and seatpost, and 3-inch tires. That's that model. It is not the whole catalog.
Soltera.2 is the carry-upstairs story. Aventon's blog lists a 41 lb frame, a removable integrated battery, a torque sensor, and up to 55 miles of claimed range. To be honest, that 41 lb claim is one to verify on a shop scale before you promise apartment storage.
Level 4 ADV is the one with theft tools. 99 Spokes lists an 800Wh battery, a 100mm fork, a 50mm seatpost, GPS with remote lock, tracking, and geofencing, plus integrated lights and turn signals. A shop that loses bikes to porch theft will care about geofencing more than a 50Wh difference.
Aventon's Aventure M mid-drive adds 4G features on the official product page: GPS, remote shutdown, lost-bike reporting, and ride stats. After year one the cellular plan is paid. Put that subscription in the operating budget.
Sinch.2 shows up with 45mm of travel and an 8-speed drivetrain in older notes. Recheck travel, motor class, and payload on Aventon's current page before you order a batch.
Rad Power packs and the CPSC fire warning
Rad Power still wins some quotes on price. Many bikes use a 48V 14Ah battery, which is 672Wh. Erik's said that. Rad's European spec pages show the same 672Wh figure on several models, with a 25 km/h cap that is a different legal world from U.S. Class 3.
The safety file is the part you cannot skip. On November 24, 2025 the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission told consumers to stop using specific Rad Power lithium-ion batteries. CPSC cited 31 fire reports. Twelve of those included property damage of about $734,500.
The battery model numbers are HL-RP-S1304, RAD-S1304Y, and RP-1304. They came with RadWagon 4, RadCity HS 4, RadRover High Step 5, RadCity Step Thru 3, RadRover Step Thru 1, RadRunner 2, RadRunner 1, RadRunner Plus, and RadExpand 5, and as replacement packs.
CPSC says the batteries can ignite and explode. Risk rises when the pack or harness has been in water and debris. Some fires started while the product sat unused in storage. A charged fleet sitting in a back room is not automatically safe.
Consumer Reports reported that CPSC could not secure an acceptable recall. Rad Power has disagreed with how the agency described those batteries. During the investigation the company offered a discounted upgrade to Safe Shield packs.
If you own or rent those models, read the label on the back of the battery. Match it to the CPSC list. Stop using a matching pack. Don't guess from the bike's retail name.
A later Safe Shield battery may be fine on an updated bike. You still verify the label on that pack. You don't assume a new decal on the frame fixed an old battery in the downtube.
Lectric XP4 and cargo range claims
Lectric is easier to spec than it used to be.
The XP4 is a folding bike Lectric sells as Class 1, 2, or 3. The product page lists a 500W rear hub (1092W peak), 55Nm of torque, 602 hydraulic brakes with 180mm rotors, an IP-X5 display, and a lithium-ion battery certified to UL 2271. Lectric says a U.S. bicycle lab ran ISO 4210 testing. The bike is 62 lb without the battery. You'll feel that fold when you load a van.
Thing is, the 62 lb fold and the UL 2271 mark are what a shop feels on day one, not a missing watt-hour cell in a comparison table.
Cargo is the XPedition. The dual-battery version claims up to 170 miles when both packs drain together through an isolator, per Lectric. Payload numbers on that page: 330 lb max rider, 30 lb front basket, 300 lb rear rack. Hydraulic mineral-oil brakes, 180mm rotors. Those are manufacturer claims. Load the rack with real cargo and the miles drop. They drop again with kids, hills, and stop-and-go.
Aventon's blog still quotes the older Lectric XP 3.0 at 40mm of travel and 45 miles of range. That's a competitor writing about a prior generation. Use Lectric's current XP4 and XPedition pages when you write a purchase order.
Charging, brakes, and what to inspect
Battery care does not copy-paste across brands. Follow the manual for that chemistry: storage temperature, state of charge in the off-season, and whether the pack should leave the bike. A cracked, swollen, or soaked case is out of service. Get it looked at. That rule is the same whether the logo says Aventon, Rad, or Lectric.
Brakes decide whether Class 3 is usable. Lectric calls out hydraulics on XP4 and XPedition. Other bikes in these families may not share the same caliper or rotor. Test a loaded stop on wet pavement you actually ride. An empty demo in a parking lot will lie to you.
If you've ever tried to write one charging SOP for three brands you already know the snag, because Aventon wants the pack handled one way, any CPSC-listed Rad battery shouldn't be in the building at all, and a UL 2271 mark on a Lectric pack still will not tell you how hot your July storage shed gets.
Keep a folder per bike with the spec sheet, the owner's manual, a photo of the battery model number, any UL mark the maker publishes, and a note on local Class 2 versus Class 3 rules. That's the paperwork that saves you when a charger fails or an insurer asks.
Class 3 speed is a local question
Aventon Class 3 assist at 28 mph is not a free pass onto every path. Some U.S. states and cities keep Class 3 on streets and hold multi-use trails to Class 2, which is assist or throttle to 20 mph. Many throttles on these bikes already cap near 20 mph.
Turns out the number on the motor sticker is the start of the homework, not the end of it.
Read the state code, then the city trail ordinance, then your insurer. A rental default of 28 mph on a greenway can cost you access. The box in the warehouse does not override the sign at the trailhead.
I can't give you one national answer. There isn't one.
Don't mix EU 25 km/h Rad figures into a U.S. Class 3 plan. Different rulebook.
Pick by use, not by brand poster
Skip the trophy ranking. Run this instead.
- Open the official product page and manual for the exact SKU, not the family name.
- On Rad Power, photograph the battery label and compare it to the CPSC warning. Remove listed packs from service.
- Check Class 3 versus Class 2 against the streets and paths your riders will use.
- Test-ride with a realistic load, a hill, and a wet stop.
- For rentals, price GPS or 4G (Level 4 ADV, Aventure M) and write a charging SOP.
Aventon fits shops that want larger packs and tracking and will pay for both. Rad can still fit if the battery is a verified Safe Shield or otherwise cleared pack and budget is tight. Lectric fits folding last-mile and cargo at a lower sticker, with UL 2271 on the XP4.
Match overnight storage, legal speed, and range. Then buy that bike.
FAQ
Which Aventon do rental fleets usually want?
Level 4 ADV and Aventure M are the GPS and remote-lock options. Confirm payload and any 4G subscription in the manual.
Is a Rad Power bike usable after the 2025 warning?
Only if the battery on that bike is not RP-1304, RAD-S1304Y, or HL-RP-S1304. CPSC said to stop using those packs immediately. Confirm a Safe Shield replacement on the label.
Can Class 3 bikes use city trails?
Often they can't. Many trail systems cap e-bikes at Class 2. Read the local rule before you set high assist as the rental default.
Where do I confirm watt-hours?
The official product page and the label on the pack. Editorial tables are a start, not the last word.
Throttle or pedal assist for a micromobility fleet?
Throttle is commonly near 20 mph. Pedal assist can hit 28 mph on Class 3 models. Your city may allow one on paths and not the other.
Open the official page for the SKU you will actually buy. If you have a Rad pack on the CPSC list, pull it from service before anyone plugs it in again.