RAD Power Bikes Bankruptcy: What Orange County E-Bike Owners Need to Know

If you own a RAD Power Bike in Orange County, you've probably heard the news, and you probably have questions. RAD Power Bikes filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in December 2025, and the company's assets were acquired by Life EV for $13.2 million on March 5, 2026. On top of that, the Huntington Beach RAD store, the only dedicated RAD retail location in OC, was destroyed by fire in January 2026.

Here's what all of this means for you, your bike, and your options going forward.

What Happened to RAD Power Bikes?

RAD Power Bikes, once the largest e-bike brand in North America, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in December 2025 after two years of declining sales and mounting operational challenges.

On March 5, 2026, Life EV completed a court-approved acquisition of RAD's brand, intellectual property, inventory, and certain operating assets for $13.2 million. Life EV has said it intends to support RAD riders through post-closing customer programs, including honoring certain warranties and gift cards, and plans to transition production to the United States. That is genuinely encouraging, but parts availability, service timelines, and warranty processing are still not at the level of a fully operational manufacturer.

The Huntington Beach Store Fire

Adding to the uncertainty for local RAD owners, the RAD Power Bikes retail store in Huntington Beach was destroyed by fire in January 2026. It was one of the few brick-and-mortar RAD locations in Southern California and served as the hub for test rides, service, and parts for Orange County riders.

There is still no dedicated RAD retail or service presence in Orange County, which leaves local RAD owners without a nearby factory service option.

What This Means for Your RAD E-Bike

First, the good news: your RAD e-bike still works. A change in corporate ownership doesn't change the quality of the bike in your garage. RAD made solid, reliable e-bikes, and yours isn't going to stop working because the company changed hands.

That said, there are some real considerations:

• Warranty claims: Life EV is honoring certain warranties, but coverage may not match the original terms. If you have an active warranty issue, document it now and confirm your claim with Life EV's customer support.
• Parts availability: RAD-specific parts (controllers, displays, proprietary connectors) remain available through the Life EV transition, but supply can be inconsistent. Common wear parts like brake pads, tires, and chains are universal and always available.
• Software and firmware: your bike's current software continues to work normally; longer-term app and firmware support under Life EV is still taking shape.

Battery Safety Recall: Check Yours Now

This is important. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) identified fire hazards with certain RAD battery packs, with 31 reported incidents involving fires or overheating. Affected models include batteries sold with the RadCity 5 Plus, RadRover 6 Plus, RadWagon 4, and others manufactured during specific date ranges.

Check whether your battery is affected at cpsc.gov: search "Rad Power Bikes" for the recall details and affected serial numbers.

If your battery is affected, or you want to proactively replace an aging one, 3KtoGO sells replacement batteries compatible with RAD e-bikes. We want to be upfront: 3KtoGO does not service or install e-bike batteries due to lithium-ion liability. The good news is that RAD batteries are plug-and-play units you can swap yourself in minutes without tools, and we're happy to walk you through it.

How 3KtoGO Can Help

With the RAD Huntington Beach store gone and the company rebuilding under new ownership, Orange County RAD owners need a reliable local service option. That's where we come in.

3KtoGO provides mobile e-bike repair for all RAD Power Bikes models, including RadRunner, RadCity, RadRover, RadWagon, RadExpand, RadMission, and every other RAD model. We come to your home or office anywhere in Orange County, and we bring the most common RAD parts on the truck, so many fixes happen in a single visit.

What We Offer

• Mobile service from $95: the visit fee covers a quick diagnostic plus basic adjustments (brakes, tire inflation, drivetrain lubrication, safety bolt check)
• Full tune-ups: typically $95 to $150 depending on scope
• Brake and tire service: pad replacement, rotor truing, tire and tube changes
• Electrical diagnostics: motor, controller, display, and wiring troubleshooting
• Replacement batteries: sold for easy self-install (plug-and-play)
• Honest assessments: we'll tell you if a repair is worth it or if you'd be better off upgrading

Should You Keep Your RAD or Upgrade?

This is the question we hear most. Here's our honest take:

Keep your RAD if:

• It's running well and just needs routine maintenance
• The repair cost is under $200
• You're happy with the bike's performance
• Parts for your specific issue are available

Consider upgrading if:

• You're facing a $500+ repair, especially motor or controller replacement
• Your bike is 4+ years old with multiple issues
• RAD-specific parts for your model become hard to source
• You want the peace of mind of a full manufacturer warranty from an active company

If you're thinking about upgrading, we carry e-bikes from HAOQI, Cyberbike, Macfox, and others, all with full manufacturer warranties and ongoing support, and we deliver them fully assembled with a hands-on tutorial.

Book Your RAD Service Visit

Whether you need a tune-up, a repair, or just a professional once-over and an honest assessment, we're here to help.

Book online at 3ktogo.com/book or call or text 760.333.0207.

We're Orange County's local e-bike experts, and we're not going anywhere.

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Sources: U.S. Bankruptcy Court filings (December 2025), CPSC recall notices, Life EV acquisition announcements (March 2026), local reporting on the Huntington Beach store fire (January 2026).