Operation Manual

Chapter 1: Guide to Safe On-and-Off Road Operation7
Disc Brake: a cable or hydraulic hose connects
a hand lever to the brake. The lever causes the
brake to apply pressure to a disc attached to
the wheel hub.
Examine the Handlebar and Stem
Make sure the stem is in alignment with the front
wheel and correctly attached to the fork and
handlebar. To examine the attachment to the
fork, try to turn the handlebar from side to side
while you hold the front wheel between your
knees (Figure 8). To examine the connection
of the handlebar, try to twist it in the stem. The
handlebar should not move or be loose. Make
sure that no cables are pulled or caught on your
bicycle when you turn the handlebar.
Make sure the handlebar plugs are correctly put
into the two ends of the handlebar.
Examine the Saddle and Seatpost
Make sure the saddle is correctly attached. Try
to turn the saddle and seatpost in the frame,
and try to move the front of the saddle up and
down. The saddle should not move or be loose.
CAUTION: A disc brake and disc
gets very hot during use and could
burn skin. Also, the disc edges can be
sharp and could cut skin. Do not touch
the disc or disc brake when the disc
turns or when it is hot.
Pull the brake-lever to make sure the brake
moves freely and stops your bicycle. If the brake-
lever can be pulled to the handlebar, the brake is
too loose. When the brakes are not applied, the
brake-pads should be 0.25-0.75 mm away from
the disc. If the pads are too near the disc, the
brake is not in alignment or it is too tight.
Internal Hub Brake: a cable connects the
brake-lever to a mechanism in the hub.
WARNING: An internal hub brake
gets very hot during use and could
burn skin. Do not touch the hub or
cooling fins when hot.
FIGURE 7:
Test for chain tension
FIGURE 8:
Function test for the
handlebar and stem
If more than 5/8” (15 mm) of brake-lever
movement is necessary to stop your bicycle,
the brake is too loose. If less than 7 mm of
lever movement stops your bicycle, the brakes
are too tight.
Coaster Brake: when you move the pedals to
the rear, the brake engages.
The brake should engage before the crankarms
turn 60 degrees (1/6 turn). The chain operates
the brake, so make sure the chain can not come
off. There should be between 1/4-1/2” (6-12
mm) total vertical movement of the chain
(Figure 7).