Adjusting the chainWhether you want carefree rides or quicker commute, the Bolt Pro Electric Bike is the answer. Start your e-bike adventures asap by following these easy set-up instructions.
Out-of-the-box assembly
Things you need to know
Pieces you’ll need:
The main bike frame
The seat
The two pedals
The rear light
Tools you’ll need:
The wrench and 2-bit Phillips-head screwdriver and Allen Key tool that are included in the box
How long it will take:
Less than 1 hour
Level of difficulty:
Easy
Step One: Unfolding the handlebar
- Lower the kickstand and rest the bike on it so that it is standing upright.
- Gently raise the handlebar until the stem is completely vertical.
- Press the Stem Quick Release latch closed.
- Rotate the locking ring clockwise around the stem until the tab on the ring slides into the designated space between the latch and the stem.
Safety double-check: Always use the locking ring to secure the latch closed. Never ride without the latch closed and the lock securing the latch.
If the tab on the locking ring is inserted correctly into the latch, you should not be able to pull the latch open.
Troubleshooting: If when rotating the locking ring, the tab does not align properly to slide into the space behind the latch, use some force to push the tab slightly up or down to line it up with the space.
For future use: To fold down the handlebar, reverse the process. First, rotate the locking ring counterclockwise until the tab on the ring clears the stem quick release latch. Then, pull the latch away from the stem to open it and gently lower the handlebar down towards the wheel at the hinge point.
Step Two: Attaching the seat
- Locate the seat insertion point on the frame.
- Pull open the latch on the seat clamp at that insertion point.
- Widen the clamp opening by twisting the knob on the opposite side of the clamp from the latch counterclockwise.
- Grab the seat and hold it in position above the seat insertion point so that
- The seat post is underneath the (seat) saddle
- The saddle is aligned with the bike frame with the narrow part of the saddle at the front and the wide part of the saddle at the back.
- Insert the seat post into the seat insertion point and slide the post further down into the stem tube at least until the engraved minimum insertion mark on the seat post is no longer visible. Continue pushing the seat down until you have reached the desired seat height.
- While holding the seat at the desired height and aligned with the frame, twist the knob on the seat clamp clockwise to tighten the clamp around the seat post.
- Push the lever on the seat clamp closed.
Troubleshooting: If you cannot push the clamp lever closed, you have over-tightened the knob. Twist the knob one-quarter turn counterclockwise and then try closing the lever again. Repeat in one-quarter turn increments if necessary until you are able to close the lever.
Safety double-check: Always close the clamp lever before riding. Never ride with the clamp loose or the lever in the open position.
Troubleshooting: If your seat slides down when you sit on it, the clamp is loose and needs to be tightened. Open the clamp lever and rotate the clamp knob clockwise until it hugs the seat post. Then re-close the clamp lever.
Step Three: Attaching the pedals
- Note the “R” and “L” markings on the end of spindle of each pedal, indicating “right” and “left.”
- Align the spindle on “R” pedal with the hole at the end of the crank arm on the side of the bike where you will pedal with your right foot.
- Hold the pedal base steady and, taking care that the spindle enters the hole straight, use your other hand to twist the spindle clockwise into the hole for a few rotations.
- Use the wrench to finish inserting and then tightening the spindle into the crank arm.
- Check that the right pedal is secure.
- Repeat steps 2 – 5 with the left (“L”) pedal. Note that the spindle on this pedal is reverse threaded and needs to be inserted and tightened with counterclockwise turns.
Step Four: Attaching the rear light
- Wrap the elastics of the rear light around the seat post under the seat reflector so that the light faces the back of the bike.
- Pull the loop of the empty elastic onto the white hook of the other elastic.
- Check that the rear light is securely fastened.
Step Five: Securing the bell
- Loosen (but do not remove) the screw on the bell clamp by turning it counterclockwise for 1 - 2 rotations with the screwdriver.
- Rotate the bell around the handlebar until it is in a place that can easily be reached by your left-hand thumb while you are holding onto the handlebar.
- While holding the bell in that position, tighten the screw with the screwdriver to secure the bell in place.
Helpful hint: Position the bell so that its ring tab can easily and forcefully be flicked with your left-hand thumb while you are holding onto the handlebar.
Step Six: Securing the front reflector
- Rotate the front reflector clamp around the handlebar until the reflector is facing the front of the bike.
- Slide the reflector towards the center of the handlebar until the reflector clamp feels snug on the thicker part of the handlebar.
- If necessary, tighten the clamp on the handlebar further by using the screwdriver to turn the screw in it clockwise.
Pre-ride adjustments
Accessories you’ll need:
The charger that’s included in the box
A manual bike pump
How long it will take:
Less than 30 minutes (active); up to 4 hours (charging)
Level of difficulty:
Easy
Adjusting the handlebar
The handlebar can be rotated slightly forward or backwards so that all of the features and functions on it are in the ideal position They should be easily reachable while riding and/or angled ideally for sight for each user. The handbrakes, especially, should sit at an angle that makes them easy to grip. (More info here.)
- Pull up the latch on the handlebar clamp so that it is in the open (unlatched) position.
- Rotate the handlebar forward or backward to reposition it.
Safety double-check: Do not over-rotate the handlebar towards you. Doing so may cause the electrical wires that control the handlebar components to pull out of the handlebar stem. - While holding the handlebar in the new position with one hand, use the other hand to push the latch down and back into the closed (latched) position.
Troubleshooting: If the handlebar does not stay secure with the clamp closed, you may need to tighten the clamp. First, pull the clamp latch open. Then, finger tighten the knob by turning it clockwise for a few rotations, and re-close the clamp latch. If you cannot close the latch with ease, the knob may be too tight. Loosen the knob by turning it counterclockwise.
Repositioning the seat
- Pull open the latch on the seat post clamp.
- Raise or lower the seat to the desired position, making sure not to raise the seat high enough that the “minimum insertion” mark comes into view above the clamp. (If the seat clamp is too tight for the post to slide up and down easily, widen the clamp opening by turning the clamp knob counterclockwise.)
Helpful hint: When a rider is sitting on the saddle and has a foot on the pedal at the lowest pedal rotation point, there should be a small bend in the knee. Legs should never be fully extended during pedaling. - While holding the seat in place, close the seat latch and, if necessary, re-tighten the clamp knob by turning it clockwise and close the clamp latch.
- Check that the seat is secure: Use your hand to put downward pressure on the saddle. If the seat post slips further down into the tube, bring it back to position and tighten the clamp by turning the knob clockwise.
Troubleshooting: If you cannot push the clamp lever closed, you have over-tightened the knob. Twist the knob one-quarter turn counterclockwise and then try closing the lever again. Repeat in one-quarter turn increments if necessary until you are able to close the lever.
Safety double-check: Always close the clamp lever before riding. Never ride with the clamp loose or the lever in the open position.
First-time charging
It can take up to 4 hours to bring a depleted battery to full charge.
- Connect the charging cable with the charger.
- Pull open the charging port cover on your Bolt Pro.
- Plug the charging cable into the wall, and then plug the charger into the charging port.
- When the indicator light on the charger turns from red to green, your battery has reached full charge. Remove the charger from the charging port and unplug the cable from the wall outlet.
- Close the charging port cover.
Helpful hints:
- Only use the included charger.
- Always keep the charging port closed when not actively charging the Bolt Pro.
- Never turn on the Bolt Pro while it is charging.
- For best battery health, charge the battery fully during each charging session.
- Never leave your Bolt Pro charging overnight or for extended periods of time.
- Do not attempt remove or disassemble the battery.
Troubleshooting: If your product is not charging, use these steps to figure out the source of the problem
Inflating your tires
Before your first ride, you will need to add air to your tires to bring them to within the recommended pressure of 35 – 45 PSI (pounds per square inch). Use a gauge to check that your tire pressure falls within this range prior to every ride.
To add air:
- Remove the dust cap valve from the tire valve on one wheel by twisting it counterclockwise. Set aside.
- Follow the manufacturer’s instructions on your air pump to insert air into the tire. Check periodically with a gauge and continue adding air until you reach 35 – 45 PSI.
- Remove the air pump and replace the dust valve by twisting it on clockwise.
- Repeat with the other tire.
Safety double-check: Only use a manual air pump to inflate the tires on your Bolt Pro. Never use an air compressor; doing so may cause the tire tubes to pop.
Checking and adjusting the brakes
Always check your brakes to see that they are functioning properly and will bring you safely to a stop. Sometimes they require realignment after being packed and shipped; if they make a squeaking or rubbing noise when you engage them, that’s a good sign that they need to be adjusted.
Follow these instructions for checking and, if necessary, adjusting your brakes.
Adjusting the chain
If a bike chain is too loose, it could slip off the cassette (which holds it in place at the rear axle) or the chainring (which holds it in place near the pedals). If a bike chain is too tight, it will create resistance that puts strain on the system or could break.
The tension of your chain is determined by how close together the cassette and crankset are. If they are further apart, and the chain will be tighter; if they are closer together, the chain will be looser. When ideally situated, you should be able to do the following:
- Rotate the pedals (and, thus, crankset) with ease.
Lift the center section of the bottom of the chain between the cassette and crankset no more than ½ inch.
If your crankset does not rotate easily, your chain is too tight and the cassette needs to be brought closer to the chainring.
If you can lift the chain more than ½ inch, your chain is too loose and the cassette needs to moved farther from the chainring.
To make adjustments, you will need 10mm and 19mm open spanner wrenches.
- Loosen (but not remove) the rear axle nut on the right side of the bike by turning it counterclockwise with an 19mm wrench for 2-3 rotations.
- Locate the chain adjuster plate and the small nut holding it onto the chain adjust bolt, both of which are to the right of that axle when you’re looking at it from the side of the bike.
To loosen the chain: Loosen the small chain adjuster nut by turning it counterclockwise with a 10mm wrench for 4-5 rotations. Slide the chain adjuster plate toward the back of the bike. Pull the rear axle (and thus the cassette on it) further towards the rear of the bike until the chain tension is correct. Tighten the nut snug enough against the plate to hold it (and thus the axle with cassette) in the new position.
To tighten the chain: Tighten the small chain adjuster nut nut against the chain adjuster plate by turning it clockwise with a 10mm wrench, pushing the plate (and thus the axle with cassette on it) towards the front of the bike and closer to the chainring. Stop tightening when the chain tension is correct. Tighten the rear axle nut by turning it clockwise with the 19mm wrench. - Tighten the rear axle nut by turning it clockwise with the 19mm wrench.
E-bike ownership
Helpful support articles for e-bike riding and care: