Some components of the bike need to be checked regularly.
The brake pads
Brake pads are an important part of your bike and ensure that you can always drive in safe conditions.
It is recommended to check them every 1000 km or as soon as you feel a loss of braking strength or a creaky noise.
Please have a look at the difference in appearance between a new brake pad (left) and a worn out one (right):
For the Cowboy 3, the brake pads we use are the TEKTRO F10BS. Or use another brake pad that fits our disc brakes (HD-R310).
Here is a tutorial which explains how to replace them.
The saddle
To ensure there’s no free-play in your saddle fixation, the seat post bolts and clamp must be tight. Here is a quick check to avoid any potential accidents on the road.
Figure 1. (left) Seat post & saddle components
Figure 2. (right) Seat post movement
How to detect free-play
Test these five things to detect unwanted saddle movement and to ensure both clamp and bolts are tight enough:
Try to wiggle the saddle out of the seat post. Nothing should move.
Push down on the rear of the saddle. The saddle rails will flex (this is normal to allow the saddle to absorb vibrations), but the seat post clamp should not move.
Push the saddle back and forward. The position of the saddle rails in the clamp should not change, and you should not be able to move the rails in the clamp forward or backward.
Check the saddle rails to see if there is any sign of damage or corrosion where the clamp holds the rails (see figure 3.).Some damage or corrosion in the green zone is normal (where the clamp holds the rails), but damage or corrosion in the orange zones may indicate the saddle rails have been moving when they shouldn’t be (see figure 4.).
Using the Allen 5 key that came with your bike, confirm that both seat post bolts are tight.
Figure 3. (left) Saddle rail wear zones
Figure 4. (right) Example of wear in orange zone
If by following any of these steps you detect unwanted saddle movement, we recommend to replace the 2 seat post bolts with new ones, as the old bolts may have been weakened by the movement.
If you ever feel movement in the saddle while riding, you’ll want to ensure the seat post bolts are fully tightened. (Bolts should be tightened to 10Nm torque.)
In case of any doubt, or if you need replacement bolts, please contact us and we’ll provide them to you.
The belt
The lifetime of the belt depends on how you maintain it and the roads you use. The belt should be checked every 5.000 km when used in ideal conditions. A belt used on dirty or sandy roads could be worn before that if not cleaned properly. Have a deep look at your belt to make sure it’s still in good condition.
If the belt shows traces of wear and tear (see image below), you need to replace it in order to avoid the sudden break of the teeth or a break of the belt itself during a ride.
In this video, we explain how to adjust the belt tension (between 45 and 60 Hz) and how to align it.
The tires
Your tires should be checked every 1500 km, especially if you ride on country roads. Please have a deep look at your tires to make sure they are still in good condition.
If your tires show cracks on the sidewall, you need to replace them in order to avoid loss of adherence. Also, if the orange anti-puncture layer starts to peek through the rubber (see image below), this is also a clear indication that you should change the tire.
If you’re feeling handy when you receive your new tires, here’s a tutorial which explains how to change a front and a rear inner tube and also applies to replacing the tires.
p.s. Don’t forget that tires can be recycled, and so we encourage you to get rid of them at an approved recycling point.
Here are a few tips to keep your bike in perfect state and maximize its performance:
Clean your bike
Clean the belt with a wet cloth, a toothbrush or a sponge. Simply clean off any dirt gently with one of those items.
Clean your disks with a cloth - dry or with some alcohol. Don’t use soap as it could damage them.
Remove your battery and clean the rest of your bike using a moist cloth. The bike is not approved for steam cleaning, high pressure cleaning or cleaning with a water hose. Avoid spraying water directly on electronics (lights and LED module on your top tube), connectors and wires. You can use a damp cloth or soft brush to remove dirt and grime.
Inflate your tires
Tires deflate during storage and shipping. Inflate them to a pressure of 3 bars, for heavier payload and less for a lighter payload. We don't recommend going below 2 bars. We also don't recommend inflating them at the max pressure as comfort will be reduced.
Tighten nuts and bolts
Inspect your bike and verify all nuts and bolts are well tightened.
Check your belt tension
Check the belt tension by pressing firmly down on it in the middle with your index finger. The deflection of the belt should be around 0.5 cm to 1 cm. If you have a belt tension measurement tool, the tension should measure between 45 and 60 Hz.
You're good to go!