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How to Check the Charge Level of the Battery

 

The battery charge level is shown 
on the display by the “Energy 
Bar” at the top of display.  

In this picture the battery is full 
with all 5 large segments on. Each 
segment is approximately 20% of 
the battery charge. 

 

In this picture there is one bar 
remaining so charge is between 
0-19% remaining. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Optibike Essex Owner’s Manual

 

16

 

The display will only change by the 5 large 
segments, not the small divisions in between. 

 

The last segment will never go away. The bike 
will stop at end of charge, even though last 
segment is showing. With last segment 
showing, charge can be anywhere from 0-19%

 

The bike will be faster during the first 20-30% 
of charge as the voltage of the battery is 
higher.

 

When climbing hills the charge level may reduce 
due to high power drain from battery. When done 
climbing, the charge level will return to previous  
level.

 

Summary of Contents for Essex

Page 1: ...ual for the Optibike Essex Electric Bicycles The Guide provides for basic information required to ride the bike It is recommended that you always ride your electric bike bike with a helmet and observe all traffic regulations Optibike Essex Owner s Manual 1 ...

Page 2: ... is built with the finest parts available Your bike was hand built in Colorado by dedicated craftsman who build ride and design the bikes you ride to create an unmatched level of performance Please read this manually entirely before you ride your bike Contact Optibike if you do not understand anything Optibike Essex Owner s Manual 2 Contact Optibike EMAIL info optibike com Phone 303 443 0932 ...

Page 3: ... operations you should take your bike to a Certified Bicycle Ship for Maintenance and repairs Failure to perform the repairs and maintenance correctly can result in death or injury NOTE We strongly urge you to read this Manual in its entirety before your first ride Optibike Essex Owner s Manual 3 Contact Optibike EMAIL info optibike com Phone 303 443 0932 ...

Page 4: ...dults who chose to accept the greatly increased risk of riding at dawn at dusk or at night need to take extra care both riding and choosing specialized equipment which helps reduce that risk You must use active lights when riding at night This means a headlight and taillight It is also recommended that you ride with a reflective coat or vest Optibike Essex Owner s Manual 4 Contact Optibike EMAIL i...

Page 5: ...s Car drivers may think you are going slower than you are and pull out in front of you This may happen when they pull out from a side street or have just passed you and turning right Use Hand Signals Be Aware Be Courteous to pedestrians and other cyclists Optibike Essex Owner s Manual 5 ...

Page 6: ...a Class 1 2 or 3 E Bike In standard form the Essex is a Class 3 E Bike Latest State E Bike Classifications Max Power Max Speed Pedelec or Throttle Class 1 750 watts 20 MPH Pedelec Class 2 750 watts 20 MPH Throttle Class 3 750 watts 28 MPH Throttle under 20 MPH Pedelec from 20 28 MPH It is your responsibility to consult your local and state laws to determine where your bike is legal to ride ...

Page 7: ...as with rapidly changing weather conditions be sure to bring extra clothing It is highly recommended that you carry the following tools and spares Spare inner tube Tire changing levers Basic tool kit Tire pump A water bottle for hydration is also a good idea Use Sun Screen if riding in sunny areas Optibike Essex Owner s Manual 7 ...

Page 8: ...d wear 35 psi is a good pressure Be sure the brakes are in good working order and adjusted Check the battery charge Check the throttle for free operation prior to turning on the bike Each 100 miles of riding check all bolts on the bike Optibike Essex Owner s Manual 8 ...

Page 9: ...t the height of the seat up to 5 inches with pushing the lever on the left side of the handlebar You can have the seat low when stopping and then raise it for long distance touring Optibike Essex Owner s Manual 9 Seat Post in Up Position Seat Post in Down Position ...

Page 10: ...e left side of handlebar 3 The seat will begin to move down with your weight 4 Release the lever when at the desired seat height To raise the seat 1 Stand up slightly and release pressure on the seat 2 Push the lever on the left side of handlebar 3 The seat will begin to move up 4 Release the lever when at the desired seat height Optibike Essex Owner s Manual 10 ...

Page 11: ...ht when fully extended This procedure is easier done with two people Optibike Essex Owner s Manual 11 Step 1 Loosen the seat post clamp Step 2 Locate the adjuster cable where it leaves the frame near handlebar Step 3 Use your finger to pull the cable from bottom of frame while pushing cable into frame at top Do only about 2 inch of cable at a time ...

Page 12: ...ng cable into seat tube with your other hand Continue this procedure until seat is at correct height Step 5 Tighten the Allen bolt on seat post clamp Caution Do not extend seat post beyond maxim extension mark If the seat post is still not high enough at maximum extension a longer seat post is required ...

Page 13: ...ly push the seat post down as you pull the adjuster cable from the seat tube Step 3 Pull the cable out of the top of frame downtube Step 4 Tighten the Allen bolt on seat post clamp If the seat post lever does not actuate the seat post after adjustment the cable may have been pulled too far out of seat tube ...

Page 14: ...eft control pad until the display turns on Display is ON Press the rear button on the left control pad until the display turns on Optibike Essex Owner s Manual 14 When the bike is first turned on it will always be in Power Level 1 How to Turn the Bike Off ...

Page 15: ...ow to Read the Display Battery Charge Level Speedometer Power Level Odometer Optibike Essex Owner s Manual 15 The Essex has an LCD display mounted to the handlebar which provides information to the rider ...

Page 16: ...Optibike Essex Owner s Manual 16 The display will only change by the 5 large segments not the small divisions in between The last segment will never go away The bike will stop at end of charge even though last segment is showing With last segment showing charge can be anywhere from 0 19 The bike will be faster during the first 20 30 of charge as the voltage of the battery is higher When climbing h...

Page 17: ...ottle and rotate the throttle towards you You can adjust the amount of power by the position of the throttle The maximum power of the throttle is limited to 250 watts regardless of what power level you are in Optibike Essex Owner s Manual 17 When the bike is on turning the throttle will make the bike accelerate Only turn throttle when you are on the bike and ready to ride When moving the bike or d...

Page 18: ...s lowest power level To increase the Power level push the Button on the keypad The PAS Assist Level is shown on the display Level 5 is the highest power level To reduce the level push the button on keypad To go to zero power keep pushing the button until the 0 level is displayed Optibike Essex Owner s Manual 18 Riding in higher assist levels will increase speed but reduce the run time of the batte...

Page 19: ...in lower left side of screen 1 To view Trip B Press the Menu Key quickly again 1 To Reset the Trip Distance hold the Menu and Down Button at the same time until the Trip Distance reads 0 Optibike Essex Owner s Manual 19 In addition to the main screen that has the Odometer there are 2 other screens Trip A and Trip B that show the Trip distance When the Menu button is pressed the Speed Display will ...

Page 20: ...ard This will turn on the headlight and taillight To turn off pull the switch to the rear Optibike Essex Owner s Manual 20 The Essex has optional custom LED Headlight and Taillight You must turn the headlight off with headlight switch when done riding Turning off the bike will not turn off the headlight ...

Page 21: ... and should always be used first The rear brake helps stabilize the bike The front brake is on the left side and should always be used after the rear brake has been applied The front brake accounts for 75 of the stopping ability Optibike Essex Owner s Manual 21 Always apply the rear brake first Stopping ability is reduced in wet or slippery conditions In these conditions plan for extra time to sto...

Page 22: ...kill level improves Always start with rear brake and then apply front brake You are braking too hard when your wheel begins to skid Skidding can be dangerous as it results in the bike losing traction If you find yourself skidding release pressure on the brake slightly and shift your weight slightly to the skidding wheel This is definitely a skill where practice makes perfect Optibike Essex Owner s...

Page 23: ...our for more speed 14th gear is for fast riding on flat ground Unlike the normal bicycle derailleur system the Rohloff can be shifted while at a stop To shift during riding you will need to stop pedaling and turn off the throttle to be able to shift Optibike Essex Owner s Manual 23 You can shift the Rohloff while at a stop You need to stop pedaling and turn off throttle to shift while riding Quick...

Page 24: ...er gear to keep the motor in maximum efficiency When on the flat ground you will need to shift up to a higher gear to go faster When approaching hills downshift early to a lower gear before your speed gets too low and you start to loose balance Optibike Essex Owner s Manual 24 For optimum efficiency you should keep your pedaling speed between 60 90 RPM Going below 60 RPM especially on hills will g...

Page 25: ...stored in a room that is below 35F then it should be put in a room above 50F for several hours prior to charging Optibike Essex Owner s Manual 25 Charging the battery when it is under 35F will damage the battery and void the warranty Only use the Optibike supplied charger It is OK to leave the bike on the charger overnight The charger will turn off automatically when the bike is charged It is OK t...

Page 26: ...harge port on the right side of battery Plug the charger into the wall socket A standard 15 amp wall plug is fine Plug the Charger into the bike charge port The LED on the charger will turn red while charging and green once finished Optibike Essex Owner s Manual 26 ...

Page 27: ...How to Charge the Battery off the Bike Remove the battery from the bike Remove the cap from charge port in end of battery Plug the Charger into the charge port Optibike Essex Owner s Manual 27 ...

Page 28: ... plugged into the wall the LED will turn on green When the charger is plugged into the bike the LED on charger will turn from green to a red Red indicates charging When the charging is complete the LED will turn to Green Optibike Essex Owner s Manual 28 ...

Page 29: ...he bike Slide the Battery Safety Block on the left to side of battery upwards Insert the key into battery lock and rotate Battery will pop slightly out Gently pull battery out from top Best to have front wheel in line with bike while removing battery Optibike Essex Owner s Manual 29 ...

Page 30: ... install the battery into the bike Optibike Essex Owner s Manual 30 Insert the bottom of the battery into the frame while holding the battery at an angle Gently rotate the battery and push the top into the frame The battery should click into place at the top ...

Page 31: ...How to Install the Battery Push the battery stop downwards so it engages the battery Pull on the battery to make sure it is securely mounted Optibike Essex Owner s Manual 31 ...

Page 32: ...ove Cap from Left Fork to expose the air fitting Step 2 Screw on the suspension pump to the air fitting until pressure reads on the gauge of pump Optibike Essex Owner s Manual 32 The Fork is shipped without air and must be pressurized prior to riding with the supplied special suspension pump A regular tire pump will not work ...

Page 33: ... remove the pump and reinstall the cap A small amount of air will escape when pump is unscrewed This is normal Optibike Essex Owner s Manual 33 Recommended Fork Pressures It is recommended to start with air pressure equal to 60 per cent of the riders weight in psi Example If rider weighs 200 lbs start with 120 psi in fork Add more pressure to make fork stiffer Reduce pressure to make fork softer ...

Page 34: ...s commonly found on cars Most common bicycle pumps come today with both Schrader and Presta How to inflate the tires Step 1 Remove the valve cap Step 2 Unscrew the locking nut on the end of the valve stem Step 3 Press down the stem quickly to release a bit of air and clean sir path Optibike Essex Owner s Manual 34 ...

Page 35: ...rease the pressure to recommended pressure Step 6 When pressure is correct remove the pump tighten nut on the end and reinstall the cap Optibike Essex Owner s Manual 35 Recommended tire pressure is 20 40 Psi Check the side wall of your specific tires for allowable pressure range ...

Page 36: ...rd in hotter climates This may cause delays in charging and longer times The bike will charge to 70 quickly while the last 30 takes almost as long as the first 70 This is due to the charge current tapering off as the battery reaches full charge It is OK to remove the bike from the charger at any time There is no memory effect in the Lithium battery Optibike Essex Owner s Manual 36 Essex Charge Tim...

Page 37: ...plug the charger from the bike It is OK to store your bike in an area that is cold The battery must be warmed to above 40F before charging to prevent damage to the battery Colder storage temperature will prolong the life of the battery Do not store below zero degrees F Optibike Essex Owner s Manual 37 ...

Page 38: ...re of the Frame Wash only with mild soap and water Do not use acetone or other solvents on frame surface Do not use a pressure washer Use garden hose only to wash the bike Optibike Essex Owner s Manual 38 ...

Page 39: ...es not have weight on it Step 2 Grasp the over center clamp lever Step 3 Pull the lever away from the bike Optibike Essex Owner s Manual 39 The Fox Front Fork has a 15mm axle that is 110mm wide boost The axle is removed by loosening the over center clamp on the left side of the wheel and removing the axle ...

Page 40: ... left and remove from fork Step 5 Remove Wheel from fork Optibike Essex Owner s Manual 40 Do not pull the front brake lever while wheel is off This will cause disk brake pads to move together If this happens use a clean straight blade screw driver to gently push pads apart ...

Page 41: ...el and insert between fork legs with disk on left side Step 2 Carefully insert the disk between the brake pads Optibike Essex Owner s Manual 41 If pads are too close together to fit disk use a clean straight blade screw driver to gently push pads apart ...

Page 42: ...Front Wheel Installation Step 3 Insert the axle in the left side of fork Step 4 Align wheel with axle and slide axle through fork Optibike Essex Owner s Manual 42 ...

Page 43: ...nut Step 6 Close the lever The lever must have enough tension to leave an imprint on your hand Step 7 The closed lever position must be between 1 20 mm in front of the fork leg If the lever does not have enough tension or has too much tension when closed at the recommended position Optibike Essex Owner s Manual 43 The over center clamp must be correctly tightened or the wheel could fall off ...

Page 44: ...he bike on a stand so the rear wheel does not have weight on it You can also turn the bike upside down while being careful not to damage the display Step 2 Shift the Rohloff into 14th gear Step 3 Loosen the knurled nut on shift box Optibike Essex Owner s Manual 44 ...

Page 45: ...Rear Wheel Removal Step 4 Remove the shift box from hub Step 5 Slide the Belt roller to the right Step 6 Loosen the axle quick release on left side Optibike Essex Owner s Manual 45 ...

Page 46: ...Rear Wheel Removal Step 7 Support the wheel with one hand and allow wheel to fall out of drop outs Step 8 Remove the Gates Belt Drive from Rear sprocket Do not kink belt Optibike Essex Owner s Manual 46 ...

Page 47: ...Rear wheel installation procedure Step 1 Pick up the wheel Be sure Quick Release lever is open Step 2 Place belt around front sprocket and pull towards you Step 3 Put belt around rear sprocket Optibike Essex Owner s Manual 47 ...

Page 48: ...t may take some pressure to full install the axle due to belt tension Check the wheel in centered in frame after assembly Step 6 Securely close the Quick Release It should be difficult to completely close Step 7 Use the 5 mm Allen wrench to tighten left and right bolts evenly to 130 170 in lbs Step 8 Slide the belt roller to the left Optibike Essex Owner s Manual 48 Attention Make sure the Rohloff...

Page 49: ...lts on either side of frame about 1 turn Optibike Essex Owner s Manual 49 The Gates Belt is mostly maintenance free But with riding the belt may become loose And will need to be tightened You can use the Gates Carbon Drive App to measure the tension by frequency Correct tension is about 45 Hz Do not increase tension above 45HZ Lower tensions may result in belt jumping on sprockets and damaging Roh...

Page 50: ...nsion by loosening or tightening the belt adjust screws Use an 8mm wrench Turn the bolt clockwise to tighten belt Tighten both sides evenly When belt is adjusted correctly tighten the two bolts on left and ride side Optibike Essex Owner s Manual 50 ...

Page 51: ...es 2000 miles 3000 miles 10 000 miles Throttle X Tire Pressure X Tire Condition X Battery Charge X Check Brake Function X Check Belt Tension X Check nuts and bolts X Inspect Brake Pads change as needed X Tension Spokes as needed X Rohloff oil Change X Change Fork Oil X MBB Service X ...

Page 52: ...Manufacturer Warranty Applies Fork 1 year Manufacturer Warranty Applies Brakes 1 year Manufacturer Warranty Applies Tires none Manufacturer Warranty Applies Battery 2 years Optibike Warranty Items listed with Optibike Warranty are covered directly by Optibike Other items are covered under the warranty of the company the makes the part Warranty applies to original owner only Warranty is valid for p...

Page 53: ...er of the original battery warranty For customers living in the Continental US Optibike pays shipping in both directions for battery repairs replacement for the first 12 months For the remainder of the warranty after 12 months the customer is responsible for paying for the shipping to Optibike and Optibike will pay to return the battery to the customer All Lithium batteries must be shipped as Clas...

Page 54: ...e Customer is responsible for removal and shipment to Optibike Optibike pays for parts in house labor and domestic return shipping by FEDEX Ground International customers and customers living in Alaska or Hawaii shipping is not included in the suspension warranty Drivetrain warranty The drivetrain includes the sprockets shifting system chain and wheels Drivetrain units are covered for the term lis...

Page 55: ...Contact Optibike Optibike Essex Owner s Manual 55 Contact Optibike EMAIL info optibike com Phone 303 443 0932 ...

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