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This is the Owners Manual for the Optibike 
R8C and R15C 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.  

 

Owners Manual

V1.0

Summary of Contents for Elite R15C

Page 1: ...ptibike R8C and R15C 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 Owners ManualV1 0 ...

Page 2: ...e world of E Bikes 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 Pleae read this manually entirely before you ride your bike Contact Optibike if you do not understand anything 2 Contact Optibike EMAIL info optibike com Phone 303 443 0932 Optibike R8C and R15C Manual ...

Page 3: ...the motor 15 How to Charge the battery 16 Battery Charge times 17 Battery care and maintenance 18 How to remove the battery 19 How to install the battery 20 How to Put Air in the Forks 21 How to adjust the shock spring 22 How to Shift the Rohloff Hub 23 How to shift on hills and for best efficiency 24 How to Use the Brakes 25 How to put air in tires 26 Care and cleaning of the frame and bike 27 Ho...

Page 4: ...e 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 4 Contact Optibike EMAIL info optibike com Phone 303 443 0932 Optibike R8C and R15C Manual ...

Page 5: ...ding without he battery installed can result in death or injury 5 Do not ride the bike without the battery installed Contact Optibike EMAIL info optibike com Phone 303 443 0932 Optibike R8C and R15C Manual ...

Page 6: ...ose 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 6 Contact Optibike EMAIL info optibike com Phone 303 443 0932 Optibi...

Page 7: ...y 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 7 Optibike R8C and R15C Manual ...

Page 8: ...rent classification based on the Power Level they are in See the table below to determine which classification you are riding in based on power level selected 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 8 Optibike R8C and R15C Manu...

Page 9: ...th 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 9 Optibike R8C and R15C Manual ...

Page 10: ...ear 35 psi is a good pressure Be sure the brakes are in good working order and adjusted Make sure the chain is lubricated Check the battery charge Check the throttle for free operation prior to turning on the bike 10 Optibike R8C and R15C Manual ...

Page 11: ...lite R15C has a dropper seat post The seat post has 125mm 5 inches of easy adjustable height The seat height can be changed while riding by simply pressing the lever on the handlebar 11 Optibike R8C and R15C Manual ...

Page 12: ...eat 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 Adjusting the Cable 12 Optibike R8C and R15C Manual ...

Page 13: ...e To Adjust Seat Angle Down in Front 1 Loosen rear Allen Bolt a few turns 2 Tighten front Allen Bolt 3 Check Angle 4 Repeat to get desired Angle 5 Make sure both Allen bolts tight when done To Adjust Seat Angle Up in Front 1 Loosen front Allen Bolt a few turns 2 Tighten rear Allen Bolt 3 Check Angle 4 Repeat to get desired Angle 5 Make sure both Allen bolts tight when done Normal seat angle is par...

Page 14: ...seat post to desired riding position loosen the Allen bolt and slide the seat post up or down Tighten bolt to 40 in lbs Do not overtighten 14 Optibike R8C and R15C Manual Do not lower the seat post so the bottom hits the shock Leave inch clearance between bottom of seat post and shock ...

Page 15: ...attery to the up position This turns the battery on Press the rear button on the left control pad until the display turns on Display is ON When the bike is first turned on it will always be in Power Level 1 15 Optibike R8C and R15C Manual ...

Page 16: ...To turn off the bike push the lower rear facing button on keypad and hold until Display turns off Or push the Main Power Switch on battery down to OFF position 16 Optibike R8C and R15C Manual ...

Page 17: ... Battery Charge Level Speedometer Power Level Odometer The Elite Series has an LCD display mounted to the handlebar which provides information to the rider 17 Optibike R8C and R15C Manual ...

Page 18: ...is between 0 19 remaining 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 18 Optibike R8C and R1...

Page 19: ...f the throttle The maximum power of the throttle is limited by the Power Level you are in See Section on setting Power Level Be aware of the high acceleration in Power Levels 4 and 5 It is best to first ride in levels 1 3 until you learn the feel of the bike 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 mov...

Page 20: ...st 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 Riding in higher assist levels will increase speed but reduce the run time of the battery 20 Optibike R8C and R15C Manual ...

Page 21: ...re are 2 other screens Trip A and Trip B that show the Trip distance They are accessed by pushing the Menu Button on the key pad When the Menu button is pressed the Speed Display will also change to Average Speed for 5 seconds 21 Optibike R8C and R15C Manual ...

Page 22: ...long bike will turn off 3 Average Speed will be displayed for 5 seconds 4 Trip A will show in lower left side of screen 5 To view Trip B Press the Menu Key quickly again 6 To Reset the Trip Distance hold the Menu and Down Button at the same time until the Trip Distance reads 0 22 Optibike R8C and R15C Manual ...

Page 23: ...or just turn the bike off The backlight on the display will also turn on with the headlight 23 Optibike R8C and R15C Manual The R8C and R15C are equipped with bright dual LED headlights that have 1100 lumens of light The headlights draw 15 watts so they can be used at all times for safety The headlights use 1 of the battery capacity per hour ...

Page 24: ... always be used first The rear brake helps stabilize the bike The front brake is on the right side and should always be used after the rear brake has been applied The front brake accounts for 75 of the stopping ability Always apply the rear brake first Stopping ability is reduced in wet or slippery conditions In this conditions plan for extra time to stop 24 Optibike R8C and R15C Manual ...

Page 25: ...proves 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 25 Optibike R8C and R15C Manual ...

Page 26: ...imbing Rotate the shifter away from your 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 You can shift the Rohloff while at a stop You need to stop pedaling and turn off throttle to shift while riding 2...

Page 27: ...keep the motor in maximum efficiency When on the flat ground you will need to shift up o 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 For optimum efficiency you should keep your pedaling speed between 60 90 RPM Going below 60 RPM especially on hills will greatly reduce the efficiency and range of the...

Page 28: ...If the battery is hot the charger may not come on right away Leave the charger plugged in and the charging will begin automatically when the battery cools Charging the battery when it is under 35F will damage the battery and void the warranty Only use the Optibike supplied charger 28 It is OK to leave the bike on the charger overnight The charger will turn off automatically when the bike is charge...

Page 29: ...e the cap from the charge 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 29 Optibike R8C and R15C Manual ...

Page 30: ...plugged into the bike the LED on charger will turn from green to a yellow red Yellow red indicates charging When the charging is complete the LED will turn to Green When the bike is done charging unplug the charger from bike and reinstall the cap on the charge port 30 Optibike R8C and R15C Manual ...

Page 31: ...e Energy Bar will turn on sequentially as the battery charges When the battery is fully charged all 5 segments will be on The charger will turn off automatically when the charging is complete 31 Optibike R8C and R15C Manual ...

Page 32: ...er switch on battery to OFF position Use a 5mm Allen wrench to remove the three battery mount bolts on the left side While holding battery with your left and right hand begin to gently push the battery with your right hand out the left side of frame 32 Optibike R8C and R15C Manual ...

Page 33: ...pported in the bottom of frame Angle the battery out to expose the connector Continue to support the bottom edge of battery on frame While holding battery with your left use your right hand to unscrew the connector counter clockwise a turn and a half 33 Optibike R8C and R15C Manual ...

Page 34: ...y of the connector pull it from the battery Now hold the battery with both hands and remove from frame Place the battery on a non metallic bench 34 Optibike R8C and R15C Manual Do not ride the bike without battery installed ...

Page 35: ...5 Optibike R8C and R15C Manual Be sure main power switch is in OFF position Hold the battery at an angle with both hands and place bottom edge in frame Move the battery closer to frame so the power cord will reach the connector in the battery Keep battery at an angle ...

Page 36: ...orrect place You may need to wiggle nut to get in to insert Tighten the nut clockwise about 1 3 turn until snug Slowly push top of battery into the frame Be sure the battery cable is not stuck out the right side and rests inside the frame 36 Optibike R8C and R15C Manual ...

Page 37: ... Gently push battery into frame until right side is flush Install the 3 M6 Allen bolts and tighten with an M5 Allen wrench Torque to 45 in lbs 37 Optibike R8C and R15C Manual ...

Page 38: ...shock can be made stiffer or softer by adjusting the preload on the spring The shock should compress about 75 1 inch with rider sitting on bike with all riding gear This is called SAG If the correct SAG cannot be achieved then the spring may need to be changed to a stiffer or softer one 38 Recommended Spring Rates Based on Rider Weight Rider Weight lbs Spring Rate lb in 150 350 150 180 400 180 220...

Page 39: ...stment tool from Cane Creek that is included with your bike If this is not available you can use a screwdriver Increase the preload on the spring to decrease SAG Loosen the preload to increase SAG Maximum preload on shock spring is 6 turns Do not do more than 6 turns as this will cause spring to coil bind and damage the bike frame ...

Page 40: ...eft Fork to expose the air fitting Step 2 Screw on the suspension pump to the air fitting until pressure reads on the gage of pump 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 40 Optibike R8C and R15C Manual ...

Page 41: ...nd reinstall the cap A small amount of air will escape when pump is unscrewed This is normal 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 41 Optibike R8C and R15C Manual ...

Page 42: ...alves 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 valve stem Step 3 Press down the stem quickly to release a bit of air and clean sir path 42 Optibike R8C and R15C Manual ...

Page 43: ... increase the pressure to recommended pressure Step 6 When pressure is correct remove the pump and reinstall the cap 43 Optibike R8C and R15C Manual Recommended tire pressure is 20 40 Psi Check the side wall of your specific tires for allowable pressure range ...

Page 44: ...hile 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 44 R15C Charge Times 52 volt 29 AH Battery Charger Type Charger Output Current 70 Charge Time 100 Charge Time Standard 3 Amp 7 hours 14 hours Fast 8 Amp 2 5 h...

Page 45: ...er switch on the right side of the battery to the OFF position 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 45 Optibike R8C and R15C Manual ...

Page 46: ...ch as a hammer Wash only with mild dap and water Do not use acetone on frame surface Do not use a pressure washer Use garden hose only to wash the bike If the bike is in an accident or falls check the surface for cracks or abrasions Contact Optibike if you have any concerns about integrity of frame 46 Optibike R8C and R15C Manual ...

Page 47: ...e weight on it Step 2 Grasp the over center clamp lever Step 3 Pull the lever away from the bike 47 Optibike R8C and R15C Manual 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 48: ...remove from fork Step 5 Remove Wheel from fork 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 48 Optibike R8C and R15C Manual ...

Page 49: ...t between fork legs with disk on left side Step 2 Carefully insert the disk between the brake pads If pads are too close together to fit disk use a clean straight blade screw driver to gently push pads apart 49 Optibike R8C and R15C Manual ...

Page 50: ...Step 3 Insert the axle in the left side of fork Step 4 Align wheel with axle and slide axle through fork 50 Optibike R8C and R15C Manual ...

Page 51: ...ugh 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 1 20mm in front of the fork see the Adjusting 15QR Lever Position next page The over center clamp must be correctly tightened or the wheel could fall off 51 Optibike R...

Page 52: ...ely remove the screw Move the 15QR to the open position and unthread the axle approximately 4 turns Push the 15QR axle in from the open lever side This will push the axle nut keeper out and allow you to rotate it out of the way Continue to push on the 15QR axle and turn the axle nut clockwise to increase the lever tension or counter clockwise to decrease the lever tension Return the axle nut keepe...

Page 53: ...and Nord lock washers on each side The special bolt and spacer are different on each side Left Bolt M7 X 30mm Silver Bolt Right Bolt M7 X 36mm Black Bolt The bolts Nord lock washers and spacers must be installed in correct order and on correct side of wheel Failure to do so may damage the hub and frame and cause injury to rider 53 Optibike R8C and R15C Manual ...

Page 54: ...n 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 54 Optibike R8C and R15C Manual ...

Page 55: ... 6 Loosen the left hub mounting bolt with a 5 mm Allen wrench Step 7 While continuing to support wheel with one hand remove the bolt and spacers from left side Step 8 Place bolt and spacer on bench keeping order of spacer and bolt the same as on bike 55 Optibike R8C and R15C Manual ...

Page 56: ...p 10 Loosen the right side bolt with the 5 mm Allen wrench Step 11 Remove the bolt and place on bench Keep spacers in correct order Step 12 While holding wheel with left hand pull the chain tensioner backward with right hand 56 Optibike R8C and R15C Manual ...

Page 57: ...Step 13 Continue to pull the chain tensioner backwards and push the wheel downwards Step 14 Remove the chain from rear wheel sprocket and remove the wheel 57 Optibike R8C and R15C Manual ...

Page 58: ...ep 2 Pull the chain tensioner backwards and put the chain on the sprocket Step 3 Slide the bub in between the swingarm You will need to align the disk into the caliper and the anti rotation arm into the mount in the caliper holder 58 Optibike R8C and R15C Manual ...

Page 59: ...o gently push pads apart Anti rotation stop in caliper mount Insert the anti rotation arm into stop Make sure disk is between caliper pads 59 Optibike R8C and R15C Manual Pay special attention to aligning the disk in between the brake pads and the anti rotation stop into the brake caliper mount ...

Page 60: ... left bolt Silver through swingarm into the hub Tighten with hand Step 6 Check for free movement of the wheel and make sure the anti rotation plate is securely in the stop Step 7 Use the 5 mm Allen wrench to tighten left and right bolts evenly to 130 170 in lbs 60 Optibike R8C and R15C Manual The serrated NORD washers should be replaced every 4 wheel removals ...

Page 61: ...p 8 Make sure shifter is in 14th gear Step 9 Attach the shift box to hub You may need to wiggle shifter a bit to get it to seat Step 10 Hand tighten the silver knurled knob 61 Optibike R8C and R15C Manual ...

Page 62: ...do the following procedure Step 1 Remove the shift box Step 2 Set shifter to 14th gear Step 3 Rotate the hex nut inside the shift box with a 10mm wrench full counter clockwise unit it stops Step 4 Reassemble shift box and test 62 Optibike R8C and R15C Manual ...

Page 63: ... Condition X Battery Charge X Check Brake Function X Clean and oil chain X Check nuts and bolts X Inspect Brake Pads change as needed X Tension Spokes as needed X Chain Replacement as needed X Rohloff oil Change X Change Shock Oil X Change Fork Oil X MBB Service X 63 Optibike R8C and R15C Manual ...

Page 64: ... Brake Rotor Rear 4 M5 Allen 60 Brake Rotor Front 6 Torx T25 35 Spokes Nipple 64 3 5mm open wrench As needed Handlebar 4 M4 Allen 45 Stem 2 M4 Allen 45 Seat Post Clamp 1 M4 Allen 40 60 Seat Mount 2 M4 Allen 30 50 Motor shell Clamp 3 M5 Allen 40 45 Pedals 2 15mm open end 300 Battery Mount 3 M5 Allen 45 Throttle 1 M3 Allen 8 Headlight Body 9 M2 5 Allen 6 Shock Mounts 2 M5 Allen 70 80 Lower Linkage 4...

Page 65: ...id Brakes 1 year Manufacturer Warranty Applies Cane Creek Shock 1 year Manufacturer Warranty Applies Tires none Manufacturer Warranty Applies Chain and Sprockets 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 ori...

Page 66: ...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 Class 9 dangerous goods HAZMAT and must be s...

Page 67: ...d 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 listed in the table Normal wear and tear of...

Page 68: ...Optibike R8C and R15C Manual 68 Contact Optibike EMAIL info optibike com Phone 303 443 0932 ...

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