Skip to main content

Search

US Support Center

R-Series Wheel Maintenance

  • Updated

Got a flat tire? Check out this page for instructions on how to manage the work on your R or RX. 


If any of the instructions below are out of your skill set, please seek help from a professional cycle mechanic. Tires and brakes are essential items that must be properly maintained for safe riding.

Here's what you'll need:

  • 3 mm Hex Wrench
  • 4 mm Hex Wrench
  • 5mm Hex Wrench
  • 8mm Hex Wrench
  • 10mm Open Wrench
  • 18mm Open Wrench
  • 21mm Open Wrench
  • Tire Levers
  • 3 Zip Ties
  • Zip Tie Cutters
  • Battery Keys

 

Instructions provided for the following:

Rear Wheel Removal

Tire and Inner Tube Removal

Tire and Inner Tube Installation

Rear Wheel Installation

Front Wheel Removal

Installing Front Wheel

 

 

(We highly recommend watching this video first and then following any of the detailed instructions below)

 

Preparation

Adjust display - Adjust the bike’s display to avoid damaging it while the bike is positioned upside down. Rotate the bike’s display towards the seat; about 45 degrees from the top of the bar. To do this, loosen the display clamp with a 3mm Hex Wrench, rotate the display, and tighten. 

Remove battery -  with your battery keys, unlock and slide the battery towards the seat to remove. 

Position bike upside down - (this step might require 2 people) Sit on the bike with the kickstand disengaged. Engage the rear (right) brake and stand by backing up, pulling the front wheel up off the ground (pretend you're a pro at wheelies!) Maneuver the bike upside down to where the handlebars and frame are now resting on the ground. (seriously, grab a friend for this)

 

Rear Wheel Removal 

  1. Tuck the kickstand to allow more room for work in the wheel area. 
  2. With a zip tie cutter, remove the three zip ties that hold the motor cable to the frame, and disconnect the motor connection. 
  3. Remove the rear brake caliper. Remove the caliper mounting bolts with a 5mm Hex Wrench. Allow the caliper to rest against the frame and hand tighten the mounting bolts back into the mount for safekeeping.
  4. To remove the axle nuts and drop out plates from the wheel, LOOSEN the 18mm and 21mm axle nuts on the frame using the appropriate open wrenches.  DO NOT fully remove the nuts at this time. 
  5. Pull the chain tensioner towards the pedals to allow slack in the chain; guide the chain off the sprocket.  Remove the chain tensioner bolt using a 5mm Hex Wrench and carefully remove the chain tensioner. Allow the chain tensioner to rest against the frame.
  6. Use a 5mm Hex Wrench, remove the two drop out bolts on each side of the wheel and set aside. Ensure the Hex Wrench is secure in the bolt before loosening/tightening to avoid any stripping to the bolt head.

  7. Remove the wheel from the frame. If you find that sliding the wheel out from the dropout channels is difficult, you may need to tap on the wheel as you guide it out to loosen the dropout from the channel. When you set the wheel down after removing it from the frame, make sure that the side with the brake rotor disc is facing upward. 

  8. Once the wheel is removed from the frame, you can remove the axle nuts and drop out plates from both sides of the wheel if it is necessary for the maintenance being performed.  Start by loosening the drop-out clamp bolt with a 4mm Hex wrench, then remove the axle nut and washer.  Once the nut and washer are removed, you will be able to remove the drop-out plate by sliding it off of the axle. 

 

Tire and Inner Tube Removal 

  1. Unscrew the valve stem cap and press the valve to release the air; you can use the 5mm Hex wrench to apply pressure to the pin that relieves pressure. 
  2. Once the tube is deflated, loosen and remove the nut on the valve stem using the 10mm open wrench; set it aside (don't lose the nut!)
  3. Push the sidewall of the tire towards the center of the rim to loosen it. Work your way around the tire and repeat the process for the other side. 
  4. Insert a tire lever between the rim and the bead of the tire and fix the other side to a spoke.  Repeat this process with another lever an inch or so away from the original lever. Insert the third lever between the tire and rim outside one of the two stationed levers and work the lever around the rim and tire to release the tire off of the rim.
  5. Carefully push the valve stem through the valve hole from the rim and remove the tire/tube from the rim. *Do not set the inner tube in an area where it could pick up debris or next to any sharp surfaces. Any contamination may increase the likelihood of recurring flats. 

 

Tire and Inner Tube Installation

  1. Before installing the tire and tube onto the rim, be sure that the tire is in the proper rotational orientation. The SUPER73 reflective tire logo should be on the opposite side of the rotor when it is properly installed on the wheel.
  2. Install one side of the tire onto the rim and install a deflated inner tube between the tire and rim. 
  3. Carefully guide the valve stem through the valve hole in the rim and hand tighten the valve stem nut.
  4. Inflate the tube slightly, just enough to hold its shape between the rim and tire.
  5. Push the other side of the tire into the rim by pressing on the side of the tire to maneuver it into place.
  6. Once the tire and tube are installed, inflate the inner tube to a recommended 25-30 PSI. 
  7. Inspect the area where the tire meets the rim to ensure the tire is evenly set around the rim. Bouncing the tire on the ground may help align any imperfect areas.
  8. If you have removed the axel nuts and dropout plates, loosely install them back onto the wheel.

 

Rear Wheel Installation

  1. To install the wheel onto the bike, first, slide the dropout plates onto the frame and guide the chain back onto the freewheel. 
  2. Hand tighten the two dropout plate bolts on each side of the wheel. Leave the bolts loose so that you may properly adjust the alignment of the wheel.
  3. Once the wheel is centered and aligned straight with the frame, tighten the dropout bolts with a 5mm Hex Wrench to secure the wheel alignment.    
  4. Next, tighten the axle nuts if they were loosened during the removal process by using an 18and 21 mm wrenches.
  5. Install the chain tensioner onto the dropout and tighten the bolt in place with a 5mm Hex Wrench. Once the chain tensioner is tightened, guide the chain back onto the sprocket. 
  6. Install the brake caliper onto the mount and tighten the bolts using a 5mm Hex Wrench.  Ensure that the caliper is properly aligned with the rotor and make any adjustments if necessary. 
  7. Reconnect the motor cable and secure it to the frame with zip ties. There are three connection points on the frame. With zip tie cutters, cut the excess ends off each zip tie to avoid them getting caught in the wheel.
  8. Check all hardware and ensure everything is tight, secure, and properly aligned before riding.
  9. Install the battery and ride safe!

 

Front Wheel Removal

  1. To remove the front wheel, position the bike upside down. For instructions on correctly positioning the bike upside down, see the preparation steps above.
  2. Start by removing the front brake caliper. Use a 5mm Hex Wrench, remove the two caliper bolts from the brake mount.
  3. With a 5mm Hex Wrench, loosen the two axel fork pinch bolts on each side of the wheel; four in total. 
  4. Remove the through-axel bolts on each side of the wheel using a 5mm Hex Wrench. 
  5. With one hand, hold the front wheel in place, with the other hand, guide the through-axel out of the wheel hub using an 8mm Hex Wrench. 
  6. You will now be able to lift and remove the wheel from the bike. 

 

Installing Front Wheel

  1. Position the front wheel onto the frame and guide the through-axle through the wheel hub and fork mounts. 
  2. Tighten the through-axle bolts with a 5mm Hex Wrench on each side of the wheel.
  3. Tighten the two axel fork pinch bolts with a 5mm Hex Wrench.
  4. Once the wheel is secure on the fork, install the front brake caliper. Tighten the two caliper bolts on the mount with a 5mm Hex Wrench. Ensure the caliper and rotor are properly aligned and make any adjustments to alignment if necessary.
  5. Check all hardware and ensure everything is tight, secure, and properly aligned before riding.
  6. Install the battery and ride safe!