Workshop

Electric bike assembly, support & maintenance
Cytech trained ebike mechanic

Our mechanic is Cytech trained and certified. https://www.cytech.training/directory/

How to assemble your electric bike

If you have the EBFEC Ares electric bike then we have a dedicated assembly page

When your new electric bike arrives carefully take the bike and content from the box. Please note how the electric bike was packaged incase you need to return the bike. We strongly suggest you take a video or series of photos. We can't accept returns without the original undamaged packaging. For further details please read our returns policy

If you have chosen to assemble your new electric bike yourself then there are a few tools you'll require, an Allen or hex key set and a pump.

Allen key set

4mm & 5mm hex keys typically required for handlebar & stem assembly.

How to assemble your electric bike

Once you have unpacked your electric bike your first task is to fit the wheels, (normally only the front wheel). If your wheel has a quick release skewer fit this loosely through the wheel axle. The lever on the skewer fits to the left of the wheel.
If your bike has an axle and nut then loosen the nuts and fit the wheel in the fork.
If your bike has a through axle then position the wheel in the fork, insert the axle and tighten.

Step 1: Wheels
Quick release skewer

If your wheel has a quick release skewer fit this loosely through the wheel axle. The lever on the skewer fits to the left of the wheel

Fit the wheel to the bike, carefully making sure the disc rotor is in the centre of the brake calliper. Then tighten the skewer, securing nuts or through axle depending on your particular bike. If using a skewer then it doesn't need to be too tight, the skewer's job is to be clamped against the frame, thus securing the wheel in place. Position the wheel so it's pointing straight ahead.

Fitting handlebar & Stem

handlebar and stem diagram

If your electric bike has a stem arrangement similar to the above diagram then the handlebar now needs to be secured to the front of the stem.

If the stem needs positioning (it's likely to be pointing to the rear of the bike) then release the steerer clamp bolts and rotate the stem to the front and then tighten the steerer screws again.

Step 2: handlebars
Fitting handlebar & Stem

Once the handlebar is in position you may need to loosen the clamp screws slightly so that the bar can be positioned centrally and rotated to your preference.

Remember to tighten the screws again once you're happy with the setup.

Fitting Pedals

Fitting the pedals is a quick 1 minute job OR fitting the pedals can be very frustrating leading to lots of swearing and losing of tempers!

Take the 1 minute route by remembering that the left pedal has a reverse thread meaning that you need to turn the pedal the reverse of what you would normally to tighten a screw or bolt. So facing the bike you would turn the left pedal counter clockwise to tighten and you would turn the right pedal clockwise.

Most left pedals will have a "L" or other mark marked on it so you can easily identify the left and right pedals. Failing that it's easy to tell the pedals apart by looking at the threads.

Hold the pedal with the thread at the top. The thread on the left pedal will slope UP from RIGHT to LEFT while the right pedal's thread will slope UP from the LEFT to the RIGHT.

NEVER force a pedal, you should be able to install the pedal by hand with the hex key or pedal spanner only needed for the final tightening of the pedal.

If you have a torque wrench then tighten the pedal to the required torque. If you don't have a torque wrench then there's no need to apply too much force. The reason the left pedal is reverse threaded is that when you're cycling the rotating peddling motion tightens the pedal so it's unlikely they will come loose.

Tightening the headset

Once the bike is assembled you may find there is movement in the headset. Apply the front brake and "rock" the bike backwards and forwards. If you can feel a slight movement in the headset (located at the top of the bike frame) then the headset needs tightening. 

To tighten the headset release the two steer clamp bolts on the stem. 

Tighten the headset by tightening the headset adjustment screw located under the rubber cap on top of the stem. 

Tighten the headset steerer clamp and check for movement, if still present repeat and tighten the headset adjustment bolt slightly tighter.

ebfec electric bike headset adjustment