RAD POWER BIKES 15-0277-001 Front Mounted Basket User Manual

: June 13, 2024
: RAD POWER BIKES

Table of Contents

RAD POWER BIKES 15-0277-001 Front Mounted Basket
Product Information
Product Usage Instructions
CONTENTS
BEFORE YOU START
BASKET INSTALLATION
ADDITIONAL CRITICAL SAFETY MESSAGES
CONTACTS
References
Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
Download This Manual (PDF format)

RAD POWER BIKES 15-0277-001 Front Mounted Basket

Product Information

The Front-Mounted Basket is an accessory for bicycles, available in small and large sizes. It is sold separately and can be purchased from radpowerbikes.com/help in the USA and Canada, and radpowerbikes.eu/help in Europe. For customer support and inquiries, you can contact support@radpowerbikes.com (USA), can- support@radpowerbikes.com (Canada), or eu-support@radpowerbikes.com (Europe). The latest version of the user manual and instructions can be found online at radpowerbikes.com (USA/Canada) or radpowerbikes.eu (Europe).

It is important to read and understand all the warnings in this document and the owner’s manual that came with your bike before using this accessory. Incorrect assembly, installation, maintenance, or use of the Front-Mounted Basket can lead to component failure, loss of control, serious injury, or even death. If you are unsure about your experience, skills, or tools required for proper installation, it is recommended to consult a certified bike mechanic.

Product Usage Instructions

Prepare your bike for installation:
- Turn off the bike.
- Unlock and remove the battery.
- Press the power button to discharge any remaining power.
Determine whether you need to reroute the front brake cable or hose:
- If your bike has the brake cable or hose routed through the interior of the fork (between the fork and the wheel), proceed to the next step.
- If your bike does not have this configuration, you can skip this step and move on to the basket installation section.
Reroute the front brake cable or hose:
- Make sure not to touch the brake rotor, especially when it’s in motion or after riding your bike. The brake rotor can become hot during normal friction with the brake pads and has sharp edges. Touching the brake rotor can cause serious injury, slicing damage, or burns.
- If your brake cable or hose is routed through a front cable guide and then through the interior of the fork, it needs to be rerouted.
- Follow the instructions provided in your owner’s manual to reroute the brake cable or hose properly.
Basket Installation:
- If you have completed the previous steps of rerouting the brake cable or hose, you can now proceed with the installation of the Front-Mounted Basket.
- Refer to the instructions provided in the user manual for detailed steps on how to install the basket correctly.

For any further assistance or inquiries, please contact the respective customer support channels provided earlier.

NOTICE: You MUST read and understand all warnings in this document AND the owner’s manual that shipped with your bike (and is available at radpowerbikes.com (USA/Canada) or radpowerbikes.eu (Europe)) before using this accessory. The latest version of these instructions and your owner’s manuals are available online.

WARNING: Incorrect assembly, installation, maintenance, or use of this accessory can cause component failure, loss of control, serious injury, or death. If you are not sure you have the experience, skills, and tools to correctly perform all the steps for proper installation, consult a local, certified, reputable bike mechanic.

BEFORE YOU START

Prepare your bike for installation. Turn off the bike. Unlock and remove the battery. Press the power button to discharge remaining power.
Determine whether you will need to reroute the brake cable (or brake hose for hydraulic brakes). (Review your owner’s manual if you are not sure whether you have hydraulic brakes.) See figure 1.
- If you DO have the front brake cable (or hose for hydraulic brakes) secured to the front of your fork and routed through the interior of the fork, you MUST reroute the front brake cable (or hose for hydraulic brakes) to the outside of the fork and change how and where it is secured to the fork. This will ensure your brake cable or hose has enough slack to operate correctly. Continue onto the “REROUTE THE FRONT BRAKE CABLE OR HOSE” section.
- WARNING: Failure to reroute the front brake cable or hose according to the directions below can cause brake failure, loss of control, serious injury, or death.
- If your brake cable or hose is already routed on the outside of your front fork (not through the interior) and secured to the back of the fork, you do NOT need to reroute the brake cable, and you can move on to the “BASKET INSTALLATION” section.

REROUTE THE FRONT BRAKE CABLE OR HOSE

This section applies only to bikes, including all RadCity models, that have the brake cable or brake hose routed through the interior of the fork (between the fork and the wheel). If you don’t have one of these bikes, you can skip this section and move onto the “BASKET INSTALLATION” section.

WARNING: Do NOT touch the brake rotor, especially when it’s in motion or after you’ve been riding your bike. During brake use, the brake rotor can get very hot from normal friction with the brake pads. The brake rotor also has very sharp edges. Touching the brake rotor can cause serious injury, slicing damage, or burns. Natural oils from your hands can transfer to the brake rotor or brake pads and decrease braking performance. Touch the brake rotor only for necessary maintenance when it is cool, not moving, and while you are wearing gloves or using other appropriate protective equipment. If you must do manual work near a brake rotor, brace your wheel to prevent it from spinning.

Snip any zip ties securing the front brake cable or hose to the other cables.
- Remove end cap.
If there’s an endcap on your handlebar, pry it off gently with a flathead screwdriver (see Figure 2—it and subsequent figures are located).
Remove the left handlebar grip. What method you use depends on the kind of handlebar grip you have.
- ```
  * Loosen the set screw (if your grips have them).
```
- If your handlebar grip is secured with a small set screw (see Figure 3), use the appropriate tool to loosen that screw and then slide off the handlebar grip (Figure 5).
- If your grips do not have a set screw, loosen them with isopropyl alcohol.
- Remove the handlebar grip.
- If you have a handlebar grip without a set screw, do the following. First, try to remove the handlebar grip without tools, by twisting and pulling it. If the grip is too tight, use a flathead screwdriver or similar tool to gently pry an edge of the handlebar grip away from the handlebar. Use a squirt bottle to squirt some isoproyl alcohol between the handlebar grip and the handlebar to loosen it (see Figure 4) and then slide it off the handlebar (Figure 5), twisting and pulling as necessary. If you find it too difficult to remove your handlebar grips, there is another rerouting method that involves some disassembly of brake components. That method can be easier for experienced mechanics, and you can find those directions on our online Help Center (USA/Canada: radpowerbikes.com/help or Europe: radpowerbikes.eu/help).
Trace the two cables coming out of the left brake lever. One of them is the brake cable or brake hose, which passes downward and connects to the brake at the center of your front wheel. The other cable carries the motor-cutoff signal, and goes into a cable connector near the handlebar.
- Loosen the brake lever mounting screw (C) and disconnect the motor cutoff connector (D) by pulling apart firmly, without twisting.
Disconnect the motor-cutoff connector (see “D” in Figure 6). Its interior is red.
- CAUTION: Do not confuse the motor-cutoff cable with the brake cable or hose. Do not attempt to pull either cable or hose directly out of the brake lever. Doing so can damage your brakes.
Gently remove the brake cable or hose from the clip (“A” in Figure 1) that holds it to the front of the fork.
Remove the brake lever from the handlebar. Unscrew the left brake lever (“C” in Figure 6) and slide it off of the handlebar. Gently place the brake lever on the ground next to your front wheel.
Carefully guide the brake lever from the front of the bike through the front fork so that the brake cable or hose no longer passes through the fork. Do not touch the brake rotor. See Figure 7.
- Dotted lines show the original routing of the brake hose, through the interior of the fork. The solid line and arrow shows how the brake hose should be re-routed, on the exterior of the fork and through a new cable guide (E), adhered to the back of the fork, and reinforced with zip ties (F).
Adhere the adhesive cable guide to the rear of the fork. Clean the rear of the fork with isopropyl alcohol. Once dry, peel the backing from the adhesive cable guide and place on the back of the fork, about halfway from the top of the lower fork (“E” in Figure 7). Press firmly to adhere.
Secure the brake hose into the guide. Press the brake hose into the channel of the cable guide and snap in the C-clip. Reinforce by installing zip ties around the brake cable or hose and fork as shown in Figure 7. Use flat-side cutters to snip off zip tie excess. Ensure the cut is flush and smooth, with no sharp points.
Slide your brake lever back onto the handlebar. Don’t yet secure it by tightening its screw(s).
- Reinstall the the handlebar grips. Spray isopropyl alcohol on the handlebar to make this easier.
Reinstall your handlebar grip. You may find it easier to slide your grip onto the handlebar if you apply a bit of isoproyl alcohol to its interior first (Figure 8). Angle the grip so that it’s comfortable, with the flare of the grip positioned to support the area of your palm opposite the thumb. If your handlebar grip uses a set screw for positioning, tighten the screw (Figure 9).
- ```
  * Tighten the set screws if your grips have them.
```
- WARNING: If you use any alcohol to loosen your handlebar grip, make sure it has a chance to evaporate before you ride your bike again. Riding your bike with a loose handlebar grip can cause loss of control, serious injury, or death. Before riding your bike, test the handlebar grip to ensure it won’t slide unless extreme force is applied to it.
Secure your brake lever. Make sure the brake lever is positioned next to the handlebar grip and angled as you prefer, and then securely tighten the screws on its clamp. Do not overtighten. (See Figure 10.)
- Reinstall the break levers (G) and re-connect the motor cutoff connector (H) by pressing together by aligning the external arrows and pressing firmly without twisting.
- Removing the headlight from its bracket.
Test your brakes fully before riding your bike again.

BASKET INSTALLATION

Remove hardware (bolts, any washers) from the headtube mounting points (or front rack if installed) and set aside.
Uninstall the headlight (necessary ONLY if the headlight is mounted on the front fork):
- Unplug the headlight connector.
- Remove the headlight hardware (5 mm Allen wrench and 10 mm wrench). Set the headlight aside and reinstall the hardware securely in the fork (and fender mount, if applicable). Torque to 6 Nm.
- Remove the headlight bracket from the headlight (3 mm Allen wrench and 8 mm wrench). Set the headlight aside. See figure 10.
Locate the basket mounting hardware that came in your package.
- Securing the basket to the headset.
Install the basket. Place the basket mounting holes over the headtube mounting points. Ensure no cables are pinched between the basket and the bike. Screw by hand all four basket-mounting bolts (M6 x 20 mm) about halfway in, and then finish securing the bolts with the 4 mm Allen wrench. Torque to 8 Nm. Figure 12 shows this procedure on the large basket (the installation technique is identical for the small basket).
Reattach the headlight (necessary ONLY if the headlight was mounted on the front fork):
- Mount the headlight directly to the basket. Position the headlight on the basket where the mounting point is and pass the headlight mounting bolt (M5 x 25 mm) through a flat washer, into the headlight mounting point on the basket, and through a second flat washer. Install hardware (4 mm Allen wrench). Torque to 6 Nm. See figure 12.
- Securing the headlight to the basket (necessary for some bike models)
- Plug in the headlight extension cable. One side of the extension cable connects to the headlight connector end, and the other side connects to the wiring harness. Align the internal and external markings on the connectors and press together without twisting.
- Securing the headlight cable to the bottom of the small front-mounted basket
- Securing the headlight cable to the bottom of the large front-mounted basket
- Secure the headlight cable away from moving parts. Zip tie the cable to the cable guide or guides on the underside of the basket as shown in Figure 14 (small basket) or Figure 15 (large basket). If you have the large basket, you can secure the headlight cable to the right and center cable guides or to the left and center cable guides, depending on what side your wiring harness is on. Use flat-side cutters to snip off zip tie excess. Ensure the cut is flush and smooth.
Check the headlight cable routing. Make sure that the headlight cable cannot be pulled or pinched by the motion of the suspension fork and other moving parts. If necessary, use zip ties to secure any excess cable to the rest of the wiring harness.
Test cable slack. Turn the handlebar fully left and right to ensure there’s enough slack in all of your cables, including the headlight cable, so that none of them pull taut or strain any connections. Double check the operation of any components you needed to move (e.g., your headlight cable, brake cable, or brake hose).
Test the brakes. Squeeze the brake levers to check brake-lever feel and brake performance. Your brakes should engage fully without the brake levers touching the handlebar grip. Adjust brakes if needed using the instructions in your bike’s Owner’s Manual. The latest version of your manual is always available in our online Help Center at radpowerbikes.com (USA/Canada) or radpowerbikes.eu (Europe).
- WARNING: A brake lever that can touch the handlebar grip when squeezed can result in the brake not pressing the pads into the brake rotor fully or at all, which means that the brake will not function properly or at all, putting the rider and any passenger(s) at a high risk of serious injury or death. Always make sure that squeezing the brake lever does not cause it to touch the handlebar grip. Also make sure that a squeeze of the brake lever to halfway between the lever’s neutral position and the handlebar grip results in the brake pressing the brake pads against the brake rotor.
Reinstall the battery and test the bike fully before riding.

ADDITIONAL CRITICAL SAFETY MESSAGES

WARNING: Never transport a child in this basket, which can lead to serious injury or death of the child.

WARNING: Do not exceed the weight limit of your basket (22 lb or 10 kg) or your bike (see your Owner’s Manual). Doing so can cause component failure and/or loss of control of your bike, leading to serious injury or death. Any time you add significant weight to your bike, test ride it carefully in a safe area to determine how the extra weight affects braking, steering, acceleration, and other handling characteristics.

WARNING: Overloading your basket with bulky, rigid materials that protrude beyond the top of the basket could interfere with your handlebar’s full range of motion and your ability to steer your bike. (What constitutes “overloading” depends on your bike model and its handlebar configuration.) Anything that interferes with your ability to steer your bike can lead to serious injury or death. Each time you load your basket, always test that your handlebar can turn fully left and right before riding your bike.

WARNING: Always ensure that cargo on your bike is fully secure before you ride, bearing in mind that cargo in an open basket or other open container can bounce or dislodge if you ride on rough terrain. Secure loose items with appropriate gear. Various cargo containers, cargo retention products, and pet accessories are for sale at www.radpowerbikes.com (U.S./Canada) or www.radpowerbikes.eu (Europe).

WARNING: Never transport a pet in your front-mounted basket without appropriate inserts designed to help keep your pet safe. Follow all safety instructions that come with such products. Rad Power Bikes cannot recommend any pet-carrying product it has not tested for safety and compatibility with our bikes and accessories. Several pet-carrying options, including inserts compatible with the front-mounted baskets, are available for sale at www.radpowerbikes.com (U.S./Canada) or www.radpowerbikes.eu (Europe). Transporting a pet using any bike puts you and your pet at risk of injury or death, especially if the pet distracts you, affects your balance, interferes with moving bike parts, etc. Your pet should be secured within any basket to prevent it from moving within the basket and causing its weight to shift. It’s impossible to anticipate every situation that can occur while riding with a pet. If you carry a pet on any bike, you assume any and all inherent risks.