Helio Electric Cycle, Owner'S Manual

Page 1: ...Helio Cycle Owner s Manual ...

Page 2: ... Cycle 2 eGO Crescent eGO Whisperdrive GO FAST and GO FAR are United States trademarks of eGO Vehicles Inc Helio Helio Cycle are trademarks of eGO Vehicles Inc All rights reserved No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical including photocopy recording or any information storage and retrieval system without permission in writin...

Page 3: ... if you d like to let us know what you think about something or share an idea about how we can improve our products or services we d like to hear from you US and World Wide Call us 1 401 461 2108 Contact us through our website www egovehicles com Write to us at EGO Vehicles 765 Allens Avenue Providence RI 02905 USA Drop us an email info egovehicles com Page 3 ...

Page 4: ...eful information in here Reading it will help you enjoy your Helio Cycle more Perhaps even more importantly reading it will help prevent you from damaging your Cycle or worse damaging yourself So if you read just one owner s manual all year make it this one The name eGO is a trademark of eGO Vehicles Inc in the United States However the EGO mark is owned by a different company in some countries in...

Page 5: ...front fork 14 Installing handlebars and front wheel assembly 14 Adjustments 15 Adjust saddle front back position and tilt angle 15 Side view mirrors 16 Front fork maintenance 16 Before your first ride 16 Features of your Helio Cycle 18 The Instrument Panel 18 Handlebar switches 22 The Brakes 22 The Throttle 23 The Motor 24 The Cargo Rack 25 Tempo III Speedometer Set up and Operation Guide 26 Befor...

Page 6: ...ntion to these because like they say it s all fun and games until somebody loses an eye You ll also see E tip icons These clue you in to tips about riding and maintaining your Helio Cycle Finally you ll see Zen icons These contain meaningful quotes from wise people about how to live a happier life We think they re useful but we realize they re just our opinions Paying attention to these is of cour...

Page 7: ...ter of gravity that makes handling a breeze even when you re riding slowly The key controlled Performance Selector allows you to select performance characteristics to suit your personal riding needs Your Helio Cycle is also simple to re charge After a ride just plug it in to any household outlet and the integrated on board smart charging system will automatically re energize the batteries Leave it...

Page 8: ...automatic braking feature and hand brakes allow for extremely responsive and precisely controlled acceleration and deceleration It s so fun to ride that you ll get bugs in your teeth from smiling Riding your Helio Cycle in Public We ve designed your Helio Cycle to be a practical means of everyday transportation not a toy for up and down the driveway Your Helio Cycle is perfect for the shorter trip...

Page 9: ... before every ride Wear an approved helmet Wear sturdy clothes to protect you if you fall Also make sure they are not loose enough to become tangled in moving parts Obey all traffic regulations Stop at stop signs and red lights signal your turns and be prepared to yield the right of way even if it s legally yours because in a collision with a car right or wrong you ll lose Ride defensively Assume ...

Page 10: ... but because riding in foul weather is dangerous Roads get slippery traction is reduced brakes don t work as well and usually visibility is reduced If you do need to ride in foul weather be especially careful and follow these safety tips WHEN YOUR BRAKES ARE WET STOPPING POWER IS GREATLY REDUCED It may take you twice as far to stop when your brakes are wet So when it s wet outside ride slower allo...

Page 11: ...e careful going in search of adventure it is ridiculously easy to find William Least Heat Moon A Special Caution for Parents In most places it is illegal for children under the age of 16 to ride an Helio Cycle on public roads We discourage the use of an Helio Cycle by anyone under the age of 16 Regardless of the law or our policy on the matter as a parent it is your responsibility to ensure the sa...

Page 12: ...egistration and or insurance before using an Helio Cycle on a public road Many jurisdictions require no special operator s license but do require that you have a driver s license In these jurisdictions you could be ticketed for operating your Helio Cycle on a public road without the proper license or registration It is your responsibility to find out the laws for your area and to comply with them ...

Page 13: ...r even death so follow the procedures carefully If you cannot find the time to do a task correctly how will you find the time to do it over unknown Your Helio Cycle was carefully assembled and thoroughly tested for proper performance at the factory To facilitate shipping we removed the handlebar and front wheel assemblies and the saddle assembly The front wheel is also removed from the front fork ...

Page 14: ... between the disk brake pads Remove the paper spacer between disk pads if present 9 Once the wheel is in the fork place the washers and nut in this order 1 Regular Washer 2 Safety Washer flange inserts into the small hole in the fork 3 Regular Washer 4 Wheel retaining nut Tighten Installing handlebars and front wheel assembly 10 Leaving the Helio Cycle on the cardboard panel lean the Cycle away fr...

Page 15: ...ighten headset retaining bolt and tighten the two stem clamp bolts Repeat as necessary 22 Insert and adjust the saddle To adjust the saddle height open the quick release clamp lever on the seat tube of the chassis Adjust the saddle to desired height and close the quick release lever To tighten the clamp open the lever tighten the knurled knob opposite the lever and close the lever again 23 The sea...

Page 16: ...eaning and maintaining your front fork Every week or after approximately 10 hours of riding 1 Peel the rubber fork boots up and check the underlying metal for dirt or other contamination 2 Apply a few drops of Teflon impregnated oil available at your local bike store around the seals to maintain proper lubrication 3 Remove the rubber boots and bounce up and down on the handlebars of the Cycle to c...

Page 17: ... your cycle is charging Don t lose your Certificate of Origin or Invoice Bill of Sale These are important legal documents keep them in a safe place in case you need them in the future If you call us for a replacement Certificate of Origin or COC and we discover that you lost it because you didn t listen to our advice we ll give you a good ribbing about it To avoid this keep your Certificate of Ori...

Page 18: ...n key operated switch When you turn the switch on three things happen The panel instruments are activated The electronic propulsion circuitry is activated The twist grip throttle is activated The tail brake light is turned on not on the Helio Your Helio Cycle has two performance modes GO FAR and GO FAST When the key is pointing up the starter switch is turned off When you turn the key to the left ...

Page 19: ...o ride Always remember that your Helio Cycle is an electric vehicle Unlike conventional vehicles you will not hear the motor or any other audible clues to remind you that the ignition is on To prevent anyone from twisting the throttle and unintentionally accelerating your Helio Cycle it has an automatic throttle cutout mechanism that deactivates the throttle after one minute of non use To reactiva...

Page 20: ...cator lights are illuminated When these two lights flash on and off this indicates the batteries are nearly depleted and will need to be recharged soon When you decelerate the automatic braking feature recaptures some of the energy of motion and converts it to electricity to recharge the batteries During deceleration all the charge indicator lights will glow indicating the batteries are being rech...

Page 21: ...he splash cover prevents the inlet from collecting water Also the cord comes with a Velcro strap Take the cord with you by securely attaching it under the seat or onto the cargo rack E The Helio Cycle charger is so smart it will accept any voltage from 100V to 240V at 50 or 60 HZ and the charger will automatically shut off after the batteries are fully charged So take your Helio Cycle with you any...

Page 22: ...ays ride with your lights on at night when visibility is reduced or when required by law Handlebar switches The instrument panel on the front dash of the chassis includes the On Off and Performance switch the Range Indicator the Charging Inlet and the Charging Status Indicators Lighting horn and turn indicator controls can be found on the left side of your handlebars On the left handlebar grip con...

Page 23: ... braking power than the automatic brake provides The hand brakes alone are more than capable of stopping your Helio Cycle The harder you squeeze the levers the more braking force you apply To stop apply your rear brake first and then gradually apply your front brake The brake light will turn on when the either of the brake levers are pulled 9 The front brake lever is on the right side of the handl...

Page 24: ...y be active if the key is on Don t twist the throttle until you are ready to go The result could be mayhem And don t let anyone else walk up and twist the throttle either If you re not sitting on your Helio Cycle ready to ride remove the key from the ignition so that neither you nor innocent by standers hurt themselves Borrow trouble for yourself if that s your nature but don t lend it to your nei...

Page 25: ...l throttle in the GO FAST mode and avoid stopping and more importantly starting on a hill L Motor Break in This is important To ensure that your Helio motor provides years of healthy service please drive gently for the first 4 or so hours of use Avoid riding up OR down steep hills Avoid aggressive acceleration OR deceleration Being conscientious during the break in period will help to maximize mot...

Page 26: ... 2 Wheel circumference selection After setting the metric English units the screen shows a value of 216 Press the SET RESET button until the value 160 appears the circumference of a 20 inch wheel in cm then press the MODE button to set the value 3 Set the current time of day After setting the wheel circumference the time of day 12 00 shows in the display Press the SET RESET button to select the pr...

Page 27: ...ill not be reset Daily trip distance is automatically reset to 0 0 at the start of a new day 3 The backlight will operate whenever the headlights are turned on 4 The display will operate as soon as the front wheel begins rolling if it does not be sure the sensor on the fork is properly aligned 1mm gap with the magnet on the wheel and that the sensor wire is connected behind the front wheel 5 The L...

Page 28: ...ly a fool tests the depth of the water with both feet African proverb The pre ride safety checklist Follow this checklist before every ride 1 CHARGING CORD Make sure your Helio Cycle is unplugged and the cord is securely stowed before you ride away 2 TIRE CONDITION Make sure they re properly inflated Look for glass nails or other objects lodged in the tread 3 WHEELS Make sure the wheel retaining n...

Page 29: ...ectronic components Even when the ignition is off Helio Cycle batteries and high current wires contain enough electricity to MELT METAL Severe injury could result Routine Maintenance Some of the procedures described below require specialized parts such as drive belts bulbs and high pressure tires You can order any part you ll need to take care of routine maintenance directly from your authorized e...

Page 30: ...lace because cold environments are better for storing batteries than hot ones Also when storing your Helio Cycle for long periods you can leave your Helio Cycle plugged in for months If this is not practical keep the batteries topped off by leaving it plugged in until the charging status indicator indicates a full charge solid green light at least once a month Since the internal charger is a smart...

Page 31: ... to the cycle Locate and disconnect the Black Red sometimes this connector will have a piece of white tape connector that runs between the forward and aft battery If there is a small green wire attached to the rearward battery black terminal detach that connector also 3 Locate and disconnect the Red Red connector 4 Locate and disconnect the Black Black connector 5 Unclip the nylon hold down strap ...

Page 32: ... need to be tightened There are two belts the primary is located inside the chassis and the secondary is visible on the rear wheel gear If you hear a popping sound during acceleration or deceleration stop as soon as practical and follow the directions below Ridding with a loose belt will quickly lead to belt failure Increase tension on the secondary drive belt first If the problem persists tension...

Page 33: ...the rear wheel retaining bolts LIt is very important that the rear wheel is properly aligned A misaligned wheel can cause the belt to come off the drive pulley which can damage the belt the drive pulley and the rear wheel A misaligned wheel will also cause the belt and drive pulley to wear unevenly which can result in belt or drive pulley failure If adjustments to the secondary drive belt previous...

Page 34: ...p between the rim and the pads 3 Loosen the two rear axle retaining nuts 4 Turn the belt tension adjuster nuts counterclockwise until the rear wheel can be pushed forward about inch 0 5cm 5 Push the rear wheel forward as far as it will go This will loosen the old belt enough to slide it off the rear wheel pulley 6 Slip the belt off the rear wheel pulley 7 Slide the rear wheel out of the chassis 8 ...

Page 35: ...y 9 It is very easy to over inflate your tires with a filling station air line Use a high pressure bicycle floor pump with a pressure gauge instead If you must use a filling station air line add air in short bursts L If you ride with your tire pressure too low for your weight or for the riding conditions you dramatically increase your chances of getting a flat tire especially when riding on bumpy ...

Page 36: ...5 Remove one side of the tire by gripping the tire with both hands and bending it downward until one side of the tire peels off the rim If this proves difficult use the tire levers to carefully pry the tire bead over the rim It s not necessary to remove the tire completely from the wheel Removing one side is sufficient L DO NOT use a screwdriver to pry the tire off the rim If you do you ll likely ...

Page 37: ...L BICYCLE TIRES ON YOUR Helio Cycle If you do the chance of tire failure drastically increases The Brakes Adjusting the hand brakes If your Helio Cycle hand brakes fail the pre ride safety checklist they are probably simply out of adjustment You can usually return them to proper adjustment quite easily Here s how 1 Place a block of wood under the chassis so that the wheel you re interested in is s...

Page 38: ...5 feet 9m from a blank wall and turn on the light It should provide a uniformly lit area on the wall centered about 1 5 feet 50cm off the ground Aim it properly and tighten the retaining screw Replacing a bulb The bulb on your Helio Cycle is a long lasting low current bulb However It will occasionally burn out Replacing it is simple Remove the bezel by loosening the bezel clamp bolt at the bottom ...

Page 39: ...gn rear wheel page 32 2 Symptom throttle doesn t work Cause ignition isn t turned on Solution turn ignition on Cause batteries are discharged Solution recharge batteries Cause safety cutout mechanism has activated Solution turn key off then back on 3 Symptom Short operational range Cause brakes are rubbing against wheels Solution adjust brakes so wheels turn freely Cause batteries are low Solution...

Page 40: ...loose Solution tighten wheel retaining nuts 6 Symptom Range indicator reads erratically Cause you are accelerating decelerating or climbing a hill while reading gauge Solution stop to read gauge 7 Symptom Soft spongy or loose steering or handling Cause tires are under inflated Solution inflate tires to proper pressure page 35 Cause wheel retaining nuts are loose Solution tighten wheel retaining nu...

Page 41: ...s are low Solution charge batteries 12 Symptom Headlight doesn t work Cause switch isn t on Solution turn switch on Cause wiring is broken damaged disconnected Solution inspect and reconnect wiring Cause bulb is burned out Solution replace bulb 13 Symptom Saddle is loose Cause loose saddle retaining bolt Solution tighten retaining bolt under the saddle 14 Symptom Handbrakes do not work properly Ca...

Page 42: ...ners manual Solution have qualified technician repair or replace wheel 15 Symptom Handbrakes squeak Cause improperly adjusted pads Solution adjust pads Cause worn brake pads Solution replace pads Page 42 ...

Page 43: ...at occurs during shipping it s covered by shipping insurance improper assembly or maintenance flat tires or normal wear and tear to parts like your tires or brake pads It also does not cover damage due to accident misuse or neglect It also doesn t cover damage sustained in commercial use rental deliver carrier applications or in competition but if you ve found a competition that you can enter your...

Page 44: ... the cables and housings for wear Squeeze the handbrakes and rock the Helio Cycle forward and backward If it rolls the brake cables or pads need adjustment RANGE INDICATOR Make sure you have sufficient battery power to get you where you want to go PERORMANCE SELECTOR Using the key switch choose the correct Go Far or Go Fast performance mode If this is your first ride choose Go Far MIRROR ADJUSTMEN...

Page 45: ...Notes Page 45 ...

Page 46: ...Your Helio dealer ...