Lightning Bicycle P-38, Assembly And Operation Manual

Page 1: ...e adjustment methods The unconventional design and closeness of the front wheel to your feet require that new riding skills must be acquired Carefully follow the instructions and after a short period of time you will have the new habits needed to ride your Lightning successfully CONTENTS 1 0 THE P 38 ASSEMBLY 2 0 ADJUSTMENTS BEFORE RIDING 3 0 RIDING 3 9 SAFE RIDING 4 0 ACCESSORIES 5 0 MAINTENANCE ...

Page 2: ...ks and bottom bracket assembly into the forward frame tube and install the pedals NOTE Do not apply any grease to the bottom bracket extension tube Otherwise it might rotate under pedaling pressure F Adjust the crank length and tighten Adjust the handlebar height and tighten See 2 0 ADJUSTMENTS BEFORE RIDING G Front shifter connection adjustment Rotate lever until cable is fully released and threa...

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Page 6: ...y squeeze the steerer tube small enough to that it locks up the sliding inner tube thus preventing the fork from reacting to bumps When installing a caliper brake on the suspended fork it is recommended locktite be used between the brake bolt and the hole in the fork crown This will provide for a stonger and longer lasting assembly 3 Caliper Brake Normally caliper brakes need to be mounted on the ...

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Page 9: ...g the initial adjustment that too far away C Verify the chainrings are vertical by sighting along them to the handlebar stem then tighten the two Allen head bolts 2 2 HANDLEBAR ADJUSTMENT A Slightly loosen the stem clam using a 6mm Allen wrench B Adjust the handlebars up or down so that there is approximately in of clearance between your knees and the handlebars Fig 2 1 C Verify the handlebars are...

Page 10: ...el combinations This can be accomplished by adjusting the chain length so that the rear derailleur is in the position shown in fig 2 2 with the chain on the large chainring large rear sprocket combinations CAUTION If the chain is not long enough to shift onto the large Front chainwheel large rear sprocket combination The rear derailleur and chain will break NOTE The derailleur does not normally ha...

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Page 12: ...edals It is best if you practice while leaning against a wall or while someone is holding you up 3 2 STARTING A If this is your first experience with a recumbent bicycle it is suggested that a friend holds onto the seat and gives a push to help in starting B For starting by yourself the trick is to have one pedal in the straight up power position with one foot on the pedal and the other foot on th...

Page 13: ...ke some practice to master but it will eventually become second nature The interference is a problem only at speeds below 6 mph Above this the wheel is not turned enough to be a problem 3 4 HANDLING AND STABILITY A lightning bicycle has fair stability and responsive steering It is not necessary to aggressively hold onto the handlebars A relaxed grip is best for riding in a straight line One hand o...

Page 14: ...ft down to a low gear Being in a low gear makes it much easier to get started again In emergencies or just for fun f you want the low center of gravity normally makes it possible to break as hard as you want without any fear of flipping the bike However be careful of applying full braking on wet r sandy roads as this could cause the tires to slip out 3 7 CLIMBING HILLS Use a lower gear and spin If...

Page 15: ...t take the impact B WEAR A HELMT If your head is worth less than 50 the price of a good helmet you don t need one C WET WEATHER Your brakes do not work as good in this condition so allow for more stopping distance on down hills Also BE CAREFUL when cornering D BE CAREFUL when cornering fast on unfamiliar roads Any gravel in the corner may cause a slide out Because of the low lighting seat position...

Page 16: ...ebars can be used behind the seat Carefully cut slots into the seat material so the bag straps can be wrapped around the top seat tube Be sure to seal the edges of the seat materiel using a hot piece of metal to prevent unraveling Another option is the Lightning seat bag which has large capacity and can be simply slipped on over the seat back without the need of cutting slots 4 5 MIRROR The Mirryc...

Page 17: ...port hoop NOTE If you purchased the fairing kit at the same time as the bicycle StepD has aready been done for you D Remove existing pivot bolt from the brake levers Using the included Acorn nut Install the new lever pivot bolts with brazed on stud See fig 4 2 Next space the brake levers so the studs match the fairing mount tabs E Bolt the fairing mount onto the brake levers using the included was...

Page 18: ...F If your legs hit the fairing you should adjust the fairing by pushing forward on the bottom of it This will bend the mounting tabs to the proper angle ...

Page 19: ...o stretching of the material The seat back should be tightened by taking the slack out of the string that runs along the sides NOTE It is possible to wear a hole in the seat back if it becomes loose enough to contact the rear tire The foam padding in the bottom of the seat can also be adjusted to better suit your riding style We recommend the seat be kept more upright when you are first learning h...

Page 20: ...omponents and can be easily serviced by your local bicycle shop The chain should be periodically lubricated The brakes and control cables should be monitored and adjusted when necessary Once a year the headset bottom bracket pedals and hubs should be checked for smooth operation and adjusted if needed 5 5 ZZIPER FAIRING Lexan is an extremely tough and crack resistant material The Zzipper fairing w...

Page 21: ...end only using the grease supplied in the grease gun as the use of other types may result in premature wear of the mechanism C Reassemble the fork and install the bolt that holds the torque links together Tighten the nut snug then back it off turn The linkage is properly adjusted when the washers can just barely be spun by hand D The other linkage pivots can also be disassembled and cleaned if des...

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Page 23: ...e frame see fig 5 2 This O ring slows down the steering response of the bike If you want quicker steering remove the O ring If you don t want quicker steering reinstall the O ring any time the fork is removed Grease the O ring and verify it is correctly positioned during re assembly ...

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Page 26: ...anty must be made through a Lightning dealer or Lightning Cycle Dynamics during the warranty period 4 THIS LIMITED WARRANTY ONLY APPLIES upon the bicycle being operated under normal conditions of use and properly maintained This limited warranty DOES NOT APPLY to normal wear and tear and also DOES NOT COVER failure due to abuse neglect improper assembly improper maintenance alteration collision cr...