Buddy Bike BB102-AL User manual

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Owner’s Manual
Bike Model BB102-AL and BB104-AL-27 V.1
Please read every word of this manual
BEFORE you ride your Buddy Bike!
Because your safety is most important to us it is our policy that a trained
professional assemble and adjust your Buddy Bike. Any Buddy Bike that is not
assembled by a professional at a bike shop will not be covered by the Limited Warranty.

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For your protection it is important to keep a record of the serial number of your bicycle and the
date and place of purchase. The serial number can be found under the Rear Bottom Bracket
Shell where the rear rider crank joins the bike where the Chain Stay is welded. Please fill out
the information below and keep it for your records.
Your name:
Bike serial number:
Bike model:
Bike color:
Date of purchase:
Dealer name:
Dealer address:
Dealer phone number:
To activate your warranty, please fill out and return the enclosed Warranty Registration card
along with a copy of your purchase receipt to:
Buddy Bike, LLC
2775 Sunny Isles Boulevard, Suite 118
North Miami Beach, FL 33160
ATTN: Warranty Registration
Table of Contents
HELMETS AND SAFETY...................................................................................................... 4
MAXIMUM WEIGHT.............................................................................................................. 4
HOW TO RIDE YOUR BUDDY BIKE.................................................................................... 4
KICKSTANDS........................................................................................................................ 5
FOLD-OUT FOOT PEGS (sold separately)........................................................................... 6
PRACTICE BRAKING AND SAFE SPEED CONTROL......................................................... 6
HOW AND WHEN TO SHIFT GEARS...................................................................................7
HOW TO FIT YOUR BUDDY BIKE TO YOUAND YOURS................................................... 7
SEAT ADJUSTMENTS.......................................................................................................... 8
HANDLEBAR ADJUSTMENTS ............................................................................................. 8
BRAKE LEVER ADJUSTMENTS........................................................................................ 10
REMOVE CABLE STRETCH..............................................................................................10
ADJUST THE ROLLER BRAKE CABLE..............................................................................11
BRAKE MAINTENANCE......................................................................................................11
HUB CABLE ADJUSTMENT FOR BUDDY BIKE FAMILY .................................................. 13
LEARN TO USE QUICK RELEASE DEVICES ................................................................... 13
WHEEL AND TIRE MAINTENANCE ................................................................................... 14
CHAIN MAINTENANCE...................................................................................................... 16
HEADSET ASSEMBLY........................................................................................................ 17
BUDDY BIKE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE.......................................................................18
LIMITED WARRANTY......................................................................................................... 19

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and, at the same time, press down hard
on that pedal, hoist your body up onto
the seat and KEEP PEDALING. The mo-
mentum will help keep the bicycle bal-
anced.
For Both Riders
Captain and stoker should practice the
start-off procedure above until it is au-
tomatic and second nature. When you
brake to a stop, reverse the mounting
and start-off instructions given above
so you are ready to take off again, say
from a stoplight. At this point both rid-
ers should have one or both feet on the
ground and be straddling the bicycle.
Pedaling Techniques
As Figure 2 shows, captain’s and stoker’s pedals are connected by a bicycle chain. Both
sets of pedals move simultaneously. As one rider pedals, the other rider must also pedal. To
coast, both riders must agree to do so. Verbal communication on a tandem is important! If
one rider decides to coast and the other tries to keep pedaling,
balance and control can be affected. For stoker’s with disabili-
ties, it is also helpful for the captain to maintain a slow, steady
pace for stoker to work at keeping their feet on the pedals.
Steering Techniques
The Buddy Bike has a much shorter wheelbase than conven-
tional tandems and it is unique in that both sets of handlebars
(Figure 5) turn as the bicycle is steered. The captain leans into
the direction of the turn, moves the handlebars to turn and, as
he/she does so, the stoker’s handlebars will move in the same
direction. The stoker should balance in the same direction.
Whenever possible, the captain should tell the stoker when a
turn is about to be made. Again, communication between cap-
tain and stoker is essential to the safety of both.
NOTE: A bike shop professional should adjust the stoker han-
dlebars to accommodate the reach of the stoker. For safety, do
not rotate the handlebars to closer than a 90 degree angle.
KICKSTANDS
Buddy Bike Family BB102-AL includes one bi-pod spring kick-
stand (Figure 3A). Buddy Bike Sport includes one Pletscher
bi-pod kickstand (Figure 3B). Once assembled, to lower either
kickstand, slightly raise the bicycle by the rear seat and use
your foot to push the kickstand down then gently lower the bike.
To raise the kickstand, slightly raise the bicycle by the rear seat
and use your foot to sweep the kickstand backwards. These
kickstands are intended to hold and balance the bike while it is
not being ridden. Raise the kickstand to mount the bicycle.
PLEASE DO NOT mount the bicycle while it is balanced on
the kickstand.
Congratulations!
You have purchased the Buddy Bike, the alternative tandem bicycle! Now you and your
loved one can enjoy safe cycling and quality time together. You can ride with any youngster
old enough to sit on a bicycle seat or with an adult. With a maximum weight capacity of 380
pounds, the Buddy Bike is the ideal family bike that can be enjoyed by riders of all ages and
abilities. Put your loved ones first, up front on a Buddy Bike as you have put them first in
your life!
Please read every word of this manual
BEFORE you ride your Buddy Bike!
This manual includes tips on how to ride your Buddy Bike safely, instructions on basic bike
maintenance to keep your bike in safe operating condition and a Maintenance Schedule.
Please note that some maintenance should only be performed by a professional bike me-
chanic.
HELMETS AND SAFETY
Always wear a helmet! This means adults too!
Your head is too precious to risk especially if
you are riding with a child who may require spe-
cial assistance. Adjust your helmet as shown
in Figure 1 so it offers maximum protection.
Use a helmet that bears a CPSC,ANSI or Snell
safety label.
Please practice safe cycling. For safe cycling
information visit our web site:
www.buddybike.com/BikeSafety.html
MAXIMUM WEIGHT
The combined weight of captain and stoker
should not exceed 380 pounds. As you mount
or pedal, do not bear down hard on the handle-
bars, as if you were doing pushups. However,
should the handlebars move up or down as you
mount or ride the Buddy Bike tighten all the
handlebar clamp bolts with a 6-mm Allen wrench to 150—225 inch/pounds as soon as pos-
sible, as shown later in this manual in “HOW TO FIT YOUR BUDDY BIKE TO YOU AND
YOURS.” Better yet, stop at the nearest bike shop and have a pro do it.
HOW TO RIDE YOUR BUDDY BIKE
Before you start the practice rides that get you familiar with your Buddy Bike’s steering,
braking and shifting performance, please adjust the seats, handlebars and brake levers to
fit your body, as shown later in this manual in “HOW TO FIT YOUR BUDDY BIKE TO YOU
AND YOURS.” Practice riding your Buddy Bike in a traffic-free area, such as an empty school
playground, until the rear rider (“captain”) and the front rider (“stoker”) are both thoroughly
familiar with its braking, steering and shifting.
For the Captain
Start with the captain riding alone. Straddle the top tube (the tube from the rear seat to the
fork column, Figure 2) with one foot on the ground, the other foot on a pedal at the 2 o’clock
position. Hold the captain’s handlebar (Figure 5) firmly. Push off with the foot on the ground
The correct way to wear a helmet
Wear the helmet flat atop your head, not tilted back at an angle!
Make sure the helmet fits snugly and does not obstruct your fieldof vision.
The chin strap should fit securely andthe buckle should stay fastened.
Figure 1
Pedals are connected and work simultaneously
Start riding with the pedals at the 2 o’clock position
TOP TUBE
Figure 2
Figure 3A
Figure 3B

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as you approach parking lot driveways, children and others on foot, bicycles, skate boards
or roller blades. Watch out for school and other buses approaching a stop. When you come
to a stop, both captain and stoker should extend one foot to the ground, and then both feet if
you have to wait for a stoplight.
On the flats, the captain can usually control speed by applying both brake levers. Apply the
rear brake lever first, then the front brake lever. On a downhill ride or in an emergency situ-
ation use both captain’s and stoker’s brakes to slow or to stop. Both riders should practice
braking on the flats and on downhill runs until you both are thoroughly familiar with the brak-
ing power and speed control of the Buddy Bike’s brakes.
NOTE: When it’s raining, your brakes, good as they are, will lose some stopping power. It will
take longer to stop when wheel rims are wet. In wet conditions, apply brakes sooner than you
would in dry conditions. Both captain and stoker should
use both sets of brakes, even at low speeds. Reduce
speed in wet weather and beware of slippery surfaces.
For more safe cycling information visit our web site:
www.buddybike.com/BikeSafety.html
HOW AND WHEN TO SHIFT GEARS
7-Speed Buddy Bike Family (BB102-AL)
Buddy Bike Family is equipped with the Shimano’s NEX-
US INTER 7. It can shift to any gear anytime, even at
a stop. To shift, simply rotate the gripshift on the right
of the captain’s handlebar (A in Figure 6). The 7 speed
gear combinations gives you a wide range of choices for
easy pedaling. By turning the gripshift toward you, select
gear 6 or 7 for pedaling downhill. While on level roads
or paths use gears 3, 4 or 5. Upon pedaling uphill, turn
the gripshift away from you to gear 1 or 2. By selecting
the proper gear, you can make pedaling comfortable and
easier for both riders.
27-Speed Buddy Bike Sport (BB104-AL-27)
Buddy Bike Sport is equipped with a Shimano Deore 27
speed hub. This bike includes a derailleur so it is best to
shift gears while pedaling. To shift the gears, push the
bottom lever to lower the gear and pull the top lever to
shift to a higher gear on the left side (Figure 7A) or right
side (Figure 7B) of the captain’s handlebar. The Deore
hub is considered a professional level component. The
shifters are not numbered or marked so practice shifting
until you are comfortable with the procedure and various
gear levels.
HOW TO FIT YOUR BUDDY BIKE TO YOU AND YOURS
Before you go off for your first practice rides, have your bicycle dealer inspect the Buddy
Bike and make the following handlebar and seat adjustments to your Buddy Bike for your
riding comfort and safety. You could make them yourself, if you wish, using a torque wrench
(Figure 8) to tighten nuts and bolts to the torque tightness specified, so you are sure they
are safely tight.
FOLD-OUT FOOT PEGS (sold separately)
To install the fold-out foot pegs (Figure 4A): 1) remove the ad-
hesive from the padded tape sections and press to the inside
curve of each foot peg; 2) with the pegs folded up, position the
pegs on the small down tube in front of the front rider seat and 3)
use the included screws to secure the pegs to the tube. The foot
pegs should be positioned above the path of the pedals so the
stoker’s feet will be safely out of the pedal motion path.
While the stoker is pedaling, fold the pegs up (Figure 4B). For
smaller riders, fold each peg down (Figure 4C) so they can rest
their feet out of the way of the pedal motion path.
PRACTICE BRAKING AND SAFE SPEED CONTROL
First, be aware that the right side of a bicycle is the side to your
right as you sit on the seat. That’s the side the chainwheel is on.
Figure 5 was taken from riders’ point of view. The brake lever
on the left side of the captain’s handlebar is for the front brake
(D in Figure 5). The brake lever on the right side of the captain’s
handlebar is for the rear brake (C in Figure 5). The brake lever
on the right stoker’s handlebar is for the additional brake which
is a hub brake on some versions of Buddy Bike Family or a
standard brake caliper on the rear wheel of Buddy Bike Sport
(E in Figure 5). The stoker’s brake provides additional braking
power and a sense of control for the stoker but it will not stop the
bike if used alone.
CAUTION: Your Buddy Bike can go faster than single bikes,
for these reasons:
The Buddy Bike with aluminum frame weighs 51-55 pounds
(depending upon bike model and accessories). That’s just 27.5
pounds or less for each of you. The rider on a typical bike (ex-
cluding road bikes) has to push its 33 pounds alone.
The captain is shielded from wind by the front rider or stoker so
you both have only half the wind resistance faced by a single
biker. For these reasons your Buddy Bike is a lot easier to pedal,
so please keep it at a speed that lets you slow down or stop
quickly and safely in an emergency.
Again, as you practice riding
the Buddy Bike in a safe place
try stopping at various speeds,
say at 5, 10 and 15 miles per
hour. Note how many feet it
takes to stop at each of these
speeds. Use the captain’s
brakes alone then combined
with the stoker’s brake. Use
this information to keep your
speed under control. Go slow-
er in traffic, for example, where
you may have to make a sud-
den, unexpected stop. Look as
far ahead as possible, be alert
Figure 4A
Figure 4B
Figure 4C
STOKER HANDLEBARS
CAPTAIN HANDLEBARS
DBA
C
E
Figure 5
Figure 7A - BB104 Left Shifter
Figure 7B - BB104 Right Shifter
A
Figure 6 - BB102 Grip Shifter

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a 6-mmAllen wrench. Tilt the captain’s handlebar up
or down until the captain can ride with a comfortable
bend of his upper body while sitting on the rear seat.
Once the handlebar is at a convenient angle, tighten
these bolts to 150—225 inch/pounds.
CAUTION: The handlebar stem supports both cap-
tain and stoker handlebars. The stem is held by two
clamp bolts (A in Figure 14). The stem must always
be in the position shown in Figure 14, all the way
down to the fork bearing locknut (B in Figure 14).
Do not loosen these bolts to raise the handle-
bars. Handlebar height can only be adjusted as
shown above.
Stoker’s Handlebar
The stoker’s handlebar (Figure 5),
is adjustable to three different posi-
tions, tilt, up or down, and distance
from the stoker’s seat. For your
stoker’s safety, please do not rotate
the handlebars to closer than a 90
degree angle.
Tilt: Loosen clamp bolt (B in Figure
13)with a 6-mm Allen wrench, and
rotate the handlebar until the stoker
can reach it without strain and with
ease. Tighten this bolt to 150—225
inch/pounds.
Distance from Seat
Loosen clamp bolts (C in Figure 13) with a 6-mm Allen
wrench and move the stoker’s handlebar closer to or away
from the stoker’s seat until it can be reached in comfort.
Tighten these bolts to a torque of 150—225 inch/pounds.
CAUTION: For safety keep at least 2 inches of the
stoker’s handlebar stem INSIDE the handlebar tubes as
shown in Figure 13.
Up or Down
Loosen clamp bolts (D in Figure 13) with a 6-mm Allen
wrench and rotate the stoker’s handlebar to move it up or
down to suit the stoker’s arm length. Tighten these bolts to
150—225 inch/pounds.
CAUTION: Before your first ride and every four to six
months thereafter (depending on ride frequency), stand in front of the Buddy Bike, hold
the front wheel between your knees, grasp the captain’s handlebar and rotate it firmly from
side to side. If the handlebar moves but the wheel does not, retighten the clamp bolts (A in
Figure 13) with a 6-mm Allen wrench to a torque of 180—250 inch/pounds. These two han-
dlebar stem bolts (A in Figure 14) hold both stoker and captain handlebars securely on the
fork steerer tube.
SEAT ADJUSTMENTS
You can move each seat in five directions, up or down, closer to or farther from the handle-
bars, and tilted for comfort.
Seat Height
Adjust seat height for both riders so the knee is slightly bent
when one pedal is at the 6 o’clock position, as shown in Fig-
ure 9. To adjust seat height, turn the seat post quick release
lever, (A in Figure 10) to the OPEN position. Move the seat
up or down until the rider’s knee is bent as shown in Figure 9.
Tighten the seat post quick release lever to the closed posi-
tion, with the end of this lever facing toward the rear. (Be sure
to read “LEARN TO USE THE FRONT WHEEL AND SEAT
QUICK RELEASES” section later in this manual).
CAUTION: For safety, keep at least 4 inches of the seat
post inside the seat tube, as shown in Figure 11.
Seats to handlebar distance
The seat should be close enough to the handlebars so the rid-
ers can reach them without strain. To move the seat toward or
away from the handlebars, simply loosen the seat clamp bolts
that hold the seat on the seat post (Figure 12), and move the
seat toward to or away from the handlebars, until the rider has
a slight bend at the elbows.
Seat Tilt
Reduce pressure on the hands by tilting each seat so its
nose points slightly upward (B in Figure 10). To make these
adjustments, loosen the seat clamp bolts (C in Figure 10)
with a 5-mm Allen wrench, slide the seat forward or back as
necessary and tilt it as noted above. Tighten the clamp bolts
to 180—250 inch/pounds with a torque wrench (Figure 8).
Again, use the torque wrench on all applicable nuts and
bolts noted throughout this manual so you are sure they
are safely tightened.
HANDLEBAR ADJUSTMENTS
Adjust both handlebars so they can be reached without strain.
Move the handlebars up or down, tilt (rotate) them and move
them closer to or further away from the rider as needed for
comfort. Here’s how:
Captain’s Handlebar
The captain’s handlebar shown in Figure 5 is the longest bar
on the Buddy Bike. Loosen clamp bolts (A in Figure 13) with
Figure 8 - Torque Wrench
Figure 12
Figure 9
Figure 11
minimum
insertion
4 inches
100 mm
SEAT
POST
B
C
A
Figure 10 A
A
B
Figure 14
CC
A
DAD
B
2” MIN
Figure 13

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Cable Stretch at the Brakes
27-Speed Buddy Bike Sport (BB104-AL-27)
Captain Disc Brakes: Use the barrel adjuster on the brake lever (B in Figure 18) or the in-
line barrel adjuster (Ain Figure 18) to remove any cable slack from the system. Turn the ad-
juster out until there is no free play in the lever but not so far that the torque arm on the caliper
is advanced. The torque arm should return completely when the brake lever is released.
Stoker Rear Standard Brake Caliper: Loosen the fix bolt (A in Figure 18) and the barrel
adjuster (B in Figure 18). Pull out cable slack with a pair of pliers. Tighten the fix bolt and
the barrel adjuster.
ADJUST THE ROLLER BRAKE CABLE
1) check that the wheel does not easily turn while the brake cable is being pulled; 2) depress
the brake lever about 10 times as far as the grip in order to run in the brake cable; 3) check
that both ends of the outer casing are securely inserted into the cable adjusting bolts of both
the brake lever and brake arm. See Figure 19.
BRAKE MAINTENANCE
7-Speed Buddy Bike Family (BB102-AL)
Brake shoes wear as they do on your car. Inspect them
every six months, make sure they are not worn, and that
the brake shoes are properly aligned on the wheel rim
for maximum braking power. Brake shoe replacement is
a professional bike shop job but if you decide to replace
them yourself, follow these steps:
Brake Shoe Replacement: 1) remove old brake shoes
with a 5-mm Allen wrench. Brake shoe clamp bolt is
shown in the center of the brake arm (A in Figure 20);
2) purchase replacement shoes at a bike store (install all
four new shoes for safety); 3) install the new shoes in the
brake arms. Before tightening the brake shoe clamp bolt
to 50—70 inch/pounds, adjust brake shoes.
BRAKE LEVER ADJUSTMENTS
There are two adjustments for each brake lever,
one for hand reach and one for finger fit.
Hand Reach: You should be able to grasp brake
levers quickly from a hand rest position on the
handlebars. Rotate each brake lever until you can
do so. Loosen the brake lever clamp bolt (D in
Figure 15), with the 5-mm Allen wrench shown,
and rotate the lever on the handlebars to a quickly
reachable position. Tighten the clamp bolt to 44—
60 inch/pounds.
Finger Fit: If the brake lever begins to apply brak-
ing force as soon as you depress it, adjust its “reach”
with a 2-mmAllen wrench (A in Figure 15), until your
fingers can safely and comfortably apply force to the
brakes. The brake lever can be safely depressed up
to about one inch from the handlebar. If the brake le-
ver comes any closer the brake cable has stretched.
Cable stretch reduces braking power and response,
so remove this stretch.
REMOVE CABLE STRETCH
NOTE: New cables will stretch and require adjust-
ment.
Cable Stretch at Brake Levers
Loosen cable slack adjuster locknut, (C in Fig-
ure 15)a few turns. Turn slack adjuster (B in
Figure 15) counterclockwise until slack is re-
moved. Tighten locknut (C in Figure 15) against
the brake body. Repeat if the brake lever still
comes more than an inch from the handlebars.
Make this adjustment on all brake levers as nec-
essary.
Cable Stretch at the Brakes
7-Speed Buddy Bike Family (BB102-AL)
Captain V Brakes: If cable slack can’t be re-
moved at brake levers, reverse the adjustments
in Step 1 above so the cable is as slack as possible. At
captain’s brake loosen the cable clamp bolt (Figure 16) with
a 5-mmAllen wrench while holding brake shoes against the
wheel rim. Pull out cable slack with a pair of pliers. Tighten
the cable clamp bolt to a torque of 44—60 inch/pounds. Re-
peat as necessary.
Stoker Drum/Hub Brake: Remove cable slack with the
slack adjuster, similar to the cable slack adjuster on brake
levers in Step 1 above. The adjuster locknut is arrowA, the
adjuster is arrow B in Figure 17.
Figure 16 - BB102 V Brake
CABLE
CLAMP
BOLT
Figure 15
BAC
D
Figure 17 - BB102 Drum/Hub Brake
BA
Figure 19 - Adjust Roller Brake Cable
Depress brake lever
about 10 times
NOTE: If the brake cable is not run
in, it will need to be adjusted again
after only a short perioed of use.
Cable adjusting bolt
Cable adjusting bolt
Both ends of the
outer casing should
be securely inserted
B
A
Figure 20
B
A
Figure 18 - BB104 Stoker Brake

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HUB CABLE ADJUSTMENT FOR BUDDY BIKE FAMILY
Set the gripshift dial to 4. Check to be sure that the red setting lines on the cassette joint
bracket and pulley are aligned. (Figure 23)
LEARN TO USE QUICK RELEASE DEVICES
There are three or four quick release mechanisms on your Buddy
Bike. On Buddy Bike Family, there is one quick release on the front
wheel and one on each seat post. On Buddy Bike Sport there is one
quick release on each wheel and one on each seat post. They make
it easier to remove and reinstall the wheels and to move seats up and
down to adjust for rider height. For the wheels particularly, it is very
important to understand how to use the quick release, to insure that
the wheel is tightly and safely held in the fork, and that the wheel will
stay in place even if you should hit a bump
or pothole.
A quick release is a cam action device, not
a nut and bolt unit. Use only your fingers
to adjust and tighten the quick release. The
opening and closing lever of the quick release
has an eccentric bump, a cam on it, (Ain Fig-
ure 24) which is, in effect, a powerful lever.
This lever amplifies the turning force made by
your hand as you force the quick release le-
ver to the closed position (Figure 25).
You need to know how to remove and install
the front wheel to fix a flat or to carry the Bud-
dy Bike in your car, and how to reinstall it so
it will not pop out and cause loss of control.
Captain’s Brake ShoeAdjustments: 1) Keep each brake shoe at least 2 mm away from the
tire. The brake shoe must not rub on the tire, only on the rim. Make this adjustment by loosen-
ing the brake shoe clamp bolt, (Ain Figure 20) with a 5-mm Allen wrench, move the shoe up
or down in the brake arm slot, tighten the clamp bolt to 50—70 inch/pounds of torque. 2)Ad-
just brake shoes so they are at least 2 mm away from the wheel rim. Make this adjustment by
loosening the brake cable clamp bolt (Figure 16) with a 5-mm Allen wrench and by moving
the brake cable in or out of the cable clamp bolt. Tighten the bolt to 44—60 inch/pounds.
Stoker’s Brake Shoe Adjustments: Remove cable slack at the brake itself (Figure 17).
Squeeze stoker’s brake lever hard. If the brake lever comes closer than one inch to the
handlebar, take the bike to a pro for brake lining replacement.
Brake Shoe Balance: Keep each brake shoe the same distance from the wheel rim. Use a
2-mm Allen wrench in each brake arm to balance brake shoes for even clearance.
27-Speed Buddy Bike Sport (BB104-AL-27)
Captain Disc Brakes
Before each ride: Check cables for signs of wear or fraying. Squeeze the brake lever firmly
and check for proper brake function.Adjust for pad wear if necessary. Ensure rotors are free
of foreign substances and oils.
Pad break in: It may take anywhere from 20-40 complete stops to break in the brake pads.
You may begin to notice an increase in braking power after the first ride. Brake noise may
occur not only during the break-in period but off and on throughout the life of the brake pads.
Noise is dependent upon factors such as brake setup, rider weight, riding style, braking style
and riding conditions.
Care and cleaning: Extreme care must be taken when cleaning both the bike and its disc
brakes. We suggest that you take your bike to a bike shop mechanic to perform any disc
brake maintenance. Your bike shop mechanic may provide some of these adjustments:
spring tension adjustment, pad wear adjustment and pad replacement.
CAUTION: DO NOT touch the pads or the rotors with your fingers or the pads and rotors may
become contaminated. If you have to touch them for some reason, use powder free latex
gloves. Contamination of the pads and rotors may cause brake noise. To eliminate noise, you
can clean the rotors with rubbing alcohol.
Stoker Rear Standard Brake Caliper
The stoker brake is a standard brake calper on the rear wheel. Use the same maintenance
procedures as mentioned above for adjusting cable tension and brake pad maintenance.
Figure 21 - Front Wheel Disc Brake Figure 22 - Rear Wheel Disc Brake
Figure 24
A
Figure 25
Figure 23
Cable adjusting bolt
Set to 4
Note: This bike is equipped with the
cable adjusting bolt built into the
grip shift. Adjustment is made by
pulling and turning the spring
loaded adjusting bolt until the red
marks are lined up.
When Bicycle is Upside Down When Bicycle is Standing Up
The red set-
ting lines on
the cassette
joint are lo-
cated in two
places. Use
the one that
is easiest to
see.
The red setting lines should be straight The red setting lines should be straight
Pulley
Cassette joint
bracket Cassette joint
bracket
Pulley
Fi 23

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Check Quick Release Tightness
See that the red mark from tightening pressure is on the palm of your hand. Punch down hard
on the tire with the flat of your clenched fist. The wheel should not fall out. Open the quick
release, remove the wheel and inspect the fork dropouts. You should see “bite” marks on
the fork dropout made by the sawtooth edges of the quick release (Figure 29). Repeat these
quick release adjustments and tightening steps until you can see these “indents.” Replace
the cable in the crossbar (Figure 26) as you hold the brake shoes against the wheel rim.
Make sure the brake cable is correctly back in the crossbar slot. Squeeze the brake
lever as tightly as possible. If the lever drops to the handlebars, the cable has popped
out of the slot. Replace it and check again for correct placement.
CAUTION: The brake spring may also have popped off the brake arm (A in Figure 20). If
so, replace it behind the tab on the brake arm, as shown in Figure 20, where arrow A is the
brake spring, arrow B shows the brake arm with brake tab. This caution also applies to the
rear wheel.
7-Speed Buddy Bike Family (BB102-AL)
Remove the Rear Wheel: Shift the chain to the small freewheel cog. Spread brake shoes as
explained above for front wheel removal (Figure 27). Use a 15-mm wrench and loosen both
axle bolts. Lift the chain off the small cog as you remove the wheel.
Install the Rear Wheel: Make sure the axle is all the way into the dropout slots, and that
the wheel is evenly spaced in the bike frame, similar to Figure 28. Tighten the axle bolts to
300—320 inch/pounds.
27-Speed Buddy Bike Sport (BB104-AL-27)
Remove the Rear Wheel: Removal and installation of the rear wheel has a few extra steps
because of the gear cluster. Just like the front wheel, you’ll need to deflate the tire. If you do
not wish to deflate the tire, it will be necessary to loosen the fix bolt (A in Figure 18). Next,
adjust your rear shifter until the chain is on the smallest sprocket. Then loosen the quick
release lever and carefully removed the wheel.
Install the Rear Wheel: To re-install the rear wheel, first place the chain back onto the
smallest sprocket, and then slide the axle evenly up into the rear dropouts. Tighten the quick
release lever the same way as the front wheel, with the lever on the left side of the bike. Make
sure the lever is safely tucked in between both of the left chain stays. Inflate the tire AFTER
it has been installed. Make sure the pads are lined up correctly with the rim and tighten the
fix bolt (A in Figure 18) if you removed it earlier.
Wheel Alignment
Wobbly wheels cut braking power. So keep both wheels running true. Wheels can lose
alignment over time as spokes stretch. Wheel alignment takes special tools and know-how
so have this done by a bike shop.
About Your Tires
Keep tires inflated to the pressure marked on the outer wall of the tire. Lower pressures can
cause a flat and will cause more rolling resistance. Higher pressures can cause a tube to
blow out. Correct pressure assures longest tire life. Repair tube punctures with a self-adher-
ing patch, follow instructions that came with them. Check inside the tire as well as outside to
find and remove what caused the flat.
Here’s how to make sure your wheels are
securely in place.
WHEEL AND TIRE MAINTENANCE
Before every ride make sure the front
wheel is securely clamped in the fork, so it
won’t fall out if you hit a bump. Lift the Bud-
dy Bike up a few inches. Punch down hard
on the front tire with the side of your fist. Do
this even if you rode the Buddy Bike the day
before. You never know when someone has
tampered with, or accidentally turned, the
quick release lever to the OPEN position
that could let the wheel fall out.
To Remove the Front Wheel (Quick Release)
Hold brake shoes against the wheel rim while you pull
the cable carrier up and out of the slot in the cross-
bar (A in Figure 26). Now the brake shoes will be
far enough apart so you can remove the front wheel
(Figure 27). Turn the quick release lever to the OPEN
position (Figure 25) which is when the lever is pointed
toward the front of the Buddy Bike. Remove the front
wheel. Punch down on the tire if necessary.
To Install the Front Wheel (Quick Release)
Replace the front wheel in the fork dropouts. Be sure
the tire is centered between the fork blades (Figure 28). Hold
the wheel in place while you tighten the quick release lever
all the way to the closed position (Figure 25). Check quick
release tightness.As you move the quick release lever toward
the rear of the bike, past the 12 o’clock position you should
feel increasing pressure. You should have a red pressure
mark on the palm of your hand from the force needed to close
this lever all the way. If you do not feel this pressure, readjust
the quick release mechanism as follows:
Adjust the Quick Release
Open the quick release lever past the 12 o’clock position to
around the 4 o’clock more open position. Hold the adjuster nut
with one hand and turn the quick release lever counter clock-
wise as far as possible.
Do not use any tool on
this adjuster nut. Use
only your fingers! Turn
the quick release lever
all the way to the closed
position (Figure 25). Again, you must feel consider-
able turning resistance as the lever moves past the 12
o’clock position to the closed position.
Figure 29
Figure 27
Figure 28
Figure 26
A

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quality time quality bike
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CHAIN MAINTENANCE
Clean the chains every three to six months, more often if you have ridden over sand and dirt,
or through water and mud. You may leave the chain on and clean it using an environmentally
safe chain cleaning product and a brush.
If you use a solvent such as kerosene to clean the chain it would be best to remove the chain
and dunk it into the solvent to avoid splashing the solvent on the tire or brake shoes. To re-
move the chain you will need a chain rivet tool to push a rivet out. It would be best to leave
chain removal to the bike shop professionals.
Inspect the Chain for Wear Every 3 to 6 Months
Check for chain wear by measuring
the distance between chain links
(Figure 30). If the distance between
links exceeds 1/2 inch, replace the
chain. Use the correct replacement
chain; take the old one to a bike
store to be sure. Better yet, have
the shop replace the chain! Shift to
the small front and rear cogs before
removing or replacing the chain. In-
stall a new one, or the cleaned old one, by threading the chain over the chainwheel, then in
front of the top derailleur wheel and in back of the bottom derailleur wheel. Join the chain
with a rivet tool.
Maintain Correct Chain Tension that Connects Captain to Stoker’s Chainrings
Loosen the two 5-mm allen bolts under the stokers bottom bracket. Rotate the offcentric cam
forward so the chain has approximately 1/2” of play up and down. Then tighten the two 5-mm
allen bolts. Check amount of play again after this procedure and adjust until it is correct.
1/2” 1/2” Figure 30
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
A LOCK*
B STEEL WASHER
C RUBBER SEAL
D UPPER CAP
E BEARING
F UPPER CUP (pre-installed on headtube)
G LOWER CUP (pre-installed on headtube)
H BEARING COVER
I ROLLER BEARING
J RUBBER SEAL (pre-installed on rim)
K STAINLESS RIM (pre-installed on fork)
*Lock the top screw first, twist the lower part to lock the headset, lock the bottom screw, unlock the top
screw, twist down and lock the top screw.
HEADSET ASSEMBLY

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BuddBike
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quality time quality bike
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BuddBike
2775 Sunny Isles Boulevard, Suite 118 • North Miami Beach, FL 33160
LIMITED WARRANTY
LIMITED WARRANTY EXCLUSIONS:
A) This warranty covers only the original retail purchaser and is not transferable.
B) This warranty does not include frame, fork or component failure due to or because of im-
proper use, pilot error, misuse, neglect, reckless or negligent riding, improper assembly,
improper maintenance, and professional or amateur racing including but not limited to
bicycle motorcross, stunt bicycling, bicycle trails, single trail mountain biking or similar
activities when in training for the same.
C) This warranty does not cover any personal injuries, damage or failure of the bicycle
if used in any competitive amateur or professional event including but not limited to
bicycle motorcross, stunt bicycling, bicycle trails, single trail mountain biking or similar
activities when in training for the same.
D) This warranty does not include shipping charges to or from Buddy Bike, LLC.
E) This warranty does not cover any personal injuries.
THIS LIMITED WARRANTY IS THE ONLY EXPRESS OR LIMITED WARRANTY APPLI-
CABLE TO THE BUDDY BIKE. THE LIMITED WARRANTY SET FORTH HEREIN MAY NOT
BE EXTENDED, ENLARGED OR OTHERWISE MODIFIED BY ANY BUDDY BIKE DEAL-
ER, AGENT OR EMPLOYEE,AND BUDDY BIKE DOES NOTASSUME ANY LIABILITY OR
MAKE ANY WARRANTY EXCEPT AS STATED IN THIS LIMITED WARRANTY.
PARTS
Buddy Bike will repair or replace, at its option, defective parts for this bicycle at no charge,
for a period of one year after the date of original purchase. Parts subject to normal wear and
tear, including tires, tubes, saddle, pedals and grips are not covered by this one year period.
Parts subject to normal wear and tear which are found to be defective by the purchaser
within 30 days of purchase, including tires, tubes, saddle, pedals and grips will be replaced
by Buddy Bike at no charge. This warranty does not include dealer service charges for parts
replacement or shipping charges to or from Buddy Bike.
FRAME
All Buddy Bike frames and forks are guaranteed to be free from defects in materials and
workmanship for a period of three (3) years from date of original purchase. A frame or fork
found defective in materials or workmanship will be repaired or replaced at Buddy Bike’s
option.
REGISTRATION
Please complete the included registration form and return to Buddy Bike within 60 days of
original purchase.
Buddy Bike, LLC
2775 Sunny Isles Boulevard, Suite 118
North Miami Beach, Florida 33160
ATTN: Warranty Registration
BUDDY BIKE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE
Follow this maintenance schedule to keep your Buddy Bike in safe operating condition.
Please note that we recommend some of this work be performed by a skilled bicycle
mechanic in a bike shop!
MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE
All handlebar bolts Check tightness with torque wrench 4 months See text or bike shop
Bottom bracket Disassemble, clean, relube Yearly Bike shop
Brake cables Check for slack, frayed cable 6 months Bike shop
Brake arms Check mounting bolt tightness 6 months Bike shop
Brake levers Check tightness on handlebars 6 months See text
Brake shoes Inspect for wear, alignment 6 months Bike shop
Chain* Check wear, clean, relube or replace 6 months Bike shop
Chainwheels Clean 4 months Bike shop
Gripshifter Disassemble, clean, relube (special
grease) 4 months Bike shop
Headset Check tightness, disassemble,
relube 9 months Bike shop
Pedals Disassemble, clean, relube 9 months Bike shop
Rear axle nut Check tightness 4 months See text
Tires Check tire pressure Weekly See text
Wheel alignment Check wheels for out of trueness 6 months Bike shop
Wheel hubs Disassemble, clean, relube 6 months Bike shop

2775 Sunny Isles Boulevard, Suite 118
North Miami Beach, Florida 33160
T 786.489.BIKE (2453) • F 305.932.6585
Patent Number 5,503,419
www.buddybike.com
CUSTOMER SERVICE & WARRANTY SUPPORT
Shelley Patterson y786.489.2453 y[email protected]
BIKE ASSEMBLY SUPPORT
Robert Gardner y707.456.0468 y[email protected]
Please practice safe cycling.
For safe cycling information visit our web site:
www.buddybike.com/BikeSafety.html