Faraday Porteur User manual
QUICKSTART GUIDE
Hello! Welcome to Faraday. You are the proud new owner of the ultimate electric propelled utility bicycle.
Here at Faraday our mission is to enable you to do more than you ever thought possible on a bike. We
designed the Faraday Porteur just for you, to let you smile a whole lot more, and drive your car a whole
lot less. Sounds good, right? Whether you ride your Faraday to the oce, to the park, to the store, or just
around town with friends, we’re confident you’ll be amazed at what happens when you add a little BOOST
to a beautiful, hand-made bicycle. Get ready to fall in love with your bike all over again.
In the next few pages we’ll cover a few basics that will teach you just about everything you need to know
about your Faraday. Grab your helmet and your favorite sunglasses and let’s go for a spin.
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ELECTRIC. PERFECTED.
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FARADAY 101
Getting to know your Porteur
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selector
shifter
power button
rear light
charge port
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saddle
battery location
belt drive
controller
front light
front rack
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internal hub
motor
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Frame. The Porteur is built on a high quality, handmade, chromoly steel frame.
LED Lights (front and rear). No need to worry about turning them on or o, these super-
ecient lights are always on for your safety, day and night (even when the bike’s battery is
depleted). To adjust the angle of the front light, simply loosen the bolt on the side.
Kickstand. We’ll be totally honest - the Porteur’s unique double kickstand is the trickiest part
of the bike for first-timers to figure out. Here’s the secret to getting it right every time. To
easily raise/lower the kickstand, simply place your hand under the saddle and raise the rear
wheel of the bike o the ground - then give the stand a kick. Just like that - you’re a pro.
Charge port. Many people will ask if your Porteur regenerates power. The easy answer is no -
charging the battery is as simple as plugging your Faraday into any standard outlet. We ship
your bike with two chargers - one for home, plus a spare for your oce/gym/backpack/etc.
A full charge will take under three hours. More info on charging on the next page.
Power O/On. The power button is located on the controller. To power ON, push the button
once and wait a few seconds for the blue and red lights to come on. To power OFF, press
and hold the button for about three seconds, until the lights turn o. The bike will power o
automatically after about 10 minutes of non-use. The motor and lights will only function when
the power is ON.
Selector (left handlebar). The Selector controlls the bike’s pedal assist, and has 3 modes;
OFF, STANDARD, and BOOST. OFF is indicated by the open circle, STANDARD by the small
circle and BOOST by the larger circle. The E-Ink screen on the selector (“fuel gauge”) will let
you know how much battery is left. A full charge will provide 15-20+ miles of assist. Pro Trick:
anytime you’re o the bike, click the selector to OFF mode so you won’t accidentally trigger
the motor.
Gear shifter (right handlebar). The Porteur comes with a Shimano Alfine 8 speed shifter (8 is
the highest/hardest gear and 1 is the easies/lowest gear). The gears are located inside the rear
hub, which means you’ll be able to shift anytime - whether at a standstill or while pedaling.
Belt Drive. The Gates Belt Drive is a wonderful alternative to a traditional chain that requires
no grease or adjustment. Go ahead, wear those white pants. It’s a perfect fit for the stylish
commuter in all of us.
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Know how to ride a bike? Great! ... you’re 99% of the way there. We designed the Porteur to look and feel
just like a regular city bike - it’s simply the best city bike you’ll ever own. Master these easy steps and you’re
ready to own the road.
QUICKSTART
1. Put on your helmet. Safety first!
2. Adjust your seat height. Using a 5mm allen (hex) wrench, adjust the saddle to a comfortable height.
Make sure to leave at least 3 inches of seatpost inserted into the frame. If your saddle is either too short
or too long, contact Faraday and we’ll help you out.
3. Lower the kickstand. Remember what we said before ... it’s all about lifting the rear wheel. Hold the bike
by the saddle, give the rear wheel a lift, kick the kickstand up, and you’re good to go. Hold, lift, kick.
You’re a natural!
4. Power ON. Press the power button on the rear of the controller housing once - no need to hold it down.
The lights will turn on in a few seconds. You’re ready to ride!
5. Using the Selector. Use the selector to turn the pedal assist ON or OFF, and switch from STANDARD to
BOOST mode. Turning the selector to OFF will provide no motor power, but allow you to use the bike’s
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lights. Remember that with pedal assist, the motor only provides power while you’re pedaling. There is no
throttle. Experiment with dierent assist modes while you ride to customize your experience - everyone’s
style is dierent. Warning: BOOST mode is REALLY fun!
6. Pedal away! You’re o! Go enjoy your first spin on your Faraday - you might want to warn your friends
and family that you won’t be back for a while. Don’t be ashamed to smile from ear to ear while you ride,
and remember, it’s only cheating if you’re driving :)
7. Power OFF. All done? Press and hold the power button for three seconds to put your Faraday to sleep.
8. Don’t forget to charge. The heart and soul of your Faraday is an intelligent lithium-ion battery built into
the frame. Unlike older batteries, there is no need to fully deplete the battery before recharging - you can
recharge anytime. In fact, we recommend recharging as often as possible. To charge your Faraday, simply
plug one end of the provided charger into a standard wall outlet, and the other end into the charge port
on the controller housing. Within a few seconds, the circle of rear LED’s will begin to spin, indicating that
the battery is charging. When the battery is full, all six rear LED’s will switch from spinning to solid ON.
You may leave your Faraday plugged in, or remove the charge plug by holding down the mechanical latch
on the plug and pulling it out of the charge port. A complete charge will take under three hours.
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Important:
Even when turned o, your battery will naturally discharge at a very, very slow rate. If you know you
won’t be riding for a month or more (for instance, during the winter, or if your Faraday is put in storage),
make sure to fully charge your battery before leaving your Faraday unattended. A fully charged battery
should easily hold a charge for six months or longer.
9. Basic troubleshooting. Just like your smartphone or tablet, your Faraday is, essentially, a computer (on
wheels!). Much like your computer or phone, your bike may occasionally need a re-start. In the unlikely
event that you experience unusual behavior with your bike, we recommend simply cycling the power by
holding down the Power button for three seconds to turn OFF, then re-starting. If the trouble persists,
please contact Faraday at riders@faradaybikes.com and we’ll get you back on the road as quickly
as possible.
10. Stay in touch! You’re ready to roll! Hit the road and enjoy it, you’re about to look at cycling in a whole
new light. We just have one last request - stay in touch! We’d love to hear all about your experiences
and adventures with your Faraday. You can reach us on our social channels:
@faradaybikes faradaybikes facebook.com/faradaybikes riders@faradaybikes.com
HAPPY RIDING!
Photo by: Blake Marvin
FARADAYBIKES.COM
