Freeweel FLEX R-1 User manual
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FREEWEEL EBIKES
FLEX R-1 OWNER’S MANUAL
Thank you for purchasing our ebike. We hope that it will bring you years of riding
pleasure. If you have any comments or concerns, please contact us at
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General Information about Maintaining Your E-bike
Best Practices
● Store your e-bike in a clean dry place to avoid rust.
● Clean and lubricate moving parts regularly.
● Clean your e-bike frame with a wet rag and low residue cleaner. After cleaning lubricate where
necessary.
● Ensure your e-bike tires are always inflated to a pressure within the recommended range printed on
the tire sidewalls.
● Before each ride ensure all electrical wires are connected.
● Your new e-bike is not waterproof. It is likely that components will not sustain damage in most rain
showers, however ebike recommends storing and riding the e-bike in a dry environment. Furthermore,
water damage is not covered under the warranty.
● Your e-bike will need to be serviced at regular intervals and after the initial wear-in period. See the
160 kilometers Tune Up and Ongoing Service sections below.
160 kilometer Tune Up
Your e-bike will need to be serviced after 160KM or 5 full battery charge cycles, whichever comes first. This is what
we call the “wear in period” of the e-bike. Freeweel recommends having service done at your local e-bike shop by a
certified and reputable e-bike mechanic. Below is a summary of things to have inspected:
Brakes
Brake cables will stretch during the wear-in period. This may affect braking performance and the brakes may
need to be adjusted and tension properly.
Hardware
If any hardware has signs of damage take the e-bike to your local e-bike shop to have a certified and
reputable e-bike mechanic inspect and replace them if deemed necessary.
Ongoing Service
You should have your e-bike maintained at regular service intervals at your local e-bike shop by a certified and
reputable e-bike mechanic. Below is a general summary of maintenance that should be carried out on a monthly and
quarterly basis:
Monthly (or about every 400-800 kilometers)
● Inflate tires to a pressure within recommended range printed on tire sidewalls.
● Check that all hardware is tightened and free of damage.
● Clean the e-bike with low residue cleaner and dry completely. Lubricate after cleaning
where necessary.
● Check spoke tension. Adjust if necessary.
Quarterly (or about every 1200-2400 kilometers)
● Check all items on the Monthly service list above.
● Check tire tread for excessive wear. Replace if necessary.
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● Check that electrical connectors and cable housings are secured away from moving parts and are
free from damage. Replace if necessary.
● Go into your local e-bike shop for a tune-up by a certified and reputable e-bike mechanic.
Unboxing
Getting Started
Congratulations on your purchase of a new ebike! Your e-bike comes in the box 85% assembled. The instructions
that follow are intended to serve as a guide in unboxing and getting familiar with your new e-bike. The e-bike may
require adjustments upon being received and unboxed, as shipping can sometimes be bumpy. When doing your
first adjustment and inspecting the e-bike before riding we recommend seeking professional help from a
reputable, certified bicycle mechanic.
What’s in the box:
1. Ebike
2. Charger
3. Multi-purpose bike tool
Before removing the packaging material from the e-bike, remove all items from the box and make sure everything
listed above is present. If anything is missing or damaged contact Freeweel immediately for assistance.
INSTALLING THE FRONT WHEEL
DANGER: Your wheels must be fully seated in the fork’s dropouts and the nuts firmly tightened to
the correct torque to prevent the risk of serious injury.
DANGER: Always check your wheels for secure and firm seating before riding.
NOTE: If you are unsure about the correct wheel installation procedure or the required torque levels,
have your front wheel installed by a specialist bike
shop.
Your bicycle comes with the front wheel disassembled to achieve a smaller box footprint. Make sure you carefully
read these instructions for a successful and safe installation.
Preparation:
Unpack the front wheel and remove the nuts and washers. Get a friend to help you secure the bike whilst installing
the front wheel.
STEP 1:
Insert the front wheel axle in the dropouts of your fork. Make sure it is fully inserted and seated securely
between the two tines of your front fork.
STEP 2:
Insert the metal washers on the outside of both sides of the wheel axle The little
“lip” of the washer sits inside the hole of the dropout, securing it to the fork.
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STEP 3:
Tighten the nut and the quick release nut onto both sides of the wheel axle. When both sides are moderately tight,
close the quick release bar to securely tighten the wheel. If you are not sure of the correct tightness, consult a
local bike shop
NOTE: When installed correctly, the wheel should spin freely without any wobble. If this is not the
case, loosen the quick release nut, reset the axle in the drop-outs and tighten again. Make sure you
have your brakes adjusted correctly and they are not rubbing on the wheel.
INSTALLING THE PEDALS
Attach the correct pedal to each pedal post, paying careful attention to the LEFT and RIGHT markings on
each pedal
Screw in each pedal as far a possible using your hand, then use the include wrench tool to tighten the pedal
securely.
INSTALLING THE SEAT
● Take the seat and insert the seat post into the frame. If it does not slide in easily, loosen the quick release
seat post clamp.
● Ensure your seat post is inserted past their minimum insertion point as indicated by the markings
on it. Failure to insert past the minimum insertion point will place undue stress on these
components increasing the risk of sudden failure potentially resulting in harm, injury, or death.
● Check to see if your seat is positioned at the proper height. Sit on the seat facing forward and place the ball
of your foot on the pedal at its lowest point. Your leg should be mostly straight at this point with a slight
bend at the knee. You should be able to pedal the e-bike without overextending your leg when the pedal is
at its lowest point. Your legs may be overextended if it causes your hips to move side to side, which means
the seat must be lowered. To start, adjust the saddle so your feet can still be placed firmly on the ground.
● To adjust your seat up or down, unlatch the seat post clamp. Move the seat to the desired
height and close the seat post clamp.
● If you need to adjust the angle of your seat, loosen the nut on top side of the seat, move the seat to the
desired angle, then tighten the nuts. The nut’s location is shown below.
INSTALLING THE HANDLE BARS
Unscrew the top cap using the Allen wrench included
Remove the first ring from the post and set it safely aside
Remove the packaging from the handle bars being careful not to scratch the console
Gently slide the handle bars onto the post, so that the post is flush with the inside surface of the handle bars
Replace the cap on top of the post, insert the bolt and tighten with the Allen wrench
Use the Allen wrench to tighten the bolt on the handle bar to affix it firmly to the post
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Battery
Operating your battery
Your e-bike comes with a 36V 9.5Ah lithium ion battery . It is built into the frame of your e-bike and is charged
through the socket on the frame.
Keeping Your Battery Healthy
● If you know you won’t be using the battery for more than a few days keep it charged at about 75%
capacity. At 75%, the battery will degrade less than at higher charge levels.
● Periodically check your batteries charge level about once per month and charge back up to 75% if
necessary.
● If you want to increase the number of cycles your battery will last for, charge your battery to 100% a few
hours before you plan to ride it. For example if you ride the e-bike and the charge level falls to 50% but you
plan to use the e-bike again in a few days, wait until the night before you plan to use it again to charge it up
to 100%. When the battery is not in use this is healthier for the individual cells in the long term.
Charging Your Battery
Locate the charging port on the diagonal bar of the bike frame. Plug in the charger to the charging port.
The battery comes with almost a full charge. You should plug your battery in when you first receive it to ensure it
is fully charged prior to your first ride.
Do not charge the battery with chargers other than the charger provided by Freeweel
Ensure there is no dirt, debris, or flammable items nearby when using the charger.
The charger will automatically stop charging once the battery reaches its full capacity.
The light on the charger will be red when the battery is charging and will turn green when charging has
finished.
Avoid leaving the charger plugged in when the battery is fully charged.
Do not charge the battery if you notice the battery is damaged, excessively hot, leaking, smells, or
is discolored.
Charging the battery should take approximately 4-6 hours if the battery is mostly empty.
The charger may get hot (>73.8℃) when charging. Use caution and avoid touching the
body of the charger.
Removing the Battery
The battery in your e-bike is built in and does not need to be removed under normal circumstances. If the need
arises to remove the battery, follow these steps:
● Remove the cap on the top of the handle bar post with the Allen wrench included
● Remove the handle bars by loosening the bolt on the side of the handle bars
● Pull the handle bars off the post, being careful not to pull the attached wires
● Remove the rings on the handle bar post.
● Slide the post downward off of the e-bike frame
● Remove the front plate with the Allen wrench included. The battery will be visible in the frame tube.
● Pull up the ring on the end of the battery and pull up on the battery until it slides out.
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To replace the battery, follow these steps:
● Make sure you align the grooves on the battery with grooves in the tube of the frame
● Gently slide the battery all the way to the bottom of the tube, making sure it plugs into the contacts at the
bottom
● To reassemble, repeat the steps above.
Lithium Ion batteries can be dangerous. Take care when using and charging your battery. Failure to follow the
above guidelines could result in damage to property and/or serious injury. Contact Freeweel immediately if you
have any questions regarding battery safety.
Handlebar Display – Information and Programming
Your Freeweel Flex R1 is equipped with an integrated digital handlebar display that is multifunctional. The
handlebar’s housing material is made from PC plastic with a working temperature range of -20℃ to 60℃. This
material ensures good mechanical performance of the product.
In the following introduction, is “M”, is “UP” and is “DOWN”.
1. Functions Summary
Functions:
● Battery indication
● Speed indication (Real time, Max and Average)
● Distance indication (Current trip and Total distance);
● Pedal Assist (PAS) level
● Single trip distance reset
● 6km/h Push assistance
● Error Codes
● USB charging
● Customizable parameters such as: Wheel diameter, Speed limit
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Display Content
Flex R1 interface
2. Precautions
Take care when using the display and do not connect/disconnect it while the power is on.
Avoid striking or knocking the display
Do not remove the waterproof film attached to the display as this may impair its waterproofing.
In the case of errors or malfunctions, email support@freeweelcom.
3. Operation
3.1. Power On/Off
Press and hold M for several seconds to toggle the power on or off to both the display and controller. While the
power is off, the display will no longer consume power with a leakage current is less than 1uA.
The bike will be shut down automatically if it is left idle for 10 minutes.
3.2. Selecting Speed Mode (Speed/Trip/ODO)
On turning on the display the default mode is current speed. Pressing M will cycle through the other modes in the
order of: current speed→Single trip→ODO. If the current speed is over 0 km/h, after 2 seconds the mode will return
to Current speed.
Speed
Single（TRIP）
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ODO
3.3. Push Assistance 6km/h
Press and hold DOWN to enable the push assistance mode. The motor will cause the bike to travel at 6km/h.
6km/h illustration
3.4. Pedal Assist (PAS) Level
Press UP and DOWN to alter the PAS level, changing the output power of the motor. The range of PAS levels is
1-5.
Level 1 is being the lowest and level 5 the highest. The default level is level 1.
Level 1 Level 3
3.5. Battery Indication
When the battery is full, all five segments of the battery will be illuminated. When the battery is critically low, the
battery will have no segments and will flash.
Full Low power/Under voltage Empty
3.6. USB Charging
There is a USB port on back of the display that can be used for charging mobile phones and other electronics. The
standard output voltage is 5V with a max current of 500mA.
The USB port will continue to function even when the display is powered off, so long as the battery is still charged.
While charging the red led at the bottom of the screen will flash. While powered on press M and D to enter into
charging mode. When charging is completed, this function will exit automatically.
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Charging interface
3.7. Error codes
When the system encounters an error, the display would show the relevant error code. Only once the problem/s has
been resolved will the display return to normal functionality. The e-Bike will cease functioning so long as an error
code is shown.
Error codes
Error
code meaning solutions
21 Abnormal
Current
Check if the phase of motor is short
circuiting
22 Abnormal
Throttle
Check that the throttle is not in it’s active
state
23 No-phase state
Check if the phase wire is normal
Check if the cable is firmly connected with
controllers
24 Abnormal Hall
signal
Controllers without hall sensors: Check
that the phase wire is normal
Controller with hall sensors: check if the
hall wire is normal
25 Abnormal Brake Check that the brake is not being applied
30 Abnormal
Communication
Check if the display and controller are
connected properly
4. Settings
While powered on, press and hold U and D for 2 seconds to enter into the settings. Press M to exit.
4.1. Wheel size and speed limit
The first setting is the speed limit. Pressing U or D to select a value and press M to set it. Pressing M will also move to
the next setting in the following order: Speed limit (km/h) → Wheel size(inch)→ Speed limit.
Optional settings of wheel sizes include: 16 inch、18 inch、20 inch、22 inch、24 inch、26 inch、700C，28 inch.
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The default value is 26inch.Please press UP and DOWN to change the wheel size and then press MODE to confirm,
entering into next setting.
Wheel size setting
Speed limit setting will set the Max speed of the bike. When the bike exceeds the setting speed, the controller will
stop the outputting of the motor to protect the riders. The optional speed setting range from 12Km/h to 40Km/h.
The default Max speed is 25Km/h. Please press UP and DOWN to change the value, then pressing Mode to confirm,
entering into next setting.
Speed limit
Operating your new ebike
Tips When Riding To Increase Range
To get the maximum range out of your e-bike there are some simple things you can do:
● Ride in a lower level of pedal assist
● Use lower assist levels and pedal when climbing hills
● Pedal when starting from a standstill
● Set your max speed lower than 20 kmph on the display
Safety
Helmets and Local Laws
Always wear a helmet when riding your ebike. Ensure that the helmet fits your head and is securely tightened
down. Before riding, read local laws and comply with all rules relating to cycling and eBiking in your area. If you
attach a seat for children to the e-bike they must also be wearing a properly fitted helmet at all times.
Pre-ride Safety Check and Inspection
Before each ride make sure to inspect your ebike to ensure there are no loose fasteners or accessories. Make sure
to specifically check that both the front and rear axles are secure. Also make sure both the handlebars and the
handlebar stem are not loose. Check the tire pressure of both wheels before riding to ensure the tires are inflated to
the recommended pressure printed on the side of the tire walls. Pull the brake levers to make sure your brakes are
working properly and adjust if necessary. Ensure both your seat post and handlebar stem are inserted past their
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minimum insertions points as indicated by the markings on them. Make sure that both the handlebar latch and
frame latch are fully closed and locked.
Riding in Wet Conditions
This electric bicycle can withstand light rain and small splashes, but is not designed to be subjected to
inclement weather, heavy showers, or submersion in water. Use caution when riding in wet conditions as it
will take longer to use the brakes to slow down, and also when turning as the tires may slip. The electrical
components on the e-bike are not waterproof, and water damage is not covered under warranty.
Riding at Night
Riding at night comes with more risks than riding during the day due to decreased visibility so riders are
encouraged to exercise increased caution. Before riding at night make sure that reflectors are installed on your
ebike. As this ebike is simple so difficult to install the light, so we suggest that Riders should wear a headlight on
their head or bright colored clothing at night or avoid to riding at night.
Max Weight
The e-bike can safely carry a total weight of 100 KG / 220 Ibs.
Failure to adhere to these weight limits may invalidate your warranty, cause damage to the e-bike or rack, or cause
serious injury to the rider. Note range and top speed will be affected by total weight being carried by the e-bike.
RETURNS
The Product may be returned within 14 days of delivered date in unused and unopened condition. The Customer is
responsible for returning the item in its original packaging. The Customer is responsible for return shipping fees, and
these will be withheld from the total refund amount. A 10% restocking fee will be withheld from the refund. The
Customer will be responsible for any damages during the return process due to their negligence resulting in a
deduction in the total refund.
Refunds will be issued within 7-10 business days from the time the returned item is received. In order to initiate a
return, contact support@freeweel.com within 14 days of delivered date. Parts, accessories, and batteries do not
qualify for returns.
INSPECTION AND COMPLAINTS
The Customer shall be obliged to carefully inspect the Products immediately upon arrival at their destination.
Freeweel must be informed in writing to support@freeweel.com of any complaints in respect of defects to the
Products or any discrepancies in quantity, weight or quality between the Products supplied and the specification
thereof in the relevant order confirmation or invoice no later than within three (3) calendar days after the receipt of
the Products. The notification of the Customer must give a clear and precise description of the complaints in respect
of defects invoked by the Customer, including photographs. The Customer must notify Freeweel of defects that could
not in reason have been discovered within the above mentioned period in writing immediately after discovery, but in
any case no later than within 7 (seven) calendar days of the receipt of the Products. Should the Customer fail to
inform Freeweel within the above mentioned term, its rights to exercise any of its rights with regard to such
irregularity or defect have lapsed.
The Customer shall be obliged to immediately cease the use of the Products concerned after discovering any
irregularity or defect, under penalty of lapse of the right to exercise any of its rights with regard to such irregularity or
defect. The Customer shall provide any cooperation Freeweel may require in order to investigate the complaint. If
damage has occurred due to shipping, Customer is advised to also initiate a claim with the shipping company.
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The Customer shall not be entitled to return Products to Freeweel before Freeweel has agreed in writing to such
return.
WARRANTY
Freeweel guarantees each new Freeweel e-bike frame against defects in workmanship and materials for one (1) year
from the date of delivery. All original components are guaranteed for a period of one (1) year from the date of
delivery.
This warranty is expressly limited to the replacement of a defective frame, or defective parts and is the sole remedy
of the warranty. This warranty applies to the original owner and is non-transferable.
Claims under the warranty must be made directly to your point of purchase in your country, whereby proof of the
purchase is required.
This warranty does not cover normal wear and tear, improper assembly or follow-up maintenance, or installation of
parts or accessories. The warranty does not apply to damage or failure due to accident, misuse, abuse, or neglect.
Modification of the frame or components shall void this warranty. The warranty shall not apply in case of a copy,
modification, reverse engineering, disassembly of or otherwise tampering with the Product, its components and/or
the Services. Freeweel is not responsible for incidental or consequential damages. This warranty does not affect the
statutory rights of the Customer.
e-bike Performance Disclaimer
The e-bikes listed range and top speed are estimates (not guarantees) of expected performance. Performance will
vary with rider weight, cargo weight, rider /cargo shape (both contribute to drag), terrain, tire pressure, brake
adjustment, throttle vs PAS usage, pedal power, battery charge level, ambient temperature and wind conditions.
Under certain conditions it is possible to get ranges and top speeds that are different from the listed estimates.
Liability Disclaimer
Riding any kind of bicycle comes with inherent risks and dangers that cannot be predicted or avoided. These
dangers could result in a serious accident, injury, or death of the rider. It is the sole responsibility of the rider to
become properly educated and prepared to ride safely. Once in possession of the e-bike, we strongly encourages
and recommends that all customers have a certified and reputable bicycle mechanic complete a full inspection of
each component on the bicycle to ensure it is safe for operation. We makes no claims or guarantees that the
brakes, battery, frame, motor, motor controller, LCD display, electrical cables, electrical cable housings, fasteners,
grips, fork, stem, headset, seat post, seat post clamp, handlebar stem clamp, saddle, wheel hubs, handlebars,
spokes, rims, tires, tubes, derailleur, freewheel, cassette, throttle, kickstand, lights, reflectors, hardware, bottom
bracket, or any other part or accessory, will be properly secured and adjusted upon arrival. Before every ride fully
inspect your bicycle to ensure everything is secured and adjusted properly.
Under no circumstances is our responsible for any damage resulting from damaged, defective, or improperly
secured parts. This includes, but is not limited to, damage to personal property, personal injury, or death.
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