Giant Bicycles User manual

VERSION 8.0

WELCOME, AND CONGRATULATIONS
on your purchase of a new Giant bicycle; the fun of pedaling your new
Giant bicycle is only moments away.
Safety First.
We strongly encourage you to read through the owner’s manual be-
fore you take your new Giant bicycle for a spin. By doing so you will
have a greater understanding for the general operation of the various
components found on your new bike. You will learn many of the com-
ponents you once recognized as part of a bicycle have changed sig-
nicantly. Safe riding instructions are equally important and shouldn’t
be overlooked. So even if you are an experienced cyclist, please take
a moment to read through this manual before you ride.
Sharing the Joy of the Ride.
Nothing makes us happier than seeing people out riding bikes. For
over thirty years Giant has manufactured quality bicycles for every
type of terrain and rider imaginable. Giant bicycles have allowed mil-
lions of cyclists just like you the opportunity to live happier, healthier
lives because of the joy, exercise, and sheer exhilaration riding a bicy-
cle brings. And it’s this commitment to sharing the joy of the ride that
inspires us to continually offer the world’s most innovative bicycles.
Learn More.
We encourage you to get connected and learn more about proper
riding and safety through your local Authorized Giant Retailer. The
independent bike shop retailers are the best in the nation at provid-
ing sales and service for any and all your bicycle related needs. It’s
the only place you’ll nd knowledgeable staff ready to assist you with
everything you’ll need to get the most out of your bike and your ride.
Enjoy.

Contents
GENERAL WARNING p. 1
A special note to parents p. 2
1. First
A. Bike t p. 3
B. Safety rst p. 3
C. Mechanical Safety Check p. 4
D. First ride p. 5
2. Safety
A. The Basics p. 6
B. Riding Safety p. 7
C. Off Road Safety p. 8
D. Wet Weather Riding p. 8
E. Night Riding p. 9
F. Extreme, stunt or competition riding p. 10
G. Changing Components or Adding Accessories p. 11
3. Fit
A. Standover height p. 12
B. Saddle position p. 12
C. Handlebar height and angle p. 14
D. Control Position Adjustments p. 14
E. Brake reach p. 15
4. Tech
A. Wheels p. 15
1. Wheel Quick Release p. 15
2. Removing and Installing Quick Release Wheels p. 17
3. Removing and Installing Bolt-On Wheels p. 19
B. Seatpost Quick Release p. 20
C. Brakes p. 21
D. Shifting gears p. 23
E. Pedals p. 25
F. Bicycle Suspension p. 27
G. Tires and Tubes p. 28
5. Service
A. Service Intervals p. 29
B. If your bycicle sustains an impact p. 32
Appendix A: Lifespan of your bike and its components p. 33
6. Dealer/Warranty
A. About Your Dealer p. 39
B. Warranty Information p. 40
NOTE:
This manual is not intended as a comprehensive use, service, repair or mainten-ance
manual. Please see your dealer for all service, repairs or maintenance. Your dealer
may also be able to refer you to classes, clinics or books on bicycle use, service,
repair or maintenance.

1
GENERAL WARNING:
Like any sport, bicycling involves risk of injury and damage. By choosing
to ride a bicycle, you assume the responsibility for that risk, so you need to
know — and to practice — the rules of safe and responsible riding and of
proper use and maintenance. Proper use and maintenance of your bicycle
reduces risk of injury.
This Manual contains many “Warnings” and “Cautions” concerning the
consequences of failure to maintain or inspect your bicycle and of failure to
follow safe cycling practices.
• The combination of the safety alert symbol and the word WARNING
indicates a potentially hazardous situation which, if not avoided, could result
in serious injury or death.
• The combination of the safety alert symbol and the word CAUTION
indicates a potentially hazardous situation which, if not avoided, may result in
minor or moderate injury, or is an alert against unsafe practices.
• The word CAUTION used without the safety alert symbol indicates a
situation which, if not avoided, could result in serious damage to the bicycle
or the voiding of your warranty.
Many of the Warnings and Cautions say “you may lose control and fall”.
Because any fall can result in serious injury or even death, we do not always
repeat the warning of possible injury or death.
Because it is impossible to anticipate every situation or condition which
can occur while riding, this Manual makes no representation about the safe
use of the bicycle under all conditions. There are risks associated with the
use of any bicycle which cannot be predicted or avoided, and which are the
sole responsibility of the rider.
IMPORTANT:
This manual contains important safety, performance and service
information. Read it before you take the rst ride on your new bicycle, and
keep it for reference.
Additional safety, performance and service information for specic
components such as suspension or pedals on your bicycle, or for accessories
such as helmets or lights that you purchase, may also be available. Make
sure that your dealer has given you all the manufacturers’ literature that was
included with your bicycle or accessories.
If you have any questions or do not understand something, take
responsibility for your safety and consult with your dealer or the bicycle’s
manufacturer.

2
A special note for parents:
As a parent or guardian, you are responsible for the activities and safety
of your minor child, and that includes making sure that the bicycle is properly
tted to the child; that it is in good repair and safe operating condition; that
you and your child have learned and understand the safe operation of the
bicycle; and that you and your child have learned, understand and obey
not only the applicable local motor vehicle, bicycle and trafc laws, but also
the common sense rules of safe and responsible bicycling. As a parent, you
should read this manual, as well as review its warnings and the bicycle’s
functions and operating procedures with your child, before letting your child
ride the bicycle.
WARNING: Make sure that your child always wears an approved
bicycle helmet when riding; but also make sure that your child understands
that a bicycle helmet is for bicycling only, and must be removed when
not riding. A helmet must not be worn while playing, in play areas, on
playground equipment, while climbing trees, or at any time while not riding
a bicycle. Failure to follow this warning could result in serious injury or
death.

3
1. First
NOTE: We strongly urge you to read this Manual in its entirety before your
rst ride. At the very least, read and make sure that you understand each
point in this section, and refer to the cited sections on any issue which you
don’t completely understand. Please note that not all bicycles have all of the
features described in this Manual. Ask your dealer to point out the features of
your bicycle.
A. Bike t
1. Is your bike the right size? To check, see Section 3.A. If your bicycle is
too large or too small for you, you may lose control and fall. If your new bike
is not the right size, ask your dealer to exchange it before you ride it.
2. Is the saddle at the right height? To check, see Section 3.B. If you adjust
your saddle height, follow the Minimum Insertion instructions in Section 3.B.
3. Are saddle and seatpost securely clamped? A correctly tightened
saddle will allow no saddle movement in any direction. See Section 3.B.
4. Are the stem and handlebars at the right height for you? If not, see
Section 3.C.
6. Can you comfortably operate the brakes? If not, you may be able to
adjust their angle and reach. See Section 3.D and 3.E.
6. Do you fully understand how to operate your new bicycle? If not, before
your rst ride, have your dealer explain any functions or features which you
do not understand.
B. Safety rst
1. Always wear an approved helmet when riding your bike, and follow the
helmet manufacturer’s instructions for t, use and care.
2. Do you have all the other required and recommended safety
equipment? See Section 2. It’s your responsibility to familiarize yourself with
the laws of the areas where you ride, and to comply with all applicable laws.
3. Do you know how to correctly operate your wheel quick releases?
Check Section 4.A.1 to make sure. Riding with an improperly adjusted wheel
quick release can cause the wheel to wobble or disengage from the bicycle,
and cause serious injury or death.
4. If your bike has toeclips and straps or clipless (“step-in”) pedals, make
sure you know how they work (see Section 4.E). These pedals require special
techniques and skills. Follow the pedal manufacturer’s instructions for use,
adjustment and care.
5. Do you have “toe overlap”? On smaller framed bicycles your toe or
toeclip may be able to contact the front wheel when a pedal is all the way
forward and the wheel is turned. Read Section 4.E. to check whether you
have toeclip overlap.
6. Does your bike have suspension? If so, check Section 4.F.
Suspension can change the way a bicycle performs. Follow the suspension
manufacturer’s instructions for use, adjustment and care.

4
C. Mechanical Safety Check
Routinely check the condition of your bicycle before every ride.
Nuts, bolts screws & other fasteners: Because manufacturers use a wide
variety of fastener sizes and shapes made in a variety of materials, often
differing by model and component, it is not possible for this Manual to specify
correct torque (tightening force) for the fasteners on your bicycle. We can tell
you the importance of correct torque, but not the specic torque required for
each fastener on your bicycle. To correctly torque a fastener, a torque wrench
must be used. A professional bicycle mechanic with a torque wrench should
torque the fasteners on you bicycle. If you choose to work on your own
bicycle you must get correct tightening torque specications from the bicycle
or component manufacturer or from your dealer. If you need to make an
adjustment at home or in the eld, we urge you to exercise care, and to have
the fasteners you worked on checked by your dealer as soon as possible.
WARNING: Correct tightening force on fasteners –nuts, bolts, screws–
on your bicycle is important. Too little force, and the fastener may not hold
securely. Too much force, and the fastener can strip threads, stretch, deform
or break. Either way, incorrect tightening force can result in component
failure, which can cause you to loose control and fall.
Make sure nothing is loose. Lift the front wheel off the ground by two or
three inches, then let it bounce on the ground. Anything sound, feel or look
loose? Do a visual and tactile inspection of the whole bike. Any loose parts
or accessories? If so, secure them. If you’re not sure, ask someone with
experience to check.
Tires & Wheels: Make sure tires are correctly inated (see Section 4.G.1).
Check by putting one hand on the saddle, one on the intersection of the
handlebars and stem, then bouncing your weight on the bike while looking at
tire deection. Compare what you see with how it looks when you know the
tires are correctly inated; and adjust if necessary.
Tires in good shape? Spin each wheel slowly and look for cuts in the tread
and sidewall. Replace damaged tires before riding the bike.
Wheels true? Spin each wheel and check for brake clearance and side-to-
side wobble. If a wheel wobbles side to side even slightly, or rubs against or
hits the brake pads, take the bike to a qualied bike shop to have the wheel
trued.
CAUTION: Wheels must be true for the brakes to work effectively.
Wheel truing is a skill which requires special tools and experience. Do not
attempt to true a wheel unless you have the knowledge, experience and
tools needed to do the job correctly.
Wheel rims clean and undamaged? Make sure the rims are clean and
undamaged along the braking surface, and check for excess rim wear.
Brakes: Check the brakes for proper operation (see Sections 4.C).
Squeeze the brake levers. Are the brake quick-releases closed? All control
cables seated and securely engaged? Do the brake pads contact the wheel
rim squarely and make full contact with the rim? Do the brake pads touch the

5
wheel rim within an inch of brake lever movement? Can you apply full braking
force at the levers without having them touch the handlebar? If not, your
brakes need adjustment. Do not ride the bike until the brakes are properly
adjusted by a professional bicycle mechanic.
Quick Releases: Make sure the front wheel, rear wheel and seat post quick
releases are properly adjusted and in the locked position. See Section 4.A
and 4.B.
Handlebar and saddle alignment: Make sure the saddle and handlebar
stem are parallel to the bike’s center line and clamped tight enough so that
you can’t twist them out of alignment. See Sections 3.B and 3.C.
Handlebar ends: Make sure the handlebar grips are secure and in good
condition. If not, have your dealer replace them. Make sure the handlebar
ends and extensions are plugged. If not, have your dealer plug them before
you ride. If the handlebars have bar end extensions, make sure they are
clamped tight enough so you can’t twist them.
WARNING: Loose or damaged handlebar grips or extensions can cause
you to lose control and fall. Unplugged handlebars or extensions can cut
you and cause serious injury in an otherwise minor accident.
VERY IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTE:
Please also read and become thoroughly familiar with the important
information on the lifespan of your bicycle and its components in Appendix
A on Page 33.
D. First ride
When you buckle on your helmet and go for your rst familiarization ride
on your new bicycle, be sure to pick a controlled environment, away from
cars, other cyclists, obstacles or other hazards. Ride to become familiar with
the controls, features and performance of your new bike.
Familiarize yourself with the braking action of the bike (see Section 4.C).
Test the brakes at slow speed, putting your weight toward the rear and gently
applying the brakes, rear brake rst. Sudden or excessive application of the
front brake could pitch you over the handlebars. Applying brakes too hard
can lock up a wheel, which could cause you to lose control and fall. Skidding
is an example of what can happen when a wheel locks up.
If your bicycle has toeclips or clipless pedals, practice getting in and out
of the pedals. See paragraph B.4 above and Section 4.E.4.
If your bike has suspension, familiarize yourself with how the suspension
responds to brake application and rider weight shifts. See paragraph B.6
above and Section 4.F.
Practice shifting the gears (see Section 4.D). Remember to never move
the shifter while pedaling backward, nor pedal backwards immediately
after having moved the shifter. This could jam the chain and cause serious
damage to the bicycle.
Check out the handling and response of the bike; and check the comfort.
If you have any questions, or if you feel anything about the bike is not as it
should be, consult your dealer before your next ride.

6
2. Safety
A. The Basics
WARNING: Many states require specic safety devices. It is your
responsibility to familiarize yourself with the laws of the state where you
ride and to comply with all applicable laws, including properly equipping
yourself and your bike as the law requires.
Observe all local bicycle laws and regulations. Observe regulations about
bicycle lighting, licensing of bicycles, riding on sidewalks, laws regulating
bike path and trail use, helmet laws, child carrier laws, special bicycle
trafc laws. It’s your responsibility to know and obey the laws.
1. Always wear a cycling helmet which meets the latest certication standards
and is appropriate for the type of riding you do. Always follow the helmet
manufacturer’s instructions for t, use and care of your helmet. Most serious
bicycle injuries involve head injuries which might have been avoided if the
rider had worn an appropriate helmet.
WARNING: Failure to wear a helmet when riding may
result in serious injury or death.
2. Always do the Mechanical Safety Check (Section 1.C)
before you get on a bike.
3. Be thoroughly familiar with the controls of your bicycle:
brakes (Section 4.C.); pedals (Section 4.E.); shifting (Section 4.D.)
4. Be careful to keep body parts and other objects away from the sharp
teeth of chainrings, the moving chain, the turning pedals and cranks, and the
spinning wheels of your bicycle.
5. Always wear:
• Shoes that will stay on your feet and will grip the pedals. Make sure
that shoe laces cannot get into moving parts, and never ride barefoot or in
sandals.
• Bright, visible clothing that is not so loose that it can be tangled in
the bicycle or snagged by objects at the side of the road or trail.
• Protective eyewear, to protect against airborne dirt, dust and bugs
— tinted when the sun is bright, clear when it’s not.
6. Don’t jump with your bike. Jumping a bike, particularly a BMX or
mountain bike, can be fun; but it can put huge and unpredictable stress on
the bicycle and its components. Riders who insist on jumping their bikes
risk serious damage, to their bicycles as well as to themselves. Before you
attempt to jump, do stunt riding or race with your bike, read and understand
Section 2.F.
7. Ride at a speed appropriate for conditions. Increased speed means
higher risk.
Fig.1

7
B. Riding Safety
1. You are sharing the road or the path with others — motorists, pedestrians
and other cyclists. Respect their rights.
2. Ride defensively. Always assume that others do not see you.
3. Look ahead, and be ready to avoid:
• Vehicles slowing or turning, entering the road or your lane ahead of
you, or coming up behind you.
• Parked car doors opening.
• Pedestrians stepping out.
• Children or pets playing near the road.
• Pot holes, sewer grating, railroad tracks, expansion joints, road or
sidewalk construction, debris and other obstructions that could cause you to
swerve into trafc, catch your wheel or cause you to have an accident.
• The many other hazards and distractions which can occur on a bicycle
ride.
4. Ride in designated bike lanes, on designated bike paths or as close to
the edge of the road as possible, in the direction of trafc ow or as directed
by local governing laws.
5. Stop at stop signs and trafc lights; slow down and look both ways at
street intersections. Remember that a bicycle always loses in a collision with
a motor vehicle, so be prepared to yield even if you have the right of way.
6. Use approved hand signals for turning and stopping.
7. Never ride with headphones. They mask trafc sounds and emergency
vehicle sirens, distract you from concentrating on what’s going on around you,
and their wires can tangle in the moving parts of the bicycle, causing you to
lose control.
8. Never carry a passenger, unless it is a small child wearing an approved
helmet and secured in a correctly mounted child carrier or a child-carrying
trailer.
9. Never carry anything which obstructs your vision or your complete
control of the bicycle, or which could become entangled in the moving parts
of the bicycle.
10. Never hitch a ride by holding on to another vehicle.
11. Don’t do stunts, wheelies or jumps. If you intend to do stunts, wheelies,
jumps or go racing with your bike despite our advice not to, read Section 2.F,
Downhill, Stunt or Competition Biking, now. Think carefully about your skills
before deciding to take the large risks that go with this kind of riding.
12. Don’t weave through trafc or make any moves that may surprise
people with whom you are sharing the road.
13. Observe and yield the right of way.
14. Never ride your bicycle while under the inuence of alcohol or drugs.
15. If possible, avoid riding in bad weather, when visibility is obscured, at
dawn, dusk or in the dark, or when extremely tired. Each of these conditions
increases the risk of accident.

8
C. Off Road Safety
We recommend that children not ride on rough terrain unless they are
accompanied by an adult.
1. The variable conditions and hazards of off-road riding require close
attention and specic skills. Start slowly on easier terrain and build up your
skills. If your bike has suspension, the increased speed you may develop also
increases your risk of losing control and falling. Get to know how to handle
your bike safely before trying increased speed or more difcult terrain.
2. Wear safety gear appropriate to the kind of riding you plan to do.
3. Don’t ride alone in remote areas. Even when riding with others, make
sure that someone knows where you’re going and when you expect to be
back.
4. Always take along some kind of identication, so that people know who
you are in case of an accident; and take along a couple of dollars in cash for
a candy bar, a cool drink or an emergency phone call.
5. Yield right of way to pedestrians and animals. Ride in a way that does
not frighten or endanger them, and give them enough room so that their
unexpected moves don’t endanger you.
6. Be prepared. If something goes wrong while you’re riding off-road, help
may not be close.
7. Before you attempt to jump, do stunt riding or race with your bike, read
and understand Section 2.F.
Off Road respect
Obey the local laws regulating where and how you can ride off-road, and
respect private property. You may be sharing the trail with others — hikers,
equestrians, other cyclists. Respect their rights. Stay on the designated trail.
Don’t contribute to erosion by riding in mud or with unnecessary sliding.
Don’t disturb the ecosystem by cutting your own trail or shortcut through
vegetation or streams. It is your responsibility to minimize your impact on the
environment. Leave things as you found them; and always take out everything
you brought in.
D. Wet Weather Riding
WARNING: Wet weather impairs traction, braking and visibility, both for
the bicyclist and for other vehicles sharing the road. The risk of an accident
is dramatically increased in wet conditions.
Under wet conditions, the stopping power of your brakes (as well as the
brakes of other vehicles sharing the road) is dramatically reduced and your
tires don’t grip nearly as well. This makes it harder to control speed and
easier to lose control. To make sure that you can slow down and stop safely
in wet conditions, ride more slowly and apply your brakes earlier and more
gradually than you would under normal, dry conditions. See also Section 4.C.

9
E. Night Riding
Riding a bicycle at night is many times more dangerous than riding during
the day. A bicyclist is very difcult for motorists and pedestrians to see.
Therefore, children should never ride at dawn, at dusk or at night. Adults
who chose to accept the greatly increased risk of riding at dawn, at dusk
or at night need to take extra care both riding and choosing specialized
equipment which helps reduce that risk. Consult your dealer about night
riding safety equipment.
WARNING: Reectors are not a substitute for required lights. Riding
at dawn, at dusk, at night or at other times of poor visibility without an
adequate bicycle lighting system and without reectors is dangerous and
may result in serious injury or death.
Bicycle reectors are designed to pick up and reect car lights and street
lights in a way that may help you to be seen and recognized as a moving
bicyclist.
CAUTION: Check reectors and their mounting brackets regularly to
make sure that they are clean, straight, unbroken and securely mounted.
Have your dealer replace damaged reectors and straighten or tighten any
that are bent or loose.
The mounting brackets of front and rear reectors are often designed as
brake straddle cable safety catches which prevent the straddle cable from
catching on the tire tread if the cable jumps out of its yoke or breaks.
WARNING: Do not remove the front or rear reectors or reector
brackets from your bicycle. They are an integral part of the bicycle’s safety
system.
Removing the reectors may reduce your visibility to others using the
roadway. Being struck by other vehicles may result in serious injury or
death.
The reector brackets may protect you from the brake straddle cable
catching on the tire in the event of brake cable failure. If a brake straddle
cable catches on the tire, it can cause the wheel to stop suddenly, causing
you to loose control and fall.
If you choose to ride under conditions of poor visibility, check and be
sure you comply with all local laws about night riding, and take the following
strongly recommended additional precautions:
• Purchase and install battery or generator powered head and tail lights
which meet all regulatory requirements and provide adequate visibility.
• Wear light colored, reective clothing and accessories, such as a
reective vest, reective arm and leg bands, reective stripes on your
helmet, ashing lights attached to your body and/or your bicycle ... any
reective device or light source that moves will help you get the attention of
approaching motorists, pedestrians and other trafc.
• Make sure your clothing or anything you may be carrying on the bicycle
does not obstruct a reector or light.

10
• Make sure that your bicycle is equipped with correctly positioned and
securely mounted reectors.
While riding at dawn, at dusk or at night:
• Ride slowly.
• Avoid dark areas and areas of heavy or fast-moving trafc.
• Avoid road hazards.
• If possible, ride on familiar routes.
If riding in trafc:
• Be predictable. Ride so that drivers can see you and predict your
movements.
• Be alert. Ride defensively and expect the unexpected.
• If you plan to ride in trafc often, ask your dealer about trafc safety
classes or a good book on bicycle trafc safety.
F. Extreme, stunt or competition riding
Whether you call it Aggro, Hucking, Freeride, North Shore, Downhill,
Jumping, Stunt Riding, Racing or something else: by engaging in this sort of
extreme, aggressive riding you voluntarily assume an increased risk of injury
or death.
Not all bicycles are designed for these types of riding, and those that are
may not be suitable for all types of aggressive riding. Check with your dealer
or the bicycle’s manufacturer about the suitability of your bicycle before
engaging in extreme riding.
When riding fast down hill, you can reach speeds seen on motorcycles,
and therefore face similar hazards and risks. Have your bicycle and
equipment carefully inspected by a qualied mechanic and be sure it is in
perfect condition. Consult with expert riders and race ofcials on conditions
and equipment advisable at the site where you plan to ride. Wear appropriate
safety gear, including an approved full face helmet, full nger gloves, and
body armor. Ultimately, it is your responsibility to have proper equipment and
to be familiar with course conditions.
WARNING: Although many catalogs, advertisements and articles about
bicycling depict riders engaged in extreme riding, this activity is extremely
dangerous, increases your risk of injury or death, and increases the severity
of any injury. Remember that the action depicted is being performed by
professionals with many years of training and experience. Know your limits
and always wear a helmet and other appropriate safety gear. Even with
state-of-the-art protective safety gear, you could be seriously injured or
killed when jumping, stunt riding, riding downhill at speed or in competition.
CAUTION: Bicycles and bicycle parts have limitations with regard to
strength and integrity, and this type of riding can exceed those limitations.
We recommend against this type of riding because of the increased risks;
but if you choose to take the risk, at least:
• Take lessons from a competent instructor rst
• Start with easy learning exercises and slowly develop your skills before

11
trying more difcult or dangerous riding
• Do stunts, jumping, racing or fast downhill riding only in areas designated
for this type of riding
• Wear a full face helmet, safety pads and other safety gear
• Understand and recognize that the stresses imposed on your bike by
this kind of activity may break or damage parts of the bicycle and void the
warranty
• Take your bicycle to your dealer if anything breaks or bends. Do not ride
your bicycle when any part is damaged.
If you ride downhill at speed, do stunt riding or ride in competition, know
the limits of your skill and experience. Ultimately, avoiding injury is your
responsibility.
G. Changing Components or Adding Accessories
There are many components and accessories available to enhance the
comfort, performance and appearance of your bicycle. However, if you
change components or add accessories, you do so at your own risk. The
bicycle’s manufacturer may not have tested that component or accessory
for compatibility, reliability or safety on your bicycle. Before installing any
component or accessory, including a different size tire, make sure that it is
compatible with your bicycle by checking with your dealer. Be sure to read,
understand and follow the instructions that accompany the products you
purchase for your bicycle. See also Appendix A p. 33.
WARNING: Failure to conrm compatibility, properly install, operate and
maintain any component or accessory can result in serious injury or death.
CAUTION: Changing the components on your bike may void the
warranty. Refer to your warranty, and check with your dealer before
changing the components on your bike.

13
If your leg is not completely straight, your saddle height needs to be
adjusted. If your hips must rock for the heel to reach the pedal, the saddle
is too high. If your leg is bent at the knee with your heel on the pedal, the
saddle is too low.
Once the saddle is at the correct height, make sure that the seatpost
does not project from the frame beyond its “Minimum Insertion” or “Maximum
Extension” mark (g. 4).
If your bike has an interrupted seat tube, as is the case on some bikes with
rear suspension, you must also make sure that the seat post is far enough
into the frame so that you can touch it through the bottom of the interrupted
seat tube with the tip of your nger without inserting your nger beyond its
rst knuckle (see g. 5).
WARNING: If your seat post projects from the frame beyond the
Minimum Insertion or Maximum Extension mark (see g. 4) or you cannot
touch the bottom of the seat post through the bottom of the interrupted seat
tube with the tip of your nger without inserting your nger beyond its rst
knuckle (see g. 5), the seat post may break, which could cause you to lose
control and fall.
2. Front and back adjustment. The saddle can be adjusted forward or
back to help you get the optimal position on the bike. Ask your dealer to set
the saddle for your optimal riding position and to show you how to make this
adjustment.
3. Saddle angle adjustment. Most people prefer a horizontal saddle; but
some riders like the saddle nose angled up or down just a little. Your dealer
can adjust saddle angle or teach you how to do it.
Note: If your bicycle is equipped with a suspension seat post, periodically
ask your dealer to check it.
Small changes in saddle position can have a substantial effect on
performance and comfort. To nd your best saddle position, make only one
adjustment at a time.
WARNING: After any saddle adjustment, be sure that the saddle
adjusting mechanism is properly tightened before riding. A loose saddle
clamp or seat post binder can cause damage to the seat post, or can
cause you to lose control and fall. A correctly tightened saddle adjusting
mechanism will allow no saddle movement in any direction. Periodically
check to make sure that the saddle adjusting mechanism is properly
tightened.
If, in spite of carefully adjusting the saddle height, tilt and fore-and-aft
position, your saddle is still uncomfortable, you may need a different saddle
design. Saddles, like people, come in many different shapes, sizes and
resilience. Your dealer can help you select a saddle which, when correctly
adjusted for your body and riding style, will be comfortable.

14
WARNING: Some people have claimed that extended riding with a
saddle which is incorrectly adjusted or which does not support your pelvic
area correctly can cause short-term or long-term injury to nerves and blood
vessels, or even impotence. If your saddle causes you pain, numbness
or other discomfort, listen to your body and stop riding until you see your
dealer about saddle adjustment or a different saddle.
C. Handlebar height and angle
Your bike is equipped either with a “threadless” stem, which clamps on to
the outside of the steerer tube, or with a “quill” stem, which clamps inside the
steerer tube by way of an expanding binder bolt. If you aren’t absolutely sure
which type of stem your bike has, ask your dealer.
If your bike has a “threadless” stem, your dealer may be able to change
handlebar height by moving height adjustment spacers from below the stem
to above the stem, or vice versa. Otherwise, you’ll have to get a stem of
different length or rise. Consult your dealer. Do not attempt to do this yourself,
as it requires special knowledge.
If your bike has a “quill” stem, you can ask your dealer to adjust the
handlebar height a bit by adjusting stem height.
A quill stem has an etched or stamped mark on its shaft which designates
the stem’s “Minimum Insertion” or “Maximum extension”. This mark must not
be visible above the headset.
WARNING: On some bicycles, changing the stem or stem height
can affect the tension of the front brake cable, locking the front brake or
creating excess cable slack which can make the front brake inoperable. If
the front brake pads move in towards the wheel rim or out away from the
wheel rim when the stem or stem height is changed, the brakes must be
correctly adjusted before you ride the bicycle.
WARNING: The stem’s Minimum Insertion Mark must not be visible
above the top of the headset. If the stem is extended beyond the Minimum
Insertion Mark the stem may break or damage the fork’s steerer tube, which
could cause you to lose control and fall.
Your dealer can also change the angle of the handlebar or bar end
extensions.
WARNING: An insufciently tightened stem binder bolt, handlebar
binder bolt or bar end extension clamping bolt may compromise steering
action, which could cause you to lose control and fall. Place the front wheel
of the bicycle between your legs and attempt to twist the handlebar/stem
assembly. If you can twist the stem in relation to the front wheel, turn the
handlebars in relation to the stem, or turn the bar end extensions in relation
to the handlebar, the bolts are insufciently tightened.
D. Control position adjustments
The angle of the brake and shift control levers and their position on the

15
handlebars can be changed. Ask your dealer to make the adjustments for
you.
E. Brake reach
Many bikes have brake levers which can be adjusted for reach. If you have
small hands or nd it difcult to squeeze the brake levers, your dealer can
either adjust the reach or t shorter reach brake levers.
WARNING: The shorter the brake lever reach, the more critical it is to
have correctly adjusted brakes, so that full braking power can be applied
within available brake lever travel. Brake lever travel insufcient to apply
full braking power can result in loss of control, which may result in serious
injury or death.
4. Tech
It’s important to your safety, performance and enjoyment to understand
how things work on your bicycle. We urge you to ask your dealer how to do
the things described in this section before you attempt them yourself, and
that you have your dealer check your work before you ride the bike. If you
have even the slightest doubt as to whether you understand something in this
section of the Manual, talk to your dealer. See also Appendix A p. 32.
A. Wheels
NOTE: If you have a mountain bike equipped with through axle front or
rear wheels, make sure that your dealer has given you the manufacturer’s
instructions, and follow those when installing or removing a through axle
wheel. If you don’t know what a through axle is, ask your dealer.
1. Wheel Quick Release
WARNING: Riding with an improperly adjusted wheel quick release can
allow the wheel to wobble or fall off the bicycle, which can cause serious
injury or death. Therefore, it is essential that you:
1. Ask your dealer to help you make sure you know how to install and
remove your wheels safely.
2. Understand and apply the correct technique for clamping your wheel
in place with a quick release.
3. Each time, before you ride the bike, check that the wheel is securely
clamped.
The wheel quick release uses a cam action to clamp the bike’s wheel
in place (see g. 6). Because of its adjustable nature, it is critical that you
understand how it works, how to use it properly, and how much force you
need to apply to secure the wheel.

16
WARNING: The full force of the cam action is needed to clamp the
wheel securely. Holding the nut with one hand and turning the lever like a
wing nut with the other hand until everything is as tight as you can get it
will not clamp the wheel safely in the dropouts.
a. Adjusting the quick release mechanism
The wheel hub is clamped in place by the force of the quick release cam
pushing against one dropout and pulling the tension adjusting nut, by way
of the skewer, against the other dropout. The amount of clamping force is
controlled by the tension adjusting nut. Turning the tension adjusting nut
clockwise while keeping the cam lever from rotating increases clamping
force; turning it counterclockwise while keeping the cam lever from rotating
reduces clamping force. Less than half a turn of the tension adjusting nut
can make the difference between safe clamping force and unsafe clamping
force.
b. Front Wheel Secondary Retention Devices
Most bicycles have front forks which utilize a secondary wheel retention
device to reduce the risk of the wheel disengaging from the fork if the
quick release is incorrectly adjusted. Secondary retention devices are not a
substitute for correct quick release adjustment.
Secondary retention devices fall into two basic categories:
(1) The clip-on type is a part which the manufacturer adds to the front
wheel hub or front fork.
(2) The integral type is molded, cast or machined into the outer faces of
the front fork dropouts.
Ask your dealer to explain the particular secondary retention device on
your bike.
WARNING: Do not remove or disable the secondary retention device.
As its name implies, it serves as a back-up for a critical adjustment. If the
quick release is not adjusted correctly, the secondary retention device
can reduce the risk of the wheel disengaging from the fork. Removing or
disabling the secondary retention device may also void the warranty.
Secondary retention devices are not a substitute for correct quick
release adjustment. Failure to properly adjust the quick release mechanism