organic transit ELF 1.9 User manual

ELF 1.9
Owner’s Manual
Copyright 2017
We’re glad to have you as a member of the Organic Transit family!
Organic Transit, Inc.
105 W. Corporation Street
Durham, NC 27701
919 908 1599
Organictransit.com
[e-mail]
Updated 6/30/2017

2
Table of Contents
Foreword..................................................................................................................4
Manual Structure .....................................................................................................4
Safety .....................................................................................................................5
General Notes on Safe Driving ................................................................................5
Adverse Conditions ................................................................................................6
Avoiding Road Hazards ..........................................................................................6
Equipment and Controls ............................................................................................7
The ELF: An Overview ............................................................................................7
Know Your Controls................................................................................................8
Vehicle Operation .....................................................................................................9
Before You Get In .................................................................................................9
Getting Into The Vehicle.........................................................................................9
Before Riding ......................................................................................................10
Taking Your First Ride ..........................................................................................10
Adjusting the Seat.........................................................................................10
Riding Your ELF ............................................................................................11
Understanding the 3-Speed Hub ........................................................................... 11
Shifting to Higher Gear..................................................................................11
Shifting to Lower Gear...................................................................................12
Understanding the NuVinci 380 CVT (if equipped) .................................................. 12
Shifting to Higher Gear .................................................................................12
Shifting to Lower Gear .................................................................................12
Harmony Shifter (if equipped)...............................................................................12
Using the CycleAnalyst® (if equipped) ..................................................................13
Basic Button Navigation ................................................................................13
Status Screens..............................................................................................13
Setup ..........................................................................................................13
Handling the ELF..................................................................................................14
Turning .......................................................................................................14
Reversing .....................................................................................................14

3
Stopping ......................................................................................................14
Parking.........................................................................................................14
Using the Parking Brake ...............................................................................15
Understanding Your Battery..................................................................................16
Battery Connection .......................................................................................16
Carrying and Using Two Batteries ..................................................................16
Charging Your Battery ..................................................................................17
Using the Battery Wall Charger ......................................................................17
Full and Depleted Voltage Readings ..............................................................18
Testing with a Digital Multimeter ...................................................................18
Using the Solar Charger.................................................................................19
How to Get the Most out of Your Battery .......................................................19
Care Instructions ...................................................................................................20
Drivetrain ...........................................................................................................20
Wheels and Tires ................................................................................................20
Battery ...............................................................................................................20
Brakes ................................................................................................................21
Shifting ..............................................................................................................21
Cleaning .............................................................................................................21
Transport ...........................................................................................................22
Security ..............................................................................................................22
Online Resources ...................................................................................................23
Service and Warranty .............................................................................................23
Replacement Parts .................................................................................................24
Legal .....................................................................................................................25
Notes ....................................................................................................................26

4
Foreword
The ELF is built by Organic Transit, Inc. in Durham, North Carolina, USA. It is constructed with
rugged, but ultra-light materials used in boats, aircraft, and bikes and should be ridden gently
and with care to ensure a long and efficient life. This guide is constructed to help you get to know
your ELF model smart-bike and enjoy it safely for years to come.
Manual Structure
Please note the following important points before riding your ELF:
•This is a general manual for the ELF 1.9; some of the equipment described may be optional
or may not be included in all variants of the vehicle.
•Figures and illustrations may be slightly different from your vehicle. Please use all figures
and illustrations as a general guide for all configurations of the ELF.
•On pages 1 and 2 you will find the Table of Contents, listing all the topics found in this
manual in the order in which they appear.
•Directions and positions (left, right, front, and rear) will always refer to the orientation of
the vehicle as seen from the rider’s position.
WARNING
Any text with this symbol will indicate important information
concerning the safe operation of your vehicle and how to reduce
the risk of personal injury.
Note
Any text with this symbol will help to clarify some of the text
within this user manual as well as give more insight into the
nature of the equipment installed in the ELF.

5
Safety
General Notes on Safe Driving
The ELF is an ultra-efficient transportation device unlike anything else you have ever ridden. It is
essential that you take the time to get to know your ELF inside and out before attempting your
first ride.
WARNING
Do not attempt to ride your ELF until you have read and understood all
instructions and warnings in this manual. Operators must exercise good
judgement and common sense to detect and avoid hazards.
WARNING
If you have health concerns, please discuss them with your doctor before
driving the ELF. If your doctor approves, work up your endurance with
moderate goals until you are able to cover the distance you want.
To reduce the risk of serious injury or death, please adhere to the following guidelines:
•Never operate your ELF while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
•When coasting down hills, use brakes to maintain a safe speed.
•Make sure the push-down lever for the seat is in place (pushed down) prior to riding.
•Familiarize yourself with the controls before operation.
•Maintain appropriate and safe speeds for the given conditions. See Adverse Conditions
on page 6 for more information.
•Reduce speed when turning corners and make gentle arcing turns to avoid loss of
control. The ELF can roll over if turned sharply, even at low speeds.
•Be aware that releasing the throttle may not slow the vehicle.
•Wear closed toed shoes with wraparound heel (no sandals or flip flops). Do not wear
high heels.
•Make sure shoelaces are tied and cannot be caught in the chain.
•Use mirrors; be aware of pedestrians and other vehicles.
•Check that tires are inflated to designated tire pressure printed on tire wall.
•Always wear a protective helmet.
•Ensure that nothing is on the roof and that all hatches and items are secured.
•Always obey the rules of the road and respect your fellow travelers.
•Always keep feet on pedals while the vehicle is in motion - placing feet on
the ground while riding could result in serious injury.

6
Adverse Conditions
We recommend that you avoid riding in the conditions listed below, but if necessary, use
caution and pay attention to the possible dangers listed.
•High Winds: may cause swerving and loss of control
•Heavy Rain: may impede visibility and create hazardous road conditions
•Snow and Ice: may make road surfaces slippery and increase stopping time
•Fog or humid conditions: may obscure visibility
Avoiding Road Hazards
When encountering road hazards, steer the ELF so that the hazard passes beneath either pedal
(left or right). This will allow the rear wheel to avoid contact with the hazard and give you a more
comfortable ride.
Avoid deep puddles and moving water. If riding in wet conditions, check to make sure the battery
is dry when you complete your ride, wiping dry if necessary.
WARNING
This vehicle is not intended for use in off road conditions.
WARNING
It is not possible to list every potential hazard or circumstance you
may encounter while driving your ELF. Exercise common sense and
good judgement to avoid causing harm to yourself or others.

7
Equipment and Controls
The ELF: An Overview
Bulkhead
Gear Hub
and Motor
Brake Lights
Battery
Tray and
Brain Box
Headlights
Turn Signals
Side Mirror
Controls
Seat
Slider with
push
down
Turn Signals
Tail Lights
Hatchback
Solar
Panel
Rear Disc Brakes
Front Disc
Brakes

8
Know Your Controls
The ELF uses only a few, easy to use controls, but it is important that you take the time to
familiarize yourself with them before attempting your first ride. Use the diagrams below to
identify and locate the following items:
#
Control
#
Control
1
Rear Disc Brake
6
Horn
2
Gear Shift
7
Bell
3
Gear Display
8
Throttle
4
Lights
9
Parking Brake Pin
5
Turn Signals
10
Front Disc Brake
Note
The front disc brake lever (right) provides 70% of your stopping power.
The rear brake lever (left) provides additional stopping power, but will
primarily assist in immobilizing the vehicle when parked.
The controls shown above are for the standard ELF 1.9, which is equipped
with a parking brake on the right-side handle. (See Parking on page 14 for
additional instructions on use.)
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
00
2
1

9
Vehicle Operation
Before You Get In
Do a simple ABCDEF safety check:
1. Air Pressure: Check tire pressure and inflate as needed to the recommended pressure
listed on the tire wall.
2. Brakes: Make sure that squeezing the brake handles about halfway engages the brake
completely.
3. Chain: Make sure the chain moves smoothly, is well lubricated, and is free of rust.
4. Damage: Look for loose or damaged parts, foreign objects, or other potential hazards.
5. Electricity: Make sure the battery is properly connected and secured in the vehicle.
6. Familiarize: Locate the horn, bell, lights, turn signals, throttle, and gear shift (see Know
Your Controls on page 8).
If you have problems with any of the ABCDEF checks, take your ELF to a bike mechanic or contact
Organic Transit support. Please see Service and Warranty on page 23 for more information.
Getting into the Vehicle
Make sure that the seat is far enough toward the rear to be out of the way but not so far that
you cannot sit down easily. Refer to Adjusting the Seat on page 10.
Step in with your foot nearest to the ELF and place your foot on the drop axle or ground,
whichever is more comfortable. The axle can easily support the weight, but taller riders may find
it more comfortable to use the ground. See location of drop axle in photo below. If your ELF has
floorboards, you may step on this flooring as it is load-bearing. Sit down and bring in the other
foot. Place both feet securely on pedals.
1.
WARNING
Do not step on plastic panel inside door (labeled “Do Not Step”)

10
Before Riding
1. Remove all loose items from your pockets and stow securely.
2. Always wear a helmet.
3. Check side-view mirrors for positioning.
4. Turn key to engage battery. (Located to the right of the handlebars.)
5. Test horn and bell.
6. Disengage parking brake.
7. Check for hazards, obstacles, pedestrians, traffic, etc.
Taking Your First Ride
Adjusting the Seat
Sit in the vehicle and pedal backwards to check that your feet comfortably reach the pedals, and
that your knees do not bump into the dash strut. Adjust seat as needed until you find a secure
and comfortable position for your ride. Keep in mind that if you sink lower into the seat while
riding, your knees may rise up, so be sure to keep a few inches of clearance between your knees
and the dash strut.
To adjust your seat, stand up to remove your weight, make sure the seat adjustment bar is
pushed up, and slide the seat forward or backward until it is in the desired position. Then push
down on the bar to secure the seat in place.
Seat Adjustment Bar –push up to move
seat forward or back; push down to lock
into place.