Tower Hobbies BEACH BUM User manual

OWNER’S MANUAL
BEACH BUM & BEACH BABE
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction
Assembly Instructions 3
Installing / Removing the Battery 5
Seat Adjustment 6
Start Up Procedure 7
Safety
Basic Safety 8
Riding Safety 8
Wet Weather 8
Night Riding 9
Mechanical Safety Check 9
Changing or Adding Accessories & Components 9
Technical
Battery Guide 10
LCD Display Guide 12
Wheels 14
Brakes 14
Pedals 15
Throttles 15
Service
Maintenance Guide, Post Crash Maintenance 16
Appendix
Intended Use 17
Component Lifespan 17
Metal Fatigue 17
Torque Fastening Specifications 18
1

Introduction
Welcome to Tower Electric Bikes
At Tower, we have a relentless focus on getting our products right. Do that and
business success naturally follows. We’ve been doing this for over a decade in the
direct to consumer space and have thrived because of that singular focus.
We do our customer’s homework for them on what’s important and what’s not, and
then we design the best product out there. When we combine that with our direct to
consumer only business model (eliminating the middlemen), our consumers get the
best value. We don’t settle for anything less than the best quality at a great value.
That’s our formula.
Not surprisingly, the first eBike we ever rolled out, our Tower Beach Bum, was
named the “Best Cruiser Electric Bike of 2020” in the all important value category by
Electric Bike Review. Not bad for our first horse out of the gate!
We never rest on our laurels, however, at Tower. For our second act launched in
late 2020, the Beach Bum 2 and the Beach Babe, we took a giant leap forward with
improved eBike functionality, quality, and safety across the board. We kept asking
the question, “How can we make this better? I don’t care what it costs.” Where most
brands ask, “How can we do this cheaper?”, we focused on “How can we do this
better?” The result is we made over 20 specific improvements. We proactively
increased our production costs by over 20% because, after cost-benefit analysis,
we’re confident these changes will better serve our customers long term needs.
Enjoy the ride,
The Tower Electric Bike Team
2

Assembly Instructions
This ebike should be adjusted by a professionally trained bicycle.
Most of the critical components on the Beach Bum eBike will come pre-assembled.
This includes the rear wheel, motor, gear system, and all cabling. The following
steps are the best practices for completing the assembly.
Note: With the exception of the pedals, all fasteners are tightened with a clockwise
motion, and loosened with a counterclockwise motion.
Required Tools For Assembly:
● M4 Hex Key/Driver
● M5 Hex Key/Driver
● M6 Hex Key/Driver
● Crescent Wrench
● Adjustable Spanner/Wrench (recommended)
● Calibrated Torque Wrench (recommended)
Handlebar Installation
Your Tower ebike has a threadless headset with an adjustable handlebar stem. The
stem can rotate up or down a full 40 degrees to better accommodate different height
riders and riders with different arm length reach. There is a 4 bolt configuration that
secures and tightens the handlebars to the stem.
When your eBike
arrives, your
handlebars will not
be installed in the
stem, but rather zip
tied to the side of the
frame. Cut the zip es
to remove the
handlebars from the
frame and then undo
the 4 bolts on the
stem with an M4 hex
wrench. Position the
handlebar and
tighten the screws.
3

Front Wheel Installation
Remove all packaging from the wheel and front fork. Loosen the nuts on the wheel
frame axle, so that it can easily fit onto the fork. Insert the wheel into the fork so that the
brake rotor slides into the caliper, and the axle fully seats into the forks. Evenly tighten
the nuts on the wheel axle to secure the front wheel. Only unscrew, then screw in the
side axle nuts. There is no need to tighten or untighten the Tektro braking system.
Lift and spin the front wheel to make sure there is no friction against the disc brake. If
there is wobble, loosen the axle nuts and double check to ensure the axle is fully seated
into the frame. Tighten the nuts.
Pedal Installation
Installing the pedals on the correct side of the ebike is critical. It is also one of the most
common mistakes consumers make when assembling their own ebikes. At Tower, we
take extra caution to very prominently label the left and right pedal as well as the left and
right crank. They are threaded specifically to only fit on one side of the bike. “L” for
rider’s left, “R” for rider’s right. Ensure you match the clearly labeled right pedal to the
right crank (on the right side of the bike if you were sitting on the seat).
Begin the installation by twisting the pedal into
the correct pedal arm by hand. Once the pedal
becomes too difficult to twist by hand, further
tighten with an M6 hex wrench.
Note: The left pedal is threaded in the opposite
direction, and needs to be tightened by twisting
counterclockwise.
4

Front Light Installation
Loosen and remove the headlight attachment point nut, bolt and washer from the fork.
Thread the bolt through the hole on the headlight and secure with the washer and nut.
Tighten using a
crescent wrench and a
M4 hex wrench to
ensure a secure fit.
There will be a cable
with a red connector
dangling from the wiring
harness near the head
tube. Connect your
headlight cable to this
red connector, ensuring
you very carefully align
all three prongs. Make
sure the cable is routed
on the side to allow
movement of the forks.
Installing / Removing the Battery
Your Tower electric bike comes with the battery installed, locked, padded for shipment,
and secured by zip ties in addition to the battery’s own locking functionality. All you have
to do is remove the packaging and your battery is properly installed and locked for use.
Two keys will be taped to the packaging. Set those aside and don’t lose them.
To remove the battery, rotate the
key counterclockwise to unlock
the battery from the controller
dock. It is not removable when
locked. Use one hand at the
bottom of the battery to lift it from
the base position of the dock
upwards. Pull the battery upwards
and away from the dock, then
remove it by lowering it out and
back down and tilting the bottom
to the left and out to clear the rear
frame triangle.
5

IMPORTANT - Before re-installing your battery, ensure that the battery power switch is
turned off and that the battery and controller dock are dry. The universal off symbol is
when the “o” is depressed, indicating there is a gap/hole in the connection. The universal
on symbol is when the “-” is depressed, indicating a solid line of electrical connection.
To re-install the battery, insert the battery into the frame at an angle from the bottom left
side (to avoid the chain) with the charge port on top. Slide the battery upwards and
inwards onto the dock, square things up, then pull down to fully seat it into the dock
grooves. Once fully seated, turn the key 180 degrees clockwise to lock it into place. If
you can’t fully lock the battery, it’s not properly seated.
Seat Installation & Adjustment
During shipment, Tower eBike seats (also referred to as “saddles” on ebikes) are
attached to the seatpost, but are not inserted into the frame downtube. It’s an easy
installation from there. Just release the seat clamp on the down tube, insert the seat
post to your desired seat height, and close the seat clamp. You may have to adjust the
tension of the seat clamp by adjusting the attached screw. Ensure the seat post clamp is
really tight so your seat doesn’t move around on your while riding.
A correctly positioned saddle will make the riding experience more comfortable,
controlled and efficient. It is important to spend time finding the correct saddle position.
6

You can adjust the angle of the seat on the seat post with a M6 hex wrench, but it is
easiest to adjust with the seat removed from the ebike. Adjust, insert the seat post, try it
out for fit, then redo as needed until you have a comfortable fit.
To check the saddle height, begin by sitting on the saddle. Place one foot on the center
of a pedal and the other on the ground for stabilization. Rotate the pedal until it is in the
lowest position. In this position, the leg on the pedal should be almost straight, with a
slight bend in the knee. The rider should also be able to reach the lowest part of the
pedal’s rotation comfortably, without needing to shift any weight.
Start Up Procedure
1. If the battery is not already locked, insert and turn the key clockwise to lock
2. Remove the key and confirm that the battery is locked correctly.
3. Turn the battery on by depressing the red switch to the on position “-”.
4. Press the power button on the LCD display for 2 seconds, to turn on the ebike
and display.
5. Use the [+] and [-] buttons to select the desired pedal assistance level. The
default is level 0, or no pedal assist. Level 5 is the highest.
6. Ride safely and have fun!
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Safety
Basic Safety
⚠ Warning: It is the responsibility of the rider to know the local laws & rules
of the road. These laws may be different in each area and extend to safety
equipment, lighting, licensing, areas to ride and specific bike traffic laws.
⚠ Warning: Always wear a helmet. Having an accident while not wearing a
helmet may result in serious injury or death.
● This electric bike is designed for use by riders of age 18 and over.
● Riders should have the mental capability, reaction time and physical condition to
ride and manage themselves and this eBike in traffic and other road conditions.
● Ensure that the eBike is the correct size before riding. Control may be
compromised if the eBike is not fitted correctly.
● Perform a quick mechanical safety check before every ride.
● Tower Electric Beach Cruisers are not designed for jumping or off-road use.
● The Beach Bum and Beach Babe are pre-governed at 18 mph. This can be
adjusted in the advanced settings. See the Tower KD58C LCD manual for
instructions on how to remove the speed limit.
● Always ride at a comfortable speed, and obey local traffic laws.
Riding Safety
● When possible, ride in bike lanes or to the far right side of the street.
Always ride in the same direction as the flow of traffic.
● When riding on the street, use hand signals to indicate turns and
slowing/stopping.
● Do not ride with objects that may impair vision or control of the eBike.
● Do not hitch off the back of another vehicle.
● Do not ride while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
● Do not ride at dawn, dusk or in darkness without adequate lighting.
Wet Weather
⚠ Warning: Wet conditions are a source of many bicycle accidents.
Visibility, braking distance and traction all become impaired.
When the road surface is wet, the stopping power of all vehicles will be reduced
and all tires will lose grip much more easily. Apply the brakes earlier and more
gently in order to avoid wheel lock and safely stop in wet conditions.
8

Night Riding
Riding at night can be dangerous because visibility for both cyclists and other road
users is considerably reduced. It is highly important for people who decide to ride at
night to have the right equipment and follow these best practices:
● Always have functional front and rear lights when cycling at night. Reflectors
are not an adequate substitute.
● Routinely check the working condition of the reflectors and lights.
● Only remove reflectors when replacing them, they are required by law.
● Wear bright colored clothing to increase vilibility.
Mechanical Safety Check
●Nuts, Bolts & Screws: To check for loose components, straddle the eBike and
lift the front tire 2-3 inches off the ground. Release the eBike, and allow the front
wheel to drop and bounce. Listen for any rattling; this may indicate that some
parts are loose. Repeat the same process for the rear tire.
●Tires: Ensure that the tires are inflated to the proper pressure and in good
condition before riding. Slowly rotate the wheel while examining the side walls
and threads. Look out for cracks and objects that may be stuck in the outer layer.
If the wheel wobbles or appears to be off-center, the tire needs to be trued. Bring
it to a bicycle maintenance professional for them to take a look.
●Wheels: Make sure that the wheel rim is undamaged before setting off on a ride.
Damage to the rim will cause weak spots and may become faulty over time.
●Brakes: While stationary, squeeze each brake lever to make sure that there is
resistance. (Rider’s right is the rear brake and left is the front brake). If there is no
resistance, the brakes will need to be tightened. If there is too much resistance,
or the brakes make a squealing sound, the brakes will need to be loosened.
●Handlebar grips: Check for cracks, cuts or wear as these can all have an impact
on how well the grip will bond to the handlebars. Loosely fitted handlebar grips
can slip off, potentially resulting in loss of control and falling.
●Battery: Double check that the battery is securely connected, and locked to the
frame.
●Cables: Check the exposed cables and wiring to make sure there are no
disconnections.
Changing or Adding Accessories & Components
⚠ Warning: Adding aftermarket parts to the Beach Bum or Beach Babe
may compromise the construction of the bike and the safety of the rider.
All third-party accessories such as luggage racks, trailers, child seats, baskets or
tires that can be installed are at the risk of the owner. If it is necessary to install
additional accessories, make sure the installation is performed and inspected by a
bicycle maintenance professional.
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