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Messages - JeffGo

#1
General Chat / Re: Alternative basket
July 25, 2020, 12:02:21 PM
The rack came this week.

https://amzn.to/2WVMguk

It was pretty easy to attach to the Rad City rack with no modifications. It does not mount to the holes in the rack however, but the included hardware is fine. If necessary, I can push it further back. TBH, I have not ridden with it yet.

On the plus side:
1) you can actually get it!
2) it's a lot lighter than the 4.2 pound Rad large basket (maybe 1.5 - 2 pounds)
3) I think it's going to be big enough for me. I want to be able to hold my photo backpack and it just fits. It tapers towards the bottom.

OTOH:
It's not as cool looking


#2
How To Information / Re: Torque wrench useage
July 22, 2020, 10:28:46 AM
You only need a 1/4" for working on most things relevant to assembly of a RAD, larger ones will get in the way of many fasteners and the scales are usually higher. And pretty much every fastener you would touch would be 4 or 5mm, maybe a 6mm.
#3
General Chat / Re: Battery lock
July 21, 2020, 01:45:07 PM
Interesting thread. Surprised that no one mentioned the universal Honda motorcycle key blank...
#4
Very helpful, thanks. Like many new Rad owners, I am in the midst of acquiring accessories. So far:

Hollywood Rack (found one locally yesterday!)
Abus frame lock and chain
Suntour suspension seatpost (beware, these come in different sizes so check before ordering - note to self)
Hafney mirror - arriving today

(wanting a rear basket, may replace the seat soon and should replace my helmet)

I ordered this cell phone holder, I'll let you know if it's any good once I get it: https://www.q-mount.com/?fbclid=IwAR2Skl_fbzig8O0koFJohX4t9Doh2J0u8184XLhjBO-ZF2qJp3beVIL0C1E
#5
Personally not that excited about either. Cheap pedals, just a different color. And grips are such a pain to replace.

The shipping on accessories is quite a bit out of line. I bought an ABUS lock and chain and they charged $24 shipping. And I live about 50 miles from the warehouse.
#6
Maybe the pads are rubbing against the rotor? You can check by lifting the rear and spinning the wheel. Maybe get help with the lifting part ;)

If they are, you can loosen them by a click or two. As the pads settle in, you will want to tighten them up again. My new Rad City had the front too tight so I loosened a little and after a few rides I was able to tighten them again. These are easy to adjust with a hex key - much easier than traditional brakes that drag on the rim.
#7
General Chat / Re: Introduce yourself!
July 17, 2020, 10:40:35 AM
Jeff here. I live on the Eastside of Seattle and just received my Rad City Step-thru 3 on Tuesday. So far, so good, and happy to support a local company (yeah, I know the bikes come from China). I just wish the accessories were more available.

It wasn't great on the gravel pipeline trail near me, but not a big concern. I can zip around my neighborhood in record time and get up the hills easily enough.

I think my wife needs one now. ;D
#8
General Chat / Re: ebike speed when pedaling
July 17, 2020, 10:34:39 AM
Yeah, I agree. I ride around the flat parts of my neighborhood and quickly get to 10-11 mph on PA2, so PA1 might be the right amount for 8 mph.
#9
Since our driveway slopes down towards the house, we always leave our gears in the wrong position for starting up the next time  :P I let my wife drive my new Rad City and told her she might want to use that throttle to get started up the drive!
#10
I bought a bike torque wrench while I waited for the bike. But I have done work on bikes for years without one. You can get a feel for roughly the right amount of torque. Many of the smaller bolts are rated at 6 Nm which is not very tight and about what you can get from the small hex keys before your hand hurts. The adjustable angle quill stem (angle of handle bars) suggested torque is 18 Nm which is pretty tight so crank harder on that - if it gets loose, it won't fall before you realize it since the positions are ratcheted. And you might wind up adjusting that in the first week or so anyway so tighten after you have things like you like them.

As far as the pedal wrench goes, you want pedals to be quite tight, but a normal pedal wrench (cheap) is not a torque wrench. It is long which lets you apply quite a bit of torque as opposed to the wrench they ship. Pedals have threads that are reversed on the left - this is so you are always pedaling in a direction that would tighten a lose pedal, at least in theory. I would get one of those (I had one) - you can use an adjustable wrench which will be longer than the little wrench in the box and will let you apply more torque.
#11
General Chat / Re: Alternative basket
July 17, 2020, 10:16:00 AM
Hi, new here and just got my Rad City
I'm in the same boat, I really want the large Rad basket (heavy though). Has anyone got an opinion on this one:

https://amzn.to/2DP3pzc
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