HP Velotechnik Scorpion fx, Scorpion fs Operating Instruction and Service Manual
Operating manual and
service instructions
NEW
recumbent-
technology
2011
HPVelotechnik
March 2011
General safety instructions
Intended use – 3
The first miles – 3
Legal requirements – 3
Load capacity – 4
Carrying luggage – 4
Transport in the car – 5
Do not take kids with you – 5
Trailers – 5
Added parts and accessories – 5
Fairings – 5
Replacement of parts – 6
No alteration of parts – 6
Final assembly – 6
Screws and bolts – 6
Adjusting your new trike
Adjusting the leg length – 7
Adjusting the seat position – 11
Adjusting the handlebars – 13
Adjusting the suspension – 15
Handling instructions
Learning the new riding technique – 22
Wear protective clothing – 23
Use clipless pedals – 23
Slowly increase the strain – 24
Do not ride freehand – 24
How to ride correctly and safely – 24
Quick release levers – 25
Brakes – 26
Gear system – 28
Light system – 29
Folding (Scorpion fx / fs) – 30
Table of contents
-
HP
Velotechnik
Maintenance and care
Wear and tear – 31
Brakes – 31
Gear system – 33
Chain – 34
Chain tubes – 36
Chain roller – 38
Front wheel alignment – 39
Rear suspension element – 42
Front suspension (Scorpion fs) – 44
Swing arm pivot – 51
Headset – 52
Mudguards – 52
Water bottle cage – 53
Seat cushion – 54
Wheels – 55
Cleaning and conservation – 56
Storing the trike – 58
Screws and bolts – 58
Tightening torques for screws – 59
Warranty pass
Warranty – 60
Warranty Pass – 61
Service Plan – 62
Proofs of service – 66
Revision March 2011. For latest product information, please check out our website at
www.hpvelotechnik.com. All trademarks belong to their respective owners.
HP V
ELOTECHNIK
Elisabethenstrasse 1
65830 Kriftel / Germany
Tel. ++49 (0) 61 92 - 97 99 2-0
Fax ++49 (0) 61 92 - 91 02 18
thank you for buying a recumbent trike designed by HP VELO-
TECHNIK and congratulations on the purchase of your new
Scorpion! With the Scorpion, a high-quality touring trike, you
will enjoy many years of exhilarating riding pleasure.
Your safety and your satisfaction are our main concern. On the
following pages, this manual will inform you about important
safety issues as well as maintenance and care instructions.
Even if you have many years of experience with bicycles please
do take your time to read this manual carefully before the first
ride.Your recumbent trike is designed with the latest recumbent technology by HP V
ELOTECHNIK that partly needs special
treatment and care.
In this manual you will find detailed instructions on how to
optimize your Scorpion to meet your demands and riding style
as well as your size and weight. In addition to this, we have put
together a collection of information on care and maintenance
as well as special technical advice from our engineers.
Important: Please send us the attached warranty registration
form for your extended warranty (see page 60.)
This guide helps you to keep your Scorpion in perfect condition
so you will always experience maximum fun, comfort and safety.
Enjoy yourselves and have a great ride!
Paul J.W. Hollants, Dipl.-Ing. Daniel Pulvermüller
and the HP V
ELOTECHNIK team
1HP
Velotechnik
Introduction
Dear customer,
The manuals of component manufacturers
such as the brake manufacturer, the gear system manufacturer, and the pedal manufacturer
also belong to this manual.They give detailed
information on operating and maintaining
these specific parts. Please read the manuals of
the part manufacturers as carefully as this
manual. Please provide this manual to any other user of your recumbent before using it.
The maintenance and adjustment of this recumbent partly requires special tools and
skills. Do only works within your limits and,
for the purpose of your own safety, do not go
beyond. Should you be uncertain at any point,
get in contact with your local dealer.
The instructions in this manual apply only to a
completely assembled Scorpion with standard
parts from the series production of
HP VELOTECHNIK.
On special demand HP V
ELOTECHNIK delivers
frame kits to put a specialist dealer in a position to assemble a tricycle individually. In this
case the manuals on the operation and maintenance of the parts only represent a guideline,
please read every manual of every part manufacturer separately.The specialist dealer is responsible for the expert assembly, please contact him for detailed information! A tricycle
that has been assembled from a frame kit must
always be tested and approved by a qualified
bicycle mechanic before your first ride.
Introduction
2
HP
Velotechnik
Caution! The texts in the grey boxes are
particularly important for your safety.Texts
that begin with "Danger!" mark an immediate danger for your life and your health.
Please read them carefully.
General safety instructions
3HP
Velotechnik
Legal requirements
When you ride your trike on public roads it
must comply with national legislation and
guidelines.These will vary from country to
country.
In general, there are minimum standards for
brakes, reflectors and lighting systems, as well
as usually a general duty to ensure that your
vehicle is in roadworthy safe condition.There
will also be a duty to ride in a safe and responsible manner. If you ride your HP V
ELOTECHNIK
trike in traffic you should be sure to observe
all the applicable laws and regulations.
In most countries, including Germany and the
UK, two independent braking systems are required. Do not ride with only one brake working!
Please contact your local dealer to find out
about your legal obligations.
As an addition, we recommend to mount a flag
on a pole for better visibility in traffic.
The safety equipment on your trike must be
checked before every ride and maintained in
proper condition.
General safety instructions
Intended use
Your Scorpion is a tricycle for the use on
streets and paved roads.The fully suspended
Scorpion fs trike can also be used on unpaved
roads.
This tricycle is not designed for the use in racing and off-road riding, for jumping or acrobatics, and you must not ride across curbs, stairs,
etc.
Damage through inappropriate use, assembly
errors, accidents or similar activities and wilful
damage results in the loss of any warranty.
The intended use also includes the precise observation of the prescribed usage and maintenance regulations and instructions.
The first miles
The first 300 km (186 miles) are an important
for breaking in the tricycle. During the first use
of a new tricycle the screws may settle and
become loose. Cables and spokes may stretch.
Bearings may show play. Please be very attentive during that period.
After 300 km or after two months at the latest you will have to take your tricycle to a bicycle mechanic for the first service. Please
record this first service and the works performed in the warranty pass on page 61.This
first service is the prerequisite for further use
of the tricycle and for your warranty claims.
4
HP
Velotechnik
Load capacity
The maximum load (rider + luggage) is 130 kg
(286 lbs).The maximum total weight (bicycle +
rider + luggage) is 150 kg (330 lbs).The lower
limit is valid. It is important to adjust the
spring stiffness of the suspension according to
the load, see the chapter about adjusting the
suspension in this manual, page 16.
With an attached trailer, the maximum total
weight must not be higher than 150 kg
(330 lbs)
Carrying luggage
Luggage transport is only allowed on the special racks designed by HP VELOTECHNIK .
Maximum load:
Rear rack 25 kg (55 lbs)
Lowrider rack (Scorpion fx) 25 kg (55 lbs)
When a rear rack is mounted you have to
make sure that when the rear suspension is
fully compressed there is at least a 1 cm (
1
/3")
distance between the rear tire or mudguard
and the rear rack. If you want to increase this
distance you have to decrease the suspension
travel of the rear suspension element with
clip-on spacers. For that purpose please consult your local dealer.
Additional loading can influence the handling of
your trike considerably. If you plan on riding
with heavy luggage we advise you to make a
test ride on a street with no traffic to get used
to the new situation.
The load should be placed as close to the
body of the rider as possible, since this results
in better riding performance.You can also improve the handling of the trike by positioning
the center of gravity of the luggage as low as
possible, so pack heavy items in the bottom of
your panniers. Be careful that your luggage is
safely stored on the racks. Bags must be tightly fastened to the racks so they can not move.
Make sure that loose parts like straps or belts
can not touch the wheels, the derailleur, or the
suspension.
The rear rack is designed for standard bike
panniers or HP Velotechnik ‘banana-style’ bags.
Take care that your luggage does not cover
the lighting system and the reflectors of your
tricycle and that they stay fully functional.
General safety instructions
General safety instructions
5HP
Velotechnik
Transport in the car
The best way to transport your tricycle is inside the car.Take care that it does not lie on
the derailleur.
If you want to transport it outside the car we
recommend a roof-rack or a rear carrier.Take
care to fasten your tricycle at the frame only.
Please remove any parts that could come
loose during transport (seat cushion, water
bottles, luggage bags, pumps, pennants, etc.).
Do not take kids with you
The Scorpion is not designed for the transport
of children.You are not allowed to mount a
child's seat. It is only allowed to transport children in a trailer that has been specially designed for that purpose.
Trailers
You are allowed to use trailers (double trail
only) up to 40 kg (88 lbs) with the Scorpion.
If you have a rear rack on your trike, most
trailer couplings can not be used as the rack
will hit the trailer when the suspension compresses.With the HP V
ELOTECHNIK / WEBER
coupling with lowered adaptor plate trailers
with Weber-mounting will fit on trikes with
rack.
Always check that the suspension and the
trailer still work properly after you have
mounted the trailer.
Added parts and accessories
Additional accessories may impair the function
of your Scorpion.We advise you to generally
ask your dealer before you mount any special
parts or accessories to your tricycle.
Take care that the handlebar and the suspension always stay moveable.You must not add
any parts to the handlebar or the seat that
might endanger the rider through sharp edged
or pointed shapes while steering, getting on
and off the trike or bumping against something.
Before you purchase a bell or a lighting system
make sure that these accessories conform to
your national laws and regulations.
Fairings
As a front fairing for the Scorpion, you may
use the Streamer fairing offered by HP
V
ELOTECHNIK. Please take care to assure a good
vision over the fairing and sufficient freedom
of movement below.
Please take into account that any fairing makes
the tricycle more prone to crosswind influences. In strong wind or gusts of wind unsafe
situations may occur. Please remove the fairing
before riding in such weather conditions.
Caution! Mounting additional parts or accessories is at your own risk. It is important
that you carefully read the installation guide
of the manufacturer.Additions to the handlebar like fairings, handlebar fittings, bottle
holders, etc. may impair your safety due to
additional loading or clips with sharp edges.
6
HP
Velotechnik
Replacement of parts
The replacement of parts relevant for safety
(especially brakes, lighting system, stem, handlebar, knuckles, drivetrain, suspension elements)
should only be done with original parts by a
bicycle mechanic, since it requires a certain degree of skill, suitable tools and mechanical aptitude.
Any technical change you perform on your
own is at your own risk!
No alteration of parts
Final assembly
Your trike has been delivered to your specialist dealer only partly assembled.
Your dealer has carefully finished the assembly,
perhaps altered the specification of your trike
to meet your special requirements and performed a test ride. Please make sure that this
pre-delivery service is recorded in the
Warranty Pass at the end of this manual.
All screws must be checked and tightened, especially on the handlebar, stem, knuckles, swing
arm pivot and wheels. Please follow the tightening torque settings listed in the table on
page 59.
Derailleurs and brakes must be checked and
adjusted. Please follow the instructions in the
manuals of the parts manufacturers that come
with this manual.
Screws and bolts
General safety instructions
Danger! If any part is deformed (e.g. due to
an accident or overload), especially frame,
knuckles, handlebar, seat mountings, pedals,
cranks and brakes, it is not allowed to use it
any further or repair it. Do not try to
straighten bent parts.You must replace them
for your own safety. If you do not replace a
damaged part it can result in a total failure
of the part and you may be seriously injured!
Caution! You are not allowed to perform
any work on the parts of the tricycle, especially frame, fork, handlebar and seat, which
might endanger their solidity.
These works include drilling holes, welding,
brazing, paint methods that add heat or any
other chemical treatment. If any of these
works is done improperly it may result in a
loss of strength by direct damage or increased susceptibility to corrosion.
Caution! Screws must be tightened with
prescribed tightening torque. In this manual
tightening torques are given in "Nm“
(Newtonmeter).Always use a torque
wrench wherever a torque setting is given in
this manual. Never rely on "feeling". Screws
tightened too much or not enough can
break, which can lead to dangerous accidents. In case you don't own a torque
wrench have your bicycle mechanic do the
respective work.You will find a table with
the prescribed torque settings on page 59 in
this manual.
Adjusting your new trike
7HP
Velotechnik
Before the first ride: adjusting your
new Scorpion
Your position on the Scorpion is essential for
your riding comfort, well-being and efficient
cycling.Therefore you should adjust the frame,
seat, handlebar and suspension to your individual requirements.
In order to adapt the Scorpion as closely as
possible to your body dimensions and to find
your ideal position you need to adjust the
front boom, seat and handlebars.
If your trike is equipped with the optional
front boom-quickadjust, please read the instructions in the seperate manual in addition
to the following instructions.
Adjusting the leg length: moving the
front boom
In order to adjust the leg length you have to
move the front boom (the front part of the
frame where the cranks are mounted) in the
main frame. Unscrew the bolts M8x35 under
the main tube with a 6 mm Allen key.Take a
grip on the front derailleur tube or both
cranks and move the front boom further into
the frame or pull it out while cautiously turning it.
Before you pull out the front boom shift the
chain to the smallest chain ring and sprocket.
Turn the cranks a little bit backwards while
pulling.Thus the chain is not under tension.
Adjusting the leg length
Danger! All procedures described here re-
quire a certain degree of skill, suitable tools
and mechanical aptitude.After any adjustment perform a static check and take a test
ride on a quiet street, away from traffic. If
you have any doubts please contact your local dealer.
Caution! After you have unscrewed the
clamping bolts take them off and examine
them for deformation. Lubricate threads and
heads thoroughly.Then re-fit the bolts. If
they don't turn easily you will have to replace the bolts.
Unscrew the clamping bolts to adjust the front boom.
8
HP
Velotechnik
Adjust the front boom in a way that your leg
is fully extended when your heel (wearing flat
shoes) is in the foremost position on the pedal. Experience shows that the pedal-to-seat
distance on a recumbent can be slightly longer
than on a conventional bike.
While you are pedaling, the ball of your foot
should be positioned above the center of the
pedal axle.
It is important that your leg is not fully
straightened when the crank is in the foremost
position. If the distance is too long it is difficult
to overcome this dead point, pedaling becomes uncomfortable and there is too much
strain on the sinews of your feet and legs. If
the distance is too short you may suffer from
knee pain.
For riders with short leg length the front
boom has to be cut by a bicycle mechanic, so
it can be inserted maximum possible. It is important to trim the end of the tube neatly.The
bare metal of the shortened tube end has to
be protected against corrosion with a paint
stick or wax spray.
The maximum insertion of the front boom is
limited by possible heel strike of the frame’s
cross bar, depending on the rider’s shoe size.
Please check before riding your trike that
there is enough heel clearance. For shorter
riders under 175 cm body height we recommend to use shorter cranks.
On the left underside of the front boom there
is a fine line.Align this line with the sticker on
the main tube’s front end right above the
clamping bolts to adjust the bottom bracket
axle to a horizontal position.Additionally, you
can look beyond the bottom bracket shell at
the rear wheel axle and align the front boom
parallel to it.Align your eyes with the bottom
bracket axle and not the front derailleur tube.
Then sit down on your tricycle and check the
position.
Tighten the bolts with a torque wrench (tightening torque 14–16 Nm). On your first ride
check whether there is sufficient clamping.
Adjusting the leg length
Adjust the front boon so that your knee will not be fully straightened when pedaling.
Danger! When you insert the front boom,
the front boom and the inner wall of the
tube must be totally free from grease, otherwise it will not clamp properly and may turn
while you are riding.
Caution! When you move the front boom
take care that its end does not damage any
light cables that possibly come out of the
main frame. Please inform yourself about the
length of the front boom on your trike before you do any work.While moving the
front boom you also have to move the light
cables The light cable must never be
stressed by pulling.
Adjusting your new trike
9HP
Velotechnik
Danger! If the bolts are tightened too
much or bent, the screw or the frame can
break! If the clamping is insufficient the front
boom can turn during a ride which may
cause your feet to slip from the pedals and
lead to injuries.
Caution! The minimum insertion depth of
the front boom into the main frame is 8 cm
(3 1/5").The end of the front boom must
not be visible in the clamping slot when you
look at the main frame from below, since
this may result in a damage of the frame.
The rear end of the front boon must never be visible in the
clamping slot.
Danger! There must be a bush (a slotted
tube of plastic with edges to the front and
the clamping slot) in the main frame’s front
boom hole that is glued in the frame.This
bush ensures safe clamping of the front
boom and protects the paint. It is important
to take care that this bush is always visible
at the front end of the main frame.The lower slot has to be aligned in coincidence with
the slot in the main frame. If this bush is
missing or moved to the back of the tube
while inserting the front boom, safe clamping
is no longer guaranteed, even if it seems to
be the case at first glance. If the front boom
is not clamped properly it may turn and lead
to a fall.A missing or misaligned bush will
lead to frame damage.
The plastic bush between front boom and main frame must be
visible at all time.
If the bush is missing or not alligned properly or the screws are
tightened too much, the frame can break.!
10
HP
Velotechnik
After moving the bottom bracket tube your
dealer has to adjust the chain length. By default
the Scorpion comes with a very long chain so
the adjustment range of the tricycle can be fully used without the need to lengthen the
chain.
After the basic adjustment of the leg length
done by your dealer before handing over the
tricycle, the chain has to be shortened so that
the derailleur cage is not fully turned forward
while shifting on the largest chain ring in front
and the smallest sprocket behind.The derailleur must still be able to compensate a
length change of the chain of at least 4 cm (1
1/2"). In order to choose the right chain
length, please consult the manual of the derailleur manufacturer.
After adjusting the front boom the gap in the
clamping slot between the front boom and the
main frame should be sealed with wax or silicone in order to protect your frame from the
penetration of water and dirt and hence damage through corrosion which may lead to a
broken frame.
We recommend to slightly readjust the front
boom every 3 months so that knees in order
to provide a slightly different position to your
muscles and ankles.You might also find a more
comfortable and more efficient riding position.
A wrong adjustment may lead to pain in your
knees and inefficient pedaling. In addition we
recommend to ride with a high pedalling cadence, which means to pedal fast and with little pressure. Pedalling with too much pressure
may also lead to pain in the knees.You will find
more information about this on page 25.
Adjusting the leg length
Check that there is at least a 5 cm (2") clearance between the
end of the chain tube and other parts of the drive train.
Danger! After the chain has been shortened it must be closed with a special closing
link or a chain riveting tool that expands the
rivet while riveting (i.e. R
OHLOFF- Revolver).
A poorly joined chain may break and thus
lead to damage or injury. Chain length adjustments or chain changes should be done
by your bicycle mechanic.
Caution! Take care that the chain tubes
have a clearance of at least 5 cm (2") to the
rear derailleur and the front derailleur even
under maximum tension of the chain and
make sure that the tubes are held tight in
their fastenings.The front upper tube can be
moved to the rear for length adjustment.
Shorten the tubes if necessary. If the end of
the chain tube gets in touch with the rotating chain rings it can be locked-up and destroyed.The chain tubes must be prevented
from moving by a rubber tube over the retention spring.
Adjusting your new trike
11HP
Velotechnik
Adjusting the seat length
Your Scorpion is equipped either with the
ErgoMesh®mesh seat or the adjustable
BodyLink
®
seat from HP VELOTECHNIK.
The following instructions refer to the
BodyLink seat. Length, seat back angle and
lower seat angle are adjustable for this seat.
The adjustment of the seat length and the
proper seat angle is crucial for a comfortable
feeling while riding your recumbent.
The upper curve of the seat back in the area
of the shoulder blades determines the correct
seat length:Through this shape the shoulder
and neck area is lifted from the recumbent position so that the head rests in a natural and
relaxed position. For this reason you shouldn't
need a head rest if you have the right seat position. On long rides, a head rest can increase
your riding comfort as you can relax your
neck for a few seconds by leaning back.You
can mount our custom headrest to your existing seat.
The seat is too small when you have the impression that your back is pressed too much
into a "hunchback". It is too large when you
have the impression that the seat angle is too
far back when you are in the most upright position, or when you hit the upper seat edge
with the back of your head when you look upwards.
Adjusting the seat length
Take off the seat cover (see page 54). Open
the quick release lever for the seat back angle
adjustment, so that the seat is not bent with
inner tension. Loosen the 4 screws at the inner side of the seat back with an allen key
SW4 a few turns. Step behind your trike and
hold the seat back with both hands. Pull or
push the seat back to achieve the preferred
seat length.To achieve the smallest possible
seat length, move the 2 upper screws from the
top to the middle holes.
Tighten all 4 screws with 5–6 Nm. Move the
seat back rest to the preferred angle and close
the quick release lever firmly. Reinstall the seat
cover
Length adjustment of the
Airflow cushion
The optional Airflow-cushion consits of two
parts, that connect in a V-type shape. Loosen
the velcro mounting of the upper part, and
place it in the desired position, than fasten the
velcro.
Adjusting the seat back angle
A great advantage of the BodyLink® seat on
your Scorpion is the possibility to adjust the
seat back angle very quickly. For beginners or
rides in the city you can choose an upright
seat position for a better view, and for longer
rides you can choose a flat position for better
aerodynamics.
The seat back is fastened with a quick release
lever on a slotted aluminum seat mounting.You
can adjust the seat back angle by 10 degrees
by simply opening the quick release lever. In
the medium seat position the angle is about
35° from horizontal.
Adjusting the seat position
Caution! Do not loosen or tighten the 4
screws in the lower seat part to adjust the
seat length. Maximum tightening torque of
these screws is 3–4 Nm.
Caution! To avoid noise from the seat when
loaded, the contact surfaces between the
two seat shells need to be seperated by selfadhesive plastic sheets and all contact surfaces of seat and seat mountings and frame
need to be lubricated with grease.
12
HP
Velotechnik
Adjusting the seat back angle is easy when you
push the seat back with your hands on the
backside close to the seat mounting into the
desired position. By pulling at the upper seat
edge, tension may be created which causes the
adjustment mechanism to lock up.
Because of the flexibility of the BodyLink
®
seat
and the special shape of the seat mountings,
the seat effectively pivots around a central axis, approximately in the area of the lower lumbar vertebrae.This is the place where you support most of your pedaling force while riding,
so this point determines the distance to the
pedals.The advantage of this design is that you
adjust the distance from the seat to the bottom bracket only once as described above, a
change in the seat angle does not require an
adjustment of the front boom.
Adjusting the front seat edge
The front seat edge can be slightly lowered to
accommodate smaller riders.With a lower
front seat edge, it is easier to put your feet on
the ground without pressure from the seat
edge on the back of your legs.With a higher
front seat edge, the seat will give more support and avoid the feeling of „sliding down the
seat“ that occurs with upright seat angles.
To adjust the front seat edge, open the quick
release lever at both the lower and the upper
seat half, so that the seat is not under inner
tension.Thus you need less force for the adjustment. Push or pull the seat front edge firmly to reach the desired position and close the
quick release lever firmly.Then adjust the seat
back angle as described above.
If the quick release lever pressure is to loose
when closed, open the lever and turn the
screw on the end of the quick release axle
clockwise.The low profile design of the screw
head gives more clearance for the drive train.
Adjusting the lumbar support
The BodyLink®seat is ergonomically shaped
and supports the natural S-curve of your
spine. Forces from pedaling are supported in
the area of your lower back just above your
hips.The amount of support in this area (lumbar support) is adjustable by moving the seat
back and lower seat against each other.
To get more lumbar support, lower the seat
front edge and put the seat back in a more reclined position.
To get less lumbar support, rise the front seat
edge and put the seat back more upright.
For maximum adjustment, loosen the 4 screws
for the seat length adjustment in the seat back.
Thus the lobes of the lower seat part can
move more easily into the desired shape.
Tighten the screws and quick releases as described above.
Adjustment of the head rest
Both seat types can be equipped with a head /
neckrest which is adjustable in height and angle. Use the long holes and the screw hidden
under the cushion (BodyLink-seat) or the
mounting clamp (ErgoMesh-seat) for setting up
the correct position.
Adjusting the seat position
Caution! The three quick releases have to
be closed firmly (tightening force 15-20 kg /
45 lbs) to safely hold the seat.You must not
open them while riding.After they have been
closed the imprint "close" must be visible. If
the quick releases are not properly tightened the seat can move while riding and you
may lose control over your tricycle.
Caution! Do not push or carry your trike
on the head rest, this may damage the head
rest or the seat!
If the clamping screws are tightened too hard,
the handlebar may be deformed, and no proper clamping can be achieved.
Please take care that the clamping area of the
stem is thoroughly trimmed and there are no
sharp edges which may cause handlebar failure.
While riding you should allow your arms to
rest in a relaxed position on the handlebars.
Do not push or pull on the handlebars. If the
handlebars turn in the stem clamping during
the ride stop immediately and tighten the
clamping screw of the handlebars. If the handlebars are not sufficiently clamped the handlebars or the stem may be damaged or deformed. In this case, safe clamping can no
longer be guaranteed, not even with the correct tightening torque, and handlebars and
stem have to be replaced.
Your bike shop can supply a special fitting lubricant that increases friction between handlebar and stem.
Adjusting your new trike
13HP
Velotechnik
Adjusting the handlebars
Adjusting the handlebar angle
By changing the angle of the handlebars you
can adjust the position of the grip to the
length of your upper body and your arms.
The handlebar consists of two parts.They are
mounted to the stem by a slotted clamp on
each side.The adjustment range in width is 3.5
cm on each side, giving a total range of 7 cm
(aprox. 2 ¾").
Most riders are comfortable with a 85° angle
so that the bent grips point upwards and
slightly forward.The more upright the grip position and the narrower the handlebar width,
the larger the minimum possible turning circle
as the handlebars touch your legs or the seat
earlier.
In order to change the angle or the width,
loosen the screws of the stem/handlebar
clamping. Move the handlebars until they are in
your favourite position. Tighten the clamping
screws with
8–10 Nm. Check the correct
clamping of the handlebars by sitting down on
your trike and pulling the handlebars. Doing so
the handlebars must not turn in the stem.
Danger! If the handlebar grips are adjusted
pointing too far forward or too wide, your
hands or the brake levers can touch the
front wheels or mudguards when cornering
sharp, leading to injury. Make sure you have
at least 5 cm (2“) clearance between brake
levers and front wheels / mudguards at all
steering angles.
Caution! If the handlebar grips are adjusted
pointing to far forward,the handlebar can
touch and damage the track rods when cornering sharp. Make sure the handlebars contact your legs or the seat first before touching the track rods. Damages track rods must
be replaces.
Handlebar width and angle are adjusted with the clamp at the
stem under the main frame.
Caution! Do not exceed the handlebar
width over the „Max“ mark, otherwise a
safe clamping is not possible.
Adjusting the cable length
You can make smaller adjustments by moving
the cables in their guides at the frame and the
stem, so there is enough clearance for all
movements. If this is not the case you will have
to have your specialist dealer shorten the cables or replace them by longer ones.
Cover all contact areas where cables move
and touch the frame with sturdy transparent
tape.This protects the paint against scratching
and wear.
Handlebar grips
The grips on the handlebar are susceptible to
wear and tear. Have your grips replaced by
your bike shop once they don't feel comfortable any more.The grips always need to be attached firmly to the handlebar.
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Velotechnik
Adjusting the handlebars
Caution! After having adjusted the handle-
bar position you have to readjust the length
of the brake cables and shifter cables.The
cables have to run smoothly without any
sharp turns and they should not be bent
sharply or stretched when the handlebar is
at maximum angle. Also avoid large bows
that could be caught up by the front wheels
or other parts or touch objects under your
trike.
Caution! When getting on and off the trike,
make sure to avoid pulling at the handle bars
or stepping on the tie rods.To get off the
trike, sit upright on the front seat edge and
then stand up. Grip the front wheels or the
seat back as an extra support, not the handlebars. If you pull firmly at the handlebars,
the steering mechanism can be damaged.
Adjusting your new trike
15HP
Velotechnik
Adjusting the suspension
Purpose of suspension adjustment
Your Scorpion is equipped with a rear swing
arm for the suspension of the rear wheel.This
system compensates slight bumps on the road
to make riding more comfortable and to reduce stress for your tricycle.
A well-adjusted suspension improves the traction of your tricycle on uneven roads.
Especially when riding in a bend this allows a
higher speed and also improves safety.
In order to achieve maximum riding comfort,
the suspension settings have to match your
weight as well as the road condition.
The goals of the adjustment are:
● maximum use of the available suspension
travel without the suspension frequently
bottoming out
● quick reaction of the suspension without
obvious oscillation after having passed
a bump
● avoiding self enforcing oscillations, that means
increasing oscillations of the suspension
system due to pedaling influence, rhythmic
body movements or permanent wavy
underground
Suspension and damping
The suspension system of the rear swing arm
consists of a spring and a damper.
Often, the terms suspension and damping are
used inaccurate in everyday language.
The spring is the elastic element that compresses and expands due to the the load
changes, which e.g. occur on bumpy roads.
While expanding, the spring releases the same
energy it took to compress it.
The rear swing arm is suspended with a steel
coil spring in the standard version.The optional rear shock DT-S
WISS XM180 uses air as
spring medium.
The damper slows down the process of compression and expansion.That means the tricycle does not immediately "spring" back to the
initial position or even further than that after
having passed a bump.The damper converts
spring energy into friction and finally into heat,
and thus takes away energy from the suspension system.The damper prevents the spring
from swinging uncontrolled after an initial
stimulation. In addition, the damper helps to
avoid self enforcing oscillations of the suspension caused by recurrent stimulation like pedaling forces within a crank revolution or the
rhythmic up and down movement of the legs.
In case you have mounted the optional suspension element DT-S
WISS XM180, the hydraulic
damping of the rear suspension is adjustable.
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You should always set the damping as low as
possible to give the tricycle the possibility to
quickly react even to several bumps in a row.
You can ride the Scorpion with a considerably
lower damping than for example a MTB: due
to the relaxed and steady position of the body
the recumbent does not experience extreme
variations in the load as it is known from
dancing on the pedals while riding uphill on a
mountain bike.
In addition to this, varying pedaling forces have
very little influence on the suspension of the
tricycle due to the No Squat design of the suspension system of the Scorpion. So when you
adjust the damping, always start with a low
damping rate.
It is necessary to choose the correct spring
stiffness to have a well operating suspension
system.The spring stiffness is a measure for
the compression of a spring at a certain load.
It is either given in "N/mm" (Newton per
Millimeters) or "lbs./inch" (Pounds per Inch).
Sometimes you only find "lbs." printed on the
springs.
The spring stiffness of the optional air shock
DT-S
WISS XM180 is set by adjusting the air
pressure.
The suspension is designed in a way that the
spring is compressed partly when you sit
down on your tricycle.This is called negative
suspension travel (or "sag") and it enables the
spring to expand on bumpy roads. (Which is in
fact a definitely positive feature.) You should
choose a spring stiffness with which this negative suspension travel takes up around 30% of
the overall suspension travel.This value usually
provides a very comfortable ride on your suspended recumbent trike.
Adjusting to load
The luggage carrier of the Scorpion is
mounted to the suspended part of the frame.
That way your luggage is also fully suspended
and it spares the material. Most notably, even
under heavy load the suspension will
compensate an uneven road much better and
quicker compared to a design where the
luggage carrier is mounted to the unsuspended
parts, e.g. the rear swing arm.
Additional luggage changes the load on the
wheels and their suspension.The springs are
further compressed initially through the load
and there is less suspension travel for bumps
while riding.Your suspension will bottom out
more often.
The suspension of the front wheel is less
affected since luggage at the rear rack almost
only puts weight on the rear wheel. Only in
case of heavy luggage on the lowrider under
the seat there is an influence on the front
wheel.
In order to compensate the variations in the
load you can change the pre-load. For details
see the following chapter.
Theoretically adjusting the preload can
compensate for a load change of approx. 10 kg
(23 lbs) at the rear wheel. In case of higher
variations in the load you will have to
exchange the spring with a spring with
different spring rate. In practice you can often
do without it: the Scorpion offers a lot of
suspension travel for a touring trike (80 mm).
When you choose the spring rate to have the
full 80 mm at your disposal when your
recumbent is under maximum load, you will
have a somewhat smaller but still very
comfortable suspension travel when you ride
without luggage.The optional air shock DTS
WISS XM180 can be easily pumped up to
compensate load increases.
Adjusting the suspension
Steel spring rear shock
The preload determines how far the suspension compresses when you are sitting on the
tricycle while standing still.
For maximum riding comfort the suspension
should compress by about 30% of the total
suspension travel while you sit on the tricycle
in driving position.
For that purpose measure the distance between the two suspension element bolts or
between rear rack and rear wheel while the
trike is unloaded as well as while sitting on the
tricycle in riding position.Also take into account possible luggage. Find out the total suspension travel possible for your tricycle with
the method described above, depending on the
mounted add-on-parts and clips on the piston
rod.The static compression should amount to
about one third of the overall suspension travel.
You can affect this negative suspension travel
depending on how much you weigh and how
much you load your trike either by adjusting
the suspension pre-load for fine tuning or by
replacing the spring with a spring with a different stiffness in the rough tuning.
In order to adjust the suspension pre-load
turn the adjustment ring on the threaded part
of the suspension element by hand.Turning the
adjustment ring clockwise (looking at it from
behind) reduces the preload, turning it counterclockwise you screw the adjustment ring
towards the spring and increase the suspension pre-load. It is helpful to turn the spring
together with the adjustment ring.
Adjusting your new trike
17HP
Velotechnik
Adjusting the rear suspension element
For the rear suspension of the Scorpion a
spring element is combined with a hydraulic
damping unit in a suspension element.The
damping results from fluid friction of an oil
flowing through thin holes of a valve in between two chambers inside the damper. A
slightly noticeable sound that may occur from
this oil flow is normal. Due to the fluid friction
the spring element may heat up, therefore
touch the spring element after a ride only very
carefully.
The Scorpion comes standard with a steel
spring rear shock.As an option you can get
the air shock DT-S
WISS XM180 that uses air as
spring medium.
Danger! While adjusting the rear suspension element never load the tricycle e.g. by
resting on the seat or loading the rear rack
when your hands or tools are close to the
suspension element.Your hands may get
caught and squeezed when the suspension
compresses.
Danger! The suspension elements are filled
with gas under high pressure. Never try to
open the damper or to remove the screw at
the gas tank. Inside the damper there are no
user serviceable parts. In case of damage
you will have to take the complete suspension element to your dealer.
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Adjusting the suspension
The adjustment ring should be turned not
more than five turns (measured from the relaxed position) towards the spring. If the suspension compresses still too far even after six
turns, the spring is too soft and has to be replaced by a harder spring.A too high preload
with a too soft spring will not take advantage
of the full comfort potential.
You can find more information on changing
springs in this manual under "Maintenance and
Care", page 42.
Steel spring suspension element with fixed damping rate.
The suspension travel is adjusted by adding clips to the piston
rod of the spring element.
Danger! Take care that the rear wheel or
mudguard or suspension element never hit
the frame, seat, rear rack or luggage box
while the suspension is fully compressed.
Therefore relax the spring completely by
turning the spring retention disc on the
thread of the spring element as far as possible (before this, push the possibly existing
safety spring ring from its slot in the threaded section as far as possible). Have a second
person sit down on the tricycle and make
the suspension bottom out by leaning on
the seat or the rear rack.
If the distance between the wheel or mudguard and the frame, seat, or rear rack is
smaller than 1 cm you will have to mount an
additional spacer. In case you don't, the mudguard may break suddenly or the rear wheel
might be blocked which can lead to serious
crashes.
Danger! The adjustment ring has always to
be screwed on so far that the spring has no
play when unloaded. Otherwise the adjustment ring could come loose through shocks
while riding and the slotted rear spring retention disc comes off. In that case the suspension element may be damaged or the
rear wheel can hit the frame or rear rack,
which may lead to serious falls.
Always have an initial preload of at least half
a turn on the spring.
Adjusting your new trike
19HP
Velotechnik
Air shock DT.SWISS XM180
Please follow the instructions in the separate
manual provided by the rear shock manufacturer.
This rear shock contains pressurized air in a
main („positive“) air chamber as suspension
medium.Air shocks are lighter than steel
spring rear shocks.Another advantage is that
the spring stiffness can be easily adjusted with
an air pump: By increasing the pressure the
spring becomes harder.
Air shocks have a progressive spring behaviour,
whereas steel springs have a linear spring behaviour. This means that the air shock gets
progressively harder, e.g. it is much stiffer when
fully compressed than when only slightly compressed.
The advantage of this progressive spring behaviour is the good bottom-out protection
when heavily loaded.
The valve for the air chamber is located at the
back end of the air shock.The valve is protected by a metal valve cap.
To pump up the air shock you need a special
air pump designed for bicycle air shocks. It
must feature a fitting schrader valve adaptor
and a pressure indicator.
When attaching or removing the pump
to/from the valve, you will lose some air pressure (about 0,5-1 bar).Take off the pump
quickly.
Recommended pressure settings
load pressure
up to 80 kg (183 lbs) 6.5 bar
up to 100 kg (230 lbs) 7.5 bar
up to 130 kg (286 lbs) 9.0 bar
Maximum allowed pressure is 18 bar.
Danger! Take care that the rear wheel or
mudguard or suspension element never hit
the frame, seat or rear rack box while the
suspension is fully compressed.
Therefore fully deflate the air shock. Have a
second person sit down on the tricycle and
make the suspension bottom out by pushing
on the seat or the rear rack.
If the distance between the wheel or mudguard and the frame, seat or rear rack is
smaller than 1 cm you will have to have your
trike dealer mount an additional spacer inside the air shock. In case you don't, the
mudguard may break suddenly or the rear
wheel might be blocked which can lead to
serious crashes.
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Adjusting the suspension
Adjusting the damping
By adjusting the damping you can adjust the
performance of the suspension precisely to
your individual riding situation.A rough street
with many harsh bumps that occur in a row or
even cobblestones needs a low damping rate
while a road with long stretched bumps that
occur more regularly needs a stronger damping to achieve a smooth road holding.
When you add a lot of luggage you will need
to adjust the spring stiffness; in that case an
adjustment of the damping may even give you
more riding comfort.
Finally, the oil used in the damper becomes
thicker and more viscous at lower temperatures, which can be compensated through a
change in the damper setting.
Please note that you can seriously spoil the
riding comfort by a bad damper setting, especially caused by unsystematic playing with the
knobs that may result in much to high damping
values. In the worst case the suspension element will neither compress nor decompress. If
you are in doubt please consult your local
dealer.
The rebound damping prevents an eventual
"jumping" of the rear wheel and provides a
good traction. By improving the road surface
contact the suspension of the Scorpion also
increases your riding safety.
A higher damping value prolongs the time until
the decompression movement is finished. Only
then can the suspension compensate the next
shock with the full suspension travel.
Therefore, when you ride on very bumpy
streets with shocks that occur fast in a row
you might want to use a lower damping value.
A good setting for maximum comfort is
achieved when the rear wheel decompresses
completely after a shock and then oscillates
only once. In order to check the adjustment
you will need a second person that compresses the suspension by pushing the tricycle down
while you are sitting on the tricycle in the riding position.The other person can then observe the suspension movements.
In order to adjust the damping during decompression, turn the adjustment knob on top of
the rear end of the suspension element.
If you turn the knob in direction of the „-“ you
will get less damping and thus faster decompression.Turning the knob in direction of the
„+“ will give you more damping and thus slower decompression.
Air Shock DT-Swiss XM180 Damping ist adjusted with the red
knob at the rear end.The shock must be installed with the lockout lever on the backside facing down to avoid a collision
between lever and frame when the suspension is moving.
Adjusting your new trike
21HP
Velotechnik
Adjusting the front suspension
(Scorpion fs)
In addition to the suspended rear swing arm,
the Scorpion fs is equipped with a suspended
front axle. It is designed as a so called
McPherson strut. That means, the left (or right)
suspension strut's upper end is supported in
the frame while it is linked to a single wishbone on its bottom end.The front wheel is directly attached to the suspension strut, which
is the knuckle at the same time.
Inside the suspension strut a steel spring is
combined with MCU-elastomers.The front
suspension is damped by friction between
stanchion tube and a circular elastomer band
situated between the bushings as well as by
friction inside the elastomers.
To decrease body roll in during fast cornering
and to provide high comfort at the same time,
the front axle is equipped with a stabilizer bar.
This bar is linked elastically with both wishbones and the main frame. As the stabilizer bar
works as a torsional spring, it supports the
outside wheel's suspension while cornering.
For maximum comfort, 30% of the suspension
travel should be used when you sit on your
trike in a normal driving position (the same is
valid for the rear suspension). For the
Scorpion fs front suspension, this means 20
mm of travel (so called "sag").
Your Scorpion fs has reached a sag of 20 mm
when the upper edge of the knuckle which
you can feel underneath the shock boot coincides with the lower edge of the headtubes of
the main frame.You can fine tune this sag according to your weight and your additional
luggage by adjusting the preload of the springs.
To change the spring rate in a wider range, you
can replace the steel spring or interchange
elastomers and spacers inside the suspension
struts. For further instructions, please see the
chapter "Maintenance and Care" on page 44.
To adjust the preload of the front suspension,
unscrew the strut end cap using a hex key size
5. Now the preload adjuster is visible, which
can be turned by a hex key size 5, too.
Turn the preload adjuster counter clockwise
to decrease preload, turn it clockwise to increase preload.The maximum depth is limited,
so stop turning when resistance rises suddenly.
After adjusting, place the cap on the strut and
tighten it gently (1-2Nm).
The damping rate can be altered by exchanging
the elastomer bands inside the suspension
struts, see “Removing and disassembling the
suspension struts” on page 47.
Danger! While adjusting the front suspension, never load the tricycle, e.g. by resting
on the seat or loading the racks when your
hands or tools are close to the suspension
struts.Your hands may be bruised when the
suspension compresses.
Danger! The mounted spring is under tension. Do not remove the preload adjuster
when adjusting the spring preload. Make
sure the adjusting disc's thread is fully
screwed into the stanchion tube. Otherwise
it may become loose and hurt you.
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