Owner Care / Bike Safety
Before Your First Ride
A quick safety check for your bike, with assembly reminders and help when you need it.
Horacio Owner Care · First-ride checks
A few careful checks help you start with confidence—whether your bike was assembled by you, your local bike shop or our mechanic.
This checklist supports, but does not replace, the instructions supplied for your bike and components.
Assembled it yourself? We strongly recommend a safety check by a qualified local bike shop before your first ride.
If any check is unclear or something does not feel right, ask for help before riding.
Your pre-ride checklist
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BrakesBoth brakes must work correctly. With the bike on the ground, apply each brake while gently pushing the bike to check that it holds its wheel. Do not ride if braking is weak or a lever pulls to the handlebar.
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Handlebar, stem and forkCheck orientation, alignment and secure fixings. Follow the marked or manual torque limits; do not simply tighten everything harder.
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WheelsBoth wheels must be fully seated and secured. Check the quick-release, axle nuts or thru-axle fitted to your bike using its instructions. Ask a mechanic if you are unsure.
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Pedals and crank armsPedals must be on the correct sides, correctly threaded and tightened to the supplied specification. Check for looseness in the crank arms and their fixings. Stop if there is movement or a clicking problem.
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Tyres and saddleSet tyre pressure within the applicable tyre and rim limits. The saddle and seatpost must be secure, with the minimum-insertion mark inside the frame.
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Cables and gearsTurn the handlebar both ways: nothing should snag or pull tight. Where fitted, check shifting through all gears before the first ride, following the system's instructions. If you cannot check safely, ask a bike shop. Report shifting problems before riding.
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Final itemsFit the supplied bell and reflectors. Raise the kickstand and check that it is secure. Wear a correctly fitted helmet and use lights when required.
Three assembly points worth a closer look
Pedals: left and right are different
Match the L and R markings. The right pedal fits the chain or belt side. Viewed from the outside of each crank arm, the right pedal tightens clockwise and the left anti-clockwise. Start the threads by hand; if they do not engage smoothly, stop and never force them.
Finish tightening with the correct tool to the manufacturer's specification. Wrong-side, forced or loose pedals can damage the crank threads.
Fork: check its orientation
On our disc-brake models, the front brake caliper belongs on the bicycle's left side, like the rear caliper. Check the supplied instructions as well—brake position alone is not a complete assembly check.
If the fork appears reversed, do not ride. Ask us or a mechanic to confirm its orientation.
Cables: crossing is not the same as tangling
Cables may cross in front of the head tube, but must not be wrapped around the frame, trapped or pulled tight. Follow your bike's routing instructions and turn the handlebar fully both ways.
If steering pulls a cable tight or applies a brake, do not ride.
For electric and belt-drive bikes
E-bikes: switch the system off for mechanical checks. Check the battery, charger, wiring and connectors for damage, and confirm the battery is seated and locked as instructed. Use only the approved charger; do not charge a damaged or unusually hot battery.
Belt drive: do not apply chain oil or grease to the belt. If it skips, runs off line or makes an unusual noise, stop and seek help. Follow the shifting instructions for your fitted gear system.
Do not ride with loose parts or brakes, steering, wheels or pedals that do not work correctly. Contact us with photos or a short video if you are unsure. Do not keep riding to see whether the problem goes away.
Once all checks pass, start with a short, low-speed ride in a safe area away from traffic. Follow any brake bedding-in instructions supplied for your brakes.
We recommend a first service at around four months, sooner for frequent, wet, dusty, sandy, loaded or off-road use. Do not wait for that service if looseness, noise or shifting problems appear.
Damage caused by incorrect assembly is not covered by our voluntary warranty. Self-assembly alone does not invalidate an otherwise valid claim. Your Australian Consumer Law rights remain unaffected.