Catrike 2007 Trail Manuel utilisateur
Owner’s Manual
ALL CATRIKE MODELS
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Catrike.com
Table of Contents
I. Introduction .................................................................................................... 3
II. Register your Catrike...................................................................................... 4
III. Serial numbers ................................................................................................ 4
IV. Catrike Models ................................................................................................ 5
V. Safety and riding tips..................................................................................... 6
Safety tips
Riding tips
Maintenance tips
VI. Assembly ....................................................................................................... 11
Wheels
Prepare the spindles
Headset assembly
Handlebar adjustment
Install tie rod
Setting the toe (front wheel alignment)
Brake cable routing
Brake adjustment
Install the boom on the main frame tube
Install the derailleurs
Route the shifter cables
Install the pedals
Install the seat
Set the boom length
Install the chain
Adjust the derailleurs
Seat back adjustment
Install the mirror
Install the flag
Install the computer sensor mount
Adjust the neck rest
VII. Rear Suspension Instructions (Dumont &
RoadAR)........................................................................................................... 36
VIII. Suspended Spindle Instructions (Dumont &
RoadAR)........................................................................................................... 43
IX. Folding Assembly Instructions (5.5.9,
Dumont & Trail)............................................................................................ 50
X. How To Fold (5.5.9, Dumont & Trail)......................................................... 56
XI. Thru-Axle Instructions (700) ....................................................................... 57
XII. Catrike Limited Warranty ............................................................................ 58
XIII. IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM ........................................................................... 61
XIV. Thank you for choosing Catrike.................................................................. 62
OWNER’S MANUAL PAGE 3
Introduction
Congratulations on purchasing a Catrike!
You made a great decision buying a Catrike. We are sure you will enjoy riding it for years to
come.
Please take a moment to read through this document, especially, the sections on safety and
riding tips. You may find the most comfortable place to read this manual is sitting (stationary)
on your Catrike!
We hope you enjoy owning and riding your Catrike!
Happy Trails,
Paulo Camasmie
Founder and CEO
OWNER’S MANUAL PAGE 4
Register your Catrike
First, take a moment to register your Catrike. Registration is very important and required to
validate your warranty. We also use the registration to contact you, in the event, we ever need
to inform you about any Catrike safety warnings or recalls of any part.
Register online at the following link: http://www.catrike.com/register
If you are unable to register online (best method for registration is online) you can mail the
form on the back cover of this manual.
Serial numbers
The serial number is located on the main frame of your Catrike. The main frame is the largest
diameter part of the frame and serial numbers are located towards the back of the Catrike
behind/below the seat.
The serial numbers are permanently engraved into the frame. Serial numbers are preceded by
the Catrike logo and they are a 5-digit number (ie. 25555). You might need to look closely as
the serial numbers are engraved prior to powder coating/painting.
On adjustable seat back models Villager, Trail, Road, 559
& Dumont S/Ns are on the top side of the main frame.
On space frame models Expedition, 700, Pocket
S/Ns are on the bottom side of the main frame.
OWNER’S MANUAL PAGE 5
Catrike Models
OWNER’S MANUAL PAGE 6
Safety and riding tips
We make Catrikes for your enjoyment. Your safety is our top priority. Riding safely depends on many things, from
proper equipment to alertness to your attitude on the road. Above all, use common sense.
Safety tips
Bike trails and paths are ideal places to ride Catrikes. You can enjoy the view, relax and
socialize. You will have the most comfort, peace of mind and fun. If you elect, however, to ride
on streets, you do so at your own risk and know that whether it is a regular bicycle or a trike
you should be very careful. A trike is low to the ground and you must be extra careful when
riding with vehicular traffic. It is very important to make yourself visible. In part, you do this
with equipment such as brightly colored clothing and helmets, use of the safety flag that
comes with every Catrike, with blinking lights and reflective stickers. But you also must ride in
such a way that you engage the attention of motorists, making eye contact, signaling your
intentions, being courteous, smiling and waving. Use your voice to get attention. Be alert and
pay attention when riding in traffic and obey all traffic laws and rules of the road. The positive
side is that recumbent tricycles are unique, and once you make sure that you are being seen,
you generally find that motorists leave you more room and respect when you're on our
Catrikes than they do when you're on upright bicycles. Nevertheless, always assume that they
don't see you.
Reflective and high-visibility gear is great (use it all the time), but it's no substitute for lights
when riding at night or in low-light conditions. The new super-high-output LED rear lights are
very effective. Any small headlight (those that look like flashlights) may be enough to help
oncoming motorists see you, but it's not sufficient to actually light your way. If you're going to
ride at night, spend the money and get a good headlight.
While it may seem silly to wear a helmet on a low-slung tricycle, you should always do so. It's
very hard to tip the trike over, but it can happen. Also, if you have a close encounter of the
worst kind with a car or stationary object, chances are you won't stay on the trike. Always wear
a cycling helmet when riding your Catrike. A brightly colored helmet also helps motorists see
you.
You're very low, and it's possible for road grit to get whipped up by the wind or kicked up by
passing cars and hit you in the face. This is especially true in the spring in areas where sand is
used on the roads in winter. It's a good idea to wear sunglasses to protect your eyes.
OWNER’S MANUAL PAGE 7
We strongly recommend the use of the mirror that comes standard with every Catrike. You can
also order dual mirrors (one on each side). However, don't rely entirely on your mirrors. Turn
and look before changing lanes or turning across the line of traffic.
Riding along a line of parked cars can be particularly dangerous for those on low-slung bikes
and trikes. Motorists have a habit of opening their doors suddenly without looking behind
them…and even if they do look, they're concentrating on looking for oncoming cars, not a low
trike. When riding along a line of parked cars, look for occupants inside as you approach. If you
see someone sitting in the car, give them a bit of extra room.
Pedestrians, too, often aren't looking where you are. Use caution when approaching crosswalks
and use your bell, horn or your voice to alert those who may be stepping into the street.
If you carry loaded panniers, avoid putting the weight too high and too far aft, or it can cause
poor, even unsafe, handling.
Riding tips
If you don't have experience with recumbent tricycles, you may find that for the first few rides
you experience noticeable pedal steer (pushing hard on the pedals makes the trike swerve) and
brake steer (grabbing one brake harder than the other causes the trike to swerve). These two
phenomena become much less noticeable as you gain experience. Pedal steer is minimized or
eliminated by pedaling smoothly at a fairly high cadence, rather than mashing hard. Brake steer
is minimized by braking smoothly and evenly…if the trike lurches under braking you're
overdoing it (it's like driving your car…you don't stand on the brakes every time you slow the
car; rather, you learn to modulate the pressure so that the car does not lurch).
The smoothest, most enjoyable ride comes when you learn not to over control the trike. The
steering is very responsive, and does not require much input at all to make the trike change
direction. The less you try to steer, the smoother the ride will be.
It's possible to get the trike up onto two wheels, but this should be avoided. It puts a lot of
stress on the components and can cause loss of control. Bicycle wheels, hubs and tires are not
designed for heavy lateral loads, and if you go up on two wheels you're asking them to do
something they were never meant for. Your Catrike is wonderfully responsive and handles very
OWNER’S MANUAL PAGE 8
well, but it's possible to overdo it. Use common sense. You'll find that the trike stays more
firmly planted when going around a corner at speed if you lean to the inside of the turn.
CAUTION: The brakes on your Catrike are very powerful. It is quite possible to do a
“stoppie” on the Catrike (lock the front wheels and lift the rear wheel off the ground by
jamming on the brakes). In extreme cases, you can hit the chain rings on the ground and
damage them. Use common sense. Don't use maximum braking unless you really need to. (At
high enough speeds, the trike won't lift the rear wheel…it will just skid. And at very low speeds,
there isn't enough momentum to hit the chain rings on the ground.)
CAUTION: Brake Steering: Our frames are designed for a diminished brake steer effect.
However keep in mind that the trike is not a heavy vehicle such as a car. It does not have
hydraulic, electronics or self correcting mechanisms either. It is instead, a very light recreational
vehicle with a mechanical steering linkage that carries a rider sometimes over 8 times its
weight. Therefore the weight & dynamics of the driver can exert total control over the
capabilities of the vehicle. It does demand that the rider develops proper riding skills, such as
smooth pedaling, smooth steering and smooth breaking and that it is always conscious when
riding. The Catrike has front brakes only, since in a breaking situation 90% of the weight is
transferred to the front of the trike. The front brakes are also independent, meaning that you
can break the right wheel only, or the left wheel only. Therefore, especially in high speed or
downhill situations, it is mandatory that you pull both brakes at the same time and with the
same intensity. If you elect however, to brake only with one brake, this could cause the trike to
steer out of your path and cause serious injury or death.
CAUTION: Our peace boom and boom clamp is designed for high pressure clamping and
has an indexing system to keep the boom from twisting more than a few degrees. Make sure
the boom clamp is tight enough, so the boom will not twist while you pedal. The indexing tab
should be used as a guide; it is not intended to keep the boom from twisting under pressure.
Just like a bicycle seat post clamp, it is the rider's responsibility to check the boom clamp for
tightness. There is a plastic shim included between the boom and the main frame to eliminate
any gap and to increase clamping action. Make sure the plastic shim is correctly placed before
riding your Catrike. If for any reason, you are unable to install or tighten the boom clamp or are
OWNER’S MANUAL PAGE 9
missing the boom shim, please do not ride your Catrike and contact your Catrike Dealer.
Failure to do so might cause the boom to twist and cause serious injury.
Maintenance tips
Make it a habit to inspect your trike from time to time, especially when new. Fasteners have a
habit of working loose at first and this can cause a safety hazard. Also, you'll find that the right
front wheel tends to pick up debris from the edge of the road faster than the left front wheel,
because it's running closer to the curb. Catrikes come with Kevlar-belted tires for puncture
resistance, but this does not mean they're immune to flats.
Keeping your trike clean will maximize its life. Wash it from time to time but avoid the use of
pressure washers. They do a great job of getting dirt out of tight spaces, but they do an equally
good job of driving lubricant out of where it needs to be. It's better to use a bucket of water,
mild detergent and a soft brush.
Your Catrike comes equipped with mechanical disc brakes. Use care to not overspray any
solvents or cleaners onto the disc brake rotors or brake pads. Brake pads can absorb cleaners
which is a common cause of brake noise.
Many new owners tend to over-lube the chain. It should not be dripping with lube. A properly
lubricated chain looks dry and clean, and while it may leave a bit of a mark on your hand if you
grab it, it should not be a gloppy mess. Use your favorite lube and follow the instructions.
Always keep your tires filled to the recommended pressure (printed on the tire sidewall). The
tubes are not entirely airtight, and the tire will lose pressure over time. Trikes by nature will
scrub the tires a bit, so they may not last as long as they would on a bicycle. Overly aggressive
riding will shorten tire life.
Your seat mesh will stretch a bit and settle in over time. It's not meant to be drum-tight…it's
meant to support you comfortably. Pull the straps tight from time to time when the trike is
new…eventually the mesh and straps will settle into a stable configuration that you'll find is
quite comfortable.
When using a neck rest, we recommend placing the pad so that it's behind your neck, just
under the lower edge of the helmet, and in a position that lets you rest your neck on it if you
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