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Ever talk yourself out of a sweet factory-direct deal out of fear of the assembly process? Rest assured, we’ve all doubted our mechanical abilities from time to time but that is no reason to pass up an excellent bargain by ordering a bike online.
Our Kinley SX Pro test bike arrived and with it came an opportunity to document the assembly process.. The entire elapsed time between opening the crate and pumping the first pedal stroke was just shy of a half hour.
Step One:
Regardless of how long the work day stretched on, or how lousy the commute home in traffic may have left you feeling, there is little doubt that arriving home to find a crate like this on the porch can erase that headache better than two aspirin or a bottle of bourbon.
Step Two:
Tearing open the outer box often reveals (as was the case with our Kinley) a smaller box within. Open carefully, using caution not to slice too deeply with a box cutter. The initial sight may be a bit overwhelming but don’t despair, believe it or not you’re already well on your way.
Step Three:
Remove the contents slowly and carefully, making certain everything was packed and that there was no damage in the shipping process. Most small parts will come in their own boxes so be especially careful not to throw anything away just yet. Give yourself ample work space and begin laying out everything you unpack.
Step Four:
Flip the handlebars carefully onto the steering stem and tighten just enough to hold them into place (you’ll want to fine-tune their position once the front wheel is on). Be sure to watch the cable routing to avoid kinking or twisting the lines.
Step Five:
Remove the plastic shipping guard and slide that front wheel into place. As is the case with our Kinley, be certain to align the rotor between the brake pads in addition to locking the hub into the fork’s dropouts. Slide the quick release axle through and tighten the threaded cap to the recommended spec. *This is also a good opportunity to straddle the bike and fine-adjust the handlebars to the proper alignment with the wheel. Once satisfactory, the bars can be locked into place with an allen key to tighten the bolt on the top of the steering stem and (in this case) two pinch bolts.
Step Six:
Attach the pedals by staring to thread them by hand then finishing the tightening specification with an open ended wrench. Note that often times the pedals will be marked L & R to indicate the left and right.
Step Seven:
Attaching the saddle (and stem) should be as simple as sliding them into the seatpost then tightening either the quick release threaded lever or in this case, a pinch clamp hex bolt.
Step Eight:
The bike is now fully assembled (and you didn’t believe us when we told you it was cake). Be certain to check the manufacturer’s recommended torque settings and double check all of the bolts before your debut ride. Some fine tuning of the brakes or drive train may be required, start out slow and easy until you have everything dialed in.
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