A common first step for maintenance and repairs is to remove the rear wheel of your bike. This may seem daunting if you are unfamiliar but the process is actually not too hard. This article explains the steps to remove the rear wheel from the Revv1 line of ebikes. 




Step 1: Flip the bike

This is easier with two people, however, can be done with one. It is best to raise the handlebars off the ground to avoid damage to the controls. In our example here we used a few folded over rags but other objects will work. In addition, be careful not to damage the fenders and the rear light when turning the bike over. 


Flip bike over




Step 2: Disconnect the Motor Wire

The motor wiring will have to be disconnected from the bike by both unplugging the electrical connector and cutting the zip ties that hold it to the frame. You should be able to see the zip with the bike flipped over and can access the electrical connection by pulling the extra wiring out of the hole near the bottom bracket. 


Locating the electrical connector


Cut the Zip ties from the wiring


Step 3: Remove the chain tensioner & axle nuts 

The chain tensioner will need to be removed to allow the wheel to pass by. Using a 6mm hex key, remove the fastener  and slide the tensioner toward the front of the bike so it is out of the way. Please note that this is under spring tension and will want to spring towards the front of the bike. Firmly grasp the tensioner while removing the bolt to prevent this. With the tensioner out of the way, a 19mm wrench can then be used to remove the axle nuts.


Remove chain tensioner


Remove the axle nuts


PRO TIP: The order of the parts you remove from the axle will become very important during reinstallation. Take a photo of each side of the axle before removing the parts so you have a reference for later.


Step 4: Remove the rear wheel 

At this point, there is nothing retaining the wheel beyond the forces of gravity and the wheel can be lifted out of the frame. There are a few things to note as you go through this step:

  • As you pull the wheel up and out of the frame you will need to remove the chain from the freewheel cog and axle to fully free the wheel.
  • If the wheel feels stuck in the dropout, a 10mm open ended wrench can be used on the flats of the axle to wiggle it back and forth as you pull the wheel out.
  • Note the orientation of the wheel as the brake side and gear side are different and will need to be reinstalled in the same orientation.
  • Note the orientation of the wiring coming out of the axle as you will need to match this orientation when reinstalling. 


Lift the wheel off of frame


Remove chain from Freewheel Cog


Step 5: Reinstall the rear wheel and axle hardware

After your repair is complete the rear wheel can be installed back onto the bike by reversing the steps above. When inserting the wheel back into the frame here are some things to look out for.

  • Take care in ensuring the brake rotor is inserted between the brake pads in the brake caliper.
  • The chain can be loosely placed on the freewheel cog.
  • The axle needs to be inserted in the same orientation it came off and needs to slide all the way down in the frame dropout
  • All hardware will need to be installed on the axle in the same order and orientation it came off.


Install wheel back into frame


Tighten axle nuts


Step 6: Route and reconnect the motor wire

The motor wire can now be reconnected and zipties replaced. Take care to ensure the wire comes out the top side (bottom when the bike is right-side up) of the frame, goes outside of the kickstand, and on the inside of the foot peg mounts. Routing the wire in any other way can cause rubbing on the brake rotor or tire and subsequent damage. 


Route the wiring


Replace ZipTies and secure connection


Step 7: Install chain tensioner

The last step of the process is the reinstall the chain tensioner onto your bike. This only involves tightening the one bolt but there are a few tips that may help with this.

  • All hardware should be installed in the same order it came off. There may be an extra washer on your bike for spacing.
  • The tensioner arm may need to be rotated a full 360 degrees to preload the spring tension.
  • This can be done with the bike flipped back onto its tires or upside down.


Install the chain tensioner

Ready to Ride!

This may seem like there are a lot of steps involved in removing the rear wheel from your bike but with practice this process can be very quick. We hope this helps with your repair and if you get stuck along the way, feel free to reach out to our knowledgeable customer support agents with photos and videos of where you are in the process for further assistance.