The following article goes over the steps to safely remove the rear wheel from the Roadster V3. The example used in the instructions is a belt drive model however, the same steps apply to the chain model. It is important to note that due to the shape of the dropouts, re-tensioning the belt is not necessary. For that information, please see our related belt article. 


Step 1- Unplug Motor Cable

The motor is located in the rear wheel of the bicycle and will need to be unplugged to remove the wheel. The first step is to remove the composite cover that protects the motor cable. This piece is held in place by four bolts as shown in the following image. 



Once the cover is off, the cable can be lifted out of the compartment and unplugged. The plug is friction fit and will pull apart with gentle force. 



Step 2- Remove Bolts

The next step is to remove the bolts on the bottom of the bottom of the brake mount. These bolts serve a dual purpose to hold the brake on the bike in addition to holding the motor cable in place. Remove these bolts to free up the motor cable so the wheel can be removed. It is okay to let the rear brake hang while the wheel is not in the bike. Be careful not to pull the brake lever while the brake is off the bike. Doing so will clamp the brake closed and it will need to be readjusted before it can be installed back on the bike. 




Step 3- Optional Kickstand Adjustment

As shown in the photo in step two, the motor cable runs between the frame and the kickstand. This can cause the motor cable to be hard to remove. To avoid this, loosening the kickstand bolts can allow the cable to be pulled out easier. The following photo shows this. The bolts do not need to be fully removed to free up the cable. 



Step 4- Loosen Axle Nuts

Once the motor cable is free, the wheel can be removed. The final step for this is to loosen the axle nuts on both sides of the wheel. It does not matter which one is loosened first. Once both are loose, the wheel can be extracted from the dropouts. 



Step 5- Wheel Install

When it is time to reinstall the wheel, the above steps can be followed in reverse however, when reattaching the wheel it is important to ensure the axle spacers are in the correct positions. Both sides have the same hardware: one flat washer, one tabbed washer, and the nut. The tabbed washer goes inside the frame and the flat washer goes outside the frame. The green line in the photo indicates where the dropout would sit. The tab on the washers should be facing towards the ground. 



Final Notes-

  • The torque for the rear axle nuts is 30 n.m.
  • The motor cable plug is asymmetrical and can only plug in one way. The shape is a trapezoid and should match the opposing plug before pushing them together.
  • Once the rear brake is installed again it will need to be adjusted, this link goes over how: https://youtu.be/uk_nC9anQcM?si=J2mc50tFl6ldtXfM