Frequently asked questions
Assembly
Which size bolt to use where?
The general rule of thumb is to use a bolt that is long enough to go through its mounting point and have the nut fully threaded on the other side at a minimum. Some of the longer bolts are needed for the seat back rests and headlights.
What size socket to use?
14mm
How do I attach the headlights?
Do I need the rubber washers?
The rubber washers are not necessary. They can help reduce some vibration and are typically used where the seat upright supports attach to the frame.
How do I install the front child seat if it does not seem to line up with support bracket?
Be sure to place the curved hooks on the back of the child seat on the steering assembly, not on the crossbar of the canopy support. Attach the bracket to the bottom of the child seat and then press down with some weight to get the bracket in place. It may take some force/weight to get into position. Once lined up, install the bolt to hold down the bracket to the front of the bike. This piece is important to secure the child seat and lock down the steering assembly.
How do I install the steering wheels if they don’t easily slide in place?
Usually they will slide right into place. On occasion they will need to be tapped into place with a mallet or hammer. You can also apply some WD-40 to help ease into place. On a rare occasion the cylinder on the steering wheel needs to be lightly sanded. Use a piece of fine grit sandpaper in your hand and wrap around the cylinder, grip and rotate. We have only seen sanding required in rare occassions. Usually a hammer or mallet does the trick. Be sure to line it up straight before tapping it in.
How long does it take to assemble?
Most customers require about 1 hour to unpack, and 2-3 hours of assembly time. The bikes come with the wheels, cranks and chains all assembled to the frame as a rolling chasis. You just build the seat supports, canopy supports, install the seat cushions, fenders, brake lines and steering column.
What tools are required?
You only need two adjustable wrenches. A socket wrench will greatly help.
Riding
Can I test ride a bike?
Yes! We often keep some demo bikes fully assembled in Chesapeake, VA. Contact us if you would like to schedule a time to check one out.
How hard is it to pedal?
Surrey bikes are designed for multiple people to ride/pedal. One person can easily pedal by themselves but may get tired if going a longer distance. The Surrey bikes have a lot more infrastructure and weight than a typical bike, which makes for more weight to pedal forward. As a child, if you ever rode your bike with a friend on the handlebars and one on the real pegs, that would be a close comparison of the effort required. They also have a relaxed bench style seat which puts more effort on your leg muscles and does not allow you to use your body weight as much when compared to a regular bicycle. Surrey bikes are great for exercise and fun for the whole family. We also have electric assist bikes which takes almost all the effort out of pedaling! We find that most people will ride 1-2 miles before becoming tired and needing a break. If you are having diffuculty, check these things:
Do you have multiple gears?
Our bikes are just one gear (Electric surrey has multiple). We have found that the bikes with multiple gears do not provide a great amount of benefit to the riders and can also have mechanical problems. We do offer electric assist if you are looking for an easier ride!
Are the pedals independent of one another?
Yes, each pedal location is completely independent. Meaning one person can stop pedaling while the others continue. This is true for the single and double bench bike. On the double bench bikes, if the front position is pedaling, the rear pedal can stay stationary. This is a safety feature to prevent the pedals from rotating and catching someone’s foot while they are not pedaling.
Why are my chains falling off?
There are a few common things to check. First check that your chains and cranks are not damaged. If a chain link is stiff or damaged it will easily fall off. Also, if the crank is wobbly the chain will fall off. If this is your case, the part(s) need to be replaced. If you have a single bench bike, or the back chain is falling off on a double, check the chain tension. The back wheels can be moved forward and backward an inch or so by adjusting the bolt, which will loosen or tighten the chain tension. The chain should the tight but have a little play when you press on it. If it is too tight, it will easily pop off with the slightest misassignment. If it is too loose, it will fall off as you are pedaling. If you have a double bench bike and the front chain is coming off, check the alignment and tension of the chain tensioner (derailleur). Be sure that the chains and gears line up on both the front and back chains. Chains are standard 1/8 by ½ bicycle chains. Chain lengths: Single Bench: 121 links, Double bench front: 145 links, back: 125 links
What is weight capacity?
The manufacturer’s suggested maximum weight for the double bench is 800lbs and 600lbs for the single. We have tested the bikes with 1200lbs on the double bench and 800lbs on the single bench without issues.
Does it have seat belts?
The front child seat does come with a simple strap that can be buckled. Buckle straps can be added to other seats, but the bikes do not come with those.
Are Surrey bikes good for persons with disabilities?
Yes! We have had many customers that have a disabled family member who cannot ride a bike by themselves. Surrey bikes enable them to enjoy a bike ride with friends and family. The four wheelbase makes them much more stable than a bicycle or tricycle and enable another person to steer and control braking.
Are these allowed in public areas such as bike trails, city sidewalks, parks, etc?
It all depends on your local laws and ordinances. Typically, anywhere a bike is allowed, a surrey bike is also allowed. Please check with your local officials and law enforcement. Our electric assist bikes are also often permitted in areas where bikes are allowed but not motorized vehicles. This is because the motor is built into the wheel and most people do not know it is motorized.
Shipping
What are shipping dimensions?
Single bench is 72” x 42” x 25” approx. 275lbs, Double bench is 102” x 34” x 25” approx. 300lbs
How are bikes packaged?
Bikes are shipped on pallets inside of boxes that have a reinforced steal frame to protect the bike. The bikes have bubble and foam wrap around many of the parts and they are secured the metal frames. Sometimes we see significant damage in shipping to the outer box and steel frame, but the bikes are almost always still in great condition!
How do I find the closest terminal for local pickup?
We often use Pilot Freight Services for shipping, but we also check with many other freight companies to try and find the best solution. Contact us and we can plug in your address and get you shipping options and terminal locations.
How much is residential delivery?
It depends on which freight company we are using and where you are located. We typically see residential delivery costing an extra $150 - $250, but it can vary outside of that range sometimes. We do offer flat rate residential shipping based on where you are located.
Where do you ship?
We ship anywhere in the continental US. If you are in another geography, contact us and we will try our best to work with your location.
How long will it take to receive my bike?
After your payment is made, we confirm shipping information with you. Once that is confirmed it is typically 1-3 business days to prepare for carrier pickup. Transit times are usually 2-4 days on the east coast and 5-10 days to the west coast. We ship out of Norfolk, VA. Freight transit times are not guarantees. If you choose residential delivery, this can add a few days to get scheduled.
What are your shipping rates?
Shipping is calculated at checkout based on your location. See our shipping zone map below. We ship out of Norfolk, VA. The further West you are from us, the higher the cost. We offer a flat rate for freight terminal pickup. This is where you would pickup from a nearby freight company at their terminal. We also offer flat rate residential delivery to your address. For parts and accessories, we typically ship UPS ground or USPS and offer flat rates based on item size/weight.
Parts
How long are brake cables and how do they attach?
Double bench bikes have cables that are 124" for passenger's side and 107" for driver's side.
How do I order parts?
Just contact us! We keep many common parts such as wheels, tubes, chains, cranks, headlights, etc. Let us know what you need and we can get you a quote. Prices for Common parts are listed on our Parts page. If we don't have it in stock, we can get it ordered for you. Also, our parts are made for our bikes. There are many different models and manufacturers out there. Many parts on interchangable between bikes, but not all are a fit. Please be sure to check with us before ordering parts.
E-Surrey
What type of battery does the electric assist require?
We provide you the option to purchase the ekit with or without the batteries. All of our e-Surreys come with the batteries and connection wires. The batteries are sealed led acid 12 volt 32 amp hour batteries. There are 5 batteries connected resulting in 60 V 32 amp hours to the controller. This is the power you need if you would like to source your own batteries. You can use led acid or lithium, just be sure the lithium does not have a power meter already on it as this will not fuction with the Electronic Speed Controller (ESC).
How does the electric pedal assist work?
The rear driver's side wheel is replaced with a wheel that has a hub motor. There is a battery box that sits under the back seat, a settings input and display mounted near the driver and a pedal sensor for safety. The e-Surrey can be turned on or off from the display with the push of a button, so you can choose to use only human power, or the electric assist. For the motor to engage, the driver must always pedal. This is a safety feature to ensure the bike cannot ghost ride away while not attended.
How fast does the eSurrey go?
We have seen the double bench top out around 10-11mph and the single bench top around 15mph. Speeds vary based on weight, wind, terrain and slope.
Can the pedal assist help go up hills?
The max recommended incline is a 10% grade slope. Any more than that or a heavy load on a slope can create strain on the motor and can burn it out. It is best to provide additional leg power if you have a small hill, a heavy load, or if you hear the motor straining. Always get a little momentum to get the bike moving before the motor takes over.
How much effort do you need to pedal the eSurrey?
The pedal assist still requires the driver to pedal. Once the bike is going more than about 2-3mph, it will be moving faster than the average person can pedal. The driver must continue to slowly rotate their pedals to keep the motor engaged, but will have virtually no resistance. If under a heavy load or slope, it is recommended to have all rider assist.
How far can it go on one charge and how is the battery life?
Max range is between 30-40 miles on one charge. Charging times are 6-8 hours. Be sure to routinely charge and use your batteries in off seasons to provide a longer battery life. We normally see 3 seasons of use on batteries but that can be much shorter if they are left sitting with no use or charging over the winter.
Will the ekit fit on my Surrey and how do I install?
The ekit fits all of our surreys and most other brands. Please contact us if you are unsure if it would fit. Please also check our ekit installation guide to see the required steps for installaion.