Please read the Rider Disclaimer and watch the Instructional Videos before operating a Ryan Flyer quadricycle or trike.
The weight limit is 350 lbs, including your wheelchair.
This will eliminate many electric wheelchairs. Ryan Flyer does have a lightweight electric wheelchair available on our website.
Consult with your doctor before operating a Ryan Flyer cycle.
Our cycles are NOT Low-Speed Vehicles or automobiles. Treat them as you would a bicycle. Accidents can happen. Make sure you are physically able to withstand an accident such as tipping over and getting dumped onto the ground. We have road-tested our cycles and it is difficult, but not impossible to tip one over, especially on road surfaces where the tires cannot skid. Please ride safely. We have also never rolled out the back by accident, and we have come to realize that you pretty much have to TRY to make something like that happen. Still, someone will eventually crash, tip over or fall out the back. If that happens to you then it is operator error and entirely on you. It's no different than if you fell off a bicycle. You understand the risks and you operate a Ryan Flyer cycle at your own risk.
Ryan Flyer LLC, it's employees, agents or representatives are not responsible for any injuries or death you may incur while operating a Ryan Flyer Cycle. The operator accepts the risks and responsibility associated with riding the electric cycle.
We advise you to wear a helmet and foot and leg harnesses at all times. Use lights for night time riding, and follow all traffic laws.
State and local laws vary on the legalities of driving an electric cycle on streets, sidewalks and bicycle paths. You are responsible for, and assumes all responsibility for, understanding and following any and all traffic laws in your area. Ryan Flyer LLC or any of its employees, agents or representatives are not responsible for any tickets you may get while operating your cycle.
Do not sit or stand anywhere on the ramp. Any weight in the back or center of the ramp could cause the ramp to bend, warp or buckle.
Board and disembark in a wheelchair only, and do so only from the rear of the cycle using the ramp in the down position. Pull yourself forward until the ramp locks into the horizontal position. Lock wheelchair brakes before departing and unlock before disembarking.
If you are not using the pedals make sure your feet are clear of the pedals. The pedals will rotate when the quadricycle is in reverse. If your feet are not clear of the pedals serious injury can occur. If you use the pedals, make sure your feet are secured from falling off your footrests or serious injury may occur.
Make sure the battery is turned off before pushing the quadricycle or trike forward or backward. The hub motor creates stored energy when it rotates and that could cause your cycle to lurch forward or backward while power is on.
Before Boarding:
Unplug the battery from the wall charger.
Inspect all nuts, bolts, chains, wheels, tires, brakes, lights and horn before each use, as you would any bicycle. Make sure everything is tightened down, aired up and working properly before taking a ride.
Make sure you carry a bicycle tool kit including tire kit and extra fuses.
Make sure the parking brake is engaged.
Lower the ramp by pulling ramp handle back.
Boarding:
Approach the ramp squarely and begin boarding by getting the front wheels of your wheelchair onto the ramp.
Do NOT lean back as you could tip over backward and get seriously hurt.
Do not lean too far forward as you could bottom out the front of your wheelchair on the ramp.
This really isn't difficult for someone used to operating a wheelchair, but for someone who is unfamiliar with operating a wheelchair, it could be difficult and someone should be in position behind that person to ensure they do not tip over backward.
Using both hands on the side rails, pull yourself up and forward onto the ramp until ramp lowers and locks into a horizontal position. You will feel, see and hear the ramp lock into position. Look down at locking mechanism to make sure the ramp is locked closed. This will become one fluid motion as you get used to it.
Lock both wheelchair brakes. It is a combination of your locked wheelchair brakes and your grip on the handlebars that prevents you from rolling out the back of the cycle.
Make sure both of your feet are secure on your wheelchair footrests and clear of the pedals. The pedals will revolve backward when the cycle is in reverse. This could result in injury if your feet are not clear of the pedals.
Ryan Flyer strongly recommends the use of leg or foot straps to ensure your feet do not come off the footrests. If this happens you could be seriously injured.
Adjust both side mirrors to see the traffic behind you.
Disengage the parking brake. The motor will not run with the parking brake is compressing the left lever. This is why we chose this type of parking brake, so as not to burn up a motor using a different type of brake. (Yes, that happened to us once!)
Turn on the motor and LED display by pushing the center button next to the display screen. (Push and hold it in to turn motor and display off). Push and hold the top button if you want backlights on the LED display. Push top and bottom buttons to adjust pedal assistance from 1 to 5 levels. You will see these settings as large numbers on the left of the display screen. On some models, the motor will not engage unless the setting is on at least Level 1.
The Throttle in the right-hand grip. There is a set of switches and buttons next to the throttle. The top switch is Forward and Reverse. Move that switch to the left for Forward and to the right for Reverse. Leave the center Red switch to the right for Regenerative Braking. Moving it to the left will disengage Regenerative Braking, (in case for some reason you want it off). The bottom green button turns on and off the Cruise Control. Braking does NOT turn off Cruise Control. Only the green button will turn it off!
The switches and buttons next to the left handlebar grip are as follows: The top switch is for your Turn Signals. Turn signals do not automatically turn off after a turn so it is important to turn them off at the switch after a turn. There are dash lights to let you know when a turn signal is on. The Red center button turns on and off the headlights and tail lights. (There is a dash light to let you know when your lights or turn signals are on). The bottom Green button is the horn.
There is a toggle switch on the bottom left side of the dash for the undercarriage lights.
There are two fuses on the bottom side of the dash. One for all 12-volt accessories and the other fuse for the controller and motor.
Use the Throttle to move the cycle forward or reverse. Depress the brake levers to stop. The left brake lever operates both front brakes and the right brake lever operates the back brake. (The motor will not throttle up while the left brake lever is depressed.)
It is not necessary to pedal the cycle. The pedals are what makes the cycle a quadricycle or trike. Law in some states requires that the cycle is capable of being pedal-powered, (not that the operator is capable of actually using the pedals). If you do have the capability to use the pedals then remember that you have the Pedal Assist function to help you pedal. We recommend foot straps to help keep your feet on the pedals. We have left that option up to the rider to decide how much if any foot harnessing is necessary.
Most first time riders are surprised by the quick acceleration and responsiveness of the cycle. Just go slow and take it easy until you get the feel for it.
TEST YOUR BRAKES! Brakes require adjusting from time to time. You do NOT want to find out you should have adjusted yours when you are trying to stop doing 20 miles per hour! We recommended above that you test your brakes before going fast. Tighten brakes but do not over tighten them. Make sure the wheel can free spin or else the additional drag from the brake pads on the rim will increase drag, which will affect performance, lower the battery life and harm the brake pads.
Disembarking:
Engage the parking brake by bringing the band around the left brake lever, holding it depressed. Your front brakes are locked and the motor is disabled.
For added security, you can set pedal assistance to 0, which will disable the motor. Turn off the Motor and LED Display by depressing the center button next to the display panel. It will also turn itself off automatically after a couple of minutes when not in use.
Unlock both wheelchair brakes. make sure nothing is directly behind you.
Put your left hand on the left side-rail while your right-hand pulls back the ramp lever. Once the ramp is unlocked, you can begin moving wheelchair back until ramp lowers in back, at which time you let go of the handle, grasp the right-hand rail and gently glide out the back of the ramp. Eventually, this will become one easy fluid motion, as you will see in the videos.
Go inside and brush the bugs out of your teeth!
Read the Rider Disclaimer​​​​​​​ and watch the Instructional Videos​​​​​​​ before operating a Ryan Flyer quadricycle or trike.