B) If Your Bicycle Sustains An Impact - Kona bicycle Owner's Manual

4. After every long or hard ride or after every 10 to
20 hours of riding:
• Squeeze the front brake and rock the bike forward and back.
Everything feel solid? If you feel a clunk with each forward or
backward movement of the bike, you probably have a loose
headset. Have your dealer check it.
• Lift the front wheel off the ground and swing it from side to side.
Feel smooth? If you feel any binding or roughness in the steer-
ing, you may have a tight head set. Have your dealer check it.
• Grab one pedal and rock it toward and away from the centerline
of the bike; then do the same with the other pedal. Anything feel
loose? If so, have your dealer check it.
• Take a look at the brake pads. Starting to look worn or not hit-
ting the wheel rim squarely? Time to have the dealer adjust or
replace them.
• Carefully check the control cables and cable housings. Any rust?
Kinks? Fraying? If so, have your dealer replace them.
• Squeeze each adjoining pair of spokes on either side of each
wheel between your thumb and index finger. Do they all feel
about the same? If any feel loose, have your dealer check the
wheel for tension and trueness.
• Check the tires for excess wear, cuts or bruises. Have your
dealer replace them if necessary.
• Check the wheel rims for excess wear, dings, dents and
scratches. Consult your dealer if you see any rim damage.
• Check to make sure that all parts and accessories are still
secure, and tighten any which are not.
• Check the frame, particularly in the area around all tube
joints; the handlebars; the stem; and the seatpost for any deep
scratches, cracks or discoloration. These are signs of stress-
caused fatigue and indicate that a part is at the end of its useful
life and needs to be replaced. See also Appendix B [p.35].
WARNING: Like any mechanical device, a bicycle and
its components are subject to wear and stress. Different
materials and mechanisms wear or fatigue from stress
at different rates and have different life cycles. If a
component's life cycle is exceeded, the component
can suddenly and catastrophically fail, causing serious
injury or death to the rider. Scratches, cracks, fraying
and discoloration are signs of stress-caused fatigue
and indicate that a part is at the end of its useful life
and needs to be replaced. While the materials and
workmanship of your bicycle or of individual components
may be covered by a warranty for a specified period of
time by the manufacturer, this is no guarantee that the
product will last the term of the warranty. Product life
is often related to the kind of riding you do and to the
treatment to which you submit the bicycle. The bicycle's
warranty is not meant to suggest that the bicycle cannot
be broken or will last forever. It only means that the
bicycle is covered subject to the terms of the warranty.
Please be sure to read Appendix A, Life Expectancy of
Your Bicycle and its Components, starting on page 35.
5. As required: If either brake lever fails the Mechanical
Safety Check [Section 1.C], don't ride the bike. Have your
dealer check the brakes.
If the chain won't shift smoothly and quietly from gear to
gear, the derailleur is out of adju stment. See your dealer.
6. Every 25 (hard off-road) to 50 (on-road) hours of
riding: Take your bike to your dealer for a complete checkup.

B) IF YOUR BICYCLE SUSTAINS AN IMPACT

First, check yourself for injuries, and take care of them as
best you can. Seek medical help if necessary.
Next, check your bike for damage, and fix what you can
so you can get home. Then, take your bicycle to your
dealer for a thorough check. See also Appendix B, Lifes-
pan of Your Bike and its Components [p.35].
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