Thank you for choosing Tern, and congratulations on your brand-new Orox! We’re delighted to be part of your adventures as you explore new ground. Since the Orox is a new type of Tern bike, we’re here to help you familiarize yourself with its basic functions and safety precautions.

This article covers the S12 and R14 models, but if you prefer to watch the following explanation, you can check out the Orox Owner Briefing video on YouTube.

Contents

1. Introduction

2. Intended Use Policy

• 2.1. Terrain and Conditions
• 2.2. Rider Requirements

3. Adjusting the Bike Fit

• 3.1. Adjusting the Saddle Height and Quick-Release
• 3.2. Adjusting the Saddle Angle

4. Bosch Smart System

• 4.1. The Orox is a Pedelec
• 4.2. Bosch Smart System Basics
• 4.3. LED Remote
  • 4.3.1. Turning the Bike On/Off
  • 4.3.2. Assist Levels
• 4.4. Kiox 300 Display
  • 4.4.1. Viewing Information
  • 4.4.2. Removing and Reattaching the Kiox 300 Display
• 4.5. Walk Assist
• 4.6. Integrated Lighting System
• 4.7. Battery and Keys
  • 4.7.1. Installing the Battery
  • 4.7.2. Battery Keys
  • 4.7.3. Charging the Battery ON the Bike
  • 4.7.4. Charging the Battery OFF the Bike

5. eBike Flow App

6. Important Bike Parts & Functions

• 6.1. Changing Gears
  • 6.1.1. Changing Gears on the Orox S12
  • 6.1.2. Changing Gears on the Orox R14
• 6.2. Braking

7. Vertical Parking and Rolling

8. Daily Riding Checklist

9. Maintenance

• 9.1. Clean and Lubricate Your Chain
• 9.2. Clean and Maintain Your Belt
• 9.3. Check if Your Wheels are Trued
• 9.4. Check for Signs of Wear
• 9.5. Regular Service Check-Up

10. Cargo and Passengers

• 10.1. Orox Cargo Guide
• 10.2. Orox Passenger Guide

11. Ready for the ride?

1. Introduction

The Orox has two models: the S12 and R14. While both are equally awesome for riding in different conditions, each model still has its own characteristics. So, please note that everything in the following will refer to both models unless otherwise indicated.

2. Intended Use Policy

2.1. Terrain and Conditions

The Orox is an Adventure E-Cargo Bike that has been designed to ride on three types of terrain:

• Paved roads;
• Graded and maintained gravel roads;
• Unimproved trails with small obstacles (such as roots, rocks, and hardpack terrain), including areas where a momentary loss of tire contact with the ground may occur.

The number of passengers and amount of cargo permissible on the bike will differ based on the terrain you ride on. When riding with passengers, both Orox tires must always remain in contact with the ground. No passengers are allowed when riding on unimproved trails.

2.2. Rider Requirements

• Read the Orox manual and safety instructions

Unlike our other Tern bikes, the Orox can handle a wider range of terrains. This is why it’s very important for you to have carefully read and understood the Orox manual and all its safety instructions before riding.

• Understand and obey local traffic rules

You should also understand and adhere to your local traffic rules and regulations. You should be familiar with the terrain you will be riding on and have the required physical capacity to operate the Orox safely.

• Minimum age

To ride the Orox, you MUST be at least 16 years of age. If you plan to carry passengers on the Orox, you MUST be at least 18 years of age and have the physical ability to control the bike with all the added weight safely. Please refer to the Orox QuickStart Guide for more information about its intended use.

3. Adjusting the Bike Fit

Before you hop on your Orox, it’s important to ensure that the saddle height suits you. This helps you not only to find the right comfort level, but also to maintain a good posture during the ride.

3.1. Adjusting the Saddle Height and Quick-Release

To adjust the Orox saddle height, open the quick-release lever, set the seatpost to your preferred height, and close the lever to secure it. For your safety, please ensure that you stay within the minimum insertion point marked on the seatpost.

To adjust the tightness of the quick-release, open the lever, and then twist the clamp screw nut. The quick-release should be loose enough for you to open the lever, but tight enough to prevent the seatpost from sliding down. Please remember to properly adjust and close the quick-release to prevent any risk of injury.

3.2. Adjusting the Saddle Angle

You can also adjust the saddle’s position to have it closer or farther away from the handlebar and adjust the angle at which you’re sitting. To modify your sitting angle, use an Allen wrench to loosen the two screws below the saddle and adjust it to your liking, and remember to tighten the screws properly.

4. Bosch Smart System

4.1. The Orox is a Pedelec

Before you venture out into the wild with your Orox, we’d like to remind you that the Orox is a pedal-assisted electric bicycle—pedelec for short. This means that its Bosch motor will only provide power while you pedal. The motor will stop providing power once you reach the local speed limit.

4.2. Bosch Smart System Basics

The Orox is outfitted with the Bosch Smart System that links the motor, display, battery, control unit, and the eBike Flow app together.

4.3. LED Remote

Your Orox comes with the LED Remote—it controls your bike's Bosch Smart System and Kiox 300 display, indicates your current battery charge level, connects your bike to the eBike Flow app, and more.

4.3.1. Turning the Bike On/Off

To turn the motor system on and off, press the power button at the top of the LED Remote. The system will automatically turn off if you don’t move the bike or press any buttons on the LED Remote for 10 minutes. It’s best to stand next to or straddle the bike as you turn the system on and off. Please never do it while you’re applying pressure to the pedals.

4.3.2. Assist Levels

Once the motor system is turned on, the remote will light up with indicators for your battery and assist level. You can select how much assistance the motor provides at any given time during your ride with four levels to choose from: Eco, Tour, eMTB, and Turbo.

To switch between assist levels, press the plus (+) or minus (-) button on the LED Remote. When you do so, the LED light on the right will change color to indicate which level you’re in. Green is for Eco, blue is for Tour, purple is for eMTB, and red is for Turbo. eMTB mode is a super helpful feature that will provide an extra boost to help you get over a sudden obstacle or a steep incline.

4.4. Kiox 300 Display

The Orox comes with the Bosch Kiox 300 display, which has several pages of information to assist you during your ride.

4.4.1. Viewing Information

Press the left and right arrow buttons on the LED Remote to view information about your speed, trip, range, and more. Press the diamond-shaped (♦) Selection button to view Settings. This button can also be used to remove notifications from the display. Be sure to read the notifications first as they pertain to the e-bike system and road safety.

4.4.2. Removing and Reattaching the Kiox 300 Display

You can remove the display by pushing it down toward the rear of the bike until you can lift the screen. To put the display back on, align the top with the mount and gently push it toward the rear while also pushing it down until you feel it engage.

4.5. Walk Assist

The Bosch Smart System has a Walk Assist function that lets you push your bike with less effort. This feature comes especially in handy when you need to push your bike uphill and have some added weight to your bike. Before activating Walk Assist, always make sure the bike is in one of the four e-assist modes. If the motor system is set to “Off” you won’t be able to activate it.

To activate Walk Assist, press the (-) button on the LED Remote for more than 1 second and keep it pressed. Then either walk the bike forward, push the bike backward, or tilt the bike sideways to engage this function. To stop using walk assist, release the (-) button and press the (+) button or wait for 10 seconds.

Good to know: The speed of this function depends on which gear you’re in. The higher the gear, the more Walk Assist you’ll get.

4.6. Integrated Lighting System

Your Orox has an integrated lighting system that includes a headlight, a rear light, and brake lights. To turn the headlight on and off, press the button with the light bulb icon on the left-hand side of the handlebar. The button on the right toggles between the high beam and the low beam.

Your brake lights use a sensor that detects when your bike is decelerating. Once it detects a strong deceleration, the brake light will activate. In the unlikely event that your bike tips over, the rear light will flash an SOS signal until the bike is back on its two wheels again.

4.7. Battery and Keys

Your Orox comes with a Bosch battery, a Bosch battery charger, and two battery mounts—one within the Frame Pack, and one along the back of the seat tube.

4.7.1. Installing the Battery

To install the battery, place it on the battery mount and push it down until you hear a click. The Smart System will work regardless of which mount you insert the battery into, although using the Frame Pack mount gives you that extra bit of protection from the elements.

A cool thing about the Orox is that you can greatly extend your range by purchasing a second battery and installing one battery on each mount. The Smart System will draw power from both batteries in parallel so that you have all the power you need to get through a longer or tougher trail.

4.7.2. Battery Keys

Your bike should come with two sets of Abus keys for your batteries, and in case they get lost or damaged, you can apply for a new set using the serial number that’s written on the keys. To be on the safe side, we recommend emailing the number to yourself and registering your keys with Abus. Both battery mounts use the same key so you won’t have to worry about carrying two keys.

4.7.3. Charging the Battery ON the Bike

Your battery can be charged on or off your bike. Please ensure that the Smart System is turned off before you do so and that there is no moisture on the battery or the socket area.

To charge the battery on the bike, open the rubber lid on the seat tube battery mount, plug the charger into the charging port, and connect the charger to an electric outlet. The display should show that the battery is charging. Be careful not to damage the fins on the charger when plugging it into the socket. Once plugged in, your battery will start charging, no matter which mount it is installed on. If you have two batteries on the bike, they will charge simultaneously. Make sure you are charging on a fireproof surface to ensure maximum safety.

4.7.4. Charging the Battery OFF the Bike

To charge the battery off the bike, insert the key into the lock, turn the key, and the battery will pop out. Then, lift the battery to pull it out. Once the battery is off the bike, you can plug the charger straight into the battery to start charging. The battery indicator lights will show that it is charging.

5. eBike Flow App

The eBike Flow app is the Bosch Smart System’s control center. Use it to lock your bike, customize the motor’s performance and riding modes, install the latest software updates, and much more.

The app and your bike are connected via Bluetooth. First, download the Bosch eBike Flow app from Google Play or the App Store. Once you’ve downloaded the app, tap “Connect Bike” on the home page, select “LED Remote”, and hold down the top button on your LED Remote as instructed until the bike is paired with your phone.

Once your phone is connected to the app, you’ll have access to a variety of features and functions like recording your ride and fitness data, adjusting your assist and speed levels, and the eBike Lock and Alarm. Although it won’t replace using a robust bike lock to secure your bike frame to an immovable object, having the eBike Lock and Alarm can help prevent others from stealing your bike. If your bike ever gets stolen, an alarm will sound, and you’ll also be able to track the location of your bike through the app.

We recommend exploring the app as there are a lot of customization options to fit your needs. For more information on the eBike Flow app and its features, check out this YouTube playlist with how-to videos by Bosch.

6. Important Bike Parts & Functions

Your Orox comes with a shifter that allows you to control the speed and pedaling resistance. How you shift gears depends on which Orox model you have.

6.1. Changing Gears

6.1.1. Changing Gears on the Orox S12

The Orox S12 comes with a Shimano Deore trigger shifter and an indicator that shows whether you’re in high or low gear. The two levers on the right side of the handlebar will let you shift to a lower or a higher gear as needed.

6.1.2. Changing Gears on the Orox R14

The Orox R14 comes with a Rohloff Speedhub and a twist shifter. Twist the shifter away from you to change to a higher gear, and toward you to change to a lower gear. The number that is aligned with the logo on the shifter indicates which gear you are in. One of the best things about riding a bike with an internally geared hub is that you can shift gears at a standstill.

Remember to ease off the pressure on the pedal when shifting, and if you’re riding the R14, we recommend you stop pedaling completely when shifting to not damage the internal gear hub.

Regardless of which Orox model you have, we highly recommend that you change gears as you would on a regular bike—downshift to a lower gear before you come to a stop or ride up a steep hill and shift to a higher gear as you accelerate or ride downhill. It will help you maintain an efficient cadence and prevent premature wear on the drivetrain.

6.2. Braking

Your Orox comes equipped with a set of Magura MT5 4-piston hydraulic disc brakes on the front and rear for excellent stopping power in all conditions.

When looking at your handlebar from the rider’s position, the rear brake lever is on the right, and the front brake lever is on the left. In a few countries, this orientation may be reversed, so we recommend double-checking before your first ride if you’re not sure.

Please be aware that suddenly pulling the brakes hard may result in dangerous situations, particularly in wet or slippery conditions. In general, aim to apply even pressure to both brake levers when you need to stop. Your brake pads are consumable parts and may be the first ones on your Orox that you need to replace. So, keep an eye on your brake pads, especially if you ride down steep descents regularly.

7. Vertical Parking and Rolling

Your Orox can stand and roll vertically, which can come in handy when you need easy access to your drivetrain when doing maintenance or cleaning. It takes a little bit of practice to vertically roll and park your Orox, but you’ll get the hang of it.

1. Start by standing next to your bike on a flat area and hold the handlebar with both hands. You can stand on either side for this.
2. Apply the rear brake and walk backward until the bike stands up. It’s natural to want to pull the bike when you walk backward, but a lot easier to just focus on walking.
3. Make sure that the four contact points on the rear of the bike are touching the floor, and that the bike is parked on a flat, even surface.
4. Be careful not to leave the front wheel facing up as it could swing to the side and potentially knock something over. Gently turn the wheel in one direction so that it is resting against the bike.

To get your bike back on both wheels, hold the handlebars, apply the rear brake, and walk forward until the front wheel makes contact with the ground. We don’t recommend trying to catch the bike as it comes down, just walk forward with control.

You can also roll your Orox when the bike is in a vertical position. To do this, carefully release the rear brake, and roll the bike forward.

8. Daily Riding Checklist

To ensure that everything on your Orox is secured and functioning properly, we recommend you do the daily ABCQ test to check your air pressure, brakes, chain, and quick-release before you hit the road. This safety checklist helps you spot any growing issues so you can stop them before they become a real problem.

9. Maintenance

Cleaning and maintaining your Orox is important to ensure that it stays safe and reliable. You should always clean your bike after going off-road or riding in snow. Exposure to salt water can damage certain parts and components of your bike, so it’s crucial that you wash it off.

9.1. Clean and Lubricate Your Chain

Use soapy water and a sponge or brush to remove much of the grit and grime. Remember not to use strong water pressure as that could damage the moving parts or get into sealed areas.

If you're riding the S12, lubricate your chain once you’ve washed down your bike with soapy water and dried it. Make sure to degrease everything before applying your lubricant. Wipe off any excess grease so that your chain doesn’t clog up.

9.2. Clean and Maintain Your Belt

The R14 uses a durable belt drive that requires little maintenance. However, it's still important to clean the belt with water when it's visibly dirty and be aware of your belt's tension. Check out this article for more information on how to clean and maintain your belt.

9.3. Check if Your Wheels are Trued

Check if your wheels are trued (straight) by spinning them. Check for any abnormal side-to-side motions and if the disc brake rotor is rubbing against the brake pads. Bring your bike to your dealer if you find anything that’s worn or damaged.

9.4. Check for Signs of Wear

Some bike parts will wear over time, with the tires, chain, and brake pads most likely needing to be replaced sooner than other parts. In case you need to replace any parts of your Orox, directly reach out to your Tern dealer.

9.5. Regular Service Check-Up

Your Orox will need to be serviced regularly; all bikes need a quick tune-up one month after use so your dealer can adjust cables and other key parts.

After the first tune-up, we recommend that you take some time to discuss a regular service schedule with your dealer. How often you’ll bring your bike back for service depends on your riding frequency, typical load, weather conditions, road surfaces, and more. We recommend you read our Maintenance Schedule article for more detailed information.

10. Cargo and Passengers

The Orox can carry both passengers and cargo and is engineered to tackle different terrains. But before you venture out into the world, please keep the following in mind.

10.1. Orox Cargo Guide

The Max Gross Vehicle Weight (MGVW) is the maximum weight the Orox can safely carry and varies per terrain.

Riding the Orox With Cargo