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FAQ
Answers to your most burning questions
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For multi-day rentals, how do I charge the battery?We will loan you an authorized charger to go with the eBike and show you how to use it. The charger must be plugged into a 110 volt electrical outlet. Extension cords may NOT be used as they increase the risk of fire from charging the battery. The battery may not be removed from the bike; it is locked into position by our maintenance team. It is up to you to find an electrical outlet that will reach the bike using only the cord attached to the authorized charger. You can also stop by our shop while you are in Kailua town and we will charge it while you shop or hang out at the beach.
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What hours are you open?We are open Monday through Saturday from 8 am - 6 pm. We are closed on Sundays.
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What are the requirements to ride your eBikes?The State of Hawaii requires that eBike riders must be 15 years or older. Children under 18 must have a parent or guardian sign the safety waiver and take responsibility for the safe return of the eBike in good working order. Riders should be at least 61 inches (155 centimeters) tall and weigh under 240 pounds (109 kilograms). Riders must possess basic bicycle riding skills.
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Where am I allowed to ride? Where should I go to find fun stuff to see and do?You can enjoy our eBikes on any paved surfaces where it is legal to ride a bicycle in the Kailua-Kona area that extends from Honokohau Harbor on the north end to End of the World on the south end to Haulalai Rd (coffee farms area) on the east side to Alii Dr on the west side. Our Roadside Assistance is only provided in this authorized riding area. If you call us for Roadside Assistance outside of this area, there will be a $100 service fee. Please see map for a visual representation of the authorized riding area. In this area there are great activities and points of interest to enjoy. To the north, Honokohau Harbor offers the chance to see a Tiger shark swimming through the harbor and next to the harbor is Alula Beach which is the best place on the Big Island to see Sea Turtles. To the south are all the beaches in town including Honl's Beach where the boogie board was invented, Banyan's Beach a local surfing break, Magic Sands where the sand comes and goes depending on time of the year and is great for body surfing, and Kahaluu Beach Park for great snorkeling and sunbathing while watching surfers. Further south is Keahou Bay where the nighttime Manta Ray snorkeling boats launch from and there's even a Manta Ray viewing patio at the Outrigger Resort. To the far end of our riding area is End of the World where you will probably see wild goats, big surf breaking on huge lava rocks, along with the Kuamo'o Battlefield and Lekeleke Burial Grounds. End of the World also has a 5- foot cliff jump if you want to be brave, but you should probably leave that to the locals as it can be dangerous. And, to the west is Hualalai, an active volcano that flows lava an average of twice per 1,000 years. Riding up Hualalai on Hualalai road puts you into coffee farm country where 100% Kona Coffee is grown. There are some cool roadside coffee shops along the way if you want to taste the best java in the world.
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I have never ridden an eBike. Can I still go on a tour or rent an eBike?Yes. Our eBikes operate the same as a regular bicycle with the addition of an electric motor assist. We will give you a short training on how to safely operate the bicycle before you begin your ride. If you can ride a regular bicycle, then you can ride our eBikes.
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Do I have to take a tour or can I just rent an bike?You can rent an eBike by the hour or we also offer multi-day rentals. Please see our "Rentals" webpage for the latest rental rates.
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What is the range of your eBikes?Typically, our eBikes will operate for 30+ miles on a single charge. Most riders can ride all day without a recharge. However, range is affected by many factors including rider weight, riding on hills or flat terrain, how much pedal assist or throttle is used by the rider, and even the outside air temperature. You should pay attention to the charging icon on your bike's controller and be sure that you have enough battery to return to our shop. If your battery runs out, you can still ride the bike as a regular bicycle or you can call our Free Roadside Assistance number at 808-830-9681 and we'll bring you a fresh one.
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How does your Roadside Assistance work?When you rent your bike, we provide you with roadside assistance within our service area (see map below). If you are outside of our service area and call us for help, you will be charged a $100 fee per call. So, please don't ride outside of our service area. If you need roadside assistance, simply call us at 808-830-9681. Be prepared to explain your location so we can find you. We may repair your bike on the spot or provide you with a fresh bike or battery, depending on the circumstances. We may grant you additional rental time, depending on the circumstances. For multi-day rentals, we will provide Roadside Assistance ONLY during our normal operating hours of 8 am to 6 pm on Monday-Saturday. If you experience a mechanical problem outside of these hours, you must secure the bike to an immovable object, and notify us immediately when we open at 8 am on the next business day, so that we can retrieve it. Your personal transportation is solely your responsibility in all cases. We do not provide ground transportation in our vehicles.
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What safety equipment should I use riding an eBike?We require that you wear a helmet and we will provide you with one. We recommend that you wear closed-toe shoes. Sunglasses are smart to wear in Hawaii as is sunscreen. A rain pancho may come in handy. Riding gloves are nice to have, but not a necessity at all.
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What form of payment do you take?If you book online, you should pay with a credit or debit card. If you walk-in then you can also pay with cash. However, you will need a credit or debit card for us to place a $500 security deposit hold until you return your bikes in good condition.
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Will you deliver an eBike to me if I rent it?Yes, within our service area we will deliver bikes for a $20 service fee. We will also pick up your bike within our service area for an additional $20 service fee.
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Where is Kona Fat Bikes located?We are located in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii one building back off Alii Drive behind the Kona Marketplace building. Our address is 75-5719 Alii Dr. Suite 1A. It's about a 5 minute walk from the Kailua pier to our shop. We are roughly across the street from the Hulihe'e Palace and right next to the Moku‘aikaua Church. See the video below for how to find us from Alii Dr. as you walk south from the Kailua Pier.
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What happens if I have an accident or damage the bike?If you are injured in an accident, you will need to use your own medical insurance to cover it. If the bike is damaged in any way, your credit or debit card will be charged for the cost of parts and labor for our mechanic to repair it.
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Do I need a driver's license to go on a tour or rent an eBike?No. But, you must have some form of government issued picture identification such as a driver's license, passport, military id, etc. We will take a picture of your identification to keep on file until our bike is returned.
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How does the security deposit work?Our high-quality eBikes are expensive, so we require a $250 security deposit per booking on your credit or debit card to ensure the bikes are returned in good condition. As soon as you return your bikes to us in good condition, we will release the hold on your card the same day.
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How does the electric assist work on your eBikes?Our eBikes have 750-1,000 watt motors powered by a 48-52 volt battery. The motor engages to assist your pedaling efforts when you have the bike controller turned on, the PAS level set to something other than 0, and you pedal the bike or twist the handlebar throttle. PAS level 0 provides no electric assist, while PAS levels 1-6 provide progressively more electric assist. Twisting the handlebar throttle provides increasing electric propulsion the more you twist it. You can ride our eBikes without pedaling if you want to just use the handlebar throttle and ride it like an electric moped. Pedaling does NOT recharge the batteries. To recharge, the bike's battery must be plugged into our authorized charger and into a 110 volt electrical outlet.
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