How to Adjust Your Burchda E-Bike Settings

To adjust your Burchda e-bike settings, press and hold the M or SET button on the handlebar display for 3–5 seconds to enter the advanced menu (parameters P01–P15). The exact layout varies by model (R7, R8, R10, etc.), but the core steps are the same: scroll through the parameter list, edit the value, and confirm. This guide covers the most common adjustments—pedal-assist levels, speed limit, wheel diameter, and battery voltage—plus what to do when something goes wrong. If your display uses a different parameter set (some older units have P01–P12 only), the general process remains identical; just note that some parameter numbers may shift.

Entering the Settings Menu

1. Turn on the display by pressing the M (power) button. If the bike has a separate battery switch, make sure it’s engaged first.

2. Press and hold the M button for 3–5 seconds until the screen switches to a numbered parameter list (P01, P02, …). On some Burchda models, the button is labeled SET or i instead; the hold time is the same.

[Image: Burchda LCD display showing P01–P05 parameter list]

3. Use the up arrow (+) and down arrow (–) to scroll through parameters. Holding the arrow buttons scrolls faster through the list.

4. To edit a parameter, press M once, use the arrows to change the value, then press M again to save. The screen should briefly flash to confirm the new value.

Branch point: display doesn’t enter settings menu?

If holding M does nothing or shows a password prompt, try the default codes in this order: 0000, 2020, 1111, 2021. The 2021 code is specific to some R10 units produced after mid-2023. If none of those work, check your owner’s manual—a few models require a four-digit code printed on the back of the display. Still locked? The firmware may be dealer-restricted. Contact Burchda support; do not attempt to flash custom firmware, as it can permanently brick the controller.

⚠️ Warning: Never press and hold buttons for longer than 10 seconds unless you intend to reset. A full factory reset (hold M for 8+ seconds from the main screen) clears all custom values back to defaults.

Adjusting Pedal Assist Levels (PAS)

Pedal-assist parameters control how the motor responds when you pedal. You can set the number of levels, the maximum current per level, and the default startup level. Spend a few minutes riding after each change to feel the difference.

P01 – Number of Assist Levels

• Typical range: 0–5 or 0–9 (depending on display firmware). The R7 often uses 0–5; the R8 and R10 can support 0–9.
• For casual commuting, 0–5 is sufficient. Setting it to 9 gives finer graduation between light and heavy assist but can feel twitchy at low speeds because the steps are smaller.
• 0 disables all assist (pure pedal mode). If you never ride without motor support, set the minimum to 1 so you don’t accidentally start in zero assist and wonder why the bike feels heavy.

P02 – Assist Strength (Current Limit)

• This sets the maximum current (in amps) the motor can draw during pedal assist. Default is often 15A.
• Lower values (e.g., 10A) extend range and soften acceleration—good for beginner riders or flat terrain. Higher values (e.g., 20A) give stronger hill-climbing but drain the battery faster and may cause the motor to heat up.
• Example: If your bike feels jerky off the line, drop P02 to 12A. If you need more torque on steep inclines, raise it to 18A—but monitor battery voltage for rapid drops. If you set P02 too low (below 10A), assist levels may feel identical because the current ceiling is already low.

P03 – Default Assist Level at Startup

• Choose a low level (1 or 2) for a gentle start, or a higher level if you always want immediate boost.
• Most riders prefer 1 to avoid accidental sudden acceleration when mounting the bike. If you frequently start on hills, set it to 3 instead.

[Image: Display showing P03 set to level 2]

Failure mode: changing P02 too high can cause the motor controller to overheat on long climbs, triggering thermal cutoff. If the motor stops mid-ride after you increased P02, let it cool 10–15 minutes and reduce the value by 2–3 amps. The same symptom can appear if you ride in high-assist on a steep grade for more than 5 minutes.

Changing the Speed Limit

Burchda e-bikes ship with a 20 mph (32 km/h) speed limit to comply with U.S. Class 2 regulations. You can raise it, but be aware of legal risks and motor limitations.

• Parameter P05 – Speed Limit

Default: 20 mph. Maximum on most displays: 28 mph (some allow up to 40 mph, but that may overheat the motor or exceed the controller’s safe rpm).

• To change: navigate to P05, press M, set the desired value (e.g., 25), press M to save.
• If your display shows only km/h even with P10 set to mph, convert the speed: 28 mph ≈ 45 km/h.

⚠️ Warning: Exceeding 20 mph may make your bike illegal for public roads in your state and could void your warranty. Check local traffic laws—many municipalities require Class 2 or Class 3 compliance. In some states, riding a bike that can exceed 28 mph requires a license, registration, and insurance.

What if the motor cuts out at a lower speed than you set?

Check that P05 wasn’t accidentally changed back to 20 mph. Also verify P12 (speed limit pulse) is set correctly—typically 2 for hub motors with a wheel sensor. An incorrect P12 can make the display interpret lower speeds as the limit. If P12 is set to 0, the display may read 0 mph regardless of actual speed.

Calibrating Wheel Diameter and Units

If your speedometer reads high or low, you need to set the correct wheel diameter and unit system. A 1-inch error in wheel diameter causes roughly a 3% speed error—annoying on longer rides.

P09 – Wheel Diameter (inches)

• Enter the actual outer diameter of your tire, not the rim size.
• For 26″ × 4.0″ fat tires, enter 26.
• For 20″ × 4.0″ tires, enter 20.
• Check the sidewall: “20×4.0” means the tire is 20 inches in diameter.
• If unsure, measure the tire from ground to top with the bike loaded (rider weight flattens it slightly). Use a tape measure or yardstick. A 0.5‑inch error will cause a 2–3% speed error.
• If you have a 24″ tire (less common on Burchda models), enter 24.

P10 – Unit System

• Set 0 for miles per hour (mph), 1 for kilometers per hour (km/h). For U.S. use, select 0.

Verification step: Ride exactly 1 mile (use a GPS app like Google Maps or a car odometer). Compare the display reading. If the bike shows 1.05 miles, your wheel diameter is too small—increase P09 by 0.5 inches and re-test. Repeat until error is under 5%. If the display reading is lower than the GPS, reduce P09.

[Image: Tire sidewall marking showing “20×4.0”]

Troubleshooting Common Settings Issues

|

| Assist levels feel identical | P02 current limit set too low for all levels | Increase P02 to 15A or higher so differences between levels are noticeable. |

| Display shows a padlock icon | Settings menu is password-locked | Try the default codes listed above (0000, 2020, 1111, 2021). If none work, contact Burchda support with your model number. |

⚠️ Warning: Never change P14 (voltage) or P15 (low-voltage cutoff) unless you have verified your battery’s exact specification with a multimeter. An incorrect voltage setting can over-discharge the battery or damage the controller. If you accidentally change P15, reset to factory defaults immediately.

Success Check After Adjustments

1. Test ride on a flat, safe road at moderate speed (10–15 mph) for at least 2–3 minutes.

2. Verify speed with a GPS app—your display should match within 2–3 mph. Larger discrepancies mean P09 or P10 needs correction.

3. Cycle through assist levels—each level should provide a noticeably different boost. If levels 1 and 2 feel the same, go back and increase P02 by 2–3 amps.

4. Monitor battery gauge—after a 10-minute ride, the gauge should drop proportionally. If it stays at 100% or jumps to 50%, check P14.

5. Listen for unusual motor sounds—buzzing or surging at low speed may indicate P02 is set too high for that assist level; reduce it by 2 amps.

If any setting makes the bike behave erratically, you can reset the display to factory defaults: from the main screen, press and hold M for 8 seconds until the screen flickers. All parameters return to original values. Repeat the adjustments more conservatively—increment changes by 1 or 2 units at a time.