Electric Bike Maintenance Guide

E-bikes differ significantly from other vehicles in several ways: they are lighter, more compact, and they are environmentally conscious because they do not use gasoline as fuel. Nonetheless, it shares a very critical similarity with other modes of transportation – it requires regular maintenance. Getting your e-bike right is critical to its function and usually doesn’t require a lot of work and effort. Below you will find our most important daily maintenance tips.

 

In any practical sense, e-bikes are still human-requiring machines and thus require habitual support similar to conventional bicycles. Maintenance transition periods are specified for different parts of the bike, such as the suspension and drivetrain. Some of them are truly strict, while others are more indulgent.

 

To make sure you don’t burn through money by ignoring maintenance needs later on when you don’t need or completely avoid spending more, it’s recommended that you get the service done by a qualified bike shop, whether or not they specialize in e-bike repair and maintenance. Here are some helpful tips to keep your e-bike as running as possible.

 

Before every ride check your tire pressures!

Whether you’re using thin tires or a bulky mountain bike, the pressure inside the tires can have a major impact on your ride and maintain the quality standards of the vehicle itself. Delicate tires can drastically reduce your mileage when riding an e-bike; then again, overly firm tires are simply unpleasant.

 

Before each ride, check your weight and adjust in a similar fashion, either with a floor pump or SmartGauge type.

Check your bolts! 

There is nothing scarier than finding a large part of your bike slack or falling over after a long ride for miles. Often, this can be resolved immediately with skilled multi-devices.

 

Still, continued use with loose bolts on a regular basis can cause significant injury. To avoid walking home, check all bolts, including stems, handlebars, brakes, pedals, cranks, seat, and axles, before each ride.

 

After every ride clean your bike!

After every ride, your bike deserves some consideration. Things like street dirt or even your own sweat can wreak havoc on your bike. Salt is destructive and dripping sweat onto your bike can cause problems. A quick wipe of the bike frame is recommended to maintain the integrity of all components.

 

Lubricate your chain!

If your e-bike has a traditional chain and variable ratio drivetrain, you should lubricate your chain before and after every ride or every two rides. Doing this after every ride allows the lube to absorb and get into the chain.

 

Protect your next ride with smooth motion and a smooth drivetrain. You don’t have to bother using too much, so be sure to wipe off any large amounts of lube to avoid sucking in more mud and grime.

After every 500 miles (or approximately 3 months):

Brakes – every 500 miles (or approximately 3 months)

 

The most important parts of a bike are often overlooked. Whether you’re using disc or rim brakes, it’s critical to make sure they’re balanced effectively with the generous amount of padding on the bumper. Check to make sure your bumper reaches the rotor or rim in the correct spot and is not in contact with the tire.

 

If your hydraulic brakes feel “light” or don’t engage until the switch is pulled back to your finger or touches the handlebar, this is an ideal opportunity for brake drainage (brake bleeding). This process is best left to an expert at a bike shop near you. Having a brake check on your bike every 3 months to half a year, depending on how much you ride, can greatly affect the performance of your e-bike.

 

Wheels – Every 500 miles (or about 3 months).

 

Despite the brakes, your wheels should be thoroughly inspected every 3-6 months or so to ensure they are “real” and properly tensioned. At home, you can check the overall firmness of your wheel by pressing the spokes to see if there is relative pressure on each spoke.

 

If you find one that’s cumbersome and loose or too tight, take it to your local or most trusted store to get it “real.” Spokes that are found to be loose will inevitably break eventually, causing unwanted wobble of the rim and potentially catastrophic disappointment. Continue to enjoy a smooth ride with regular wheel adjustments.

 

After every 1500 miles (or approximately 6 months):

Bearings and other moving parts – every 1500 miles (or about 6 months).

 

In any case, most of the moving parts on an e-bike should be adjusted at least once every riding season. Inside your headset, hubs, bottom bracket, and suspension pivots (if you have them) are bearings that don’t get along with dirt and mud.

 

These should be cleaned, lubricated, replaced if necessary, and regularly tightened to the proper specifications, with the ultimate goal of getting your bike running like new. Once this management is in place, you may even see an improvement in battery range as the spotless torque bearing will be much less hindered when moving.

 

Likewise, annoying squeaks and squeals can be found. Normal maintenance means you don’t need to turn up the volume on your headphones to overwhelm the call for help on the bike you’re ignoring.

 

Pause – Every 1500 miles (or approximately 6 months).

 

If your bike is equipped with a front or full shock, you should consider tuning it at least once a season. If left unobstructed, silt and grime can solidify and potentially harm the internal operation of the suspension. Give your bike a luxurious ride by regularly addressing your suspension maintenance needs.

 

Trade equipment

The ultimate goal is to understand general support for your new bike, and to free you from any potential woes with future e-bike maintenance, you should have a range of tools with you. Essentially, you need the ability to repair any bolts, repair or replace tire tubes, and inflate the tubes.

Here are some tools you may need:

Multitool with 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 Allen keys

t25 Torx screwdriver bit

phillips head

chain breaker

spoke wrench

siphon

C02 Inflator or Portable Pumping Unit

tire lever

extra tube

patch kit

Battery Maintenance:

Electric bike batteries are the comparative type (lithium ion) of batteries found in laptops, cell phones, and many other electronic devices. The only difference is that much more power is produced. Consists of batteries with about 1000 charge cycles (depending on the nature of the battery), which means 1000 full charges and drains before they start to bite the dust – like all batteries in the long run.

Their batteries also have a battery management framework that controls the charging and energy production of the battery. As each cell is used, the cell moves to subsequent cells in the array. So if you want to ride and use only the first 10 cells in the battery, then fully charge and ride again and use the first 10 cells again and charge, you’re still only using the first ten cells that the battery charged.

 

That means the rest of the batteries are still brand new and you haven’t used any of their 1000 charge cycles. It is recommended to maximize battery life, and the battery should be charged after every ride to keep as much of the battery as possible in new and unused condition. This will guarantee you a long lifespan from your e-bike battery.

 

Cruising to conclusion

As with any normal cycle, your e-bike needs daily support; it’s vital that you don’t get bogged down by the electrical aspects of e-bike maintenance, as in most cases it requires little maintenance.

 

Many traditional cyclists are convinced that e-bikes have support issues, but they are wrong. If you (the rider) follow the proper steps to keep your bike running, it doesn’t need much more than a normal bike. All that said, as long as you treat your e-bike well, it will treat you well.

 

Most businesses will have a complete set-up of the bike, which is crucial because an electric bike should be set up accurately to work properly. Some businesses offer another free e-bike repair service after the bike is broken in. This is helpful and worth a try, as installing new bolts, extending connections, etc. can take miles.

 

By taking it back after the break-in period, you can re-tune everything and check the brakes and rigging, etc. It’s also an opportune time to change an uncomfortable seat, put the bar aside, and make some other small improvements for a more comfortable ride.

 

Final tip:

To give your e-bike the longest lifespan imaginable, you can find a way to do the maintenance yourself without going to the bike shop for a normal excursion. Here are some tips to help you –

 

– Keep the electric bike clean. If you can imagine, use a bike-specific cleaner after every ride.

 

– Do not use power washing or any similar method, as this will squeeze out the oil that lubricates the bearings. It also crams water inside, eroding the base.

 

– If using a strong hose, be careful not to run excessively near the center bottom brake, hub, earphones, or any other frequently lubricated areas.

 

– Some bike shiny items may leave a protective layer on the paint to help keep your e-bike looking like new for a long time. But be careful not to let these things get close to any brake parts!

 

– Use good quality oil to keep the chain lubricated after cleaning and make sure it doesn’t dry out. Use wet lube in winter and dry lube in late spring. (Wet lubes stay moist, dry lubes are, well…dry).

If you are looking for a new way of commuting or want a healthier lifestyle, we are here to help you. Visit our website to learn more about electric bikes and electric scooter or please leave information to us.