An Introduction to E-Bike Maintenance

Introduction to E-Bike Maintenance

E-Bikes are rapidly gaining popularity, and whether you are a first time e-bike rider or have more experience, there are a few specific needs required by electric-assist bikes. While we do suggest a tune up every year or even twice a year in a certified bike shop, there are a few things you can learn to do at home to stay on top of maintenance. 

E-bike maintenance can be separated into two main categories : general bike maintenance and E-Bike specific maintenance. Here is an overview of the basic tips and fixes you can learn. 

General Bike Maintenance 

Check your drivetrain

E-bikes exert a large amount of torque on your drivetrain, much more than regular bikes. This means critical parts such as chains and cassettes will tend to wear down faster, it is therefore important to keep a close eye on them and replace them when needed.

Your drivetrain will function much better if kept clean. Depending on the type of riding you do, we recommend that you clean your entire drivetrain every 150-300km. A good rule of thumb is to keep your chain and cassette looking clean and brand new as much as possible. To do this, you can simply soak your drivetrain components in degreaser, wait a few minutes brushing them sparingly and then gently rinsing them down. Obviously, the more often you do this, the less time it will take to clean out each time and will maximise the lifespan of your precious (and expensive) components.

Here are a few workstands that will help make your life easier when doing basic maintenance : 

After some time (1500-2000kms) measure your chain with a handy chain measuring device to know if it is ready for replacement. You can also check the cassette for wear.

Once your chain is perfectly clean, you must apply chain lubricant, to reduce friction when pedaling and helping smooth out gear changes. Most products will work great, however we recommend E-Bike specific chain lubricants. 

Here are a few products that are good to have on hand : 

Check your tires

As with any bike, air pressure is something to keep an eye on as much as possible. E-bikes are particularly heavy, and tire pressure will drop faster than regular bikes. We recommend checking tire pressure every week/every two weeks if you are a regular rider. If you do not ride regularly, check tire pressure before every ride. You can find the manufacturer recommended tire pressure on the sidewall of your tire. 

Here is a selection of our favorite pumps, for use at home or on the road : 

Check your brakes

E-Bikes put more strain on your braking system, which might need replacing quicker than usual - this is why most E-Bikes have disc brakes as they generate much more power than their rim braking counterparts. For disc brake pad/rotor replacement, we recommend you get in touch with your local bike shop as these are complicated hydraulic systems. If you hear a squeaking sound or if the brakes feel crunchy, these are usually signs that the pads need replacing. 

That said, regular cleaning and progressive braking will definitely extend the lifetime of your braking components. The only product to use when cleaning disc brakes is 99% rubbing alcohol. Any other product will damage discs and pads and will make for a very expensive replacement. 

E-Bike specific maintenance

Storage

Obviously, it is not recommended to store your bike outdoors, no matter the season. E-Bikes motors and batteries are waterproof, therefore, riding in the rain and regular cleaning practices are not an issue. However, as with any regular bike, prolonged exposure to outdoor elements is never a good idea. If you have a heated garage or shed, this is the best solution. If not, we recommend taking the bike indoors after every ride, despite the hassle of doing so. 

When storing the bike for winter, make sure to remove the battery from the bike and store it at room temperature, charged at 60-80% capacity. Check your battery level in the middle of winter to make sure it doesn’t drain too fast and charge accordingly. E-Bike batteries are not designed to be fully emptied of their charge and will need replacing if they get to 0% (very expensive). 

Motor/Battery/Software

Luckily, E-Bike motors and batteries are designed to be maintenance free. The typical lifespan of an E-Bike battery is 1000 full recharges (translates to 20 years on average). We recommend charging only when the battery is below 15% in order to increase you battery's service life. Your E-Bike might need a software update, in some cases every year, to keep running smoothly. Check with your local bike shop to make sure your system has the latest software installed. 

We hope this guide gets you started properly. These recommendations will help you make the most out of your recent purchase and have as much fun as possible with little to no hassle.

Still unsure which bike is the right one for you? Check out our Bike Finder to help you out. Don't forget to read up our E-Bike Buying Guide for even more information on our selection. After all that, if you still have questons, don't hesitate to give us a call at 514-666-0695 or send us an email!

Happy riding !