If you are already enjoying the benefits of electric bikes or are thinking about purchasing a new ebike. In that case, you should understand how to maintain your e-bike so that it lasts longer than the manufacturer suggests. Electric bikes, like traditional bicycles, require routine maintenance to keep them roadworthy. Understanding how to care for a regular bike will put you ahead of the game, but electric bikes are more sophisticated and heavier, necessitating more maintenance. Here are our top maintenance suggestions to keep your ebike and its components running as long as possible.
Equipment Required for Electric Bike Maintenance
A few eBike tools and materials will come in handy while performing general electric bike maintenance. These components can be purchased alone or as part of an eBike tool kit.
- Crank Tool with Two Functions
- Bike repair stand Bicycle lubricant
- Chain Whip Chain Rivet Extractor
- cloths for cleaning
- Soap for degreasing
- Spoke Wrench Pedal Wrench
- Kit for Tire Patch Repair
- Tire pressure monitor
- Tire inflator
Maintaining Your Electric Bike
One of the simplest maintenance suggestions is to clean your electric bike after each ride. It will keep dust and grime from interfering not just with the bike's electronics, but also with the bike itself. Most electric bikes are water-resistant, so you can clean them like any other bike, but we recommend removing the battery first and only using e-bike cleaning products.
When using a pressure washer, exercise caution because it may cause water to enter sensitive parts or remove oil from essential areas, such as around your wheel bearings and bottom bracket. Instead, after a quick rinse with a garden hose, scrub it well with a sponge or towel and your preferred bike cleaning materials. Dry the bike with a towel and leave it for a few minutes before reconnecting the battery to ensure that no residual water comes into contact with the battery contact points or other sensitive components.
Clean and lubricate the transmission
Your ebike, like any other chain-driven bicycle, has a drivetrain consisting of pedals, chain rings, cranks, chain, derailleur, and cogs. The drivetrain converts your pedaling into forward momentum. This creates a lot of friction between the many moving parts, which must be greased all the time to avoid wear and tear. Unfortunately, oil attracts dust and filth. So, after a few months of storage, your bike's drivetrain would be filthy, especially if you didn't clean it before storing your eBike.
Don't just hose it down when it comes to spring cleaning. Water causes rust, which dramatically affects the drivetrain's lifespan. Turn your electric bike upside down to make cleaning the drivetrain easier. Obtain a clean and dry cloth, an old toothbrush, a soft bristle brush specifically developed for this purpose, and a drivetrain degreaser. Brush the chain length gently to remove any junk accumulations.
Pouring some degrease into a clean cloth and cleaning the chain will speed up the process. Then, clean the drivetrain and other components with the soft bristle brush. Apply a tiny amount of lubricant to the chain, gears, and so on after cleaning the drivetrain. To eliminate dirt formation, use another clean towel to wipe away any extra lubricant.
Maintain Your Electric Bike Tires
Keeping your e-bike tires in good condition is an important electric bike safety measure. E-bikes are significantly heavier than ordinary cycles, necessitating the use of robust tires. Flat tires are every cyclist's worst nightmare, so make sure your bike tires are properly inflated. Maintaining your tires at the recommended pressure levels will also help you avoid flats, improve pedal and battery efficiency, and make your ride more enjoyable.
If your tires deflate on a standard bike, you'll notice it soon because you'll have to work considerably more to drive the bike. On an ebike, the motor will compensate and mask the problem while rapidly draining the battery. So, before you go on a ride, it's a good idea to check the pressure in your tires. Although the electric bike tires on Polarna's are among the most durable on the market, you never know when you'll come across a sharp object. In an emergency, you should have a tire patch repair kit on hand.
Battery Maintenance for Electric Bikes
While the battery is one of the most important electrical components of an electric bike, it has no moving parts that require maintenance. Although'maintenance' is not necessary in the traditional sense, you can take efforts to guarantee your battery life lasts longer. For example, read the manufacturer's instructions on charging properly. Improper charging will cause the battery to be damaged and wear out faster.
Furthermore, lithium batteries are quite sensitive. Allowing the battery to totally discharge can significantly degrade its capacity or cause it to stop performing entirely. So, before storing your electric bike at the conclusion of the active bike season, charge the battery completely. Also, make an effort to recharge it every two months.
Check your electric bike brakes on a regular basis
Reliable brakes are an important safety aspect of any eBike, and maintaining them in excellent working order should be a top concern. Riders may be put in danger if their brakes fail, especially if they are riding on steep terrain. New electric bike brakes can be squeaky, but if you've had it for a while and the bike brakes are screeching, you should be concerned. Squeaking can occur when grease or oil gets on the wheel rim, brake pad, or rotor. A misalignment of the brake surfaces may also generate unpleasant sounds. Inspect your brakes before riding and replace worn rotors and brake pads as soon as feasible.
How to Plan Your Service Check-Ups
In addition to DIY care, your e-bike need regular professional inspections and repairs. Metal fatigue, for example, is only detectable with sophisticated equipment. So, bring your e-bike to a specialized service shop for a thorough examination. These tests should be regarded as an investment in your safety. You don't want your electric bike to break down in the middle of a ride.
Choose the lowest riding season for thorough electric bike inspections. You can, for example, take your electric bike to the servicing center in late autumn or winter. As a result, before you begin an active biking season, you have your two-wheeler properly inspected by a qualified mechanic.
Conclusion
Electric bike parts are pricey, and not having one is cumbersome. Wash your bike on a regular basis and utilize that opportunity to get to know how it works. This will assist you in identifying any areas of concern should things go wrong. Small and basic bike problems can soon become costly if ignored. This is especially true with a more powerful electric bike. While a chain is a low-cost component, a worn chain can wear down the entire drivetrain, which is costly.
These are some quick and basic maintenance procedures that you can perform on your own to dramatically enhance the lifespan of your electric bike.