To ensure your electric bike stays in good condition, it is important to perform maintenance on a regular basis. However, you may not be sure what the best maintenance is to do, or how often to do it. With that in mind, we’ve gathered some of the best eBike maintenance tips to help you get the most out of your eBike for longer. If you need electric bicycle maintenance in Portland, call The eBike Store! Our friendly and knowledgeable team will be more than happy to make sure your eBike is in tip-top shape so you can get back to riding.
-Battery Maintenance
Electric bikes use a battery that is very similar to the one in your cell phone or laptop, Lithium Ion, just on a larger scale. Within the battery are a group of cells, which have around 1,000 charge cycles, depending on the quality of the cells. What this means is the battery has 1,000 full charges before it starts to drain and die, like all batteries eventually will. As each cell’s charge is consumed, the battery will move onto the next one in the series. If you go for a ride and only use the first 10 cells in the battery, recharge, and then go for another ride repeating the process, you have still only used the first 10 cells in the battery. That means the rest of the cells within the battery are still unused and have not consumed any of their 1,000 charge cycles. To extend the life of your battery, charge it after every ride to keep as many cells in unused condition as possible.
-Drivetrain Maintenance
Just like standard bikes, an electric bike’s drivetrain needs to be properly lubricated and cleaned in order to keep operating optimally. If this is not done regularly, it will cause it to rust and wear down, which means it will need to be repaired or replaced. To clean the chain while it is still on the bike, follow these steps:
- Clean out the links in the chain with an old toothbrush and some warm water.
- After they’ve been cleaned, dry them off with an old, but clean, cloth.
- Lube up the clean links with bicycle lubricant. Do not use WD-40 or other oils, only special bike lube.
- Wipe off any excess lube with a clean dry rag or paper towel. Excess lube can attract dirt.
The derailleur gears will need to be tightened and adjusted around every year or so. Because this is a more difficult and intricate piece of maintenance, we recommend bringing your bike into The eBike Store so one of our experienced technicians can do that for you. This is done to ensure the bike can make a clean shift without any scraping or grating, which makes for a smoother ride.
-Tire and Inner Tube Maintenance
Keeping your tires fully inflated will ensure your bike runs well and as fast as you want it to, without requiring as much energy (human or electrical) as if they weren’t fully inflated. Your tires will have their proper PSI marked on its side, so be sure you aren’t over or underinflating it. Make sure the treads of the tire are in good shape and aren’t worn down, as worn down treads can result in reduced traction and make it easier for something sharp to puncture the tire. It is recommended to replace your tires after around 2,000 miles, depending on the road and riding conditions they’ve been put through.
-Brake Maintenance
Your brakes are incredibly important because you rely on them to keep you safe as you slow down and come to a stop. As such, keeping them maintained is not something you should neglect. Different types of brakes require different maintenance, which we will be getting into more detail with in the future. The main types of brakes you’ll find on an electric bike include:
- Rim Brakes: Engaged using a lever, which pulls a cable connected to the brake pad, slowing you down.
- Mechanical Disc Brakes: Brake is connected to a rotor that is attached to the wheel. Also engaged using a cable attached to the handlebars.
- Hydraulic Disc Brakes: A sealed tube with hydraulic brake fluid applies pressure to the pads and rotors.
-Motor Maintenance
Like brakes, different motors will require different maintenance, which we will be covering in further detail in a future article. Those types of motors include:
- Gearless Hub Motors
- Geared Hub Motors
- Mid Drive Motors
Most motors will not require much maintenance, but it’s good to be aware of the differences.
For the best in electric bike maintenance, call The eBike Store in Portland today! We’ll be happy to help you get back on the road.
