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Standard e-‐bike Maintenance
Proper electric bicycle maintenance is really no different than the maintenance
needed for any other conventional bicycle. The electric components require little or
even no maintenance and all the other bicycle parts require the same maintenance
that is needed for any standard bicycle.
But electric bikes require more care since they will usually be ridden farther and
faster than a conventional bicycle. And anything that slows the bike down (like dirt
in the gears or deflated tires) forces the battery to work harder. This shortens the
time between charges and means you can travel less distance on a single charge.
Regular cleaning
Cleaning the bike often will help to keep dirt, dust, and debris from getting into the
engine and messing with the motor. It also helps to keep all the mechanical parts
moving properly without grinding against each other or blocking the chain. E-‐bikes
should be washed once per week depending on how often it is used.
When you clean your e-‐bike, do not use a pressurized hose or stream of water. This
might compromise the integrity of the seals around electrical equipment and wear
them down, eventually leading to exposed and wet electrical systems that will then
malfunction. Instead, use a low-‐pressure water stream or a wet rag and dry the bike
off once you’re doing washing it.
Lubrication
In order to keep all the mechanics in working order, you can apply lubrication on
the major moving parts such as the chain. You should use a special cleaning solution
to clean off the chain before applying a bike lubricant to it. This should ideally be
done at least once a week if you use the bike often.
Check the bolts
Do a quick once-‐over and check for any loose screws, bolts, nuts, or anything else on
the bike. If there is too much play in the bolts, tighten them up a little bit and see if
you can identify the cause of the looseness. Do not over tighten the bolts.
Tire pressure
The sidewalls of your bike tires should tell you how much pressure is ideal for
proper use of the bike. You can check to see what the current pressure is in the tires
by using a simple pressure gauge. If it’s too low, or if the tires can visibly sink when
you push your finger into them, you should get out your bike pump and inflate them
properly to the pressure indicated on the tires.
