How to Take Care of your E-Bike In 2023?
There revolves around the myth that it is highly hard to maintain an electric bike. Thousands of people have invested in the best electric bikes and have broken the myth. Maintenance of an electric bike is as similar to the maintenance of a normal bicycle.
A little amount of additional care needs to be taken to if you own an electric bike, but it is not a challenging task. The electric parts that are additionally placed to make it an e-bike make it look complicated. But, the hidden truth is these electric parts cannot be repaired by yourselves. Assistance from a mechanic or an expert is needed when you need an inspection or repair on it. There are chances of you damaging the electric parts.
This article is all about providing you with valuable and practical tips to maintain your e-bike. Our team has worked with experts to furnish you with the best maintenance tips so that you can confidently make up your mind to buy an e-bike and make smart commuting.
E-bike Maintenance Tips for 2023
Before we serve you with the general instructions, we have worked on the essentials for you to gain a gist of the individual and vital components of an electric bike.
1.Battery
The battery is a vital element of an e-bike. It is the component that changes a normal bicycle into an electric bike. Maintaining a battery is simple but utmost care has to be taken so that no damage is caused to it. Charging a battery should be done only when necessary. Some e-bike batteries come with indications for low batteries and are fully charged. Ensure to keep an eye on these indications. Plugging in for charging should be done in your presence and charging your e-bike should not be done for more than two hours. This will ensure the long life of the battery and will also enhance performance.
Make sure not to place any heavy objects on your bike’s battery as they are prone to breaking easily. Weather can affect the performance of your bike battery. It is recommended to use them wisely in too-hot or too-cold weather conditions. If you are not using your e-bike for a longer period, say six months, it is advisable to detach the battery from your bike and store it properly in a dry place.
2.Motors
Motors is one of the essential components to move your e-bike. Be it, geared hub motors or mid-drive motors, it will usually last for more than 3 to 7 years. This number is entirely based on the quality of the product and the manufacturer's expertise.
Keep the motor away from dirt and particles after each ride. It is advisable to check your motors with a mechanic at regular intervals to check for any defects and repairs.
3.Brake system
Brakes are one most important factors to look at before every single ride. If your brake system is not efficient and up to the mark, there are chances that you may end up in trouble. Check for the sturdiness of the brake pads and see if they are comfortable enough.
Loose cables should be tightened. Brake levers should engage properly when the brake is applied. If it does not work properly, you can adjust the bolt by yourself. These are the basic adjustments that can be done by yourself. If there are any adjustments more than this, it is advisable to consult the working of the brakes to have a safe and seamless riding experience.
4.Gears
Utmost care should be taken when you are handling the gears. Choosing the right gear will make your task easier. Unfit and unsuitable gears will make it clumsy and hard for you to maintain. The cable is the first step where you remove the outer cables from the frame. This allows room for lubricating the inner edges and shifting cables.
Ensure to apply lubricant with the aid of an applier or a brush to each of the chains and cables. Front and rear cables are to be cleaned in the same way. Post this, the cassette is the last element that needs to be cleaned. For this purpose, you can use a bristle brush along with soap and water. This will keep the cassette off dirt and grimes. You can also invest in a bicycle chain cleaner. This will enable the smoother function of the chain and cables which in turn will make gear shifting and riding smooth.
5.Tires
Tires are the prominent fixtures of your bikes. e-bike tires do not vary much from normal bicycle tires. If you have opted for fat bike tires or altered your e-bike, make sure to follow the regulations as instructed by your mechanic. Pressure is one factor you need to check before riding.
Right tire pressure has to be confirmed whenever you fill your tires. It will be mentioned on the tires themselves. Cleaning a tire can be done with the aid of a pressure sprayer. You can use mild washers to take off the dirt and speckles from the tires.
Quick Overview of the E-Bike Maintenance Tips
- Use a dry cloth to clean the frame and other metal parts which are prone to dust and dirt easily. It is advisable to use mild detergents on these parts but make sure to entirely dry them. There are chances of rust if you leave them wet
- Always clean your bike in your outdoor garage or parking space. Doing it in your portico or indoors may result in the place getting dirty
- Clean the bike after every ride. Even if it doesn’t appear to be dirty, it is better to clean them after every single ride
- It is advisable to invest in brushes of different sizes that suit the various components
- Use a hand glove when you are working on the cables and chain. Apart from greasing, there are chances of you hurting your fingers
- Invest in a good lubricant. This will help in the better performance of chains and cables. Low-quality lubricants may be of no use
- Check the voltage of the current supply before you plug it in for charging. Variations in supply can damage the batteries
- Do not carry or place your electric bike in car boots for so long. The heat may damage them
- Anti-theft coating or installing a GPS is advisable if you are parking your bike outdoors
- A thorough gaze at all your bike’s components after each cleaning session will let you know if you have left anything untouched
Advice on Consulting an Expert for E-bike Maintenance
It is highly recommended that you consult an expert mechanic at regular intervals. It is the best move to keep the fixtures of your e-bike long laster. It will also help to resolve any unnoticed issues. An expert has the potential to read faults at the first instance itself.
If you are planning long rides in your e-bikes, make sure to get a thorough checkup done. It is also a wise move to learn and make a note of the basic repair and maintenance techniques from him. This will help you manage any small mishappenings on your own.
Conclusion
An article by Newyork Times has praised e-bikes for their functionality and has quoted saying e-bikes are having their moment. If maintaining an e-bike is hard or complicated.
it would have not attracted such a huge crowd. Now that you have everything handy, confidently invest in an e-bike. Hope our article has served its purpose and has helped you gain enough knowledge on the maintenance of e-bikes.
Disclaimer - The images inside the article were collected from the internet. We do not own any of them.