Is your electric bike ready for the season?
E-bike maintenance: 6 things to check on an electric bike before the start of the season.
If you have acquired a trendy electric bicycle or are still planning to do so, maybe have you also wondered how electric bike maintenance works? In the case of a scooter, it is quite important to bring it in for maintenance once a year, because a well-maintained and regularly maintained electric bike will last longer.
What should be checked before you grab the handlebars and press the pedals on your e-bike in the spring? In the case of an electric bike, some things must be done by specialists, for example software update and battery check. But you can handle many things perfectly yourself.
1. Brakes
Although the goal of using an e-bike is to go farther faster, the condition and reliability of the brakes is actually (vitally) important. With hydraulic brakes, it is important to test that the brake system can still withstand pressure when braking. In addition, the brake discs should be checked for possible discoloration. Our specialists check the wear of the e-bike brakes and replace them if necessary.
2. Chain and gears
You should also keep an eye on the wear of the chain and gears. We will definitely check this in maintenance as well. Wheel chain wear is directly dependent on chain and sprocket maintenance. Do not underestimate a high-quality chain lubricant, it should be used at least once a month. By using chain grease, you extend the life of the chain and sprockets. When was the last time you did that?
3. Tires
Did you know that the tire pressure of electric bicycles has a significant effect on the range of your e-bike? A tire loses about one bar of air per month. Therefore, it makes sense to check it regularly, and of course it is crucial to check it after the e-bike’s long winter vacation. The tire pressure range is always marked on the side of the tire, it can be very different for different models.
NB! The “thumb test” is not very reliable. A pump with a manometer is a good thing, but if you don’t have one, you can measure the tire pressure of Electra e-bikes and pump up the tires successfully at gas stations as well. In the spring, examine the tires a little more closely to see if they have become brittle or if cracks have appeared, and see if the tire pattern is clearly visible. A tire with a worn pattern and an electric bicycle are definitely not compatible!
You can also extend the life of the tires if you clean them from time to time with a special tool that at the same time takes care of the rubber. If your electric bike has white or beige tires, you definitely need a tire cleaner, because you can’t get dirt off light-colored tires with a regular cleaner.
4. Battery
The battery capacity should also be checked at the beginning of the season, especially after a long winter vacation. This cannot be done at home, as it requires a special tester. Our service technicians have this tester and it allows checking the efficiency of the battery. Electric bike battery must be charged in a dry place and at room temperature. During very cold spring weather, it is worth thinking about purchasing a neoprene battery protection, it will extend the battery usage time in cold weather.
5. System and Software
During the maintenance of the electric bike, our specialists will check the condition of the motor, battery and on-board computer, among other things. For this we use a special Bosch diagnostic tool. The system check also includes a software up-to-date check and, if necessary, we update the software.
6. Cleaning and Safety
The ideal e-bike owner has already cleaned his e-bike properly before putting it in the winter apartment. If you haven’t done it in autumn, do it before the new season. Always clean the wheel with a suitable cleaning agent. There are many different special bicycle cleaning products on sale. Our favorite is, for example, this one:
For a cleaning cloth, take a microfiber cloth or even better if you reuse an old cotton t-shirt. When cleaning the electric bike, you must make sure that the battery connections and on-board computer screen connections remain dry. NB! Be sure not to wash your electric bike with a pressure washer. It is recommended to check whether all the screws are tightened – especially for the saddle, stem and handlebars.
Finally, one more useful trick – buy a bottle of spray wax for cars and cut a good-sized cleaning cloth from old cotton tracksuits and wax your bike frame with it after a thorough cleaning. Then it is much easier to clean the bike frame during the season, because the dirt doesn’t stick so hard anymore. It is especially wise to do this for bicycles with a matte or semi-matte light color, because dirt tends to stick to such frames very well. NB! Keep spray wax away from the brakes!
We hope these tips will help you take care of your electric bike. But now is the time to book an electric bike maintenance appointment.
Additional information about Bosch electric motors and batteries can be found on the Bosch website.
See you and great progress! ♥
