Not only is an electric bike a big investment, but it’s also an elaborate piece of technology. Your e-bike can offer you a wide variety of fun, reliability, and versatility for many years, but only if you’re looking after it. An e-bike is not a pet, but it does require proper care and attention if you’re wanting a safe and smooth riding experience.
When To Service?
If you want to ensure your e-bike continues to operate correctly, you’ll have to keep up with maintenance and service. You may wonder how often your e-bike should get serviced. The answer to this question may seem simple, but there’s a lot involved. Your e-bike should get checked after your first 50 hours (or about 3 months) of riding and then every 50-100hrs thereafter. A good point of reference is your owner’s manual, which will indicate how often your e-bike will need service.
Why Does an E-Bike Need To Be Serviced?
While electric bikes aren’t a vehicle, they are a mode of transportation that can experience similar wear and tear from everyday riding. Unlike a regular bike, an e-bike requires a lot more routine maintenance because it has a motor, battery, and other components that need attention.
Eventually, your tires can become worn out and lose both their treads and pressure. Along with the tires, your spokes and chain can become worn from rust, which can make for a bumpy ride.
When it comes to your gearbox and brakes, you’ll want to make sure they’re in top condition. Brake pads have a habit of experiencing excessive wear over prolonged riding periods, which could place your brake performance in jeopardy. Along with these issues, your battery may eventually need a replacement, and your motor may run into some problems.
What Parts Need Servicing?
As we mentioned, an e-bike is an elaborate piece of technology that requires regular tune-ups. There are numerous parts of the bike that need service, such as:
- Batteries: Batteries die eventually, so it’s pivotal to have yours checked to indicate whether it needs to be changed.
- Brakes: Your brake pads will experience wear and tear over time, which means that new ones will need to be installed. In some cases, a simple tightening of the brakes may be necessary.
- Chain: The chain will need to be cleaned and lubed. If the chain is rusted or damaged, a replacement may be necessary.
- Drivetrain System: The drivetrain system will most likely require inspection, which includes checking for the buildup of grease and grime and checking the nut tension.
- Gears: The gears will need a tune-up.
- Motor: The motor will need an inspection to ensure everything is running smoothly since it’s an integral component. Here are some tips to make your e-bike motor last longer.
- Spokes: The spokes will need to be checked to ensure they remain firm.
- Suspension: Your suspension will need a good look over.
- Tires: Your tires need to be inspected to see if they have the proper air pressure. You’ll also need to check the tire tread to see if it’s worn out. A tire with weakened treads requires replacing. It’s recommended that you replace each tire at least once every 3 years.
What To Expect During a Servicing
Your e-bike will undergo a full inspection from a technician. Setting up a servicing schedule may be recommended by your technician to ensure that certain parts of the e-bike are inspected or cleaned regularly. In some cases, your e-bike may need to stay in the shop overnight in case it needs repairs or replacements.
How Much Does Servicing Cost?
Servicing costs will depend on what the technician will charge, as well as how thorough the inspection or tune-up is. A basic tune-up can range anywhere from $75-$100, while a more thorough inspection can be $150 or more. Parts for an e-bike can also vary in price, which can increase the cost of the servicing if you need replacements.
Regular Maintenance
Just because a professional can service your bicycle doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do at-home bike maintenance yourself. For more information, follow our maintenance guide. After all, you want to ensure your e-bike is in the best shape possible when taking it out for a ride.
Here are some tips:
- Charge the battery: The tricky part about charging your battery is that you never want to leave it at 100% fully charged for too long, and you don’t want to leave it dead. When charging, it’s best to unplug it when it’s at 90%-95%. This will prolong its life and health. When storing a battery, make sure that it’s slightly charged as well.
- Clean your e-bike: Long rides can get your bike really dirty, really fast. Wipe your e-bike’s frame down with a soft cloth, and make sure to clean the chain. Use a special detergent for bike cleaning, as you don’t want to rust the chain or any other parts. Always remember to remove the battery before washing.
- Lube the chain: The regular maintenance of lubing your chain will provide a smoother riding experience. In rainy weather or winter conditions, use a wet lube. For dry, sunny days, use a dry lube.
- Check the tires: Check the air pressure on each tire to see if they need more air. Your owner’s manual will indicate the correct pressure your tires need to be at. You can use a tire gauge to see what the air pressure is. In addition, check the tread on each tire to see if they’ve become worn down.
- Check the wheels: Regularly spin the wheels to ensure that they are straight and true.
- Test the brakes: Before going out for a ride, test out the brakes to ensure they’re working properly.
Are you looking to get in on the exciting world of e-bikes? Don’t let the level of maintenance discourage you. If you’re curious about what the right choice is for you, check out our e-bike buyer’s guide. We have a wide selection of bikes and products. We can ensure that when you pop by our shop, we’ll be able to help you with any bike-related needs and watch you ride off into the sunset.