- Final part of our Getting the Most Value from E-bikes series
Keeping your electric bike in good condition will extend its life and make sure you get the most value from your investment. Here are some tips:
When do you need to get your e-bike serviced?
A good guideline is after 1500-2000 miles. You can check the odometer on your handlebar display or app. If you don’t look after your bike well, you might find that it degrades well before this distance, so make sure to keep your bike clean and lubricated.
Energise E-bikes currently offers 3 years annual servicing free on new electric bikes, so make sure to take up that offer before it ends on 1st October 2022!
Daily commuters may want to bring it in for an interim check over every six months just in case there are small issues that can be fixed before they turn into big ones.
Does cleaning make a difference?
Sorry, yes, it does. We know people don’t like cleaning bikes because when they bring them in for their servicing appointments as we have a floor full of mud to clean up afterwards!
Keeping your bike clean prevents a ‘grinding paste’ forming on your bike's components. All the moving parts of your bike can be damaged when dirt particles mix with lubrication. This can force its way deep into the bike parts and cause lots of wear and tear.
Simply use good old-fashioned soap and warm water to clean off mud, dust and old oil. Then use a thin layer of bike oil to relubricate it.
Another option is a spray bottle of bike cleaner. This works well with a microfibre cloth.
Do not jet wash your e-bike. It will force water into places that it shouldn’t be, and it can cause irreparable damage to your bike and motor. The only jet washer that is e-bike friendly is the Bosch Fontus, which we currently stock at our stores.
Good Storage for your E-bike
E-bikes are pretty resilient but just be mindful to keep it in a place that won’t get too damp or cold. Garages and sheds are usually fine for storing your bike, but if it’s prone to condensation, or dropping below zero degrees Celsius in the winter, you may want to make some adjustments.
Ventilating the shed every other day will keep condensation down, while taking out your battery and storing it in the house is a good idea in the coldest days of winter.
Think about security in your shed or garage as well. You can buy anchor points that allow you to lock your bike to something solid.
Battery Life
Treat your e-bike battery like it were a living thing and you’ll get years and years of riding out of it. Keep it fed (charged), keep it warm and dry, and make sure it doesn’t go to bed empty (flat). That’s about it!
Charge it at room temperature, and if you know the outside temperature will drop below zero, then bring the battery inside the house.
If you’re not riding the bike for a while, make sure that there is at least a half charge in the bike so that the battery cells don’t start to crystallise. Once that happens, they stop taking charge.
Remember, you do not have to wait until the battery is flat to charge it.
DID YOU KNOW…?
A study at the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands found that for every hour of cycling you do, you could extend your life expectancy by an hour.
With some simple home maintenance, and regular servicing by the mechanics at Energise E-bikes, you can extend the life of your e-bike. Some of our staff are riding electric bikes that are nearly 10 years old with the original batteries.
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Don't miss the other chapters in the Getting the Most Value from E-bikes series:
Part 1: Multipurpose E-bikes
Part 2: Keeping your E-bike Ride-Ready
Part 3: Transitioning to a Car-Lite Life