Care and Maintenance of Your Electric Bicycle
Fortunately, care and maintenance of your electric bike is really no different than for any other bicycle.
There is, however, a greater onus to keep the bike in good order. 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.
Here are some tips:
- the motorized components should usually not need maintenance, other than to keep the outer casings clean and dry
- electrical components don't take kindly to immersion in water or excessive damp, so...
- Don't use aggressive water sprays or power jets when washing the bike: keep water off the battery as much as you can
- Dry off the bike after washing it, or after riding in the wet
- Don't leave the bike out in the rain or snow: store it somewhere dry and out of direct sunlight (which can cause problems if the battery overheats)
- keep tires properly inflated
- keep brake cords tight and check the brake pads regularly for wear and tear
- ensure the bike's moving parts (especially the gears) are kept clean and well lubricated
- don't open up casings, chargers etc. as you are unlikely to be able to reseal them effectively, making them more susceptible to water damage
- take care of the battery as you would any other battery (see the battery page for more details)