An e-bike requires even more accurate and frequent maintenance than a standard bicycle for the same kilometres travelled. This is due to a number of factors, including:
- Greater weight of an e-bike, resulting in greater wear of the transmission parts and brakes.
- Presence of the motor and battery that, although protected and very robust, can be attacked by external agents and degrade due to use.
- Presence of an electronic operation management component that must be properly maintained and protected both during use and during maintenance operations.
As with normal bikes, the maintenance can be of two types: standard maintenance before and after each ride, which must match the type of route to be travelled, and extraordinary maintenance that is usually carried out at the end of the season of use or at least a couple of times a year. The maintenance must also take the type of e-bike you have into account, because:
- The positioning of the motor (central or on a hub) determines different mechanics and different wear of the mechanical parts
- The positioning of the battery and the control unit (inserted in the frame or in other positions) and the presence (or not if there is a Bluetooth connection) of electrical cables to the control unit or the display require more or less attention in the different steps.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
- WD-40 Specialist Bike Cleaner
- Basin
- Cloth and rag
- Chain lubricant
- Specialist Rapid-Drying Contact Cleaner
WASHING YOUR ELECTRIC BIKE
If your electric bike is very dirty, rinse it with a jet of water first. Then apply WD-40 Specialist Bike Cleaner on all the dirty parts, leaving it to act for a few minutes. Finally, rinse thoroughly with a jet of water and dry. Don’t use a pressure washer, as the high pressure jet could cause damage to the various parts that are not strictly mechanical.
LUBRICATING THE CHAIN
Carry out standard lubrication on the electric bike using WD-40 Bike Chain Lube. Place the bike on a support and spray the product on the top of the chain while sliding it using the pedal. Use a rag to protect the parts of the bike that must not be reached by the lubricant (e.g. brakes, battery and motor housings, etc.) while spraying.
BRAKES AND TYRES
The brakes, which in an e-bike are subjected to greater stress (due to weight) than a normal bike, must be carefully checked, examining the fundamental elements such as cables or the hydraulic circuit. It’s also best to check the brake pads, and it’s always useful to clean them with a brush with rigid bristles. Some useful information on how to do this can be found in the article on replacing bike brake cables and how to change bike brake pads. Checking the tyre pressure is also essential. Tyre pressure should always be checked and brought to optimal levels, because if they are deflated they require more energy from the motor and this drains the battery faster.
MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE
Typically, e-bikes are equipped with software managed by the control unit that performs all the functions necessary for pedalling assistance. The e-bike manufacturers periodically release updates that should be downloaded and installed in the control unit in order to allow the entire system to always offer the best performance and better define the type of intervention to carry out on the electromechanical parts.
MOTOR AND BATTERY
These are undoubtedly the most important components of the e-bike, and neglecting their maintenance almost certainly leads to the degradation and malfunction of the vehicle. The motor itself does not require special maintenance. Given the great diversification of the type of motor/location/housing/type of contacts, etc., we can’t recommend maintenance guidelines which broadly apply, except to periodically access the terminals connecting to the battery to treat them with WD-40 Specialist Rapid Drying Contact Cleaner able to effectively dissolve grease, deposits of grease and condensation on electrical or electronic equipment, including delicate materials, while drying quickly and without leaving residues.
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