Do It Yourself E-Bike Maintenance

E-bike maintenance, as is the case on a traditional bicycle, is relatively simple and is guaranteed to keep your pride and joy running like new if it is done on a regular basis.

All it takes is some basic mechanical/bicycle specific knowledge and a can-do attitude and you will enjoy countless kilometres of trouble-free e-biking.

Also, by learning how to keep your e-bike in tip top condition, you will not only be able to bask in the knowledge that you “did it yourself”, but you will be confident to fix most problems if the unexpected happens and something does breakdown/go wrong while you are out e-biking.

The first thing to understand is that e-bikes are nothing more than a normal bicycle with an electric motor and battery attached.

In other words e-bike maintenance  is not a nightmare riddled with potential electrical problems only solvable by an electrically trained mechanic.

On the contrary most e-bikes are relatively simple to maintain as long as you purchase a bike powered by a quality electrical system such as the Bosch Performance line of e-bike motors.

The moral of the story is that if you purchase a quality e-bike you basically have nothing to worry about if you are armed with basic bicycle maintenance skills.

A clear example to prove this point is the combined distance of 55,600 kilometres my wife, Rachel, and I cycled on our two Bosch powered e-bikes throughout  Europe and the UK over 16 months in 2015/16 to set a new world e-bike long distance record.

The Bosch Range of E-Bike Motors are Proven Performers

During all of that time over all of those kilometres the only problem we encountered with our electrical setup was a faulty battery which was replaced under warranty without question by Bosch.

Other than that one-off battery issue we did not encounter any others problems on either bike with the Bosch motors or associated electrical systems.

While most moving parts such as brake pads, chains, cassettes, tyres, brake rotors and rear wheels had to be replaced one or more times, the heart and soul of both e-bikes – their Bosch performance crank drive motors and associated electrical systems – did not miss a beat.

So the message to take to heart from the experience of the E-Bike Cycle Tourists is to purchase a quality e-bike such as those offered in the AVE range of e-bikes powered by the Bosch system and to concentrate your e-bike maintenance knowledge on the rest of your e-bike.

As is the case with most modern cars these days, if you treat it well and service it regularly it will treat you well in return.

All reputable e-bike dealers – including AVE – provide a full pre-delivery electrical and mechanical check-up on your new purchase to ensure that it performs as it should from day one.

After enjoying your new e-bike for a few hundred kilometres your dealer will provide a free check-up to ensure that all bolts remain tight and cables, brakes and gears tightened and adjusted.

At the time of delivery of your e-bike make sure you know how to change a flat tyre. If any special tools are required to remove either the front or rear wheels make sure you always carry them on your bike along with a set of tyre levers, spare tubes, a pump and self-stick patches.

If you have never changed a bicycle tyre make sure you ask your dealer to show you how, they will not mind and will provide the service as part of their pre-delivery obligations.

It is at this point after delivery in the lifecycle of your new e-bike that you should take on the responsibility of its general ongoing well-being.

Ongoing Maintenance tips 

• Always keep your e-bike stored under cover away from rain, snow and the sun.
• After use make it a habit to clean your e-bike if it is muddy, dusty or generally covered in grime.
• Only use bicycle specific cleaners and lubricants.
• Never use a pressure washer to clean your e-bike. This can force water into the electrical terminals of your e-bike’s motor and lighting system which in turn will corrode components. Pressure cleaning can also force lubricating grease out of all-important bearings.
• Keep your e-bike’s battery charged, but do not leave in ‘on charge’ indefinitely once it has already recharged.
• Ensure that cleaning agents and lubricants do not get on the brakes of your e-bike or you will find that you have to return to your e-bike service centre sooner rather than later.
• Keep the chain of your e-bike lubricated at all times. If you opt to use a wet lube make sure you clean the chain on a regular basis. In general it is good practice to use wet lube on your chain in winter or when the weather is wet and dry lube in summer or when there is no likelihood of rain.
• Always use a dry lubricant on brake and gear cables.
• When doing any service or cleaning work on your e-bike make sure you use clean rags to ensure you do not scratch the paintwork or contaminate moving parts.
• Make sure that you keep your e-bike’s tyres properly inflated. This will prolong the life of your tyres, improve safety and put less rolling resistance on the motor and other components.
• On a regular basis use a multi-tool to ensure that all bolts and screws on your e-bike are tight. Remember there is a difference between tight and over-tightening. If you overtighten a bolt there is a very real chance that the bolt will sheer off which can lead to major problems.
• If you are unsure how to rectify a maintenance issue of any sort do NOT proceed until you have asked your e-bike dealer or someone with the knowledge required.
• If unsure how to fix a problem it is best to book your e-bike in for a service. Do NOT continue to ride your bike with an ongoing maintenance issue.

Motor and Battery Maintenance 

• NEVER attempt to do maintenance work yourself on either the motor or battery of your e-bike.
• After enjoying your e-bike for a few thousand kilometres the Bosch drive sprocket may require replacement. Do not attempt this yourself. Return it to your dealer to complete the work.
• Under no circumstances attempt to cycle through deep or salt water. This could cause irreparable damage to the motor and other components of your e-bike.
• Both the motor and battery come with warranties that will be voided if they have been worked on by anyone other than a licensed dealer.
• Do not leave your battery in extreme heat such as in a locked car for long periods of time.
• Do not recharge a battery in direct, hot sunlight.
• Do not leave the battery outdoors in below freezing weather.
• It is best for modern lithium cell batteries to remain topped up at all times. If possible try not to completely discharge your battery on a regular basis.
• If you think your battery is not achieving the same range as it once did, it can often benefit from a full conditioning cycle. This entails running the battery flat a couple of times before recharging it completely. On most occasions this will result in the battery achieving improved performance.
• Remember; if you suspect that there is anything wrong with your battery do NOT attempt to open it up. Return it to your dealer to investigate the cause of the problem.

What Do I Do If My E-Bike has an Electrical Problem? 

The answer is simple – NOTHING. Return it as soon as possible to your dealer to rectify the problem.

If, however, you suffer a problem that strands you by the side of the road on a long distance e-bike cycle tour, for example, it is possible to hook up to your e-bike’s on-board diagnostics system.

All you have to do is plug into your bike’s on-board computer via your laptop. Then, via WiFi, contact your dealer who will be able to access all the information required to make a diagnosis.

Often it is good advice before returning to your dealer with an electrical “issue” to check that all electrical connectors are firmly joined. Quite often what appears to be a catastrophic breakdown proves to be a very simple problem that is easily fixed.

At other times it can be as simple as turning the e-bike off and back on. Doing this will reset the controller and could get you going again.

Be wary, however. The mere fact that you have had to reset could mean that there is an ongoing problem that should be checked out by your dealer.

In conclusion maintaining an e-bike is relatively simple. If you attempt basic maintenance with the right attitude you will not only save money, but could potentially help prevent unforeseen problems.

Remember, an e-bike is no more than a regular bicycle with an added motor – and that you should never try to service the motor yourself.

Look after your e-bike and maintain a regular service schedule and you will receive years of trouble-free cycling in return.