Top 3 Tips For Keeping Your E Bike Running Well
Nov 03, 2010
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One of the coolest things about electric bikes is how easy it is to keep them running well and how easy it is to repair them. Cars these days are so complex that even people who used to work on their older cars are forced to take their newer cars to a mechanic for costly maintenance and repairs. Being able to maintain and repair your own e-bike is another way to save money and an advantage over costly car maintenance.Here are my top three tips for keeping your electric bike running well. There are many more tips that I will share with you later but I think that these three will cover the bases for now.
First of all it always a good idea to keep your battery topped off. Some batteries can handle being drained all the way down but in general it is a good idea to always charge your e-bike battery when you can. Consider charging your battery when you are at work or when you stop somewhere to run errands. Most employers and shops are ok with people charging their batteries when they understand that it only costs pennies to fully charge an electric bike battery! Keeping your battery topped off is good for the overall life of your battery and it helps if you have an unexpected trip you need to make and you need the extra juice.
The second tip is to keep your chain lubricated with a good bike chain lubricant. This will keep your bike running smooth and efficient and it won’t make that squeaky “old bike” noise! Just apply the lubricant to the chain and let it sit a few minutes before wiping off the excess lubricant with a shop rag. Eventually you will need to clean the chain with a degreaser to remove all the excess dirt that has collected on the chain. I will do a video tutorial on this soon.
Finally the last tip is to keep your tires inflated to the proper air pressure. This will keep your bike running smooth and efficient and it will prevent flats. If your tire pressure is too low your bike will be more difficult to pedal and you risk a pinch flat (when you roll over an obstacle and it causes the tube to puncture by pinching it between the tire and rim). If your tire pressure is too high it will make for a rougher ride.
As a good rule of thumb I recommend 50 psi for an e-bike that will be used for cruising around town for an average rider weight. For a lighter rider 40-45 psi and for a heavier rider 55-60 psi.
Here is a video I did on maintaining the proper air pressure for your bike tires. It covers the two different bike tube valve types that you may have.
That’s it for now. Stay tuned; I will be adding more e-bike maintenance and repair info and tutorials soon.
Please let me know if you have any comments or questions on these tips by leaving them in the comment section below.
Thanks!
-Pete
P.S. Don’t forget to sign up for updates from the electric bike world, plus ebike riding and maintenance tips! (upper right hand corner of this site)
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[…] a rookie mistake to ignore its maintenance. This bike has a motor, and just like all other motors, it needs proper maintenance to run smoothly. Most e-bikes come with a manual. If you follow the manual carefully, you will avoid any […]
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These are the basic things which would be good to maintain wherever you go. If one doesn’t follow these then there will problem to them only. I know some people who are just lazy to recharge the battery thinking that they will cover the distance.
Lets not forget to avoid potholes and uneven surfaces as much as possible. The extra weight of the bike can cause flat tires and spokes to pop if you hit an uneven surface at the right angle.
Make sure you buy an ebike from a company that can actually service the bike and not leave you high and dry.
Biking is the one that runs in my blood….I am a keen biker and loves to run my cycle anywhere my mind allows me to do so…The tips here for keeping the bike running well are the best ones and i too recommend these to all….
Since most if not all ebike motors are non maintainence there is no worry about keeping them up. These are no brainer tips, but can be easily over looked. I have check the inflation on my tires on a regular basis and top off the battery every night or when ever I can, but I have neglected the chain. I will spray some oil on it and let soak in for a few minutes today and off and running I will go. Thank you for these reminders that we all should do.
I took my e bike to REI’s safety class (free) and they gave a couple other tips. Always check for stem/handlebar tightness before riding (put the wheel between your legs, hold the handlebars, and rock and twist). Never use wd 40 as a lubricant; apparently many people do and it ruins the chain. Spin the wheels and look for glass, rocks, thorns before you ride. These simple things in addition to the ones above will keep the rider safe and save money. They did suggest riding with tire pressure no less than 5 lbs below the rated maximum to prevent flats in the city; apparently harder tires roll over junk better than softer ones.
Hi Lin, great tips! Thanks for adding those.
Thanks a ton for the tips. Really appreciated. I am from Dhaka. Bangladesh. And trust me i am the only user of E-Bike in whole Bangladesh! This information really helped me a lot.
Hi Fahad, I am glad this was helpful. Hopefully you can get more people in Bangladesh riding e-bikes!
Thanks Pete
the tips you give on getting more range on your Ebike has me really excited and overwhelmed with joy and laughter as of tonight. I`ve been using the pedal assist as you instructed and i never knew i was draining alot of my battery, because while riding up pretty steep hills i would rest my feet on the foot pegs and use the throttle. I thought the battery was only being drained , because the batterie`s charge time is catching up to the output time.
But tonight i`m laughing and having fun,because the battery guage lights aren`t going out as quick as they did when i would ride up hills. Also when stopping at stop lghts if the incline is`nt too steep, i throttle just enough to get a little roll and then use pedal assist up the hill. I`m learning to incorporate your tips into my commutes. Since i`ve been using these tips it feels like i`m riding a new bike.
I feel like these tips are backup procedures, and alternatives when you need them most. I`m sure now i can go my Bike`s fifty miles with the tips you provided. I like how you say the Ebike world; it makes me feel like i`m apart of a elite Group. Like motorist learn of their car. We Ebikers learn about our bikes.
What`s really funny is the cops love to mess with people with Electric bikes until you show them the Federal Bicycle Regulations. Most people don`t like to fight the ticket. They think by paying the tickets they get off.
What i learned is this; that`s how they emake their money, because they know not everybody will have that proof and they think that it won`t happen again. Well that`s what it seems like to me.
I hope in the future they come up with some kind of solar panel for charging your Ebike whenever you need to. Well anyway i`m laughing and having and having more fun with my Ebike than before. My Bike was becoming a dissppointment before i read your Ebike tips.
Thanks Pete It will be Two years this June 16th since i had my Ebike and it feels like i`m riding a new Ebike.
Thanks alot Pete. Thanks alot. Sincerely Angel Alexader
The Electric Bike Report just keeps getting better and better. I found the article about E-Bike insurance interesting and will look into it. I also like the tips on maintenance. Keep up the good work of making an up and coming mode of transportation interesting.
Thanks Blaine!
Thanks for providing information about 3 major tips of E-Bike maintenance it is very helpful information . Waiting for more helpful blog like this in future.