Routine Maintenance Of Your New Electric Bike
Words by The Electric Bike Shop
on 12/08/2021 14:45:00
To keep your electric bicycle running as efficiently as possible, for as long as possible, it’s well worth setting aside some regular time for maintenance. Here are a few pointers:
- Give it a wash! It may sound obvious, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t important. A clean machine will always function better and the longer dirt and dust hangs around, the more likely it is to work its way into bearings and other moving parts. A bike-specific wash such as Pedro’s Green Fizz will get the job done while being kind to your components, and while a sponge or rag works for most areas there is a good range of brushes available to get into the nooks and crannies. Remember to keep soap and oily cleaners away from disc brakes and rotors and do not use pressure washers or powerful hoses, as these can breach the weather seals on your components.
- Degrease your chain and cassette. This area generally requires a little extra attention, as chain lube will, over time, gather dirt and store it in hard to reach places like between the cassette sprockets. Removing this grime before relubrication of the chain will ensure that your drivetrain parts last longer. A powerful degreaser such as this one from Oxford Degreaser often comes in handy here.
- Clean your braking surfaces. An aerosol disc brake cleaner works wonders on both disc brake rotors and the braking surfaces of rims. Simply spray on, and wipe away with a clean cloth.
- Store your battery safely. When you put your e-bike away, ensure that your battery is removed where possible and stored in a dry place at room temperature, if left in the cold the life of your battery will be reduced. Don’t charge your battery completely and then leave ‘full’ for long periods of time, batteries should be kept between 30% and 60% capacity when not in use.
- Regular servicing, we would recommend that just like a car your bike is inspected and adjusted by one of our technicians on a yearly basis (depending on mileage and usage), for a small charge we can carry out a full safety check, full clean and lubrication of essential components, we will adjust your wheels replace brake and gear cables.
If you have any questions about routine maintenance please just ask one of our team, we are happy to talk you through if you are unsure.
