Top E-Bike Care and Maintenance Tips

Say goodbye to huffing and puffing when you climb up a hill and say hello to speed, ease and convenience with an e-bike! Before you begin gliding along at 25km per hour and showing off to your friends, we’ve rounded up some of the best care & maintenance tips so you can look after your beloved e-bike properly and make the most of your investment.

BEFORE YOUR RIDE

Before you jump on your e-bike, we highly recommend you complete a few things first to ensure a smooth and safe ride!

Check your tyre pressures and batteries: If you’re unsure of what the tyre pressure should be - don’t be! Tyre inflation guides are written on the sidewalls of your tyres and sticking to these will mean an easier ride and fewer punctures.

It is also a good idea to check if the batteries are charged, as you wouldn’t want to ride without that motor-assist home or get left behind by the bunch! While there are many factors that contribute to how far you can ride on a single charge, typically you should get about 130-140km in Eco mode and 55-60km in the turbo/high mode (depending on the e-bike system manufacturer). Always best to charge your e-bike up before you leave the house!

Test your brakes: To make sure that the brakes are in good working order, give them a good squeeze. If they feel soft or spongy, they might require servicing. For cable-activated brakes, if they do not feel firm then consider adjusting the cable tension or get the disc brake pads replaced.

Keep a record of bike information: Snap a few photos of your bike, battery key serial number, bike serial number and the receipt, just in case you need to submit a claim in the future.

Gear to success: Every rider is different with different riding requirements. Speak to your local My Ride store about accessories that are useful for your particular riding habits, whether they are: drink bottle cages, high visibility rainproof coats or pannier bags for commuting or touring - each to their own!

DURING YOUR RIDE

While you are enjoying the pedal-assisted power of your e-bike and zooming ‘round town effortlessly, be sure to keep these things in mind

Utilise all gears available: The bike chain will thank you for shifting into different gears when the terrain changes. When you find yourself pedalling too fast as there is not enough resistance (maybe because you are on a downhill or getting lots of help from a tailwind), shift into a harder gear. If you are finding it difficult to pedal (going uphill, or into a strong wind for example), shift into an easier gear. Better yet, use an easier gear before the incline starts to ride at a more efficient cadence.

A higher pedalling cadence will give you more power assistance and your ride will be that much more enjoyable! Your e-bike parts will last longer as well.

Go for ECO: Staying in ECO means you’ll go a little slower, but ride much further and keep range anxiety at bay. Use the turbo/high modes for steeper hills, accelerations or when you just want to get to your destination ASAP!

Stick to the road rules: Be a responsible rider by using hand signals and obeying road signs and give way rules. Keep left and stay alert - It is the best way to keep yourself and others safe!

‘Walk Assist’: This function will come in super handy when you come upon obstacles or simply need to push your e-bike up very steep inclines. When you enter the ‘Walk Assist’ mode, the maximum speed is 6km per hour and if you are using a lower gear, then you will experience a lower speed.

AFTER YOUR RIDE

Now that you’ve got a taste of the e-bike good life, let’s take the best care of your e-bike so it runs smoothly for as long as possible!

Juice up: Re-charge your battery after every ride. Your bike should be used/charged at least once every three months to get optimal life out of the battery. Just like your car, if you leave your e-bike in the garage for months and don’t use it, over time the battery may go flat and lose its ability to hold charge. We don’t want that, do we?!

Clean & Lubricate: We recommend using Muc-Off waterless wash or soapy water for cleaning your e-bike. Avoid using a pressure hose as it can cause debris and dirt to get pushed into sensitive areas. Ideally your chain should be a dull grey colour in the middle. If it is shiny silver, it is too dry and needs to be lubricated. If it is a thick oily dark colour the chain should be cleaned and re-lubricated.

Store smart: Secure your e-bike with a bike lock. Store your charger separately from your e-bike. Consider removing the battery and head unit as well to make it safer when storing in a shared/public space.

Service: If you ride regularly (wish we hope you do!), your e-bike will need regular servicing. We recommend daily commuters have their bike serviced every 6 months and occasional riders at least every 12 months. Drop into your local My Ride store for a quick assessment on brake pads, tyres and chain wear. Every couple of years, ask one of My Ride bike mechanics to check the firmware and make sure the software is up to date.

If you are looking to join the e-bike club and need some help on picking the e-bike of your dreams, drop into one of your local My Ride stores and our staff will be able to recommend the one for you! In the meantime, get started on your e-bike buying journey by checking out our article, What is an e-bike and is one right for me? and taking a peek at our Electric Bike range .

We’ll see you out there!