Electric bicycle and maintenance: 8 tips to maintain your electric bicycle yourself
How much maintenance your electric bicycle needs depends largely on the number of kilometers that the bicycle has already covered.
For more complex matters, it is advisable to have regular maintenance carried out at the bicycle specialist in your area.
It is also possible to carry out the simpler tasks yourself. An electric bicycle is also just a ‘normal’ bicycle. So you also have the same maintenance as you would with a normal bicycle.
Do you want to maintain your electric bicycle yourself, but you don’t know how or what to pay attention to? In this article you can read 8 tips for maintaining your electric bicycle yourself.
Contents
Take good care of your battery
Unfortunately, an electric bicycle battery does not last forever. You can assume that most batteries are good for about 5 to 6 years. It is important to take good care of your battery: use your battery regularly and store your battery in a place where there are no extreme temperatures.
Read more about the battery of your electric bicycle in the article ‘when to replace an electric bicycle?’ and in the article ‘replacing an electric bicycle battery’.
Inflate tires properly
Are you going out with your electric bike? Make sure your tires are always properly inflated. Properly inflated tires not only cycle lighter, but this also ensures less wear on your chain, sprockets and your chain.
Do you need a new bicycle tire? Then choose, for example, the Schwalbe Inner Tube SV17 or the Schwalbe Inner Tube AV19. Which tire you choose depends on the size of your bicycle tire.
Lubricate your cables regularly
For optimal use of your electric bicycle, it is important that all your cables can continue to run smoothly. Regularly lubricate your cables, especially if you cycle with precipitation or if you have the bike outside. You can do this with bicycle oil or WD40. Be careful not to spill any oil on the brake pads or your rim.
Maintenance of your chain
Maintaining your chain yourself is a fairly simple job and also very important to do well. With an open chain case, it is easier to lubricate your chain. Wipe a wet cloth with soap over your bicycle chain and lubricate it with a special lubricant.
With a closed chain guard, maintaining your chain is somewhat difficult. This is mainly because it is more difficult to reach your chain. You don’t have to remove the entire chain case. It is possible to mount a cap on the back of your chain guard.
Take good care of your motorcycle
Perhaps the most important part of your e-bike is the motor, along with the battery. Without these two parts you will not get pedal assistance. It is important to always keep your motorcycle clean and check the tire pressure. This way there is less chance of wear and tear on your engine.
Check your brake pads
Did you know that the brakes of an electric bicycle can wear out faster than on your regular bicycle? This is because you have to put more force on an electric bicycle to brake due to the higher speed.
Check lighting
Especially with an electric bicycle it is important that your lighting works properly. You are faster and therefore more difficult to estimate. Usually the battery of your e-bike is connected to the battery of your bicycle. Are your lamps no longer working? Make sure you are clearly visible and buy the XLC lighting sets, for example.
Update your software yourself
Did you know that it is possible to update the software yourself with an electric bicycle? So you don’t have to make a special appointment here at the bicycle specialist. You can often easily update your software via an accompanying app. Saves money on your wallet!
