The general misconception in India is that an electric bike is high maintenance. This may be true for the cheaper e-bikes on the market. The components of cheaper e-bikes are more subjected to wear and tear, and perform lower than more expensive e-bikes. On the other hand, an expensive electric bike is high performing and requires very less maintenance. Since each of the components of these bikes have better endurance, are stronger, and last longer- the superior quality will save your money in servicing them. Furthermore, the question of high electric bike maintenance arises based on how well you take care of your bike. 

A well maintained e-bike not only enhances the quality of your everyday ride, but also increases the overall performance of your e-bike. This article is dedicated towards keeping your electric bike fit and healthy.

General tips: 

• Keep your e-bike clean. Best if you clean it after every ride, rather than let dirt accumulate. Use only bike specific cleaners. 
• Service your bike every 4 -5 months to avoid squeaky brakes & lazy gears
• Keep tyres inflated, at 40-50 psi to obtain optimum battery life.
• Chains rust more quickly when they are dirty or not lubricated properly. They also are harder on your cassette and chain ring.

Electric Bike Battery Maintenance

• Always remove the battery while cleaning 
• Detach the battery from the cycle when you are mounting it on a car rack. It will not only give you more room to fasten the bike to the rack but also protect the battery from heat/cold/rain.
• If your bicycle is lying unused for long periods due to unforeseen circumstances, it is best to remove it from the bicycle(deport) and store it at around 60% battery capacity and free from moisture. The other consideration for the batteries is that they need to be charged at least once every two months. You shouldn’t leave your battery on the charger for more than 5 hours . 
• Riding on lower levels of assist increases battery life.
• Ensure to charge in full cycles. It’s better to plan your daily commutes to breakdown how much of the battery you will require for assistance. This ensures a seamless ride without unnecessarily wasting extra charge when there is no real requirement for higher levels of assist.

Electric Component Maintenance

• Do not  ‘fiddle’ with it and try to repair it yourself, by removing any parts,  as it could damage the internals and also invalidate warranties; this should be done by an eBike technician. You may end up missing some important minute parts accidentally 
• Before rushing to the dealer, do an initial check to ensure all the components are in pace and have not shifted – for example, the battery or the wires have disconnected and had a loss of connection. 
• Switch off your bike and give it a rest for 10 mins. Sometimes it just needs a power nap to reset (like you do). In case it does switch on, do have it serviced/checked out by your dealer anyway. 
• Avoid regular contact with water. Although the electrical components are IP -65 water resistant, it is advised to avoid direct contact with heavy flow of water to minimise damage and corrosion of components- just like any other electronic device. 

Take care of it like you would take of yourself and it will take care of you for the years to come. 

Look after it like you look after any other investments. 

Household supplies to clean your electric bike with

You will need:

1)      Clean rags: Not only will your old rags help with general cleaning and drying, but will come extra handy in dealing with grease and wax.

2)      Old toothbrushes: The long handle and small scrub in toothbrushes work perfectly in cleaning areas that are hard to reach. They help scrub out grime.

3)      Soap: Diluted dishwashing soap can be substituted for your performulated bike as a cleaner. This is for the purpose of cleaning your e-bike frame and chain. Surgical spirit for stains. 

4)      Degreasers: Avoid kerosene and turpentine! For e-bikes a good degreaser to us is dishwashing liquid which can be used to clean your bike chains.

5)      Chain lubricant: There are two kinds of lubricants that you can use based on the conditions your e-bike is subjected to:

•   Dry lube: For a dry environment. Dry lubricants are better suited to clean dirt in dry environments.
• Wet lube: These can be used during the monsoons, or in a wet environment. Wet lubricants strongly adhere to the bike’s drivetrain and are unlikely to be rinsed away by the rains.

How to clean your bike frame

All you need is a warm bucket of your diluted soap water and a scrub to wash your bike frame- starting from the handle bars, and all the way down to the seat post, and chain rings. Next use your brush and clean water to rinse the parts in the same order that you cleaned them. Finish up by drying your e-bike with your rags 

Use surgical spirit to wipe prominent stains off your e-bike. Surgical spirits are ideal as they reduce the risk of removing the paint off your e-bike.

Note: If you have disk brakes: Keep soap away from rotors, and use rubbing alcohol to clean them instead.

How to clean your e-bike chain

Dry your chain and clean the dirt off it after your ride. Always dry clean your bike chain before lubricating it. You can simply use a rag and a degreaser to dry clean your chain. After the degreaser has dried, apply lubricants in slow drops onto the chain and onto every link. Once this has dried, wipe off the excess lubrication to make sure that no dirt sticks to it.

When should I lubricate my chains? Whenever it begins to squeak, or appears to be dry. You should also lubricate your chains after a wet ride to prevent rusting. Regular lubrication is a bonus. 

Don’t let the rains bring you down

Your e-bike is built to endure through the rains. However, it is important to remember that its components are water resistant, and not waterproof. The following tips will help you keep your e-bike in perfect condition throughout the gloomy monsoons.

1)  Fend through the rains/ Fend for your e-bike

What are fenders? They protect your e-bike from mud sludges and debris. Plastic fenders are practical for monsoon use and will help keep the water away from your bike. Make sure to clean your fenders properly before every ride to ensure that it will be effective. 

 2)  It’s easy- No pressure

Coppernicus tires boast an exhilarating ride at a maximum of 50.7 psi. However, during monsoons, it is advisable to reduce your tire pressure by 10 psi. This facilitates more surface contact between the road and the tires- which improves traction.

 3)  Early to brake keeps you healthy and wise/ Be extra precautious while braking

Oil spots, puddles of water, mud sludges, and road alignment lines- all make the road more slippery and must be avoided. Pedal assist on e-bikes are generally built to maintain high speed in every weather condition. Hence riding slowly during monsoons is of utmost priority so that you are more aware of what’s ahead of you.

Wet roads further hinder your braking. Riders will notice the extra time taken in bringing the e-bike to a stop during the rains. Always remember to brake early to make up for this delayed functioning of brakes.

 4)  Careful in cutting corners

Do not lean around the corners. Apply your brakes slowly as you approach a corner to ensure better balance and stability.

Tips to protect your e-bike after riding in the rain:

1)      Dry and clean your battery with a dry towel after your ride.

2)      Apply dielectric grease to your e-bike’s electrical point of contact to prevent corrosion.

3)      Dry your chain links and clean them with a dry cloth before lubricating.

4)      Dry and cover your e-bike’s display, along with the rest of the bike.

Check out this page for more queries and FAQs.