Avoiding Problems With Your E-bike
Now that you have an e-bike you are almost certainly riding two to four times as often and twice as far each time. Too many of us got used to the idea that bikes need very little attention, because frankly, we weren’t riding near as much as we thought. What’s more, more experienced cyclists aren’t switching from one bike to another regularly. Our e-bikes are being used for all types of riding!
Just like every other mode of transportation, e-bikes need maintenance. Also, like everything else, the more you put it off, the more it is going to cost you to repair.
Several times this year I have seen broken bikes that would have needed nothing if the owner had just performed some routine maintenance.
The most common and easily avoided maintenance issue is flat tires. ALL modern bikes need air at least once a week. Low air pressure causes the tube to be pinched even going over tiny obstacles. Bicycles are not cars. They do not have a broad range of pressure over which they will still operate. Even if you do get away with it, you will loose range dramaticall. You’re causing your motor to work much harder. If yours is a bike with an insert, improper air pressure will cause the insert to move and actually cause flats!
Bad batteries are a problem as well. You cannot just store your bike for the winter and forget it. This goes for summer vacations as well. From time to time you need to make sure the battery doesn’t get too low, without constantly topping it off. This has been an expensive problem for me. I want to honor our warrenty, but can’t really afford to overlook abuse. You can’t park a car for six months and expect to return to a battery good as new. Same with your e-bike.
The next most common problem is loose motor mounts. From time to time they will work loose. This is true for factory bikes, kits, mid-drive or hub drive. On a hub drive, spokes are your mount. Their tension needs to be maintained. Once you start breaking spokes it does not stop…on any bike!
The lock ring on mid-drive kits tends to loosen. This is the part that holds your motor tight to the bottom bracket. When these are new, they are especially prone to loosening as the motor wears in. It tapers off with use. Same on factory mid-drive motor mount bolts. I charge $5 to tighten either. That sure beats being stranded somewhere because your motor moved and disconnected a wire!
Of course there are more general services needed as well. Brake and shift cables need to be tightened more often because you are using them more ($2.50ea.). Hydraulics get air bubbles that need to be bled a couple times per year (flushed every three years).Chains need to be dry brush cleaned regularly, and certainly after every wet ride. Even a dry cloth from time to time (lube only when the chain makes noise).
It is a myth that e-bikes are harder on chains. You will though tend to ride further and faster. That is going to put more wear on your chain. If you use a lot of boost, your chain is going to move a lot faster than you pedal, on any mid-drive. You will wear out chains faster only because you are going further, faster.
Heavier hub drives tend to have more trouble with flats. Changing a flat is a bigger problem. Maintain your tire pressure at least weekly and perhaps more often with a hub motor. It greatly improves your range and handling while helping to avoid flats.
Your e-bike is no higher maintenance than a traditional bike. Your smiles per hour are just going to be soo much higher that maintenance will be more frequent. Bicycles of any sort remain a lot less costly than most other forms of transportation.