How to prepare your electric bike for spring/summer

Summer is here, so now It’s time to get your bike out of storage, give it a quick eye test, and assess the overall condition of your bike. It is also important that you do regular maintenance check-ups to help ensure your ebike stays in good condition for years to come.

Regular Cleaning

First, remove the battery before cleaning to avoid damaging the battery and also allow you to clean the frame underneath. Clean the ebike with a cloth, or a brush to remove dirt from tricky places like the pedals, between the tires and brakes. You can also use a damp cloth to clean the electrical components, bearings, motors, seals and hubs. Do not jet wash your ebike as pressurized water can infiltrate the electrical components and cause damage.

Ebike Battery

Even if you are not using your ebike on a daily basis, you should make it a habit to charge it every three or four weeks to prevent it from degenerating. If the level goes below 20% just charge it up again to 50% – 80%. Every electric bike possesses a total number of maximum charge cycles. Be careful not to overcharge your battery, and always unplug your charger when the battery is fully charged. Some batteries allow up to 1000 full charging cycles. This is the total amount of recharging cycles your battery can withstand before losing its capacity. 

Tire Pressure

Look at the sides of your tires to find the recommended PSI for your ebike. If you cannot find it on the tires, your ebike manual can also provide the proper PSI. Also make sure that the tires are in good condition by examining the bike tread. If the tread is worn down or the sidewalls are cracking, then it’s time to consider getting new ones. 

Seat

Tighten and adjust your bike seat before using it for the first time. A loose seat can lead to trouble and an uncomfortable ride. You can also do a quick check for any loose screws, bolts, nuts or anything else on the bike. 

Brakes

Brake pads will wear out after a period of use and will require adjustment to ensure it works perfectly. Make sure your brakes are responsive – grip and release the brake levers and visually check to see if the callipers move to rim or disc accordingly. The brakes should not stick and should fully stop the wheel in motion. It’s also important to note if there’s a change in the sound of your brakes: a squeaking or rubbing for instance. If this is the case, we recommend you to take your electric bike to your local Ebike Universe store to have a mechanic look over it.

Chain 

Examine your chain and ensure there is no rust or stiff links, and that it is adequately lubricated. Even if you cleaned your chain before the winter, make sure the drive chain is greased thoroughly. Use chain oil to keep it lubricated after cleaning. You can use wet lube in the winter and dry lube in the spring and summer. Wipe off excess grease to avoid excess dirt clinging to the chain and wearing it down.



Bring it to the Shop

If you find one of these problems and you’re not comfortable doing work on your own, take your bike to a bike shop and get it serviced by a professional. Ebike Universe is available to answer your questions about electric bikes, electric scooters or mobility scooters. You can reach us at 1-800-929-7196 or you can visit our website at www.ebikeuniverse.com to find an EbikeUniverse store near you. We have locations in Toronto, Mississauga, Calgary, Vancouver, Montreal - Quebec City, and St John's - NewFoundland. Don't forget to follow our social media accounts for more updates! Have a safe ride!