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An Ebike Maintenance Schedule

An Ebike Maintenance Schedule

January 5, 2025

So you've got your new ebike and now you're wondering, "What maintenance do I need to do on my ebike and how often?" Much like conventional bicycles, ebikes need regular maintenance to ensure their safety and longevity.

Ebike maintenance, much like car maintenance, is a simple task which, once it becomes routine, will seem as normal as putting your shoes on before leaving the house, and will be as easy as 1, 2, 3.

To ensure safety and longevity your ebike needs 6 “different” maintenance schedules, many of which, without realizing, you’re probably already undertaking. Other items may, at first, sound difficult but once you’ve worked out how to do them they will also become second nature. So don't let this relatively long list intimidate you. It's just a matter of getting into a routine.

1. How Often Do Ebikes Need to Be Serviced?

1a. Basic Tune-Up

1b. At-Home Maintenance

2. Pre-Ride Checklist

3. Post-Ride Checklist

4. Maintenance Schedules

4a. Weekly Ebike Checklist

4b. Monthly Ebike Checklist

4c. Six-Month Ebike Checklist

4d. Annual Checklist

How Often Do Ebikes Need to Be Serviced?

If you use your ebike frequently, such as for commuting to work or weekend rides, and cover around 100-150 miles per week, consider the following maintenance schedule:

Basic Tune-Up

  • ✓ Recommended every 3 to 4 months, or approximately every 1,000 miles.
  • ✓ This tune-up includes checking key components like brakes, gears, and the drivetrain to ensure your bike runs smoothly and safely.

At-Home Maintenance

  • ✓ Regularly clean your bike to prevent dirt and grime buildup.
  • ✓ Lubricate the chain and moving parts to reduce wear and extend the time between professional tune-ups.

 

By following this routine, you can keep your ebike in optimal condition and enjoy a smoother, safer ride.

Pre-Ride Checklist

With a little practice this will take you around 5 minutes!

TASK TOOLS INSTRUCTIONS

Check Tire Pressure

Tire Pressure Gauge

Check tire pressure is within the range specified by the manufacturer.
The range or limits can be found on the sidewall of the tire. Fill or release air as necessary.

Inspect Brakes

N/A

Whilst rolling your ebike besides you, pull on one of the brake levers.
The ebike should come to a stop immediately. Repeat with the other lever.

Check Headset

N/A

Pull the front brake and rock the ebike forward and backward.
There should be no play in the handlebar mount. Tighten if needed and re-test.

Clean & Lube Chain

Chain Lube & Rag

With the tires of your ebike off the floor, grasp the chain between the back gears and pedals with
a clean rag. Spin the pedals a few times so that the chain runs a few cycles through the rag,
cleaning off any dirt. Apply lube as instructed by the manufacturer.

Check Wheel Tightness

N/A

Check that each wheel's axle nuts are tight and there's no wheel wobble. Tighten as needed.

Check Battery Charge

N/A

Turn on your ebike and ensure it is sufficiently charged for your journey.

TASK

TOOLS

INSTRUCTIONS

Check Tire Pressure

Tire Pressure Gauge

Check tire pressure is within the range specified by the manufacturer.
The range or limits can be found on the sidewall of the tire. Fill or release air as necessary.

Inspect Brakes

N/A

While rolling your ebike besides you, pull on one of the brake levers. The ebike should come to a stop immediately. Repeat with the other lever.

Check Headset

N/A

How to check a bicycle headset?

Pull the front brake and rock the ebike forward and backward.
There should be no play in the handlebar mount. Tighten if needed and re-test.

Clean & Lube Chain

Chain Lube & Rag

How to clean and lubricate a bike chain?

With the tires of your ebike off the floor, grasp the chain between the back gears and pedals with
a clean rag. Spin the pedals a few times so that the chain runs a few cycles through the rag,
cleaning off any dirt. Apply lube as instructed by the manufacturer.

Check Wheel Tightness

N/A

How to check wheel tightness on an ebike?

Check that each wheel's axle nuts are tight and there's no wheel wobble. Tighten as needed.

Check Battery Charge

N/A

To check battery charge on your ebike, turn on your ebike and you can see the charge level of the battery on the handlebar display. This will ensure you have a sufficient charge for your journey.

Post-Ride Checklist

Again, with a little practice this will take you less than 10 minutes to finish!

TASK TOOLS INSTRUCTIONS

Inspect Tires & Rims

N/A

Look for debris and damage on the rims and tires.

Check Shifter &
Derailleur

N/A

With your ebike tires off the floor, turn the pedals and shift through the gears.
Your ebike should shift seamlessly. Additionally, check the derailleur for any debris.

Wipe Down Frame

Clean, damp rag

Take a rag and wipe the frame of the ebike.
Whilst doing so inspect for any damage and cracks.

Wipe Down Chain

Clean Rag

With the tires of your ebike off the floor, grasp the chain with the rag and spin the pedals
a few times so the chain runs through the rag (The frequency of this step is dependent on both
climate and the terrain you ride in. Some may need to do it daily others every month).

Check Pedals

N/A

Give your pedals a once over to check for any cracking.

Check Wheel Straightness

N/A

Turn each wheel in turn whilst looking straight down the tire.
You should observe no wobble.

Charge Battery

Battery Charger

Put your battery on the charger so your ebike is fueled and ready for your next adventure.

TASK

TOOLS

INSTRUCTIONS

Inspect Tires & Rims

N/A

When inspecting your ebike's tires and rims, you can check for tire damage, flat spots, rim damage, wheel centering, and tire pressure to ensure safe riding.

Check Shifter &
Derailleur

N/A

Here are some ways to check the shifter and derailleur on an ebike:

  • 1. Check the derailleur's alignment
  • 2. Check for wear
  • 3. Check the derailleur hanger
  • 4. Check the shifting
  • 5. Adjust the derailleur.

Wipe Down Bike Frame

Clean, damp rag

How do I wipe down a bike frame?

To wipe down a bike frame, follow these steps:

  • ✓ Lightly spray the bike with warm water to loosen dirt and mud.
  • ✓ Apply a cleaning product for stubborn stains, let it sit for a few minutes, then rinse with clean water.
  • ✓ Clean with a cloth or sponge to clean the frame. Or use a soft-bristled brush to scrub off dirt.
  • ✓ Pay attention to specific areas,like underneath the bottom bracket, saddle, chain guides, brakes, and around pivots.
  • ✓ Use a dedicated brake cleaner, or isopropyl alcohol to clean the rotors and spray the brake pads.
  • ✓ Use a clean, dry rag to wipe it down.

Wipe Down Chain

Clean Rag

How do I wipe down my bike chain?

Here are some tips for wiping down a bike chain:

  • ✓ Use a chain cleaner tool with soft bristles to remove grime from all sides of the chain.
  • ✓ Use a degreaser or mild solvent, let it soak, then wipe off with a rag. Avoid using a general degreaser, which can damage the chain.
  • ✓ Wipe off excess lubricant from the links, cassette, pulleys, and chainrings with a clean rag before every ride. Excess lube attracts dirt, dust, and grime.
  • ✓ Clean the crankset by removing them from the crank arm and cleaning them individually.
  • ✓ Clean the derailleur by using a rag to wipe out grime.
  • ✓ Dry it with a clean rag and apply a thin layer of chain lube.

Check Pedals

N/A

How do I check my bike pedals?

Here are some ways to check your bike pedals:

  • ✓ Spin the pedal by hand, and it should spin freely for a few turns before slowing down.
  • ✓ Check for play
  • ✓ Check the axle. If the axle doesn't stay in a right angle to the crank, the axle is bent and the pedal needs to be replaced.
  • ✓ Look for obvious signs of damage to the pedal.
  • ✓ If you're installing new pedals, make sure they thread in easily and there's no resistance while tightening. Avoid cross-threading as it can cause the pedal to fall out while riding.
  • ✓ Check that the screws and bolts that hold together the cage and mounting plates are tight.
  • ✓ Check that the cleats on your riding shoes are tight.
  • ✓ Check to see if the pivot points are lubricated.

Check Wheel Straightness

N/A

How do I check wheel alignment on an ebike?

If you need to true an ebike wheel,

you can try these steps:

  • ✓ Remove the wheel from the bike
  • ✓ Let the air out of the tube
  • ✓ Remove the tire and tube
  • ✓ Put the wheel in a truing stand
  • ✓ Position the guide to the rim's outer edge
  • ✓ Spin the wheel
  • ✓ Identify any spokes that are out of true
  • ✓ Twist the spoke nipple a quarter turn at a time until the section is true
  • ✓ Repeat until the entire wheel is true
  • ✓ Remount the tire and tube, and then the wheel

Charge Battery

Battery Charger

Put your battery on the charger so your ebike is fueled and ready for your next adventure.

Maintenance Schedules

Important - The checklists below may be labeled by a specific timescale however these time scales are directed at the daily rider. If you're just a weekend warrior or intermittent, casual rider then your ebike is going to need these tuneups less frequently.

If you're a daily rider then doing some further research and purchasing the tools and equipment necessary to complete these lists may be to your long term financial benefit; plus you get to become much more knowledgeable and in-tune (pun intended) with your daily ride.

Weekly Ebike Checklist

An easy undertaking, which can be done with basic bike tools.

  • ✓ Wipe down chainrings, cassette, and derailleur pulleys and check for proper alignment
  • ✓ Inspect brake pads
  • ✓ Check hardware for proper torque
  • ✓ Oversee the condition of the frame, looking for any damage
  • ✓ Check tire pressure

Monthly Ebike Checklist

A more in-depth inspection and tuneup which requires some in-depth research and special, but not hard to find, materials.

  • ✓ Verify if derailleur is shifting properly and check chain stretch
  • ✓ Check spoke tension and true wheels if necessary
  • ✓ Tighten any accessory mounting (rack bolts, fender hardware, and confirm alignment)

How Do You Maintain Ebike Brakes?

  • ✓ Check brake pad alignment and brake cable tension
  • ✓ Lube all braking and gear shifting cables including drivetrain

Six Month Ebike Checklist

This is also known as a complete tune-up in many locations and is recommended twice a year for daily users and once a year for weekend warriors or casual riders. This costs around $100 at most ebike tune-up locations.

  • ✓ Adjust brakes to ensure proper functionality
  • ✓ Adjust gear shifters to ensure power functionality
  • ✓ Lube both brake and gear shifting systems
  • ✓ Ensure drivetrain is working as normal
  • ✓ True your wheels
  • ✓ Check bearing system
  • ✓ Safety check all bolts
  • ✓ Inspect all cables and housing

Annual Checklist

More of an addition to the six-month checklist, the annual checklist involves everything from the six month checklist along with a full breakdown of your ebike, checking all the components are working as they should be, cleaning said components, lubing them and putting your ebike back together.

For daily commuter and serious riders this should be completed annually. For weekend warriors or casual riders it is probably only necessary every 18 months to 2 years.

A Final Word

If you’re not comfortable with undertaking any of the elements mentioned in the checklists above then take your ebike to your closest ebike service center and tell them what you want done. Often these highly knowledgeable techs can detect any problems as second nature.

Again, before you go and spend $100 tuning your ebike every six months, it’s important to consider how often you use your ebike. Head down to your local ebike shop and give them the details of your usage and they’ll be able to advise you on how often you should get your ebike serviced.

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1 comment
TOM THOMPSON September 17, 2021

great stuff

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