The step through electric bike is an innovative design that can make cycling more convenient, but only if you look after it. A few maintenance steps will make sure that your bike always stays in top condition. It doesn’t take long to prevent some of the frustrating issues that can crop up with electric bikes.
You want to make sure your bike works at full potential and lasts for years. You don’t want to have to replace it or pay for repairs all the time. Read on to find out the vital maintenance steps that will keep you on the road, and away from the repair shop.
Common Problems With Step Through Electric Bikes
What are some of the common issues you should be ready for with one of these bikes? When you perform maintenance, you are reducing the chances of issues such as:
- Corrosion or damage in the wiring. This can come from grit and dirt getting into the wires or mechanism.
- Flat batteries. Battery maintenance helps you to get the maximum use out of your batteries rather than needing regular repairs.
- Flat tires or punctures. Electric bikes are heavy. This makes it even more important that you keep the tires at the correct pressure to reduce the chances of them going flat.
- Brakes failing. This can be due to wires coming loose or grit and dirt getting stuck in the mechanism.
Some issues with electric bikes are unavoidable. If you ride over a nail by mistake, you’ll get a flat tire even if you religiously maintain your e-bike. Unfortunately, eventually your battery will need to be reconditioned or replaced.
Most of the common problems can be helped by keeping a good maintenance schedule. We explore more below.
Bike Maintenance
An electric bike is much like a pushbike, with a motor attached to assist with the pedaling. A lot of the maintenance tips are similar to those that you might be used to if you are a cyclist already. There are a few extras to consider for electric bikes and electric trikes.
Look After Your Battery
An electric bike motor doesn’t need a lot of maintenance. However, batteries are a bit more difficult to monitor.
Be sure to keep the battery at a steady temperature. Too hot or too cold can cause damage. A good rule to go by is that any temperature that you would feel uncomfortable in, will be bad for the battery.
Batteries are also sensitive if not used for a period of time. As well as storing them at an ambient “room temperature” you shouldn’t leave them on charge for too long. Like your phone battery, the eBike battery will also last the longest if it doesn’t reach the extreme highs and lows. The battery will degrade quickest if you keep charging it above 80% and letting it drop below 20%.
Clean Your Bike After Each Use (Gently)
Ideally, you should clean your bike after every single use. Not everyone has the time to do this, and if you get back late at night you may not want to clean it. However, if you leave mud and grease on your bike then they can get stuck or baked on. This makes the dirt harder to clean.
Cleaning your bike is not just about keeping it looking good. A dirty bike will degrade quicker. There are a lot of moving parts. If you get dirt stuck in the mechanism or bearings then it can impact the performance of your bike.
Lubricating your bike chain should be part of the cleaning process, but be aware that too much lubricant or grease spreading to other areas attract dirt while you are riding. Dry rags can help you to dry the areas you need to. Make sure you have lubricated the chain, but that there isn’t grease and lubricant all over the bike.
Gentle cleaning is vital. A jet wash or a pressure washer can put too much strain on parts of the bike, breaking bearings or making parts come loose. The motor area and bottom bracket are particularly susceptible to breaking.
The main steps to cleaning your bike are:
- Wash the bike frame
- Clean the chain, and then lubricating it
- Lubricate the brake and brake cables
Prioritize Your Tire Pressures
A flat tire on any type of bike is a huge inconvenience, so it is best to prevent them altogether. This is part of your bike maintenance, and the main thing is keeping your tires at the correct pressure.
When you buy an electric bike, the manual will tell you the ideal range for your tire pressures. This is usually measured in PSI pressure. Try to keep within this range to prevent flats.
A foot pump can be all you need to check and increase pressure. You can take this, and a puncture repair kit, with you on your trips. This means if you do get a flat, you will have the equipment you need to get back on the road.
Step through electric bikes are heavier than manual bikes on average. Plus, you will be covering longer distances, this makes a puncture more likely, especially if you don’t look after your tires.
Clean Your Brakes Thoroughly
Electric bikes are heavier and can gather more speed. This means the brakes get more use and need to apply more force. They can wear down quicker.
Both the pads and braking surface need to be cleaned. Any dirt that gets into this mechanism can make the parts of the brake wear down, and even use extra power. This might reduce how far you can go on one charge.
Using a clean rag, and brake cleaner (you can buy specific brake cleaning solutions) give your brakes a clean at least once for every few journeys.
Conclusion
Step through bikes are built to last, but like any vehicle, they need a little care to reach top performance. If you’re going to invest in a new electric bike, you need to make sure you maintain it.
Don’t get stuck on the side of a road with a puncture or flat battery because you didn’t look after your bike. Follow the simple maintenance tips to keep your bike riding smoothly all the way to your destination.
Looking for a step though electric bike that is perfect for you? Check out our full selection of the best low step e-bikes on the market: https://www.ebikejoy.com/collections/step-through-low-step-electric-bikes
1 comment
Thank you for letting us know about this.