How do I service my e-bike? Servicing schedule

An electric bike, like any mechanical device, requires a specific service schedule. Adhering to it brings tangible benefits, the greatest of which is undoubtedly prolonging the life of individual components, which significantly reduces running costs. Therefore, check now how to service your e-bike.

Is every e-bike serviced in the same way?

At the outset, it is worth clarifying one point: not every electric bike is serviced in the same way. And it is not so much a question of its design or brand, but of its purpose and the way it is used.

Components on an e-bike which are used intensively (e.g. for work or sport) are subject to accelerated wear and tear due to higher loads and mileage and therefore require completely different servicing. Please note that the maintenance schedule we present later in this article only applies to e-bikes used recreationally.

Detailed e-bike maintenance schedule

Regular and correct servicing helps to extend the trouble-free life of an e-bike by up to several years. It also allows you to replace small and inexpensive components in time to prevent more damage. Therefore, find out what to do and when to do on your electric bike.

1. Every time before starting a ride

Check the battery casing for cracks and nicks. Remember that a leaking battery casing should absolutely be replaced or at least professionally repaired (e.g. at a plastic welding shop e.g. bumpers). However, repairing the casing will probably require taking the battery apart, so it is safer to replace it with a new one. Also check the condition of the contacts for corrosion. Charge the battery to 100%.

2. At 50 km and 500 km

It is necessary to tighten:

• brake disc bolts,
• motor nuts in the frame,
• battery mount.

These can come loose as a result of shocks and the lack of suitable thread glue, as well as deformation due to forces occurring while riding. Loosening of these components can cause a dangerous accident and serious damage to the bike.

3. After 250 km

Re-tighten the engine axle nuts and additionally adjust the tension of the spokes, which lay under the influence of the engine torque.

4. Every 3 months

Check the tension of the spokes by pressing them gently and checking the centring of the wheels. Remove the battery and carefully check the condition of the contacts. Protect them with a suitable preparation (e.g. a very thin layer of copper grease). When driving dynamically, replace the Ferrofluid if it is in the engine.

5. Every six months

Even if you don’t go crazy on your ebike, it is high time to replace the cooling Ferrofluid, as it has a maximum service life of 6 months.

6. Once a year or every 2,000 km

If your bike has a cassette drum, you should top up the grease in it. It is often washed out during riding, which accelerates the wear of this component. In the case of geared motors, on the other hand, it is necessary to replace the grease if you use the bike in hilly terrain or ride dynamically.

7. Every two years or after 4,000 km

Replace the rubber seals on the motor shaft (simmering rings). Check wheel bearings and replace if necessary. Signs of wear are noisy operation and lateral play of the wheel. If you ride recreationally, this is the last time to replace the grease in the gear motors.

8. Before the summer season starts

Start by checking out our guide ‘How to prepare your electric bike for the season’. If you have ridden in the winter, lubricate the cassette drum as road salt may have severely reduced the performance of the lubricant. Carry out a maintenance charge of the battery, which involves charging the battery to full, waiting about four hours and riding the bike for a few tens of metres, then recharging the battery again. This should be repeated at least a dozen times to extend the life of the battery up to several years. Also check the condition of the cables and their connectors (detachable connectors must be opened and inspected inside). The motor housing should also be checked for leaks to avoid problems caused by moisture in this component. By the way, check the condition of bearings and simmerings.

What is the difference between servicing an electric bike and a normal bike?

You often ask us, what is the difference between servicing an e-bike and a regular bike? At first glance, the two types of unicycles do not differ much, but the truth is quite different. Practically every ebike on the market is a complex construction made of modern materials. All mechanisms in it operate with great precision, so even minimal changes in operating parameters may result in their failure.

If a defect in a classic bicycle is not corrected in time, it results in the necessity of replacing a component worth, at most, several hundred zlotys (this applies to an average recreational bicycle). A neglected defect on an e-bike usually results in the replacement of a component often worth more than € 200. And it is not at all about the main components of the vehicle. Therefore, use our electric bike service schedule to enjoy a long and trouble-free ride.