Westshore Marine is more than just a Powersport, Boat, and Yamaha Dealer, they also sell and specialize in Electric bicycles. With the popularity of electric bikes doesn’t seem to be going down anytime soon, what with an increasing number of people experiencing the incredible advantages of electric-powered pedaling. These bikes come with a battery pack and electric motor that offers an additional boost whenever you need it. However, other parts of the bike are quite familiar. In fact, like a regular bike, you can maximize your e-bike‘s performance with proper maintenance and care.

Here are some of the top essential maintenance tips that can help you keep your e-bike in excellent condition.

How to Get the Best Performance from Your Electric Bike

Regular maintenance and upkeep of your electric bike are imperative to keep it in optimum condition and minimize the risk of incurring high expenses on its repairs in the future. Here’s what you should do.

1.      Charge Your E-Bike Battery Properly

The e-bike‘s motor offers the assistance you need as you ride. Nevertheless, it’s the battery that powers the motor. Thus, you need to keep it charged and in perfect condition.

Keeping your electric bike battery topped up gives you power when you need it and also helps to maintain the battery’s health and increase its life.

The first full charge is going to take much longer than successive charges, with top-ups then generally taking around 3 to 8 hours. Make sure you only use the charger that you got with your e-bike. If you don’t have that charger, you should only use an approved replacement. It’s quite dangerous to use low-quality chargers as they can ruin your battery. Moreover, if a non-approved charger ruins your battery, it’s going to nullify your warranty.

Here are a few charging tips you need to follow:

• Allowing lithium-iron batteries to drain completely can accelerate their deterioration. Thus, you should recharge it after each use, and it’s going to stay in good condition for longer.
• Don’t let your battery’s charge levels go below 20%. If you’re going to cover a longer distance or cycle to work, make sure to pack your charger.
• It’s necessary to leave your electric bike’s battery for around 15 to 20 minutes after you charge it before inserting it back onto your e-bike.

2.      Pay Attention to the Tires

Certain electric bikers tend to ride only on flat, paved roads, whereas others like to ride on rugged mountains. When it comes to maintaining your electric bike’s tires, it doesn’t matter what type of surface you prefer; you have to ensure your tires are properly inflated.

Regardless of the terrain, you go for a ride on your bike; its tires are going to wear down with time, just the way they do on any other vehicle. The best technique to pre-empt a flat tire is to check your tires every time you go for a ride on your e-bike. Press on your tire gently and observe if it holds its shape or flattens out. Flat tires tend to yield with general pressure. Thus, if your tire yields too much, you should pump some air into them.

One important thing to keep in mind is that just because your bike’s tire was underinflated once doesn’t always mean that it is out of order. As the temperature changes, the pressure inside your bike’s tires also changes. Thus, if both the front and rear tires are a little less inflated on a chilly winter morning, you don’t have anything to stress about. However, if a specific tire is continuously underinflated whereas the other tire isn’t, you should get your tires replaced.

Pro-Tip: Check your electric bike’s manual for the right tire pressure. Don’t depend on the BAR/PSI that’s embedded in the tire. That number indicates the maximum pressure the tire can safely hold. However, “maximum” doesn’t mean “ideal.” If you’re in doubt, simply follow your bike’s user manual.

3.      Choose the Appropriate Pedaling Frequency

Battery consumption is largely dependent on the speed at which you ride. For instance, if you ride in the most difficult or highest gear, you’re very likely to be faster and therefore use more battery power. Thus, make sure you ride at the correct pedaling frequency – this saves you battery and allows you to ride for longer. A steady pedaling frequency of approximately 75 revolutions every minute is an excellent choice for the efficient use of the electric motor. In addition, a higher pedaling frequency also keeps you safe from knee problems.

4.      Maximize the Range of Your Electric Bike

Every electric bike comes with a maximum range, and there are some basic tips you can use to ride the maximum possible distance.

Firstly, you need to pay attention to the mode you are using. Plenty of electric bikes have various modes such as eco, turbo, and tour. Turbo is going to get you to your destination as fast as possible but consumes a lot of energy. On the other hand, the eco mode offers lower assistance but consumes less power.

The higher the mode, the harder the bike’s motor will need to work and the more power it’s going to consume. Thus, to increase the range of your electric bike, use the highest levels of assistance only when you have to.

5.      Give Your Electric Bike a Proper Tune-Up

Tune-ups are an excellent way to keep corrosion and rust from wreaking havoc on your electric bike. Check and clean all the parts of your e-bike every six months and relubricate bearings, blushing, and drivetrain parts. Also, check for symptoms of corrosion or rust, as this can also cause permanent damage to your electric bike.

When performing a tune-up, make sure to inspect the interior of the frame along with the rims. The penetration of moisture under the rim tape can corrode both brass and allow over time.

6.      Adjust Assistance Levels

The majority of electric bikes have various assistance levels, which you can choose as required. The higher levels are perfect for riding on mountainous terrain or when you want to move faster. However, the middle setting is generally sufficient and protects your battery. Even on flat surfaces, you typically only require a little assistance. The lowest level might even be perfect. This also depends on how hard you pedal – the more you pedal, the less power the motor requires.

Nevertheless, one rule of thumb continues to apply – the lower assistance you require, the more battery power you have.

7.      Lubricate Your Electric Bikes Chain

Just like with a regular bike, if you don’t take care of your chain on an electric bike, you will run into plenty of problems. You need to clean and lubricate your chain regularly, and the good news is that it’s a pretty simple task.

All you need to do is wipe your chain with a dry, clean cloth and then add lubricant to every link. The right amount of lubricant is crucial to your electric bike’s health – if you put too much lubricant, you can create a complete mess. That’s because all the lubricant can attract grime, dirt, and other roadside particles that you don’t want on your chain.

8.      Replace Brake Pads If Needed

Inspect the brake pads of your e-bike each time before you start a ride. Look closely at how they hold up. It’s critical to check if the brake pads of your electronic bike are working effectively, or else you run the risk of a serious accident.

In case you identify any issue with the brake pads of your electric bike, you should replace them immediately. Moreover, you can even ask your insurance provider if it covers brake pad replacement.

9.      Clean Your Electric Bike

Like all bikes, electric bikes get dirty. The accumulated grime, dirt, and dust can impact the crucial elements of your bike, resulting in breakdowns. This is why you need to wipe your electric bike after each ride and remove any dirt and mud from the battery and motor.

In addition, clean your bike properly with a special bike degreaser and cleaner every couple of weeks. Remember to remove the battery from the bike before you clean it. Even though it might be water-resistant, you still shouldn’t take any risks.

Once you’re done cleaning the bike, wipe it down with a cloth or towel to get rid of any moisture. Take special care to ensure that water doesn’t get into contact with the terminals or battery. Lastly, apply a special bike lubricant to the moving components of your bike.

Pro Tip: No matter how tempting it seems, don’t use a pressure washer to clean your bike. When you blast water at your electric bike, it can seep inside the terminals and harm your bike. Rather, follow the conventional sponge and bucket approach.

Last Few Words

As long as you take proper care of your electric bike, it will definitely be one of the best investments you will ever make. Maintenance of e-bikes isn’t tough as long as you take the time to frequently assess your bike. When it comes to bigger repair problems, always take your electric bike to a dependable and authorized shop.

If you’re in the process of purchasing your first electric bike, don’t forget to check out Westshore Marine. We have a vast range of electric bikes from some of the top manufacturers. Head over to our website for more information.