8 Ways to Store Your E-bike Safely

Electric bicycles offer a convenient way for fitness-conscious and environmentally-conscious individuals to get around cities. These bikes can make your life a lot easier, so it’s important to keep them in good condition.

Storage is a vital consideration to keep in mind when you own an E-bike. After all, improper storage practices can damage your bike and reduce its lifespan. Let’s look at eight ways to store your E-bike properly.

1.      Use a Bike Rack

E-bikes stored indoors should ideally be stored using a rack. These racks come in many styles and may be designed to hold one or more bikes at once. Floor bike racks are the most common type of bike rack, and you may already have one or two of these racks in your apartment’s parking garage.

In other cases, you may need to purchase your own bike rack and set it up in your garage. When choosing a floor bike rack, be sure to check its build quality. Metal and heavy-duty plastic racks are usually the best type as you can securely push your front wheel into them and use their bars to keep the bike upright and stable.

Some bike racks are free-standing while others may need to be buried or secured using cement. You should also remember to choose an indoor bike rack, as an outdoor bike rack may not be suitable for your garage.

2.      Store Your E-bike on the Ceiling

If you intend to keep your E-bike in the garage or basement with limited space, you can store it on the ceiling using a special type of rack. These ceiling racks typically utilize a special pulley system to help you hoist your E-bike up by its handlebars and seat.

Following this, the rack stores your bike in a horizontal position or hanging vertically. Either of these arrangements allows you to store your bike without taking up space on the ground.

3.      Keep Your E-bike in a Bike Tent

People who cannot keep their E-bikes in doors can keep them safe outside using a bike tent. These are special tents designed to accommodate a full-sized bicycle and any accessories. They can be set up in your garden, driveway or patio without taking up too much space. However, you should ideally keep them in a shaded area.

These tents also do not count as full fixtures, so you should be able to set one up without having to consult your property manager or landlord. Bike tents keep your E-bike safe from weather elements such as rain and snow which would otherwise cause the chain, frame, and electrical components to rust.

You should avoid storing your bike in a bike tent outdoors if you live somewhere with extreme weather. Temperatures above 70^oF or below 40^oF can damage your E-bike’s battery, so it may be better to store your E-bike indoors temporarily if the weather gets too extreme.

4.      Store Your E-bike in a Bike Shed

A bike shed is a more solid alternative to a bike tent. As its name implies, a bike shed is a small shed designed to accommodate a bike. These are typically made from wood or plastic and help protect your E-bike from humidity.

Bike sheds are considered permanent fixtures so you may need approval from the city or your landlord before constructing one on the property. The good news is that these sheds are often designed to accommodate more than one bike, so you may be able to keep your housemate or partner’s E-bike alongside your own.

Bike sheds keep your bike hidden from view and can be locked easily. This reduces the chances of your E-bike being stolen by thieves. However, they are not temperature controlled, so they may not be a good option for storing your bike during certain seasons.

5.      Store Your E-bike at a Storage Facility

If you intend to be away from home for several months, you should consider leaving your E-bike at a storage facility. These facilities typically offer different options such as the size and/or length or your contract.

The vast majority of storage facilities feature locked gates that can be accessed using swipe cards, keys, or security codes. They make your belongings accessible to you 24 hours a day and feature cameras for security. You may also be able to store additional items such as spare tires and other E-bike accessories at the facility.

6.      Remove and Store the E-bike Battery

An E-bike has many sensitive electrical components that must be protected. However, the battery is typically the most important one as it powers the bike.

There are many different types of E-bike batteries, and you should ideally remove this battery and keep it somewhere safe if you intend to store your bike for an extended period. Most E-bikes have removable batteries that can be unlocked and removed using a key.

Once you remove this battery, you should store it in an indoor environment where the temperature doesn’t exceed 75^oF or dip below 55^oF.

If your E-bike has a lithium battery, you should ensure there is some charge left in it before removing and storing it. Lithium batteries that are stored after being completely discharged might not be recoverable, so you should really ensure it is charged between 75% and 80% before putting it in storage.

7.      Clean Your Bike Before Storage

Cleaning your E-bike may help it look new for a long time. It can also help increase its lifespan. This is because taking your E-bike outdoors exposes it to moisture and salt, which can cause its metal parts to corrode. Cleaning your bike helps remove this salt and/or water and delays the corrosion process.

For this reason, you should never store your bike for long periods while it is still dirty. If you’re short on time, you should make an effort to wipe down the bike’s frame, gear components, and dry the chain using a cloth before placing it in storage.

For a more comprehensive cleaning, you should also wipe down the battery contacts and remove the grime from your E-bike’s frame and tires.

8.      Secure Your E-bike

E-bikes are valuable items that are ripe for theft if they are stored outside. If you intend to store your E-bike on an outdoor rack, you should ensure it is secured using a bike lock and chain.

You can choose from different types of bike locks depending on the type of security you are seeking. Some bike locks are equipped with alarms that emit a loud warning tone when someone attempts to tamper with your bike. Certain bike locks are also certified to meet specific security standards and are designed following rigorous testing.

If you want to be extra careful, you can use multiple locks to secure your bike. For example, you can affix your bike to the bike rack using U-lock along with a frame lock.

Unpacking Your E-bike After Long-Term Storage

If you stored your E-bike for a long period, you will need to follow some steps to get it back in working condition. This includes:

Adding the Battery

You should retrieve the E-bike battery you removed and stored earlier. Place it back into your bike and charge it up.

Check the Tires

Check your tires for any flats or punctures. You should also adjust the tire pressure using a pump if needed.

Check the Chain

Check the E-bike chain, looking for any signs of rust. If needed, you should grease the chain to ensure it is in working order.

Test the Breaks

Consider hopping onto the E-bike and riding around slowly while checking the brakes. You can then make adjustments to the brakes if they are needed. This step is incredibly important as a broken brake can be dangerous for an electric-powered bike.

Clean the Bike

Your bike might also be dusty after being in storage for any extended period. Consider giving the seat and frame a quick wipe down using a cloth before mounting the E-bike and going for a ride.

Storing Your E-bike Properly.

The E-bike storage tips mentioned above should be invaluable for anyone seeking to store their E-bike properly. These bikes are valuable items that can last for many years if they are stored and maintained properly. So consider following the steps above if you want your E-bike to remain a reliable part of your life.

If you’re interested in purchasing a new E-bike, you can view our selection of E-bikes at Westshore Marine. We offer electric bicycles and electric dirt bikes from leading manufacturers in North America. You can also rent E-bikes from us if you aren’t ready to purchase one. Please contact us to learn more about our E-bike selection.