If you want to ensure that your e-bike continues to operate properly and lasts for a long time, it is important to service it regularly. However, how often should your e-bike be serviced? How much does an e-bike service usually cost, and what can you expect?
An e-bike should be serviced around every 1,000 kilometers or 600 miles. Your e-bike’s owner’s manual should tell you how often to get it serviced. You should also maintain your e-bike and clean it regularly and check the chain, tires, and brakes before every ride.
In this article, you will learn exactly when you need to service your e-bike. I will also explain how to take care of your e-bike at home in between professional service tuneups. If you would like to learn more about servicing and maintaining your e-bike, continue reading.
Why You Need to Service Your e-Bike
e-Bikes, like all vehicles, experience wear and tear over time. An e-bike needs a lot more maintenance than a regular bicycle as it has a motor and various other parts.
Over time, your tires can get worn out and lose their air pressure and tread. Lack of sufficient air pressure or tread can lead to accidents. The chain can get rusty and wear out as well, as can the spokes, which are essential for smooth riding.
Your gearbox also needs to be inspected to ensure it is in top condition. Brake pads can get worn out over time as well, which can negatively impact braking performance. Over time, your motor may experience problems, and your battery may need replacing.
Additionally, your bike can experience wear and tear if you store it incorrectly, such as storing it in the rain or a humid garage. A professional servicing can help clean it and restore it to optimal condition.
How Often e-Bikes Need Servicing
I will go over at-home maintenance and DIY service in another section. In this section, I will focus on professional servicing and how often your bike needs it.
One way to figure out how often your e-bike needs servicing is to look at your owner’s manual, which you will get with your purchase. If you don’t have it, you may be able to find it on the manufacturer’s website. Your owner’s manual may recommend servicing after a certain number of miles or kilometers ridden, which can vary from model to model.
However, it is recommended to take your bike for servicing after 1,000 to 1,500 kilometers as a general rule. That’s around every 600 to 900 miles.
If you don’t ride your bike often and only take it out for a quick spin on the weekends and holidays and store it correctly, you can get away with taking it for servicing once a year. However, if you use it more often and ride it in extreme weather conditions, you may have to take it for servicing more often than the standard recommendation calls for. For example, you may want to take it for servicing after only 500 miles.
What Typically Needs Servicing on an e-Bike?
Here is a list of some of the parts that typically need servicing:
- Brakes: Brake pads wear out over time, and new ones may need to be installed. The brakes may need to be tightened as well.
- Chain: The chain needs to be cleaned, lubed, and replaced if necessary. Some ebikes even have special chains due to higher torque and loads from mid-drive motors.
- Spokes: The spokes need to be checked to see if they are still firm.
- Suspension: The suspension needs to be inspected.
- Gears: The gears should be tuned.
- Tires: The tires should be inspected to see if they have appropriate air pressure. The tread must be checked as well. When the tread is worn out, the tires should be replaced.
- Drivetrain system and bearings: The entire drivetrain system should be inspected. This includes checking for grease and grime buildup as well as checking nut tension.
- Motor: The motor should be inspected to ensure it is running smoothly.
- Battery: The battery will be inspected to see if it is dying and needs to be replaced, which can get expensive.
More on how long an ebike parts and components last at this related post.
What Can You Expect When getting your e-Bike Serviced?
When you bring your e-bike to a technician, the technician will conduct a full inspection of the bike. However, it is important to make sure the technician is experienced with the kind of e-bike you use.
If this is your first time, your technician may recommend setting up a servicing schedule with varying levels of inspection. For example, they may recommend that you bring your e-bike in for a quick inspection and tune-up every few months and take it in for a deep inspection and full cleaning once or twice a year.
Depending on what kind of service you are getting, you may have to leave your e-bike in the maintenance shop for a few hours or overnight as the technician works on it, inspects it for errors, repairs and replaces worn out parts, and brings it to optimal condition.
How Much Will Servicing an e-Bike Cost?
The cost of servicing your e-bike will vary based on what the technician you go to charges and the level of inspection or tune-up you need. You can expect a tuneup to cost anywhere between $75 for a quick inspection and $150 for a more thorough inspection. It also depends on the experience of the technician and how long they have been in business.
Keep in mind that the cost may go up if you have to replace or repair certain parts. For example, if you have to replace a tire, you may have to spend an extra $30 or more. If you only have to replace a tire tube, that can cost just $5 to $15.
It is a good idea to go to the dealer you bought the e-bike from and ask if they have an inspection service. Many dealers will actually offer a free inspection service after the first few months or after the first few hundred kilometers or miles. Some may offer a reduced price for the first or second inspection, which will allow you to save money.
Maintaining Your e-Bike at Home
In addition to taking your e-bike to be professionally serviced, it is important to take proper care of it at home as well. This video shows you some great tips:
Here are some tips for maintaining your e-bike at home, in between tune-ups at the garage:
- Clean your e-bike: After you ride your e-bike, wipe it with a soft cloth. After every few rides or on weekends, clean the frame and chain. Make sure to remove the battery before washing your bike and use detergents designed for bikes.
- Lube the chain: Lubing the chain will help it run smoothly and reduce friction. In the winter or rainy conditions, use a wet lube. If it is dry and sunny outside, use a dry lube, which dries after application. Before each ride, quickly check to make sure the chain is not loose.
- Charge your battery: When storing your battery for a few months, always keep it slightly charged. More on proper battery temperatures and overcharging here.
- Test the brakes: Before every ride, do a quick brake check to see if both brakes are working properly. You can do this by braking and attempting to push the bike or by putting the bike on a stand, spinning the wheels, and applying the brakes.
- Check the tires: Check the tires’ air pressure to ensure they have enough air. If not, put more air in, but not too much. Your owner’s manual can help you figure out the correct air pressure to have. You can use a tire pressure gauge to gauge air pressure. Additionally, check the tread and see whether it has been reduced. The less tread you have, the less safe it is to ride.
- Check the wheels: Quickly run a screwdriver or metal tool over the spokes in the wheels to ensure they are firmly in place. You should hear a ping as you go over each spoke if they are firmly in place.
In the end, taking care of anything can take a bit of time and/or money and an ebike is no different. Many ebikes can cost over a few thousand dollars, and a little ongoing maintenance goes a long way in protecting that investment. The reward is a better running ebike, one that will last longer, be safer to ride, and keep you moving!