How do I care for my e-bike?

When we sweep through our home during spring cleaning, we must not forget our jewel in the hallway, garage or cellar: our e-bike!

At the latest when the sun beckons us outside and cycling becomes more fun again after the cold season, we want to let our vehicle shine. We can simply let ourselves be infected by the refreshing energy boost of spring to polish up our e-bike and take a close look at it in the meantime. This way, safety and riding pleasure are guaranteed this year as well. If we keep up our conscientious attitude, we will increase the lifespan of our fancy bike by a maximum.

Let’s be honest: How nice is it to come along on our shiny brand bike that looks like new? – Exactly! There is nothing better than being sure that the rear derailleur, the pedals, the Bowden cables and the suspension fork are all in good shape.

So let’s imagine standing in front of our e-bike, beaming with satisfaction after the work is done, and putting away our care kit. That’s exactly where we want to be, but first let’s take a look at what we absolutely need for our cleaning action – and what should not be used under any circumstances.

There are all kinds of secret tricks and tips being touted, but for us connoisseurs, it makes our toenails curl up when we consider how much the wrong tips can damage an e-bike.

We need to move away from trying to finish as quickly as possible or just let everything shine, rather we should proceed professionally. After all, an e-bike also has sensitive areas and is not an item you buy every year ..

Especially with regard to our environmental awareness, we should make an effort to keep our e-bike with all its electronic refinements as long as possible.

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The ever-popular high-pressure cleaner

With so much power you will get rid of all the dirt in no time, but you will also have removed important lubricating layers and possibly pumped water into the e-bike motor. Seals may fail, short circuits may occur, and you may even have transported dirt particles to places where you certainly did not want them to be.

Grease-eating detergents

Grease-dissolving agents attack essential lubricating layers.

The all-pervasive steam jet:

Sensitive electronics will suffer, plus you’ll remove grease from the chain and bearings, ultimately leading to corrosion. The end of your smooth riding experience begins with noticeably more friction, and the first signs of wear become apparent far too soon.

Nasty all-round grease:

Not all grease is the same. Use greases that are capable of creeping, otherwise any dirt will stick to the “any grease” and your riding pleasure will fall by the wayside.

Aggressive Rambo cleaners:

It may be exciting when dirt disappears almost by itself, but if you resort to aggressive cleaning agents, not only will important seals and plastics be attacked, but far more can be destroyed in the process. Only use the right products, i.e. care products specifically for e-bikes.

HAVE EVERYTHING READY:

• There’s nothing like good preparation. If you constantly waste valuable and, above all, a lot of time searching and rummaging around in the cellar during the cleaning, you will certainly lose your mood quickly. The best thing to do – if you don’t have everything ready to hand in one place – is to get everything ready first.

• First of all, you need a bucket of lukewarm water, a (small) sponge and two soft brushes: a small one for tricky spaces (an old toothbrush is also suitable) and a larger brush.

• We also recommend an e-bike shampoo or at least a car shampoo.

• To dry off at the end, you will need a cloth towel. An old but clean cloth is sufficient to absorb excess lubricants.

• A watering can can be helpful for rinsing off detergents.

• Keep Allen and open-end spanners handy.

• Pole grease or technical Vaseline are perfect for maintaining contact points.

• Have a chain cleaner ready.

• Allow enough time. Allow a relaxed 60 minutes.

THE PROCESS:

• Remove removable displays and other removable electronics, including the battery. Any other electronic accessories that are permanently attached can be covered with plastic sheeting or cloths.

• Don’t leave anything out: For example, check the hub bearings, the seat post, the chain, the suspension fork with shock and the frame.

• Start with the wheels. They like water with a splash of car shampoo. Clean the wheels with a sponge from the hub to the rim. Then rinse with water.

• Do the same with the frame. If there is a lot of dirt, leave the warm water with the cleaning agent to soak in for a while. Soaked dirt can be easily removed.

• Once you have removed all the dirt, you can take care of the trickier matters. Afterwards, the chain links need good lubrication. To do this, you can apply a thin layer of chain oil (use chain oil suitable for e-bikes). Start in the middle of the lower chain run to prevent the oil from reaching the sprocket or the brake.

Remember: One drop per chain link is enough. Your chain doesn’t want to drip, but likes a good dose. To ensure that everything is well distributed, turn the crank slowly and shift through all gears. Finally, wipe up the excess lubricant with a clean cloth.

• Suspension forks also need a little fine suspension grease from time to time, which you should apply carefully and only thinly. If you use it sparingly, almost no dirt particles will stick to it.

• The disc brakes may be cleaned with a dry or damp cloth. Be very careful not to get any grease on them, so that the braking effect remains guaranteed.

• The bolts must also remain grease-free (except for a few that have been treated with special grease) as well as the caliper clamp. Brake cables on rim brakes may be regreased occasionally.

• Make sure that the contact points of your battery are completely dry before you put it back in.

DONE!

Finished and satisfied with your performance? We’d love to calculate your calorie consumption, but just assume that you’ve earned at least one bar of chocolate afterwards.

Valuable tips:

• If you remove the dirt immediately after every e-bike ride, your bike will always be in good shape. Remove the battery beforehand and clean the connector poles.

• Give your e-bike a regular all-round cleaning every 300-500 kilometres, depending on which trails you prefer and how often you ride.

• Adapt small and large cleaning actions to your riding behaviour. If necessary, daily cleaning can be useful, or monthly …

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE CLEANING – THE OVERVIEW:

Don’t worry about the battery mount on your frame, because it is waterproof. However, make sure that all contacts are clean and dry.

Although it can be said that e-bikes are not very different from conventional bikes when it comes to cleaning, special cleaners are simply more practical to use and can clean the special parts more effectively. In addition, you can only be on the safe side with the right equipment and useful cleaning agents, and you will not damage surfaces or sensitive components.

Spray cleaners are among the most practical helpers. You can use them to soak large areas of dirt and then wipe it off easily after the appropriate amount of time.

E-bikes are not “wimps” and can withstand a lot, but you can still increase their lifespan and your riding pleasure considerably with good care.

Always keep the plug area clean and, if necessary, treat it with pole grease or technical Vaseline. When using any lubricants, make sure that the brake discs are not damaged and that the sprocket does not get stuck.

As soon as you have covered 300-500 kilometres after the last cleaning, it is time for the next service by a professional.

The next cleaning and lubrication of the chain may also be due. Especially if your e-bike has been exposed to salt water or other special weather conditions, as well as mud and other dirt, you should not let anything dry, but remove all impurities immediately.

In snow: Always remove ice and snow – especially salty spray – from your e-bike as soon as you reach your destination and leave it to dry thoroughly.

Small particles of dirt easily accumulate in important components. This applies to the electronics as well as the mechanics. To avoid damage, you should always take a close look and, if necessary, carry out small cleaning operations.

MOTHBALLING” AN E-BIKE OVER WINTER

If you are one of those bikers who switch back to the car or public transport in winter, give your e-bike a final cleaning. At best, you should store it cleaned; the chain and other metal parts also need a little lubrication or care.

Remove the battery and display and store them at room temperature, i.e. between 10-20 degrees. The charge capacity of your battery should be between 30 and 60 percent.

When spring comes around again, it’s a good idea to take another look at everything. If you’ve done everything right, there’s nothing standing in the way of your first e-bike ride!

DON’T PANIC! – First aid tips for your e-bike:

There’s no need to go into shock if something goes wrong. A possible disaster scenario might be if some water gets into the battery holder. Fortunately, this is designed in such a way that the water can run off, and the contacts are also protected against corrosion by means of a special coating. They just need time to dry completely. So it’s a case of “wait and see”, provided you have already absorbed as much excess water as possible with a clean cloth.

Your e-bike can withstand a lot, but it will always thank you for good care. Of course, we are always there to help and advise you. Our e-bike experts are happy to give you valuable advice and are also waiting for you in our workshop.

If you’re dripping with sweat in front of your e-bike, just give us a call. We’ll probably be able to tell you that the problem is smaller than you think. And if not, our door to the workshop is open to you.

As safety is always at the top of our maintenance list, we recommend the attentive eye and experienced hands of a professional in case of doubt. Show us your bike and we’ll tell you whether or not you can take off with peace of mind.

With this in mind, we wish you an e-bike that looks like new, and many more years of unadulterated riding pleasure!