Ebike Maintenance 101
Electric Bike Basic information
All bicycles will need periodic tune-ups for a consistent and smooth ride. An annual “check-up” is beneficial to you and your bike. Your bike’s service schedule will depend on the frequency of use and riding conditions.
Inspecting your ebike:
The best defense against damaged or loose components is a routine inspection before every ride. Such as brakes, pedals, axle nuts, stem screws, etc. This will help you see potential problems before they develop into safety hazards. Pre-ride inspection adjustments can be made with the provided Kasen tool kit.
The ABC: Air, Brakes, Chain
The most vital 3 things you have to check before every ride
- Air: Inspect tires for wear or cracks and ensure there is at least 3/32” or 2mm of tread depth. Having properly inflated tires helps prevent flats and provide an optimal smooth ride. Check the sidewall of your tire for the recommended tire pressure. While you’re checking the air, we do recommend you check the axles, axle nuts to make sure they’re properly seated and tightened as well.
- Brakes: Squeeze your front(left) and rear(right) brake levers to make sure that the brakes engage properly and smoothly stop. It is also important to keep both the pads and the rotor disk surface clean from dirt and oil. Dirty pads can wear out themselves and the rotor substantially faster. Brake pads will wear over time depending on usage and riding habits.
- Chain: Check your chain, crank sprocket and rear cassette/gears. Keeping your chain lubricated and chain components clean will ensure your bike shifts smoothly and the drivetrain last longer.
Securing Bike Bolts:
Ebikes are fastened together with nuts and bolts that may vibrate loose during use. Before riding ensure all components are securely tightened. Loose or improperly tightened bike parts can lead to serious wear and tear and safety hazards.
Basic supplies needed:
- Clean rags: they come in handy for grease, oil, and wax-related tasks and for general cleaning.
- Brushes: For getting into hard-to-reach places to remove dirt and grime. Old toothbrushes are great for this job.
- Degreaser: A bike-specific degreaser can come in handy to clean parts like your chain and disk brakes.
- Chain lubricant: Properly lubricating your chain helps extend the life of your drivetrain. Always apply bicycle-specific lubrication to a clean chain.
Cleaning and Lubricating your ebike:
A regular schedule of maintenance depending on your riding type is important. If you spend a lot of time riding in wet, muddy conditions plan to clean your bike more frequently.
When cleaning your bike, use a damp cloth and gentle dish soap.
Note: DO NOT use a pressure washer or sprayer on the handle bars, bike frame or rims.
Also, if you ride in wet/humid environments clean and dry electric connections, then apply an anti-corrosive to wire connections.
Keeping the ebike parts properly cleaned and lubricated is crucial to prevent excessive wear caused by friction, this will also help prevent rust and corrosion. Excess lubrication should always be wiped away prior to use. Re-lubing after wet rides will help keep your chain from rusting.
Electronics:
Always keep your battery connection terminals clean and free of debris. Keep the pins on the bike’s battery plate straight and clean. Failure to do so can lead to a short or other issue with your battery. The battery is the most crucial and expensive part of your ebike.
Avoid excessive heat and prolonged exposure to direct sunlight to electronic components.
DO NOT SUBMERGE EBIKE IN WATER
When your Ebike needs repairs or maintenance (for example: to fix a flat tire) Always power down the ebike before performing any work. Remove battery when working on wire connections or electronics.
Disclaimer: By no means are we saying that you should perform the maintenance yourself, we recommend bikes to be serviced by professional technician, if you’re not familiar or comfortable with the parts of your Kasen electric bike.