The Ultimate Ebike Maintenance Schedule & Guide
December 4, 2020
So you've got your new ebike and now your wondering, 'What kind and how often do I need to do maintenance?'. Much like conventional bicycles, ebikes need regular maintenance to ensure their safety and longevity. Ebike maintenance, much like car maintenance, is a simple task which, once it becomes routine, will seem as normal as putting your shoes on before leaving the house, and will be as easy as 1, 2, 3!
To ensure safety and longevity your ebike needs 6 “different” maintenance schedules, many of which, without realizing, you’re probably already undertaking. Other items may, at first, sound difficult but once you’ve worked out how to do them they will also become second nature. So don't let this relatively long list intimidate you. It's just a matter of getting into a routine.
Pre-Ride Checklist
With a little practice this will take you around 5 minutes!
| TASK | TOOLS | INSTRUCTIONS |
|
Check Tire Pressure |
Tire Pressure Gauge |
Check tire pressure is within the range specified by the manufacturer. |
|
Inspect Brakes |
N/A |
Whilst rolling your ebike besides you, pull on one of the brake levers. |
|
Check Headset |
N/A |
Pull the front brake and rock the ebike forward and backward. |
|
Clean & Lube Chain |
Chain Lube & Rag |
With the tires of your ebike off the floor, grasp the chain between the back gears and pedals with |
|
Check Wheel Tightness |
N/A |
Check that each wheel's axle nuts are tight and there's no wheel wobble. Tighten as needed. |
|
Check Battery Charge |
N/A |
Turn on your ebike and ensure it is sufficiently charged for your journey. |
| TASK | TOOLS | INSTRUCTIONS |
|
Check Tire Pressure |
Tire Pressure Gauge |
Check tire pressure is within the range specified by the manufacturer. |
|
Inspect Brakes |
N/A |
Whilst rolling your ebike besides you, pull on one of the brake levers. |
|
Check Headset |
N/A |
Pull the front brake and rock the ebike forward and backward. |
|
Clean & Lube Chain |
Chain Lube & Rag |
With the tires of your ebike off the floor, grasp the chain between the back gears and pedals with |
|
Check Wheel Tightness |
N/A |
Check that each wheel's axle nuts are tight and there's no wheel wobble. Tighten as needed. |
|
Check Battery Charge |
N/A |
Turn on your ebike and ensure it is sufficiently charged for your journey. |
POST-Ride Checklist
Again, with a little practice this will take you less than 10 minutes to finish!
| TASK | TOOLS | INSTRUCTIONS |
|
Inspect Tires & Rims |
N/A |
Look for debris and damage on the rims and tires. |
|
Check Shifter & |
N/A |
With your ebike tires off the floor, turn the pedals and shift through the gears. |
|
Wipe Down Frame |
Clean, damp rag |
Take a rag and wipe the frame of the ebike. |
|
Wipe Down Chain |
Clean Rag |
With the tires of your ebike off the floor, grasp the chain with the rag and spin the pedals |
|
Check Pedals |
N/A |
Give your pedals a once over to check for any cracking. |
|
Check Wheel Straightness |
N/A |
Turn each wheel in turn whilst looking straight down the tire. |
|
Charge Battery |
Battery Charger |
Put your battery on the charger so your ebike is fueled and ready for your next adventure. |
| TASK | TOOLS | INSTRUCTIONS |
|
Inspect Tires & Rims |
N/A |
Look for debris and damage on the rims and tires. |
|
Check Shifter & |
N/A |
With your ebike tires off the floor, turn the pedals and shift through the gears. |
|
Wipe Down Frame |
Clean, damp rag |
Take a rag and wipe the frame of the ebike. |
|
Wipe Down Chain |
Clean Rag |
With the tires of your ebike off the floor, grasp the chain with the rag and spin the pedals |
|
Check Pedals |
N/A |
Give your pedals a once over to check for any cracking. |
|
Check Wheel Straightness |
N/A |
Turn each wheel in turn whilst looking straight down the tire. |
|
Charge Battery |
Battery Charger |
Put your battery on the charger so your ebike is fueled and ready for your next adventure. |
Maintenance Schedules
Important - The checklists below may be labeled by a specific timescale however these time scales are directed at the daily rider. If you're just a weekend warrior or intermittent, casual rider then you ebike is going to need these tuneups less frequently.
If you're a daily rider then doing some further research and purchasing the tools and equipment necessary to complete these lists may be to your long term financial benefit; plus you get to become much more knowledgeable and in-tune (pun intended) with your daily ride.
Weekly EBIKE Checklist
An easy undertaking, which can be done with basic bike tools.
- Wipe down chainrings, cassette, and derailleur pulleys and check for proper alignment
- Inspect brake pads
- Check hardware for proper torque
- Oversee the condition of the frame, looking for any damage
Monthly Ebike Checklist
A more in-depth inspection and tuneup which requires some in-depth research and special, but not hard to find, materials.
- Check brake pad alignment and brake cable tension
- Verify if derailleur is shifting properly and check chain stretch
- Lube all braking and gear shifting cables including drivetrain
- Check spoke tension and true wheels if necessary
- Tighten any accessory mounting (rack bolts, fender hardware, and confirm alignment)
Six Month Ebike Checklist
This is also known as a complete tune-up in many locations and is recommended twice a year for daily users and one a year for weekend warrior or casual riders. This costs around $100 at most ebike tune-up locations.
- Adjust brakes to ensure proper functionality
- Adjust gear shifters to ensure power functionality
- Lube both brake and gear shifting systems
- Ensure drivetrain is working as normal
- True your wheels
- Check bearing system
- Safety check all bolts
- Inspect all cables and housing
Annual Checklist
More of an addition to the six-month checklist, the annual checklist involves everything from the six month checklist along with a full breakdown of your ebike, checking all the components are working as they should be, cleaning said components, lubing them and putting your ebike back together. For daily commuter and serious riders this should be completed annually. For weekend warriors or casual riders it is probably only necessary every 18 months to 2 years.
A Final Word
If you’re not comfortable with undertaking any of the elements mentioned in the checklists above then take your ebike to your closest ebike service center and tell them what you want done. Often these highly knowledgeable techs can detect any problems as second nature.
Again, before you go and spend $100 tuning your ebike every six months, it is important to consider how often you use your ebike. Head down to your local Aventon ebike service center and give them the details of your usage and they’ll be able to advise you on how often you should get your Aventon ebike serviced. With regular service and maintenance your ebike will last your well into the future!
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