Electric bike maintenance checklist: chain, brakes, tires and battery

Why electric bikes need a little more care

An electric bike weighs more and carries more power than a regular bicycle, so the parts that meet the road and the chain work harder. Most models we carry weigh somewhere between 50 and 100 lbs. A motor pushing through the drivetrain wears the chain faster, and stopping that extra weight wears the brake pads sooner.

The good news is that the motor and battery need almost no routine care. Your time goes on the same few parts as any bicycle. Read your owner’s manual first, because it lists the tire pressures, torque settings and service intervals for your model.

Before every ride: the one minute check

• Tires. Squeeze each one. If it feels soft, pump it to the pressure on the sidewall before you go.
• Brakes. Pull each lever. It should feel firm and stop the wheel well before it reaches the grip.
• Chain. Look for rust, dry links or anything caught in it.
• Battery. Check the charge, and check that the battery is locked in place. A loose battery can rattle or lose contact.
• Lights and display. Switch on and check both work.
• Wheels. If your wheels use quick releases or thru axles, make sure every lever is closed.

Chain and gears

The chain is the part that wears fastest on most electric bikes. A mid-drive motor pulls directly through the chain, and even a hub motor bike puts more load on it than a regular bicycle does.

• Clean and lube every week or two of regular riding, and after any wet ride. Wipe the chain with a rag, put one drop of bicycle chain lube on each roller while you turn the pedals backward, then wipe off the excess. Lube left on the outside only collects grit.
• Check for wear every month with a chain checker tool. A worn chain quickly wears out the rear cogs and front chainring, which cost more to replace.
• Shifting. If gears skip or rattle, a small turn of the barrel adjuster on the cable often fixes it. Electronic shifting, such as the 9-speed auto shifting on the Segway Myon and MUXI Pro, is best left to a shop.
• Belt drives and single speeds need less. The Teewing T20 uses a carbon belt that runs without lube, so keep it clean and check the tension. The single speed Segway MUXI has no derailleur to adjust.

Ease off the pedals for a moment as you change gear. Shifting under full motor power is hard on the chain and cogs.

Brakes

Most electric bikes use disc brakes, and the pads wear faster than on a regular bicycle. Look at the pads every month through the caliper, and replace them when about 1 mm of material is left or when braking turns weak or noisy.

• Mechanical discs use a cable. When the lever pulls further than it used to, take up the slack at the barrel adjuster.
• Hydraulic discs, as on the Segway Myon and MUXI and the Hiboy EX9, adjust themselves as the pads wear. A spongy lever means the system needs bleeding, which is a shop job.
• Rotors. Keep chain lube and oil off them. Clean a squealing rotor with isopropyl alcohol on a clean rag.
• Motor cut-off. Most e-bikes cut the motor when you pull a brake lever. If yours keeps pushing while you brake, stop riding and have it checked.

Tires and wheels

Check tire pressure every week. Electric bike tires carry more weight, and a soft tire wastes range, wears faster and pinches the tube on potholes. The right pressure is printed on the sidewall. Fat tires, such as the 20 x 4.0 inch tires on many of our models, run at much lower pressure than road tires, so use a gauge that reads low numbers accurately.

Every month, look for cuts, bulges and worn tread, and spin each wheel to check it runs straight without rubbing. A wobble or a loose spoke is worth a shop visit. Puncture-resistant tires help: the Hiboy EX11 lists them. A rear hub motor wheel takes longer to remove because of the axle nuts and motor cable, so read the manual before your first flat. Our tire pressure guide covers valves, pumps and flats, and the advice carries over.

Bolts and fasteners

Vibration and weight loosen bolts over time. Once a month, check the stem and handlebar clamps, the seat post and saddle clamp, the crank arms and pedals, the axle nuts, the rack, fender and kickstand mounts, and the brake calipers. Use a torque wrench where your manual lists a setting, and do not overtighten bolts that thread into aluminum or carbon.

Battery and electrics

• Charge with the supplied charger on a hard surface, away from anything that burns, and unplug it when it is full.
• Keep the contacts clean and dry. Wipe the battery and its mount with a dry cloth, and check the lock turns smoothly.
• Avoid running it flat, and store it about half charged if you stop riding for a few weeks.
• Check cables and connectors monthly for rubbing, cracks or loose plugs, especially where cables bend at the handlebar.
• Stop and contact us if the battery is swollen, hot, smells or leaks. Never open a battery, motor or controller.

The full routine is in our battery care guide, and our sibling guide to electric bike range explains how care and riding habits affect your miles.

Cleaning

Use a bucket, a soft brush and mild soap, never a pressure washer or a direct hose. Water forced past seals can reach the bearings, motor and electrics, whatever the rating. Segway lists IPX7 for the battery and IPX5 for the body on the MUXI, MUXI Pro and Myon, and Hiboy lists IPX4 for the EX9 and IPX5 for its battery. Those ratings cover rain, not jets of water.

• Switch off, take the battery out if your manual allows, and close the charging port cover.
• Clean from the top down, and wipe the display and controls with a damp cloth only.
• Dry the bike, then lube the chain again.
• Wipe the fork stanchions clean after dusty or muddy rides.

After wet or salted winter roads, clean and dry the bike the same day. Our guide to riding in rain and winter has more on wet weather.

Monthly checklist

• Clean and lube the chain, and check it for wear.
• Inspect the brake pads and rotors.
• Check tire tread, sidewalls and spokes.
• Go over the bolts listed above.
• Check cables, connectors and the battery lock.
• Test the lights, the bell or horn, and turn signals if fitted.
• Wipe and inspect the fork and any rear shock.

Every six months to a year

• A full service at a bike shop that works on electric bikes: hydraulic brakes bled, gears adjusted, and the headset, bottom bracket and wheel bearings checked.
• A new chain if the checker shows wear, and new brake pads if they are low.
• New tires if the tread is worn flat in the center or the sidewalls are cracked.
• Suspension service at the interval in your manual.
• Before winter storage: clean the bike, charge the battery to about half and keep both indoors.

When to stop riding and get help

Stop riding if a brake will not hold, the frame or fork is cracked, a wheel wobbles, the motor grinds or cuts out, or the battery is damaged. If your electric bike is under warranty, contact us before any repair, because unapproved work can affect cover. Our warranty page explains how a claim works. For locks, lights and other add-ons, see our sibling electric bike accessories guide.

Questions riders ask