How to Clean Your Electric Bike & How Often Should You Do It

Electric bikes are convenient and fun to use until it’s time to clean them. That’s when it becomes like a chore. However, cleaning your electric bike is important, and you need to take it seriously. Otherwise, you could damage your bike. How often you clean your e-bike will depend on how much you use it.

How to Clean an Electric Bike

Cleaning an electric bike doesn’t need to be a complicated process. All you need is a bucket full of water or a hose, soap, and the following:

• Sponge
• Brushes
• Disc brake cleaner
• Bike degreaser
• Chain lube
• Poly-film

Here’s a step-by-step guide to clean your electronic bike:

Check your electric bike’s manual first because this will give you an idea of how much water the bike can resist. You will see it on the first pages of your manual with the letters “IP.” The higher the number, the more waterproof the bike is. However, for e-bikes with low IP numbers, it’s best to leave the hose behind because too much water pressure can damage some parts inside.

Remove the battery. Even though the manual says you can leave it there, it’s better to be safe than sorry. This will help you avoid minor complications.

Turn the e-bike upside down for better support. You can also cover both parts with poly-film to protect the bike from water. It will also help you turn the wheels more comfortably without destabilizing the bike.

Wash the bike with water and scrub it with a small cloth or a brush to remove dirt from hard-to-reach areas, such as the places between tires and brakes.

Use the bike degreaser to clean the drivetrain and let it settle for five minutes. Clean it with a wet cloth and do it slowly.

Clean the brakes with the disc brake cleaner. Scrub them slowly. Also, as much as possible, don’t use any homemade cleaners because it could affect the brake’s functionality.

Remove water on the bike—this will require a lot of patience because it will take some time to dry your bike completely. Also, make sure the battery compartment is completely dry before you install back the battery.

How Often Should You Clean Your Electric Bike

You need to clean your electric bike periodically to extend its battery life and ensure it’s in good running condition. As mentioned, the cleaning frequency will depend on how much you use the e-bike, the type of terrain you drive, and the current season you’re in.

If you use it lightly, you can clean it once a month. The important thing is not to let your electric bike remain dirty for more than two months. This is because the battery compartment also gathers dust and other substances that interfere with the battery’s performance.

Now, if you think this is something you can do every weekend, then, by all means, go ahead!

Conclusion

Taking care of your electric bike is crucial in being able to use it for a long time. One way to take care of it is by regularly cleaning. There are other ways to keep your e-bike in good condition; ask your electric bike shop about other tips they can share for maintaining your e-bike.

Move around better with an electric bike. Espin Bikes offers a wide range of electric bikes you can choose from. Shop now!