Spring check! - more helpful tips! How to get your e-bike ready

The days are slowly getting longer, the sun is shining more often and the temperatures are rising. It's time to start cycling. Although there are die-hards who ride all year round, the majority of e-bike riders prefer moderate climatic conditions.

Because we are constantly asked what to do now, we want to explain the most important points to you in a blog post. It may be a good idea to have your e-bike checked by a bike mechanic in the spring, but you can also prepare your bike yourself in just a few steps.

You have to take into account that electronic and mechanical components have different requirements. Basically, regular care and maintenance improves the durability and functionality of the components. This not only saves money, but also makes riding your e-bike more fun. After all, nothing is more annoying than a battery that no longer delivers power or a chain that constantly rattles.

Battery – To maintain performance

The pivotal point of an e-bike is the drive with its power supply, i.e. the motor and battery. Our e-bikes mainly use Bosch and Shimano drives, which are considered to be relatively low-maintenance. But there are also some important basic rules that should be observed.

First and foremost, this includes handling the e-bike correctly when it is not being used for a long period of time, as can happen over the winter. The batteries contain lithium-ion cells that discharge themselves with increasing inactivity. Up to five percent of charge loss per month is possible, and more depending on the temperature.

This can lead to a complete discharge of the battery, also known as deep discharge. This triggers chemical reactions inside the battery, which in the worst case can lead to the destruction of the battery, but at the very least significantly reduce the capacity.

Therefore, if you are not going to use the e-bike for a long time, you should always remove the battery and store it in a dry and warm place (15 to 20 degrees). The charge level should be between 40 and 60 percent. If you follow this rule, the battery will support you for a long time with its full capacity.

However, we can also reassure you, because the modern batteries used in our e-bikes have a protective mechanism designed to prevent deep discharge. Incidentally, in the transition period, when temperatures can still be very low, you should remove the battery overnight and store it in a warm place if your e-bike is in a cold place.

The three most important tips for handling the e-bike battery:

1. Do not discharge the battery completely. Even if modern batteries have protection against deep discharge, you should not let the battery fall below a charge level of 15 to 20 percent.
2. Charge the battery after every ride. The so-called memory effect no longer plays a role in modern batteries. It is therefore not true that every incomplete charge reduces the battery capacity in the long term. A modern battery is designed for up to 1,000 charges. Not every incomplete charge is counted as a charging process. Rather, the batteries are equipped with a battery management system that recognizes and evaluates a half charge as such. With proper care, you can therefore ride your e-bike for several tens of thousands of kilometers.
3. Make sure you store the battery properly. If you don't want to use your e-bike for a long time, you should remove the battery and store it in a warm, dry place. Ideally, the battery will still have a capacity of between 40 and 60 percent. The correct temperature is 15 to 20 degrees.

You should pay attention to these three points all year round so that your e-bike's battery can deliver maximum performance for as long as possible. Cleaning is of course also on the agenda during the spring check - after all, you want to start the season not only with a functioning bike, but also with a clean one.

In principle, the batteries are well protected against external influences such as dirt and moisture. However, water should be used sparingly when cleaning. Under no circumstances should the electronic components come into direct contact with a high-pressure cleaner. This also applies to many mechanical parts on the bike, as this can wash the grease out of the bearings.

To clean the battery, a damp cloth without any cleaning agents is sufficient to gently remove dust and dirt. It is best to remove the battery from the bike to do this. At the same time, you can also carefully clean the contacts and treat them with a little grease or contact spray.

Lights and brakes – safety is a must

The safety features of the e-bike are at least as important as the drive. These primarily include solid brakes and a functioning lighting system. Both are also required by law for an e-bike to be considered roadworthy. Incidentally, drivers of pure sports e-bikes are also required to carry lights.

At myvélo you will find both types of bikes, in addition to the sporty E-MTBs, there are also E-bikes with full equipment. This means you always have powerful hydraulic disc brakes and, depending on the equipment, a modern lighting system with bright LEDs.

In spring, you mainly need to check that the lights are working properly. LEDs are not particularly maintenance-intensive and also have a very long lifespan. You can quickly tick this box.

You should pay a little more attention to the brakes. Although hydraulic disc brakes are not very maintenance-intensive, reliable brakes are a high priority for e-bikes and especially e-MTBs. We therefore recommend that you check a few points:

1. Brake line

The oil in the brake lines should be replaced from time to time to ensure that the brakes remain functional over the long term. If the brake levers can be pressed without any noticeable effect, the line must either be bled or the oil replaced.

Both can be done in your garage at home, but if you want to be on the safe side, have a mechanic do it.

2. Brake disc

You have either a brake disc with 6-hole suspension or with centerlock on your e-bike. The distinction is important primarily for removal and replacement parts. The basic wear is the same for both discs. With normal use, the brake discs wear out very little, but with frequent downhill use it can go a little faster.

In any case, the brake disc is one of the wearing parts on an e-bike. If it is warped or the minimum thickness specified by the manufacturer is not met, it should be replaced. This can be done yourself in a few simple steps, but requires a torque wrench.

If you are unsure or do not have the necessary tools, go to a mechanic. When working on the window, you should avoid direct contact as much as possible or clean the window with spirit afterwards.

Under no circumstances should grease or oil get on the brake disc, as this not only reduces its effectiveness but can also lead to loud braking noises. Incidentally, an e-bike should be fitted with a large brake disc with a diameter of at least 140, preferably 160 millimetres, to ensure full braking effect and to keep wear to a minimum.

3. Brake pads

The brake pads on an e-bike are the most common cause of wear. Hydraulic disc brakes come with two types of brake pads, each with different properties. The metal brake pads are usually more durable, but can make more noise when braking.

In contrast, organic brake pads wear out faster, but are easier to control and are significantly quieter. The spring check is a good time to change the brake pads. To check the thickness of the brake pad, it is usually enough to shine a flashlight into the brake calliper. If there is still enough material, replacement is not necessary.

In some cases, the pads are simply glazed. This can happen if you brake for too long and too intensively on long descents and the pads have become very hot. With a little fine-grained sandpaper, the pads can be roughened up again and are then ready for further tours. Replacing the brake pads only takes a few steps.

The brake calliper can then be realigned. To do this, simply loosen the screws slightly, apply the brake and tighten the screws again. With the two-piston brakes that are most commonly installed, the brake disc is then exactly in the middle.

By the way, hydraulic disc brakes must not be used when the wheel is removed. To prevent this from happening accidentally, there is a spacer for the brake that is inserted when the wheel is removed. After changing the brake pads, they must be run in again. It is best to follow the manufacturer's instructions.

Tires – For the perfect grip

The tires, the only point of contact with the ground, should not be underestimated during the spring check. Even if the e-bike is not used in winter, the tires can still be damaged. Regardless of whether the bike is ridden tubeless or with a tube, air is constantly escaping.

If the air pressure is too low, cracks can form on the sidewall. So always make sure there is enough air pressure when storing. Before spring starts, the tires should definitely be pumped up, ideally with a floor pump that has a pressure gauge. The ideal range for air pressure is indicated on the sidewall of the tire.

If you go for the lower end, the tire is ideal for rough terrain. You should use the maximum if you want to ride mostly on asphalt and also faster. Otherwise, the tire should not have any obvious defects. If this is the case, it is better to change the tire if you don't want to get a flat tire on the first tour.

Our e-bikes are all equipped with tires from well-known manufacturers, with profile, balloon or street tires depending on the intended use. Depending on how many kilometers you do per year, new tires are required every 1-3 years. While checking the tires, you can also take a look at the rims. If they are deformed or individual spokes have come loose, the help of a mechanic is usually required.

Although you can tighten loose spokes yourself, you will need a special tool for this. You can also use this opportunity to quickly check that the sensor is correctly mounted. If it is too loose, dirty or no longer in the right place, the entire system can fail and the desired motor support will not be available.

By the way, more than 90 percent of all reported e-bike errors can be traced back to the position of the sensor.

Chain – Don’t give rattling a chance

Nothing is more annoying when cycling than a chain that is constantly rattling. The chain is therefore one of the most important points in your spring check. If it is already worn out, the only solution is to replace it. The best way to determine this is with a chain gauge.

If you don't have one to hand, just try lifting the chain at the front chainring. If there is too much play, a new chain may be needed. If the old chain remains in use, it should first be cleaned thoroughly. WD 40 is ideal for this. Simply spray some onto a cloth and then run the chain through the cloth.

To clean the pinions and the spaces between the chain links, you can use special cleaning tools or simply a brush or an old toothbrush. Once the chain is clean, it needs to be re-oiled. To do this, put a drop of chain oil on each chain link. Then run the chain through several times, shifting up and down, and remove the excess oil with a cloth.

Ideally, the chain will now purr quietly and not be annoying while you ride. Some e-bikes are now equipped with a belt instead of a chain. This eliminates the need for special maintenance and cleaning work. However, the belt must be readjusted or replaced by a bicycle repair shop if necessary.

Gearshift – Adjust correctly for proper driving pleasure

For the spring check, all components of the gearshift should be cleaned with a cloth. The next step is to check that it is working properly. To do this, go through all the gears and make sure that all the gears are engaged precisely. If this is not the case, the gearshift must be readjusted.

If the gears are very difficult to engage, a new shift cable may be required. You can do both yourself, but if you don't dare, it's better to take your bike to a mechanic. Shift cables running on the inside can quickly become tricky.

Adjusting the individual gear components is more of a job for a bike workshop if you don't know exactly how to do it. If you want to try it yourself, follow the steps in the manual exactly.

Incidentally, some bikes also have hub gears installed. These rarely need to be serviced and run for years without any problems. If maintenance is due, you should have this done by a specialist workshop, because the hub has to be completely dismantled and re-oiled for cleaning.

Software update – Always up to date

The myvélo e-bikes mainly feature Shimano and Bosch brands of drives and batteries. Both manufacturers provide their customers with new firmware updates for the drive, battery, battery management or display from time to time.

To ensure that your e-bike is always up to date, you should definitely install the updates, especially since manufacturers usually not only eliminate errors but also achieve real performance improvements.

However, Shimano and Bosch take different approaches. While you can install the update yourself with Shimano, you have to go to a specialist dealer with Bosch. Whether they charge a fee for the service is up to them. It is sometimes offered free of charge, but can also cost between 15 and 30 euros.

Oiling, greasing, screwing, cleaning - the finish for the perfect bike trip

If you have done everything up to this point, then your e-bike is almost ready. Now you just need to protect all moving parts against corrosion with a little grease or oil and ensure that they run smoothly. Over time, this will also affect parts that require more effort or a trip to the bike mechanic.

This is the case, for example, when there is a crunching noise in the bottom bracket or the head tube. Both parts only work smoothly and quietly if they are well greased. But the grease can get dirty and clump over time. Then every pedal stroke makes an annoying noise. Because special tools are required for removal, this work should be carried out by a bicycle workshop.

But there are also plenty of screws in other places on the e-bike that you should check to make sure they are secure in the spring. With a basic set of Allen keys or a toolkit, most screws can be tightened again.

But be careful, many screw connections have specified torques that must be strictly adhered to. If the screw is overtightened or has pulled into the material, as is possible with carbon frames, the repair will be complex and expensive.

Last but not least, the bike should be cleaned. Special bike cleaners or a sponge with a little washing-up liquid are suitable for this. The water can come from a bucket or a garden hose. A high-pressure cleaner is not suitable, even if it promises the quickest results.

The risk of flushing grease out of the internal bearings is too great and repairing the damage is too costly. If you want to keep the clean look for as long as possible, you can also seal the painted parts.

Here we go…

So now your e-bike should be standing in front of you in new splendor and fully operational. Hopefully we were able to answer all your questions.

In any case, we guarantee you the best possible quality and the most modern components with our e-bikes. They forgive you a lot, even if not everything is implemented according to the textbook.

It is best to follow a simple rule: every mechanical bike needs some maintenance, but if it also has electrical components installed, it needs a little more attention.

But that shouldn't stop you from getting on your bike and riding off. After all, that's what you decided to do with your myvélo e-bike. We hope you have lots of fun.