E-bike maintenance schedule

A little regular care keeps an e-bike safe and cuts repair bills. This schedule pulls together what Shimano, Bosch and Rad Power Bikes recommend, with links to the Pedalwise guide for each job. How often you need each step depends on how much and where you ride, so your bike maker's manual wins where it differs.

Before every ride

• Tire pressure. Shimano says to check pressure with a floor pump before each ride (Shimano). See set tire pressure.
• Brakes. Shimano's check: walk the bike and pull the front brake, then the rear. The wheels should stop promptly with no squeal (Shimano). See e-bike brakes.
• Battery charge and lock. Make sure the battery is charged and clicked into its mount. See e-bike battery care.
• Quick look over. Rad's manual has a pre-ride checklist covering fasteners, brakes, drivetrain, motor and throttle, steering, wheels, tires, battery and cables (Rad RadWagon 5 manual). Check the throttle springs back. See check brake cutoff and throttle.

After every ride

• Rad says to store the bike and battery somewhere dry and charge the battery indoors (Rad RadWagon 5 manual).
• Bosch says to clean the bike after a ride if you can, and to focus on rust prevention after riding near salt water (Bosch). See wash an e-bike safely.

Weekly (Rad: every 100 to 200 miles)

From Rad's RadWagon 5 schedule (Rad RadWagon 5 manual):

• Check bolt torque. See check the bolts on your e-bike.
• Check wheel true and spoke tension. See check spokes and wheel true.
• Look the frame over for damage.
• Wipe the frame with a damp cloth, then clean and lube the chain. See clean and lube a chain.
• Shimano adds a gear check: lift the rear wheel and shift through the gears while turning the pedals (Shimano).

Monthly (Rad: every 250 to 750 miles)

From Rad's schedule (Rad RadWagon 5 manual):

• Check brake pad wear and lever feel. See replace disc brake pads.
• Check shifting and cable tension. See adjust the rear derailleur and replace a shifter cable.
• Check chain stretch. See check and replace a chain. Rad says to replace the chain past 0.75 percent wear on a chain checker (Rad).
• Check crank and pedal torque. See check cranks and the bottom bracket and replace pedals.
• Look at tires for wear and anything stuck in the tread. Rad says to replace a tire once the casing shows (Rad).

Every season (Rad: every 6 months or 750 to 1,250 miles)

• Rad's manual calls for a basic tune-up by a professional mechanic, a look at all cables and housings, and new pads, tires or cables if needed (Rad RadWagon 5 manual). Rad's blog gives the same guideline of a tune-up at least every six months or 750 to 1,250 miles (Rad).
• Shimano's spring check adds bearings: test the headset, bottom bracket, hubs and pedals for roughness or play (Shimano). See adjust a loose headset and check wheel bearings.
• Check grips and saddle. See replace grips and set saddle height.
• Before winter, Bosch says to clean and lightly lube the bike and store the battery dry at room temperature with a partial charge (Bosch). See store your battery for winter.

Every year

• Bosch says to have the e-bike checked by an expert at least once a year (Bosch). Shimano recommends a full service at a dealer once a year, more often if you ride a lot or in bad conditions (Shimano).
• At that visit, Shimano suggests asking for a battery health check and a firmware update (Shimano). See update e-bike firmware.

Anytime

Book a check sooner if the brakes squeal or feel weak, gears won't shift cleanly, or you hear new noises, as both Shimano and Rad advise (Shimano, Rad). See e-bike noises and when to call a pro.

Sources

• How to look after your e-bike at home and in the bike shop, Shimano
• Spring cleaning and maintenance, Shimano
• Care of eBikes, Bosch eBike Systems
• Drive unit manual, Bosch eBike Systems
• RadWagon 5 owner's manual, Rad Power Bikes
• How often does my ebike need maintenance, Rad Power Bikes
• Maintenance tips for your electric bike, Rad Power Bikes

Videos

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