Electric scooter maintenance checklist

Scooters have fewer parts than e-bikes, but the few they have take a beating. Most trouble starts as a soft tire, a worn brake, or a stem or folding latch that has worked loose. Intervals differ by brand, so treat these as a starting point and follow your manual.

Before every ride

• Look over the bars, brakes, throttle, lights, tires, cables and frame for damage, as CPSC advises for all micromobility devices (CPSC micromobility center).
• Check tire pressure if your tires take air. Apollo says to check it each ride (Apollo maintenance guide).
• Test the brakes and listen for squeal or grinding (Hiboy maintenance tips).

Every week

• Measure tire pressure with a gauge and inflate to the maker's number (Hiboy maintenance tips).
• Check the stem clamp and handlebars, and snug up fasteners with the scooter's own tool kit (Hiboy maintenance tips).
• Clean with a damp cloth or soft brush and a mild cleaner (Hiboy maintenance tips).

Every month, or by distance

• Check the folding mechanism for play (Hiboy maintenance tips). Segway's Max G2 manual, for example, says to tighten the folding rod screws to its stated torque if the rod moves while you ride (Segway Max G2 manual).
• Check brake pad thickness and the rotor. Apollo also gives distance intervals, such as brake adjustment every 50 km on the Apollo City (Hiboy maintenance tips, Apollo maintenance guide).
• Look at the tires for cuts, cracks and worn tread. Solid tires need checking for cracks too (Hiboy maintenance tips).

Water and rain

Water resistance ratings vary by model, and water resistant does not mean waterproof (Hiboy common problems). Segway lists IPX5 for the Max G2, for example (Segway Max G2 manual). After a wet ride, wipe the scooter and connectors dry, skip pressure washers and soaking, and don't charge until the scooter and port are fully dry (Hiboy maintenance tips, Hiboy common problems). See my e-bike or scooter got wet.

Battery

Charge with the scooter's own charger, stay nearby, and unplug when done (CPSC micromobility center). For long storage, follow your manual. Segway's Max G2 manual says to charge about every 60 days in storage (Segway Max G2 manual). More in battery care.

Leave to a pro

• A stem that still wobbles after you tighten it. Hiboy says stop riding if it wobbles a lot at speed until the cause is found (Hiboy common problems).
• Braking distance that has grown noticeably (Hiboy maintenance tips).
• Motor noise together with an error code, power loss, vibration or overheating (Hiboy common problems).
• Any battery, charger or wiring problem, or a display that stays blank after charging and drying (Hiboy maintenance tips).

Sources

• Micromobility information center, CPSC
• Apollo City maintenance guide, Apollo Scooters
• Ninebot KickScooter Max G2 product manual, Segway
• Electric scooter maintenance tips, Hiboy
• 14 common electric scooter problems and fixes, Hiboy

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