How to Keep Your Electric Bike Running Smoothly with Regular Maintenance

Summary

• Regular maintenance keeps your eBike reliable, efficient, and safe. You should take your eBike in for professional service at least once a year, but you should also do maintenance by yourself between these visits for the best riding experience.
• Key areas of your eBike that you can help maintain by yourself include the tires, brakes, battery, motor, chain, and other moving parts. However, do not open up your battery, motor, or derailleur on your own as these contain sensitive components that can be easily damaged.
• You can find qualified help to service or repair your eBike by contacting your nearest Michael Blast dealer. This is the best way to service the delicate components inside your motor, derailleur, or hydraulic brake lines if you don’t want to risk working on them yourself.

Your Michael Blast eBike is designed to provide you with years of enjoyment—but no electric bike is completely maintenance-free, so you’ll still need to know how to do a few things to keep it in the best possible condition.

Fortunately, tuning up your eBike between rides is pretty easy. And to prove it, our team has come up with this handy checklist! Read on to learn everything you’ll need to keep your bike running smoothly and turning heads everywhere you go.

Tires

Tires are your eBike's only direct contact points with the ground—so keeping them in great shape is vital for your handling, comfort, and safety. Take care of your tires, and they’ll take care of you. Here’s how:

• Check the Pressure: Regularly check your tire pressure (at least once a week). Use a good quality pressure gauge, and make sure readings are within the recommended range, which will be printed on the sidewall.
• Do a Visual Inspection: Before each ride, visually inspect your tires for cuts, punctures, or bulges. Look out for any embedded debris like glass, thorns, or sharp stones and remove them.
• Rotate Your Tires: Rotate the tires once every 3-6 months—or sooner if you notice uneven wear.
• Replace Old or Damaged Tires: Replace your tires when the tread is worn out (or if you see significant cuts or damage).

Brakes

Keeping your eBike’s brakes in shape is essential for dealing with emergency situations. Make sure your brakes can stop you quickly when you need them to by performing these tasks:

• Check Brake Pads: Check for wear and replace when necessary. There should be at least 1mm of brake material left.
• Clean Discs: Keep the brake discs clean from oil and dirt. Use isopropyl alcohol and a clean cloth.
• Bleed Hydraulic Lines: If you have hydraulic brakes, they might need bleeding occasionally to remove air bubbles and refresh the brake fluid. You can do this with a bleed kit—learn more about maintaining and flushing your hydraulic brakes here.

It’s also important to make sure your eBike’s brakes aren’t rubbing when they shouldn't be. This may require the brake cables to be adjusted—the easiest way to do this is to take your bike in for professional service.

Battery

The battery is the heart of your electric bike, supplying the power you need to cruise the streets. Regular maintenance ensures you get the most out of each charge and extends the battery's overall life.

• Charging: Do not leave the battery completely discharged for extended periods. Charge it after every ride, even if it’s not fully depleted.
• Storage: If you’re not using your eBike for an extended period, store the battery at around 60% charge in a cool and dry place.
• Clean Contacts: Occasionally check and clean the battery contacts to ensure they’re free from dirt or corrosion.
• Lifecycle: All batteries have a limited lifecycle. Expect to replace it after 3-5 years or if you notice that its performance is getting significantly worse.

Motor

The motor uses power from your eBike’s battery to move the chain (in mid-drive models) or the hub itself (in hub-drive models). In either case, keeping your motor in shape means smoother rides with better efficiency—and less risk of a breakdown when you’re far away from home.

• Clean the Outside: Regularly wipe down the motor to remove dirt and debris. Avoid using high-pressure water, and do not open up the motor as the components inside are highly sensitive and should only be worked on by qualified professionals.
• Listen for Strange Noises: Your electric motor should make a quiet and consistent hum. If you hear grinding or clicking sounds, it could indicate a problem with your bearings or other sensitive parts.

Chain & Moving Parts

Your eBike’s chain and drivetrain are responsible for transferring power to the wheels. Proper care reduces wear and makes shifting gears smoother.

• Lubricate the Chain: Use a degreaser to clean the chain, then apply a quality chain lube suitable for your riding conditions (e.g., wet or dry).
• Check the Chain Tension: Your chain should have about half an inch of give in either direction—if you can pull the chain up off the gear and move it over the teeth by sliding it to the side, it’s too loose. To tighten the chain, loosen the nuts on either side of the rear wheel with a wrench, pull the wheel back until the slack from the chain is gone, then retighten the nuts and check the tension again.
• Tighten Loose Bolts: Every few rides, take a look at your eBike’s pedals, crank arms, and other moving parts and tighten any loose bolts you find.
• Look for Skipping or Grinding: If these signs occur when you change gears, your derailleur may need to be adjusted (which is typically a job for professionals).

Going the Extra Mile with Your eBike Maintenance

eBike maintenance isn’t rocket science—for the most part, you just need to keep your bike clean, keep your eyes and ears open for signs of wear, and perform some simple tasks every few rides. Do that, and you can count on endless hours of enjoyment from your ride between professional services.

Finally, remember to take your eBike in for service at least once a year—or if you encounter any issues you’re not comfortable fixing yourself. You can find professionals capable of performing any advanced repairs your eBike needs at your nearest Michael Blast dealer.

Frequently Asked Questions about eBike Maintenance

Can I fix a punctured eBike tire by myself?

You may be able to fix a small puncture in a tubeless eBike tire by purchasing an over-the-counter plug kit—but these are intended as temporary solutions, and you should still replace the tire as soon as possible.

What if my brake pads are rubbing against each other?

You probably need to adjust your eBike’s brake cables. Adjusting the cables can be a difficult task, so we recommend going in for professional service in this case.

How often should I take my eBike in for professional service?

We recommend taking your eBike in for a check-up at least once a year—or once every six months if you ride often and throughout the year.

What parts of my eBike should I not work on myself?

Do not open up your eBike’s battery, motor, or derailleur—as these are delicate systems that can easily be damaged by DIY work. Instead, use the guide above to identify signs of trouble in these systems and take them in for service before problems get worse. And remember—if there’s any part of your ride you don’t feel comfortable working on, there’s no shame in getting help from professionals!