Battery Care and Storage
Storing an E-Bike is much like storing a standard bike but with a few extra considerations to keep your battery healthy and safe. Many of the steps are purely best practice and not requirements. Your E- Bike has battery management systems in place to help care for things, but why not give your loved bike the best treatment?
- Battery storage charge: After returning from a ride, consider washing your bike, cleaning the chain and lubricating if needed then think of the battery. Ideally, if you aren’t riding within the next 12 hours, your battery should be left at a 30% state of charge. This is your battery’s happy state which will help to prolong its life. If after a ride your battery is less than this, give it a charge after letting it cool for a while, if it is more then there is no massive stress, just avoid parking your bike with a fully charged battery.
- Charging habits: Once you get into the habit of storing your battery at 30% charge, you should then charge your battery close before a ride. Once you need to use your bike, charge your bike close before then you are good to go. Just let it cool after charging before riding.
- Memory effect?: Modern E- Bike batteries have no memory effect which you may be familiar with some older style drill batteries. This means there is no need to run the battery fully down every time, and actually this is not the best practice. The battery can be charged, topped off and part charged without damage – but do consider the storage recommendations and that heat is not a good thing.
- Temperature: If you are hot or cold, they are hot or cold. It is always best to bring your battery inside for storage and charging. Avoid temperature extremes especially while charging the battery. Your bike frame and motor can handle temperature better and will be fine inside a shed or garage. While riding your bike you do not have to worry about cold so much as usage generates heat. Just consider that you may get less range in cold conditions due to your battery being slightly less efficient.
- Moisture: After a wash it is best to leave your bike to dry off in the breeze, even in winter before storing. Check for roof leaks on a covered shed or garage and keep away moisture to avoid corrosion. If you live near the sea this is especially important that salt is not left on the bike while the bike is stored in damp conditions. If stored outdoors, use a good quality well fitted waterproof cover.
- Security: Always lock your bike while stored with the biggest and strongest lock you are willing to invest in. Also consider fitting a tracker and look into what security measures your E- Bike manufacturer offers.
Product Choice
While it might initially seem like bicycle specific cleaning and maintenance products are ‘not required’ and are considered by some to be ‘overpriced and unnecessary’, at Rye Bay Bikes, we recommend sticking to things designed for bike use for many reasons.
For example, cycle disk brake cleaner is designed for use on brakes which do not generate heat like ones in the motor trade do, and ones designed for motorbikes can actually cause squealing on cycles.
Car cleaning products such as snow foams or wax are also not a great idea. Many car soaps contain salt to help them rinse. This is fine on a car’s paintwork but where E- Bikes have wiring, bearings and exposed metal they can cause rust. Wax can also leave your brakes contaminated and stop them from working.
For this reason, investing in cycle cleaning products is a good choice and will make bike care stress free. Simply put, use the correct tool for the job.
Click on the link to take you to our product page
https://www.ryebay-ebike.co.uk/product-category/accessories/
Servicing
While looking after your E- Bike yourself is a great thing to get into the habit of doing, professional servicing is the best way to make your investment last a long time. The service interval will vary depending on the level of maintenance you do yourself, how often you clean your bike,the quality and type of components fitted, the weather you ride in and the terrain you ride.
Professionals will be able to do things like check your bearings internally, check your chain wear and change brake parts. Speak to us about this and we will always be willing to help you look after your bike at Rye Bay Bikes.
Click on the link to take you to our service page