Keeping your eBike clean is essential preventative care. It'll lead to a longer service life and ensure your bike is in tip-top condition every time you ride. By cleaning your eBike after each ride, you will prevent buildup of debris and dirt that could lead to more serious issues.
Rule of Thumb:
- Don't use high power water or jet stream hoses as the water will infiltrate the electrical components and may cause damage. Also, you don’t want the water to remove the lubricant from the bearings, it will cause them to move slower and possibly corrode.
- If using a high powered hose be careful to not jet water in too close to the hubs, bottom bracket, headset or anywhere else that is normally greased throughout.
- Use a toothbrush and warm water to wash away any dirt, sand, or other debris that has gathered on the chain or in the gears. Once complete, remove all remaining moisture with a dry towel.
By following this guide you'll learn how to properly clean and de-grease your eBike. We recommend to clean your bike after each ride or as often as possible where time allows. It's easier to clean bikes straight after riding, rather than leaving the dirt to bake on.
De-grease Drivetrain
By cleaning the drive train first, it'll help not spread the muck onto the rest of the bike during cleaning.
Remove Battery
Remove the battery ahead of cleaning, this ensure safe practice and allows you to clean the frame underneath.
Clean Disc Brakes
Disc brakes can fade when soaked with soapy water, always finish cleaning with a disc brake cleaner on the rotors.
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Cleaning Your eBike
- You'll need a good cleaner and also cleaning brushes / sponge. Also degreaser and a disc brake cleaner for the brakes. Be careful not to get this close to any braking surfaces though!
- Use a chain oil to keep it lubricated after cleaning, make sure it isn’t left dry. We'd recommend to apply a dry lube on the chain or wet lube if riding in very damp conditions. Learn more for why, when, and how to lube your chain.
- Lube the cables with a spray oil, preferably one that dries.
* It's important when degreasing the chain to not apply too much degreaser around the eBike motor and/or casing. Degreaser is very good at its job. It's also very thin, so spraying loads around the motor area risks pushing the factory grease out of the drive bearings. The same applies around the electric bike headset, suspension pivot bearings and wheel hubs.
Here is a video from ParkTool illustrating a step-by-step to cleaning your bike the pro way.
