MAINTAINING YOUR E-BIKE

1. Regular cleaning

Maintaining cleanliness is crucial for keeping your e-bike functioning at its best. To clean your e-bike correctly, make sure the bike is turned off, the charge port is closed, and you do not use a high-pressure cleaner. Instead, use a wet cloth or low-pressure garden hose to remove any dirt. Once your e-bike is clean, look in the charge port to see if there is any dirt, and if there is, clean the inside using a soft brush or low-pressure air. Before connecting the charger, check there is no moisture in the ports. If not, plug your e-bike in and get ready for your next ride.

2. Updating its system software

To make sure you are getting the best riding experience possible, e-bike manufacturers, including Specialized, will update their software every six to eight months. To ensure you are riding the latest software, you can check via Specialized’s Mission Control app by turning on the bike and in the app, going to 'diagnose' then 'device updates' to check if your bike is all up to date.

3. A full battery isn’t always optimal

You would think a 100 per cent battery is the best – fully charged and ready to go. However, to the surprise of many, this is not the case for lithium batteries. Instead, lithium batteries are most effective when they are between 20-80 per cent charged. This is why when a battery-powered device is at full charge, it seems to lose battery very quickly to around 80 per cent and then slow down. So, while it might be tempting to leave your e-bike batteries charging until they are full, it may be better to take them off charge before full capacity.

4. Knowing when to change your battery

As with most things, the more you use something, the more wear and tear it’ll experience. Specialized guarantee that the battery will hold at least 75 per cent capacity after 300 charge cycles or two years after purchase. Therefore, being aware of this timeframe will let you know when to replace your current battery.

5. Storing your e-bike

If you are storing your e-bike for a longer period of time, for example, throughout the winter months, make sure you keep your e-bike in a dry place at a moderate temperature. Also, leave your battery charged around 60%. Do not fully charge your battery and then store it for a long time; 60% is optimal, and then recharge to 60% every three months when stored.