Blog published 10/6/2021 by Jake McFadden, E-mobilize Inc.
Q: When does my bike or ebike need a tune up or general service?
A: A few tell tale signs are: loose brakes( brake lever touches or comes close to handlebar grip when squeezed), Any strange or unusually feeling or sound coming from bike, Gears aren't shifting properly, bike has been sitting for over 1 or 2 yrs...hopefully in a garage, bike is extremely dirty, Ect-If any of those symptoms pertains to your bike or ebike it probably needs a tune up...good thing a cleaning is part of any tune up from E-Mobilize.
Q: How often should I pump my Tires?
A: Really depends on the size of tire and thickness of the inner tube holding the air.
Air pressure should be checked before each ride. This will prevent flats and increase the bikes efficiency. Realistically most standard size tires will need to be pumped weekly while skinny tires like on road bikes should be pumped daily. Keep in mind tubes hold the air in the tire, tubes seep air out over time much quicker than a car tire for example.
Q: Do Ebikes recharge while pedaling?
A: Short answer is: No.
Long Answer is: It has been tested but Has not been practically applied yet in my opinion. Besides at some point we all have to realize standard bicycles are still the very most efficient transportation form based on simple manufacturing and the fact that you get 3 times the distance and speed on a bicycle rather than the same amount of energy spent walking. Oh and did we mention it doesn't run off of toxic dinosaur bones...regardless would you like to pedal your @$$ off just to recharge your battery or would it be easier just to dich the extra weight, expense, and manufacturing burdens of an ebike for a regular bicycle...
Q: Should I buy a second battery for my Ebike?
A: They can be very pricy... Ebike batterys usually cost any where from $450 to $1000. Naturally they are expensive due to the battery being the most expensive part of virtually every electric bike designed today. I'd recommend buying a bag to hold your charger for longer rides, typically by the time a fully charged battery has been drained the rider is too. Give it a rest and give your battery a charge. *Pro Tip: stop for a cold beer when your battery is dead, plug in charger before drinking...
Q: How often should I charge my Electric bike battery?
A: At least once a month to keep the battery healthy.
Q: how long does an ebike take to charge?
A: 4- 6 hours for lithium ion battery packs and 8 to 10hours for older type SLA batterys.
Q: Can I leave my battery plugged into the charger when I'm not using it?
A: Absolutely not. This is a great way to heat up your battery and make it go bad very quickly.
Q: Can I charge my Electric bike battery while it is still in the bike?
A: Yes, just don't forget to unplug it when its time to ride.
Q:When do I lubricate my chain and what do I use?
A: Before lubricating a used chain it must be decreased to remove dirt and grease from links. A chain needs lubricant when the cylinder shaped pieces get shinny. Any bicycle specific chain lube will do. Different lubricants are used for different riding conditions like rainy vs dusty terrain.
Q: What pressure or psi do I pump my tires to?
A: The maximum\ minimum pressure is always printed on sidewall of tire.
Q: How do I find my tire size?
A: The tire size is always printed on the sidewall and looks like for example 26 X 2.125 or 700 X 38. First number is the tire height. Second is the tire width. (H X W)
