Pre Ride Safety Check
Owning an ebike can be a vehicle for many purposes. Some will use it for occasional recreation and others will use it for their daily commute. As responsible riders, we need to do our best to take safety precautions like being present when we ride, obeying traffic rules, and wearing proper safety equipment. An often overlooked precaution is periodically checking our bike's equipment before departing. Every time we swing our leg over (or through) the bike, we should know that the bike is safe to ride because we have performed our Pre-Ride Safety Check. This article will give general information on how to ensure your bike is ready to ride.
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Check Tire Pressure: Make sure the tire pressure is within the range specified on the sidewall of your tire. Fill or release air as necessary to ensure a smooth ride.
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Inspect Brakes: With your ebike turned off, roll your ebike while testing both brake levers separately. When you pull the lever, your wheel should come to an immediate stop.
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Check Headset: Pull the front brake and slightly rock your bike forward and backward, ensuring it is sturdy and in place. There should be no room for play in the handlebar mount. If there is, tighten the stem as needed and re-test. Headset Video
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Clean and Lube Chain: Shift the rear derailleur to a gear in the center of the cassette/ freewheel. Manually spin the pedals backward while brushing off or wiping any debris from the chain. A chain cleaning product can be used as well if needed. Once clean, spin the cranks backward while carefully applying a bicycle chain lube to the chain, allowing it to work into the pins and links of the chain. Wrap a rag around the lower chain and again rotate the cranks backward a few more times in order to remove any excess lube from the chain. This process can be performed on a monthly basis if your ebike is used moderately. We also recommend drying and performing chain maintenance any time it is exposed to water.
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Check Wheel Fasteners: There should be zero wobble in your wheels and the wheels should be aligned center in the frame and fork. Ensure that both the wheel's hardware (axle nuts/ thru axle) are snug and secure. Align your wheel and tighten your wheel hardware as necessary.
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Battery Charge & Care: Inspect your battery and terminal for signs of damage or moisture. If anything is abnormal, do not use it and contact customer support or your nearest Aventon dealer. If the bike passes visual inspection, turn on your ebike and confirm your battery levels have sufficient charge to withstand your ride. Confirm the battery is inserted fully and secured in the bike.
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Accessories: Confirm the fenders and rear rack are bolted securely to your ebike. Tighten as necessary. Inspect fenders and racks for signs of damage.
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Check Kickstand: Make sure the bolts on your kickstand are tight before each ride. This will help you avoid damage or loss of hardware or the kickstand itself. If your kickstand has 2 pieces, be sure to also tighten the bolt that keeps the bottom half of the kickstand attached in place.
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Cargo: Should you purchase add-on accessories to carry cargo on your ebike, it is crucial to ensure that not only the accessory itself is properly and securely mounted to the bike, but the item(s) you are transporting are also securely attached.
Post-Ride Checklist
Now, after each ride, it's time to inspect your ebike and get ready to wind it down. Some of which includes inspecting the tires, rims, and derailleur for dirt or damage, wiping down the frame with a rag, and charging the battery if you're running low. In time, this should also be a quick and straightforward check!
-Hardware Check
Before or after each ride, all fasteners and components should be checked over to ensure they remain secure. This does not mean cranking down on the bolts and hardware repeatedly but instead, ensuring that nothing is coming loose. Overtightening hardware will result in damage and can result in catastrophic failure. The best practice is to become familiar with the hardware that holds the components to the bike and recognize if something is loose or abnormal. Riding your bike causes vibrations which can make nuts and bolts loose over time. As most bolts will stay secure, occasionally you will come across something that has worked its way loose and you will be glad you checked. For most bikes, a set of metric hex keys and open-end wrenches will suffice for the whole bike.
-Checking for Damage
When inspecting your bike for damage, you will want to initially look over all areas of stress on the bike. This can be moving parts, frame joints, and commonly used components. This is why it is important to keep your bike clean as well. When detailing a bike, it allows us to pay attention to the small details and notice things that we may have easily looked past. Check parts like your spokes, chain, frame joints, wheels, tires, brake parts, etc for cracks or other damage. If damage is noticed, do not ride the bike until the issue is repaired to avoid further damage or injury. If the bike was crashed or dropped, the chances of damage are much more likely.
-Worn Out Parts/ Adjustments
Once the bike is confirmed to have everything snug and free of damage, ensure that your bike's components are in good shape and working properly. The tires should be checked for excessive wear and proper air pressure. If they are low, inflate them to the proper PSI. The chain should be clean and lubricated. Inspect it for damage at the same time. Check the function of the brakes and the shifter. Make any necessary adjustments and inspect the condition of the brake pads as well. Check that the headset bearings are tight and have no excessive play. For instructions on these checks/ adjustments, please view the related articles in the "Non-Electrical"/ "Maintenance and Repairs" section where we have individual and informative articles covering each topic.
Weekly Ebike Checklist
Properly maintaining your bike ensures its longevity and smooth operation, not to mention your overall safe riding! Aventon recommends regular pre-ride and post-ride checks, as well as bi-annual and annual check-ups. We recommend incorporating the following weekly and monthly ebike checks:
A quick undertaking that can be done with basic bike tools in under 15 minutes.
- Wipe down chainrings, cassette, and derailleur pulleys (if applicable)
- Check and tighten the crankset hardware
- Inspect brake pads
Monthly Ebike Checklist
A more in-depth inspection of your ebike and tuneup.
- Check for chain water
- Wipe down and lubricate suspension sliders (if applicable)
- Lube all braking and gear shifting cables
- Degrease and lubricate chain & all chainrings, both front and back
View our in-depth Ebike Maintenance Guide and Schedule for additional information on bi-annual and annual ebike checkups. The Owner's Manual may contain similar information. If you have questions, please contact Aventon Support.
Six-Month Checklist
The bi-annual, or a bike check around the six-month mark, is commonly known as a complete tune-up. For daily ebike riders, a complete tune-up is required about twice a year. For casual riders, a complete tune-up is only needed about once a year. This bike check can be done through an Aventon dealer or local ebike shop. Not only will they inspect and adjust your braking system, drivetrain, tires and wheels, and a few other components but they will make adjustments as necessary to ensure your bike performing optimally.
Annual Checklist
An expansion of the six-month checklist, annual bike checks will involve everything from the bi-annual check along with a complete breakdown and inspection of your ebike: checking all the components, cleaning and lubing them, and putting everything back in its place. For the daily ebike rider, this check should be completed annually. For casual riders, an annual check may be completed once every 18 months to 2 years. An annual ebike check may also be done through an Aventon dealer or local bike shop.
Note: Always pay attention to your bike before, during, and after a ride. If any abnormalities are recognized, address them promptly.
Wheel Inspection
One of the most common reasons a wheel will need to be replaced/ repaired is if the wheel is bent or out of true. A bent wheel compromises riding safety and will need to be addressed immediately!
How can I tell if my wheel needs to be repaired or replaced?
- Check the spokes. Remember, spokes are what attach the hub to the rim, keeping your tire in place and properly running. Therefore, broken or loose spokes can and will compromise the integrity of your wheels. Check if they are broken, bent, or loose. Squeeze the spokes together at a cross-section to see how much flex is present. The spokes should be fairly consistent around the wheel and should have minimal flex. Consult with a local bike shop to tighten or replace them right away if abnormalities are present. If there are more than 3-4 broken spokes at any given time, generally it is recommended to replace the rim.
- Check the alignment. If your wheel is out of true, meaning from left to right it is not straight, this is a cause for concern. An ebike with an out of true wheel should not be ridden until it is repaired. If your front or rear wheel is not straight, it will need to be trued. This service requires riders to take their ebike to a local bike shop to have this professionally serviced. Truing the wheel consists of properly tightening each spoke in a sequence that allows the wheel's alignment to return.
- Check the wheel. A wheel can "hop" when it is out of round, meaning there is either a dent in the hoop or uneven spoke tension causing it to skip up or down. In circumstances such as this, if you were to spin the wheel, you'd see a vertical "hop" at a section of the wheel. It is advised to take your ebike to a local bike shop in order for them to repair or replace the hoop of the wheel.