Come winter time, one of the most common concerns for new e-bike owners is how to store e-bikes for the winter.
It is recommended to store e-bikes indoors in a garage or inside a shed within the temperature range of 5-30°C (41-86°F). However, there are a few other important things to take note of before putting an e-bike into storage, which are detailed below.
#1 Clean Your E-Bike Properly Before Storing
Dirt, salt and grit can cause potential damage – so it is always best to give the bike a nice wash before storage.
- The bike can be cleaned using a bucket and sponge. So, prepare a bucket with water and mild soap or bike-cleaning solution and clean the bike using that.
- Make sure to remove the battery before you start cleaning to prevent any damage to the battery.
- Clean the drivetrain. The chain, gears and derailleur are important parts of the E-bike. Pay particular attention to cleaning it. Apply with a brush and gently rinse it. The frame, gearshift and automatic gearbox should be wiped down and dried.
- Parts of your E-bike like the battery contacts can corrode easily. Ensure they are clean and dry to prevent it.
- Wipe down the E-bike with a dry cloth after cleaning. Make sure all its parts are dry and there is no moisture.
- Keep your bike properly stored in a dry location. Ideal storage will also help keeping it clean.
- Note: Always remove the battery before washing the bike. Never immerse your e-bike’s battery, or any other electrical component into water or any other liquid.
#2 Lubricate The Moving Parts Of The E-Bike
Lubrication ensures that the bike components remain in good shape, and prevents corrosion.
- Properly clean your e-bike components to prevent any dirt or debris before lubricating.
- Lubricate all parts such as chains, derailleurs, gears, drivetrain and other moving part.
- Do not use general purpose lubricants like WD-40. Only use a high quality bike specific lubricant like this one.
- Apply the lubricants in moderation, since over-greasing can attract extra dirt.
- While lubricating the chain, rotate it to ensure that the lubricant spreads all-round.
#3 Prevent Rusting
Since the bike will be exposed to long harsh weather climate, there is a chance that the exposed metal parts can attract rust. Here are some ways which can help you prevent rusting:
- Use a rust prevention spray such as this one on any exposed metal.
- These sprays are applied as long-lasting coatings, so do not have to be applied very frequently and can last long.
- Use silicon polish to protect the paint of the bike.
Pro tip: use a bike specific breathable (like this one) cover to prevent moisture, as well as condensation build up to prevent rusting. Don’t forget to use straps to avoid it from blowing off during windy weather conditions.
#4 Inspect The Bike For Potential Damage Before Storing
A quick check or inspection before storing the bike can help any potential harm that can happen to your e-bike parts and minimise potential damage by addressing those issues.
- Inspect for any loose or damaged parts, such as gears, brakes, frames, electric components or any other potential parts that you feel have issues.
- In fact, it wouldn’t be the worst idea to get your e-bike serviced before putting it in for the winter season.
Pro tip: Even when you take the bike out of storage during spring, get your bike tuned up from a local shop to ensure a safe return to the saddle. Go for a short ride to see if all parts are fully functional!
#5 Properly Charge Your Battery Before Storing
The cold temperatures make your battery the most vulnerable part, so it is very important to properly care for it.
During winters, temperatures below 30°F (-1°C) can damage your battery, freeze it and prevent it from functioning properly.
Storing lithium ion batteries with their charge completely depleted can cause permanent damage, so it isn’t recommended. Charge the battery to about 50-70% of its total capacity and then store it.
An easy way to do this is take the e-bike for a quick ride around the block after fully charging it.
Also remember- condensation can effect charge cycles, so ensure that the battery is warm enough before charging it (generally round room temperature is best). If, say you’ve been riding out in the cold, best to bring the battery in and let it sit in at room temperature for an hour or so before you plug it in.
Once you’re ready to store the e-bike, try to ensure you keep the temperatures between 5-30°C (41-86°F).
I’d even suggest storing the battery separately in a warmer place than the rest of the bike, if need be. The non-electronic components of the e-bike can generally withstand temperatures down to -20°C (-4°F) so you don’t have to worry too much about them long as they’re stored in a dry, clean place.
Two last tips for e-bike battery storage:
- Check the battery level once a month. If the battery’s indicator has dropped too low (below 30%), a quick charge to get it back to 60-70% will be good. If you do not have a battery indicator, a quick half an hour charge every month is good practise.
- Some bikes have a special ‘storage level’ mode which can be selected from the e-bike menu- definitely select this if you have the option.
#6 Choose An Ideal Location To Store Your E-Bike
- Ideally, e-bikes should be stored in an indoor space. Like a garage, basement or a dedicated storage area. Indoor storage protects them from harsh weather conditions.
- In most cases it is not recommended that you store your E-bike outside during winters. Moisture can accumulate under the cover or in the bike shed which risks rusting of the exposed metal parts.
- If you have to store it outdoors, keep it in an outdoor or weatherproof shed which is insulated and will keep the e-bike’s electrical components relatively warm.
- Do not simply cover your bike with any piece of cloth, since moisture will accumulate over it. Consider using a waterproof cover to protect it from elements like rain and snow.
#7 Elevate Your E-Bike Tyres
Since the e-bike will be stored for long duration, the bike will mostly be stationary, stable at one place. During this period, if the bike is kept on the ground, the weight of the bike can cause flat spots on the tyres.
This is easily prevented by following these steps:
- Using a bike stand or a rack can help elevate your bike off the ground. If you’re short on storage space,
- I really liked this one on Amazon– it doesn’t need any drilling holes into the wall. It’ll still place a pressure on the bottom tyre though, so although a bit more expensive, my final suggestion would be this e-bike repair rack one on Amazon. You can store it long term by hanging the bike from the stem on it, and also it’s really nice to use it for cleaning and maintenance tasks.
- Placing foam or wood beneath your tyres is a good option to raise the tyres slightly above the ground in case a stand isn’t available.
- If any of the above two isn’t possible to elevate the tyres from the ground, just rotating the wheels periodically during storage is also fine. It helps to evenly spread out the bike’s weight throughout, reducing the chances of flat spots.
- It wouldn’t hurt to refill the air pressure in the bike’s tyres once every month even!