{"id":66053,"date":"2024-06-24T17:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-06-24T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/38ad4f8e-8191-4d96-8f50-bf98db0aa025"},"modified":"2024-06-24T17:25:28","modified_gmt":"2024-06-24T15:25:28","slug":"four-weatherproofing-tips-for-emtb-longevity","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/rss_feed\/four-weatherproofing-tips-for-emtb-longevity\/","title":{"rendered":"Four weatherproofing tips for eMTB longevity"},"content":{"rendered":"

Essential advice for all electric mountain bike owners <\/p>

By Alex Evans\n <\/p>

Published: Monday, 24 June 2024 at 15:00 PM<\/p>

\n\n

Let\u2019s not mince our words; electronics and water are not and never will be friends.<\/p>

Electric mountain bikes<\/a> are no exception to that rule, yet mountain biking by nature is a mud and water-ridden discipline; if you\u2019re not getting wet and dirty, you\u2019re an exception rather than the rule.<\/p>

This poses a conundrum for ebike manufacturers.<\/p>

Each brand is fully aware their bikes will be traipsed across soggy mountainsides and endure rigorous post-ride washing, while remaining reliable and electronically sound.<\/p>

Keeping water away from the delicate electronic systems isn\u2019t easy and total weatherproofing still eludes some manufacturers.<\/p>

Error codes on wet rides \u2013\u00a0terminal or not \u2013\u00a0are pretty common. While some of them can be discarded, the internet is also awash with reports of motor failures from all the major constructors.<\/p>

\"Applying — You want to keep as much of that muck as possible from getting into electrical connections or the motor’s fragile internals. – Alex Evans \/ Immediate Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>
The obvious rules \u2013 that are universal to electric bikes<\/a> and non-assisted bikes \u2013 apply. Don\u2019t use a jet wash on your electric bike motor<\/a>, just as you wouldn\u2019t pivot bearings; make sure you thoroughly dry the bike post-wash; and keep it stored somewhere sensible. However, some other principles are less obvious.<\/p>
These four tips should help keep your eMTB riding for longer by reducing the chances of water ingress.<\/p>
Apply dielectric grease to all of your bike’s electronic connections<\/h2>
$\"Applying$
Dielectric grease can be used safely in all electrical connectors to help prolong their lifespan and create a seal against water. – Alex Evans \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>
As the first must-do, I recommend applying dielectric \u2013\u00a0or tune-up \u2013\u00a0grease to all electrical connections before you ride your ebike for the first time.<\/p>
Whether that\u2019s the main battery connection, the smaller controller or switch connectors, or intricate motor connectors, splodging a generous helping of this grease on each cable’s join will put you in good stead.<\/p>
<\/div>
Not only does it improve the link between two electrical cables by \u2018bridging\u2019 any physical gaps with conductive grease, it also acts as a barrier to prevent moisture entering connections and causing corrosion or short circuits.<\/p>
$\"Applying$
Dielectric grease helps protect sensitive electronics from water ingress. – Alex Evans \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Keeping water away from these parts is one of the biggest steps in practising good ebike ownership. While connectors will have been designed to be waterproof, there\u2019s nothing wrong with this belts-and-braces approach to water protection.<\/p>
Work with, not against, gravity<\/h2>
$\"Washing$
Washing your bike the right way up means any water that gets inside the tubes can drain, and it’s less likely to penetrate the tubes in the first instance. – Alex Evans \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Next up, and just as crucially, is do not wash your bike<\/a> upside-down.<\/p>
While each brand\u2019s engineers will surely have done their best to build in as much waterproofing as possible to their frame, it\u2019s likely everything has been designed to work the right way up.<\/p>
Flipping your bike upside-down and dousing it with water is akin to challenging Newtonian rules of gravity; water, where it usually flows down, is now essentially travelling upwards.<\/p>
$\"Washing$
Don’t wash your ebike upside-down! Water is more likely to get into fragile electrical parts. – Alex Evans \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Drain ports turn into entry funnels, directing water into the sensitive electronic heart of your bike. And the blocked-up topside of your bike is now a giant water-collection pan, where electronics can swim in your freshly created pool of water.<\/p>
Some brands \u2013 such as Whyte \u2013 have cottoned on to this common method of bike washing, and now officially state you must wash your bike the right way up.<\/p>
Although this might break a life-long habit of how you wash your rig, keeping it wheels-down means water is much less likely to go where you don\u2019t want it to. Plus, it can drain out of the bottom of the bike as it\u2019s designed to and is less likely to enter through the top of sealed tubes.<\/p>
Seal up your motor<\/h2>
$\"Applying$
Liberally applying grease around the bottom bracket spindle will reduce the chances of water getting inside the motor. – Alex Evans \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Most electric bike motors<\/a> are made in two halves \u2013 like a clamshell \u2013 and are sealed together with bolts and a gasket.<\/p>
There\u2019s little you can do as an owner to improve that seal, given it\u2019s closed off in the factory and requires specialist equipment to open and close back up.<\/p>
<\/div>
But there are things you can do.<\/p>
The bottom bracket axle passes through the motor, creating two rather large openings either side. While these are usually well sealed, it\u2019s a relatively easy task to improve it.<\/p>
$\"Applying$
You’re aiming to create a seal or barrier of grease around the bottom bracket. – Alex Evans \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Removing the cranks and chainring is the first port of call.<\/p>
Now you can see the motor casing, generously apply grease against the motor where the axle exits it. The idea here is to create a barrier of grease that remains put, helping reduce the chances of water and mud entering the motor.<\/p>
Once you\u2019ve re-fitted the chainring and cranks, that barrier of grease will be hidden from sight and squashed into place, limiting any unattractive mess.<\/p>
Tape is your friend<\/h2>
$\"Commencal$
Use electrical tape to create a weatherproof seal between the battery and frame. – Alex Evans \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Depending on your frame\u2019s design, your battery may slide in and out of a hole in the end of the down tube or clip into place via a large cutout either underneath or on the tube\u2019s side.<\/p>
If you\u2019ve got the cutout design, it\u2019s unlikely the battery compartment, and therefore the whole down tube, is particularly well sealed from water and mud ingress. However, it\u2019s very easy and quick to improve on the factory design using electrical tape.<\/p>
$\"Commencal$
Ebikes with batteries that slot into the down tube are best suited to the tape-sealing method. – Alex Evans \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>
It\u2019s important to use electrical tape; it\u2019s stretchy, it doesn\u2019t leave a residue when you remove it and is less likely to peel paint off compared to other tapes.<\/p>
Firstly, degrease the down tube and battery or battery cover.<\/p>
Then, with the battery installed, apply tape to bridge the gap between the battery and tube, creating a seal.<\/p>
$\"Commencal$
Electrical tape is flexible and doesn’t leave a residue when you remove it. – Alex Evans \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Start at the top of the tube and apply tape down to its base. It\u2019s best to use longer strips of tape so there are fewer joins, and because electrical tape is stretchy and soft, you can push it into gaps and easily remove creases.<\/p>
Finally, and very importantly, leave a gap at the base of the battery; if water gets in there, it will need to escape, so sealing it up entirely isn\u2019t recommended.<\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n
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