Tips for Improving Your E-Bike Performance & Riding Comfort
Adjustments To The Settings:
Please consult our service department for any adjustments to the P-settings on the controller. Any unauthorized adjustments, such as trying to increase the power and/or speed, may result in damage and/or fire to the battery/motor and will void your warranty!
How to Maximize Your Lithium Battery Range & Life:
- Never leave the battery charger plugged in unattended, and do not charge for more than 8 hours at one time. Always use the correct charger otherwise it may cause damage to the E-bike and/or fire
- Check your tire pressure before each ride. Keep your tires inflated to the recommended pressure located on the side of the tire
- Minimize the use of throttle only, especially when going up hills, and power assist of 3+ for extended periods of time. The E-bike is designed to be pedal assisted, so if you constantly use throttle only you will shorten the life of your E-bike and may cause costly repairs
- Pedal while you accelerate, especially going up hills & use lower gears to assist
- Coasting drastically increases your E-bike range. When you know you’ll be coming to a stop, such as before a traffic light or stop sign, let off the throttle in advance and coast to the stop
- Slow down a bit (and enjoy life), a few KM slower can save a lot of battery life
- The less weight you have on the bike the less battery power you consume
- Keep your chain well oiled (after every 4-6 rides or as needed). This will improve your pedaling efficiency and it will improve your motor’s efficiency too
- Keep your battery fully charged whenever possible (recommended after each ride), charge every 30-60 days if not being used, and store near room temperature. NEVER LEAVE THE BATTERY STORED OUTSIDE IN THE WINTER
Cold Weather:
The good news is that you can discharge or use your battery no matter how cold it gets, without worrying about damage. You will notice that your lithium battery is dying much quicker than it had in warmer months. When temperatures reach this low (below freezing), it temporarily reduces the capacity.
Coming in from the cold your hands can hurt while they warm up. The same thing goes for lithium batteries. When your batteries internal temperature drops below 0C (32 F), the lithium cells are unable to accept the same amount of charging current (warmth) as they did when the temperature was warm. Don’t charge your lithium batteries when the battery temperature is below freezing.
How to Ride Your E-bike:
Maintain a seated position. One detail to pay attention to when riding an electric bike is to always maintain a seated position when you ride. This is important when you are using electric assistance. The motor adjusts its rotation power based on the steady pedaling effort from your side. If you stand up, your pedaling becomes more erratic, which will confuse the motor and will make it rev and slow down, which is not the best mode to operate a motor.
Maintain traction at all times. Another element, specific to E-biking, is to maintain the traction of both wheels at all times. Mountain E-biking will be different in this respect, but for all other types of E-bikes, it makes sense to keep both wheels on the ground while you ride. This has to do with the distribution of weight and electric power while riding an E-bike. One wheel receives power from the electric motor and the second wheel stabilizes the bike on its track. If one of the wheels is up in the air, this balance is not maintained.
Making turns on an E-bike. Turning on an E-bike is similar to turning on a conventional bike. An E-bike generally has a lower center of gravity as compared to a conventional bike. This is due to the fact that the motor (and often, the battery) is located lower – closer to the ground. Simple turns at low speed are no problem. When making a turn at a higher speed, make sure you stop pedaling when entering the turn, half stand up, and gently incline into the turn, letting your E-bike follow the curve. Once you are exiting the turn, you can sit down again and start pedaling to accelerate.
Breaking on an E-bike. As the center of gravity is lower on an E-bike, when breaking fast, it makes sense to stand up and put the power of your weight on the handlebar. This will lift the center of gravity higher, making the experience more like that on a conventional bike.
E-bike speed limits. Each of the electric assistance levels on an E-bike usually has its own pre-set speed limit (mode 1 up to 12km, mode 2 up to 18 km, etc.) There is usually an upper-speed limit of 32 km per hour, so the top electric assistance level will be cut at 32 km per hour speed. Take these pre-set limitations into account.
Going uphill. You will need to pedal faster when going uphill on an electric bike. This does not mean though that you will have to pedal harder. Use mechanical gears to adjust your level of effort for each level of electric assistance. As you pedal faster, you will receive more power from the motor, which will make it easier for you to climb the hill.
For steeper hills, it helps to maintain 80 to 90 rotations per minute. Once you pedal with this speed, you will feel that your level of effort is much lower and you are getting much more support from the motor, than if you would have pedaled slower.
Reminder to bring your e-bike in for a free service after 4-6 uses. This will ensure maximum performance and help prevent future service issues.