How to clean an e-MTB - everything you need to know
Keeping your electric mountain bike clean will ensure it runs like a dream. Giving your bike a thorough clean is also an excellent opportunity to inspect the frame and vital components for wear and damage. Cleaning it correctly, however, does require a few extra steps but we've got you covered and listed all the tricks in the easy-to-follow steps below.
- How much do e-bikes cost to maintain long-term?
- Welcome to Electric Week - a celebration of the e-MTB
- The anatomy of an e-MTB
Waterless washes
Waterless wash sprays are excellent for removing very low-level dirt while keeping water away from places it shouldn’t be. They’re incredibly easy to use, too, and great for stashing in the car for summer events. Another benefit is that they can be used indoors in a well-ventilated area.
All you need to do is spray your bike all over, give it a minute or two to soak and wipe it away with a clean rag. Running over the bike with a second clean and dry rag will bring the paint to a shine.
The downside to these cleaners is that they’re not strong enough to clean very dirty bikes and it’s easy to burn through a single can.
The full wash process
Most, if not all, mountain bikes are sealed well enough to undergo a proper water-fed wash regularly – they can be cleaned and refreshed just like any other bike.
Start by rinsing the bike to soften any dried mud clung to the frame or blast away anything easily removed through the water pressure alone. From here, spray whatever cleaner you like over the bike – whether that’s water/washing up liquid solution or a purpose-built cleaner.
After a couple of minutes, agitate the cleaner with a brush and rinse. Repeat those steps if there's still some stubborn dirt on the frame.
Chain cleaning is a little different
Allowing the cleaner to soak on the frame is a good opportunity to turn your attention to the drivetrain. But there’s a catch: as an e-bike crank moves independently of the rest of the drivetrain, on mid-drive bikes, you’ll need a method of locking the two together.
Many brands offer products that do this, such as Muc-Off, and there are several 3D-printed alternatives floating around eBay. However, if you’ve got an appropriate Allen key lying around or even a tough stick, that’ll lock the crank and chainring well enough to enable easy backpedalling.
There are several methods of chain cleaning but the simplest involves a brush and degreaser. You can go one step further and run the chain through a chain-cleaning device if you’re looking to go the extra mile. Then it’s a case of giving the cassette and chainring a scrub, rinse the whole system and make sure it dries before applying chain lube.
Washing the bike is half the battle – bike protection spray is a must
With a clean and perfectly dry bike, apply bike protection spray to coat the bike in a light film – this will stop thicker mud from clinging. Not only is this useful for wet and muddy race situations, where every gram counts, but it simply makes the post-ride bike wash easier.
To apply such coatings, spray the product onto a clean and dry cloth, then rub the coating onto the frame. Any overspray could ruin the effectiveness of braking surfaces such as your rotors and brake pads, so be careful when applying/spraying the product onto a cloth.
For a more permanent solution, ceramic coatings do the same thing but they’re designed to last for multiple washes and up to six months. They’re time-consuming to apply but they’re ideal for winter use.
Look after the electronics and keep them dry
It goes without saying but every e-bike is covered with cables, ports and plugs. As such, bikes are regularly exposed to wet weather and muddy conditions, especially through the UK’s winters. Also, if the area in which you store your e-MTB can get a little moist, a corrosion-resistant spray is a big consideration.
Spraying any contacts will drive out moisture from your e-MTB’s vital connections, such as your battery terminals and cable plugs.