Care, maintenance & tuning for e-bikes

With the advent of motorised mountain bikes, or E-MTBs, it quickly became clear that a whole new branch was developing in the already large family tree of off-road bikes. Some varieties of this sport quickly withered away again (R.I.P. Fatbike) or evolved in such a way that the original form of the bike with suspension fork, for example, now gave rise to the lightning-fast race hardtails. However, the motor of an e-mountainbike opens up completely new types of riding, from leisurely weekend bikes to brute E-Enduro bikes, on which it is no longer boring in the bike park or on technical trails.

E-bikes have also brought with them a completely new approach to care and maintenance, and ultimately to repairs. Bike fitting follows a different driving style, and during the après-ride a Motor and a battery cleaned and a profound electronics throws Unknown errors that previously only existed in washing machines. How good that you can find the right answers to all of this in our special!

Our special "Care, maintenance and screws for E-MTBs" at a glance:

• Set up your E-MTB correctly: Cockpit, saddle and suspension - The most important contact points on the e-bike must be precisely adjusted to the rider: the cockpit, the saddle position and, above all, the suspension. You can also find out what role tyre pressure plays here.
  
• Do-it-yourself e-bike maintenance - Our professionals from the EMTB test lab will show you what you can easily clean and maintain yourself. Because all 5 areas of an e-bike must function smoothly: Drive, gears, bearings, brakes and the wheels.
  
• 9 answers: How to extend the e-bike battery life - The title says it all: we explain clearly and concisely how you can delay the inevitable fate - the battery starts to weaken. A battery expert also provides valuable tips.

• Adjusting the MTB gears: In 5 simple steps - Without the 10, 11, 12 or however many gears, the E-MTB would not be fit for purpose. The gears should therefore work perfectly. We show you the 5 simple steps for setting up - and give comprehensive tips for the most common gear types such as 1x11 or 1x12. Except for the electronic Sram AXS...
  
• Sram AXS: This is how easy it is to set up the electronic gearstick - ... because this is honoured in a separate article. In a video, our EMTB lab and workshop manager explains what there is to consider with the Sram wireless drivetrain and what options it offers compared to a mechanical drivetrain. Of course, it also covers the use of the Sram Chain Gap Tool.

• E-bike lighting - lightshow for the trails and everyday life - Tours can also be significantly longer with the battery. Light is therefore a special topic on E-MTBs: fixed lights or removable battery lights? What is legally permitted? We "illuminate" the topic from all sides in this article.
  
• Short e-bike cranks: tuning for off-road - We are now entering the advanced area of "tuning". But don't worry, if you, like our author, feel more confident riding off-road with short cranks, you can also convert your E-MTB after reading this article. And this tuning doesn't have to be expensive either.
  
• Changing the gear ratio on an E-MTB: How to convert - Another easy tuning measure is to change the gear ratio on the e-bike drive. This allows you to save a lot of battery power on long and steep tours, as the motor does not have to provide constant full throttle assistance with a lower gear ratio. And the conversion is done quickly.
  
• Legal e-bike tuning: How to make your e-MTB lighter - Now we come to the actual tuning: 10 exemplary measures to make a Ghost Hybrid E-MTB over 1.5 kilograms lighter. From the handlebars to the tyres and back to the motor control switch. Of course, we won't tell you the price until the end of the text. Just this much in advance: it was worth it!

• E-bike troubleshooting: The most important error codes for the battery and motor - The downside of the electrification of the MTB: The electronics spit out error messages that need to be deciphered. Error 502? In the past, this was probably called a cable wobble on the light. Error W020? The battery is too warm! We decode the most important e-bike error codes for Bosch, Shimano, Yamaha and Brose for you.
  
• Does the warranty also cover wear parts on the e-bike? - Thanks to the motor power of modern e-bikes, the drive system is also literally It is exposed to "inhuman" loads and wears out much faster than any hardcore winter cyclist or cleaning muff would be able to manage. What does our EMTB expert have to say on the subject of warranty and what action can be taken in the event of more serious damage? Read our article...