Of the three e-bikes I own, the one I ride the most – a year-old Priority Current Plus with 850 miles on it – is in need of repair. Its carbon belt drive is loose, causing it to skip sprockets as I’m pedaling uphill. And that causes it to make noises so loud that even people in their cars with closed windows look around to see where the raucous is coming from.
In an effort to fix it myself, I’ve called the company several times for advice – have even uploaded a video of the problem to the brand’s Dropbox account so the repair people could see and hear it. They identified the issue and guided me to watch a couple of videos on how to resolve the problem. I followed those verbatim and the fixes didn’t work. It’s incredibly frustrating, and I realized I’ll probably need to hire someone to fix it. I’m so lazy though that I’ll probably first just ride my other two bikes for a few years before I get back to this issue. It’s nice to have options. But most e-bike owners do not have that luxury.
My friend, for instance, has a Pedego e-bike that keeps experiencing an electrical issue. It’s her only bike. The local store has tried fixing it three times. This past time – last week – will be the final one however, as the store is going out of business. In fact, I’ve noticed several local e-bike shops shutting down. Which leaves owners having to hire mobile repair services.
According to Google, e-bike repair and maintenance costs typically range from $85 to $530 annually, depending on usage, with regular maintenance and tune-ups running between $100 and $500 every year. While general upkeep is affordable, major repairs like battery or motor replacements can be expensive, ranging from $300 to more than $1,200. Batteries tend to last about five years, from what I hear. But that depends on how often you charge up the battery.
Performing simple repairs is a good skill to know. You can change brake pads on e-bikes pretty quickly for just a couple of dollars, or you can pay someone between $15 and $50 per set plus labor to do the job for you. And labor runs from $75 to $150 per hour, according to reports. Other repairs cost quite a bit more. Motor repairs commonly run at least $400, chain replacement up to $100, and flat tire repairs up to $75, depending on if it’s a hub motor wheel.
It all depends what kind of user you are. If you’re like me, your e-bike is your sole source of transportation, and you’re probably riding about 3,000 miles per year. Add to the fact that hilly terrain accelerates wear on tires and brakes, and that e-bikes are generally heavier, which also causes faster wear on those parts along with drivetrain components, and you’re looking at some pricey bills.
So definitely consider a maintenance plan, if it’s offered by wherever you buy your e-bike. If you don’t pay for a plan, then at least regularly lubricate the chain, keep the tires properly inflated, tighten the brakes as needed, and store the battery at a 20-to-80 percent charge level indoors when you‘re not going to use it for a while. That should help keep your costs down. Being prepared is your best defense. Repairs are not a matter of if, but when.
