E-BIKE SERVICE: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
How often does an e-bike have to be serviced? What is actually done during this kind of e-bike check? And how much does it cost? To find out the answers to these questions, we spoke to e-bike dealer Christoph Alff from Zweirad Joos in Radolfzell on Lake Constance.
Christoph Alff, before we get to the actual topic: Can you first give us an overview of your Zweirad Joos specialist store?
Christoph Alff: : I’d love to. We are a very large specialist dealer with a total of six branches, all in the Lake Constance area, and we also operate an online shop. In total, Zweirad Joos : employs more than 200 people. We are a full-range supplier that offers all types of bikes. In recent years, however, e-bikes have become our main business. We carry out around 16,000 repairs every year. We also offer riding skills courses to familiarize people with the topic of e-bikes.
You’ve just mentioned the rapid development that e-bikes have recently taken. To what extent are electric bicycles different from classic bicycles – both in terms of purchase and maintenance?
Christoph Alff: In principle, both types of bicycles are very similar, but e-bikes have more technology and therefore more parts that need to be looked after or maintained. The stress on an e-bike is also higher on average than on a comparable bike without a motor – partly due to the higher average speed and partly due to the higher vehicle weights. For this reason, we also recommend regular service to our customers.
Which brings us to e-bike service. What are your specific recommendations here?
Christoph Alff: After purchasing, we recommend that you have a check-up carried out within the first three months. The main purpose of this check is to verify bolted connections and cables. Especially with a new bicycle, the parts first have to be run in and settle. We then recommend that the pedelec be serviced at least once a year. But it certainly depends on how much you ride. Customers who do a lot of kilometers should probably have their e-bike checked twice a season – simply to be on the safe side.
What do you say to skeptical people? Why should I bring my e-bike in for a service?
Christoph Alff: Clearly for safety. Especially if you’re not one to fiddle around with the technology or do hands-on maintenance yourself, you don’t always see the details. Regular check-ups can also help to improve the longevity of the bicycle. Let’s take the example of the chain: If I replace a bicycle chain in good time, the wear on the chain ring and sprockets is reduced.
How can I tell if I should soon have my e-bike serviced?
Christoph Alff: It’s very similar to cars: A warning flashes on the e-bike display. A service interval can be stored in the software. So you don’t have to worry about it yourself, you can leave the reminder to the specialist retailer or the e-bike software.
Apart from checking the functionality of the mechanical components: What specific maintenance work do you carry out during an e-bike check?
Christoph Alff: We connect the e-bike to a computer similar to a car and read it out. The software is checked to ensure it is up to date and error messages are checked and corrected. Many e-bike manufacturers also gradually provide function updates, which we will of course also incorporate. In addition to this software check, we also carry out a test ride in which, among other things, the different assistance levels of the drive are tested.
How long does an e-bike inspection take? And what costs can I expect?
Christoph Alff: Depending on the work involved, we spend between one and two hours doing this. The price for an annual inspection is currently 89 euros for a classic e-bike, 99 euros for an e-fully and 119 euros for an e-cargo bike. If parts need to be replaced, the price of those parts is added. Of course, the customer also receives a test report from us, which they can present during resale, for example, similar to a checkbook for a car. The latter is very important as it helps to improve the value retention of the e-bike.
Mr. Alff, thank you for the detailed interview!
If you live or are out and about in the Lake Constance region, Christoph Alff looks forward to your visit and will be happy to show you which e-bike models are available at Zweirad Joos’ specialist shop.
Are you thinking about buying an e-bike? In our two blog posts «Buyer’s Guide Part 1» and «Buyer’s Guide Part 2» we give you tips on what to look out for. So you’re guaranteed to invest in the right model for you!
17.05.2023