How To Store Your Ebike For Winter

Winter is right around the corner, and with freezing temperatures and snow coming ahead, it is time to think about how to store your electric bike.

In this post, we’ll talk about ebike winter storage and what you can do today to keep your bike in excellent condition for your next ride in spring. Plus, we’ll help you conduct easy and quick electric bike maintenance to ensure everything looks great before storing your bike for a long time.

Storing your bike in winter in the right place is necessary if you want to keep your bike looking and performing great. Cold temperatures can take a toll on electric components, and humidity can begin to rust certain parts of your ebike.

By taking a little bit of time prepping your bike for winter storage you ensure it lasts for a long time. Further, you avoid having to buy replacements, which can get pretty expensive. 

To properly store your electric bike, the first step is to clean it. Dirt, grime, and salt from roads can corrode parts if they’re in contact with your bike for too long. Make sure you wipe down your ebike with a damp cloth, including cleaning your frame, wheels, and other key parts. 

If you stumble across stubborn grime, use a gentle cleaner (make sure it is suitable for ebikes). Finally, ensure everything is completely dry to prevent moisture from building up. 

Ebike batteries, especially lithium-ion ones, don’t do well in extreme cold, which is why we recommend you remove your bike’s battery and store it somewhere dry and at room temperature. If you leave it connected in your garage, for example, and temperatures drop, it can reduce your battery’s performance and shorten its lifespan.

Additionally, keep your battery about 50-70% charged if you’re planning on storing it for a long time. Don’t forget to check it at least once a month to ensure the charge doesn’t drop below that percentage.

The best ebike winter storage is a cool, dry place that doesn’t receive direct sunlight, such as a garage or basement. Whatever spot you choose, make sure it's not somewhere humid or extremely cold, as these conditions can damage components of your bike over time. You can also use a waterproof ebike cover to protect it from dust and moisture indoors. 

Checking your tires before storing your electric bike is essential. Ebike tires can lose air over time, even when not being used.

To avoid flat spots from forming in your tires, try to keep them inflated throughout the winter. We recommend you pump up your tires one last time before storing your bike to prevent them from getting squished under the bike’s weight.

If you can hang your bike from a rack, or even place it on a bike stand, that would be ideal, as you’d be taking the pressure off the tires completely.

If you live in a cold area with wet weather you might want to pay extra attention to this point. During the winter months, make sure you keep your bike’s moving parts properly lubricated with an appropriate lubricant. Focus on the metal parts that tend to rust, and don’t forget to wipe off any excess lubricant to avoid dust or dirt from sticking.  

After the cold months, it is essential to prepare your bike for the new weather to ensure it is safe and ready to take you anywhere you want. Here are some of our top tips for preparing your bike for spring:

- Reinstall the battery: Carefully and according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Make sure all connections are secured and that there is no debris or dust.

- Inspect the bike for damage: Look for rust on the frame and key components and treat any spot immediately to prevent corrosion.

- Examine the tires for wear: Check your tires are inflated to the recommended pressure, and look for cracks or flat spots.

- Check the brakes: Physically inspect your brake pads for wear and ensure they’re working properly before going for a ride.

If you have doubts about ebike winter storage, this section will cover the main questions you might be asking yourself. 

You can store your electric bike outside during winter but we advise you not to. Leaving your bike exposed to snow, rain, and freezing temperatures can damage the frame and key electrical components. If you don’t have any other space to store your bike but outside, invest in a high-quality waterproof ebike cover and try to keep it in a sheltered area to minimize damage.

We recommend you charge your battery but not too frequently. If you’re storing your battery for a long time, check the charge every couple of months. Ideally, keep your battery between 50-70%, and if you notice it drops below 30%, charge it back up. Similar to phone batteries, fully discharging your ebike’s battery can affect its lifespan.

Doing some basic electric bike maintenance before storing it will help you prevent rust and keep your ebike in perfect condition, even after months of not being used. Clean your bike properly, lubricate moving parts, and check the tires.

This post covered the most important aspects of ebike winter storage and what you can do to protect your ebike from the cold, no matter if you’re storing it for a couple of weeks or until the next season arrives. By doing some quick and easy electric bike maintenance, you can ensure its longevity and ideal performance.

If you’re looking for quality ebikes, check out our HappyRun off road electric bikes, which are made with quality components and designed with the highest standards in the market. We also have excellent ebike accessories that will make your rides more enjoyable, including portable speakers, phone mounts, and phone holders.