Electric bikes are not waterproof. However, they do have a certain resistance to water. It does not allow you to submerge your e-bike completely in water, but it can withstand a little rain. How to waterproof your e-bike in the rain?
You can’t make your e-bike completely waterproof, but increasing the ability to resist moisture is fine. The thing is, electric bikes are made up of a lot of electronic parts. This makes it vulnerable to moisture. You can safely ride when it rains a little, but we recommend that you wait it out so the e-bike doesn’t get caught in a heavy downpour.
Reliable and quality electric bikes already have the necessary water resistance, especially when it comes to elements like the battery, controller, and e-bike motor. They are made of durable sealed parts, so they are not afraid of wet conditions.
If you ride your electric bike regularly and use it to get to work every day, for example, then you are sure to get caught in the rain a lot. Even rainy rides can be fans. It is only difficult to make the first pedal stroke.
To operate your e-bike in wet conditions, you should follow the recommendations and a few tips for waterproofing all the wires of your e-bike. That’s what this article is about.
Find out the electric bike’s IP rating
Every electronic bike has an IP rating, which is a degree of ingress protection against moisture. This tells you how well-protected the electrical system enclosure is. Largely water resistant is determined by a high IP rating.
The IP number consists of two digits. The first indicates the ability of the enclosure to protect the electrical system from solid particles, and the second from liquids.
Knowing the IP will give you a better idea of exactly what level of waterproofing is required for a particular component. Keep in mind that you should also select an electric bike with the climate in mind. If it rains a lot in your area, you need to choose models with the highest IP rating. Protect your electric bike from moisture
To waterproof your electric bike, you should protect different parts such as the battery, connectors, LCD monitor, and so on. Let’s find out how to do it.
How to protect an electric bike’s battery from water?
As with the e-bike itself, there is no battery today that is completely waterproof. Manufacturers offer batteries with different IP ratings and varying degrees of water resistance.
You can significantly increase the waterproofing of the bike by using a special bag for an electric bike. Alternatively, you can purchase a rugged case. Both solutions are good and can protect your e-bike from moisture.
The internal batteries are protected inside the bottom tube, so you don’t have to worry about them. Built-in batteries that are sealed to the bottom of the tube usually have a special cover. This also creates reliable protection against rain or snowfall.
How to Secure an LCD Display?
There are many water-resistant LCD monitors for electric bikes. But if you want, you can create reliable protection for the LCD yourself.
To do this you just need a plastic bag, which should be sealed with a vacuum sealant.
Remove the display, carefully fold it into the bag and seal it. This way, your monitor will have reliable rain protection. With it, you can safely ride even in wet weather and not worry.
How do protect electrical components from moisture?
Generally, electrical components on e-bikes, such as connectors and cables, are water-resistant. Check whether or not your bike’s electronics are waterproof.
If the electrical components are water resistant, then they can provide a tight connection.
If your connectors and cables are not, then you can make them waterproof yourself. To do this, use protective electrical tape and wrap it around the elements from above.
How to protect an electric bike’s motor from moisture
First, find out what IP rating your motor has. Nowadays the engines of many e-bikes are waterproof. Based on the IP of your motor, you will know what waterproofing your motor needs. You will not want to waterproof your motor with anything permanent. If related to the fact that when your e-bike needs to be repaired, the insulation will have to be taken apart. Most permanent insulation devices do not allow you to do this.
We suggest using a special sealant or spray. This is a good and reliable solution to temporarily protect your electric bike.
How to waterproof your e-bike – 11 tips
1. Reduce tire pressure
This trick is usually resorted to by mountain electric bike owners. Every time an electric mountain bike climbs a steep hill, the tire pressure drops.
The idea is to achieve maximum traction by increasing the contact surface while reducing tire pressure.
2. Use special fenders
If you wish, you can make your bike completely waterproof if you follow our advice. Wings can give your bike the protection it needs to stay clean and dry even when you left the bike in the rain. If you use your bike to get to work, fenders are a must.
3. Brake early and properly
There is such a thing as breaking distance. This is the distance your electric bike travels even after you hit the brakes. The higher the speed of the vehicle, the longer the braking distance will be.
The main task of a motor in an electric bicycle is to give it more power. Most modern bikes have an option to control how much power it provides. This leaves the cyclist free to choose, from fully pedaling with his feet to riding on his own.
As you know, most electric bikes can ride at higher speeds than conventional bikes. Many electric bikes have disc brakes instead rim brakes. But despite all the benefits of such a system, you need to brake early, avoiding sudden jerks, especially when riding your electric bike in the rain.
4. Don’t forget about the electric bike’s lighting
Riding in the rain at night and lack of visibility can lead to inevitable consequences in the form of serious injuries and damage.
One important criterion for preventing such accidents is to use headlights that provide at least 500 meters of visibility of the vehicle. A red tail light will serve as an excellent warning signal to other cyclists of your involvement in traffic. You can do something different, for example, install flickering far-visibility lights. These lights are attached to the handlebars or trunk.
5. Use special clothing
When planning to rainy ride an electric bike, you should take good care of protective clothing. When you get wet, you will feel uncomfortable and you will lose all desire to ride your bike. So it is better to wear waterproof clothing. Be sure to use a special raincoat and rain pants.
In addition, do not forget about the waterproof shoes, which should also be covered with a special cover. Such devices can be found in various online stores. Do not forget about hand protection, be sure to wear gloves.
6. Take care of the waterproof of your gadgets
Today’s world is unimaginable without the daily use of electronic gadgets. Riding an electric bike is not the best weather, you should always take care of the protection of your electronic devices. To do this, you should use a special case that protects the electric bike in the rain. If it starts raining all of a sudden, you can use a regular bag. Keep a few in your shoulder bag or backpack just in case.
7. Take care of your visibility when cycling
Wearing bright red or yellow clothing when you ride your e-bike prevents accidents that can happen because electric bike riders are not visible.
Most electric bike riders are well aware that wet weather greatly reduces the visibility of electric bikes on the roads to a critically dangerous level. Buying bright outerwear with reflective layers is a must, especially if you use your bike quite often.
8. Ride slower
The motor of an electric bike gives you many times more energy than you put into it. However, the vehicle’s ability to accelerate to high speeds can cause accidents on the road.
The ideal solution to keep your electric bike safe when it is raining heavily is to remain vigilant and ride slower. This will keep your safe ride.
9. Don’t make any sharp turns
Don’t let your urge to feel the adrenaline while riding makes sharp turns. When it is raining, this is especially dangerous, because wet roads become very slippery, in corners electric bikes skids and you could fall.
The best solution is to slow down before making a turn. This will allow you to lean less and provide maximum traction.
10. Don’t ride in slippery spots
When riding an electric bike in the rain, you should keep a good eye out for moments that could lead to an accident. The roads can be very slippery because of the oil that leaks from cars. Mixing with rainwater, this mass creates a slippery surface. Because these areas are visible on the road by their bright color you should avoid puddles with oil.
Avoid painted lines on the roads. When you cycle bike in the rain on painted lines, they become slippery. Be especially careful with metal sheets that are on the ground. There is a great risk of slipping on them and getting seriously injured.
11. Clean your electric bike after every ride
When you ride your electric bike in wet conditions, you are exposing the vehicle to water with a high concentration of salt. If you do not clean off your electric bike, it can contribute to the degradation of the metal parts of your electric bike.
In addition to water, the transmission can get very dirty, which will be a serious problem for you. The best solution is to wash it after riding and leave it to dry.
Electric bikes are terrific vehicles that allow you to cover any distance without any problems. This vehicle reduces your carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions by reducing electricity costs.
If you are the lucky owner of an electric bike, be sure to take care of it by washing it thoroughly and wiping it dry after every rainy ride.
FAQ
How do you waterproof an e-bike hub?
To waterproof the motor sleeve, it pays to have certain skills. You need to be able to disassemble the motor, separate the stator from the rotor, and apply a special varnish for waterproofing.
Can an electric bike be left out in the rain?
It is acceptable to leave the electric bike outside if it is water-resistant. You can find out the information about the waterproof as indicated by the IP rating.
In this article, you can find more about waterproofing electrical components.
In addition, you must protect all electrical components and important parts of your bike. For example, use electrical tape, dielectric grease, and protective covers. Nevertheless, you should not leave your electric bike in the rain for too long.
What happens if your e-bike gets wet?
In general, e-bikes have pretty good moisture resistance. If your battery gets caught in the rain, it will not fail. But that does not mean that the electric bike is not afraid of water. You should take care to waterproof it and thereby extend the service life of the vehicle.