Are you strapped for space in your garage? Would you like to know if you can keep an electric bike outside for a certain period of time?
Not everyone has a suitable area to store an electric bike indoors. If you’re interested in knowing if electric bikes can be stored outside, read on to find out more.
Can You Store an Electric Bike Outside?
It is possible to store an electric bike outside, but it could be affected by the weather, extreme temperatures, animals, or even people causing damage purposely or accidentally.
The elements could affect the bike’s appearance and aspects like the battery or motor.
Many E-bike owners do keep their bikes outdoors for convenience, but this is not recommended due to how expensive these bikes can be.
When To Store Your E-bike Outside
If you simply do have to store your E-bike outside, there are practical ways to keep it safe both for security and against the elements.
Firstly, it is highly recommended that you store your electric bike in cool, dry weather conditions. Ideally, this means temperatures that are not too hot or cold.
It is never safe to keep an electric bike outdoors during precipitous weather, as rain, sleet, and snow will contribute to damaging the components of your bike.
If stored outside often in inclement weather, it is natural to see some wear and tear on the exterior and some internal parts affected due to their sensitivity to extreme heat or cold.
So your best bet when storing your E-bike outside is to look for dry and cool conditions versus wet and humid conditions.
Problems With Storing Your E-bike Outside
When storing any vehicle outside, we take certain risks when doing this. It’s no different with an electric bike.
Not only are these bikes more expensive than normal ones, but they have mechanisms that can be affected by the elements.
Some everyday things that can affect electric bikes are:
Water
While you can ride an E-bike in the rain, it should never be stored where it will be in the rain for prolonged periods.
If you live in a state where it rains often, it’s best to keep your E-bike in a well-covered area to avoid damaging the motor and battery.
Also read: Are Electric Bikes Waterproof?
Freezing Temperatures
As mentioned before, E-bikes can be affected by precipitous weather. The electrical parts are extremely sensitive to cold, and freezing temperatures are likely to cause damage if exposed for
long periods.
UV Damage
Leaving your E-bike where it is exposed to sunlight can cause damage to the exterior, such as fading of colors, overheating, and structural changes.
Theft
Due to their expense, E-bikes are more susceptible to being stolen than normal bikes. Because of this, storing them outside could make them a target for thieves. .
Preparing to Store Your E-Bike Outside
Before storing your bike outside, it’s necessary to get it cleaned, especially if you’re storing it for the long term.
It is necessary to remove particles like dust, dirt, grime, grease, and other material so that your bike retains a clean and pristine condition when removing it from storage.
Leaving these types of materials on for a long time could cause changes to the exterior of your bike.
Cleaning your E-bike is a simple process, and you will need to take care to do it carefully. Simply using a rag with soap and water to wash the outside parts of your bike will do the trick.
Try to avoid using a hose or power washer as these could cause damage to the electronic parts of your bike.
Another very important aspect of storing your E-bike is to remove the battery.
Your battery should be removed and stored indoors in a safe place with 64 – 70 degrees Fahrenheit temperatures.
You should also partially charge the battery before removing it and recharge it every month to 60% during the storage period.
Leaving your battery at either 0% or 100% can lower its life span.
It’s best to remove the battery when your E-bike is not in use, as it can be affected by changes in temperature and by storage time.
How to Store Your E-bike Outside Safely
If you definitely need to store your E-bike outside for certain periods, here are a few simple tips for keeping it safe.
Use a Bike Cover
A bike cover may offer a small reprieve from the elements such as rain and dust, but things like the temperature will still affect it.
Also, UV radiation will be reduced significantly though not entirely.
Use a Small Roof/Shed
A small makeshift shed or roof can keep away excess water, snow, and other elements that would otherwise be harmful to your E-bike.
It can be a compact size to fit your bike or something more roomy and convenient. It doesn’t have to be too pricy either, as you can choose the type of material to build the shed with.
Prevent Theft
To add an extra layer of protection from theft, using high-security locks should be at the top of your list.
There are various types of locks based on size and material. One of the preferred locks for E-bikes would be U-locks.
Using high-quality locks like U-locks will make it a much harder task for thieves to take your bike as it will take much time and effort.
Adding GPS tracking can also reduce the risk of theft, as your phone will notify you if your bike is moved.
How To Store Your E-bike for the Winter
You may need to store your E-bike for the entire winter, and if that’s the case, there are certain precautions you’ll need to take to avoid damage to your bike.
Even when you’re tempted to, if temperatures in your location get below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, then storing your bike outside is not an option.
The best step to take is to find alternate places for storing your bike, especially seeing that winter will require an extended storage period.
Using an E-bike during winter will decrease the battery, which means storing it away safely is a must.
Alternate Spots to Store Your E-bike
At the end of the day, the best place to store an E-bike is indoors, and there are a few suitable places to start with, which include:
Garage
Not everyone has a garage, but most people do. If your E-bike can fit comfortably with your vehicles, this is an excellent place to store it.
The garage will keep it safe from weather extremes and theft once the area is well protected.
Basement
The basement is another convenient place to store an E-bike as it is out of the way of kids, pets, or other visitors.
Just be sure to check on the basement temperature to be sure that it’s not too hot or cold, as this could affect your bike.
House
Your own is probably the safest place to store your E-bike. It could be in a spare room, bedroom, or an area of the dining room where it won’t be an eyesore.
Final Thoughts
These simple tips are just the basics when it comes to caring for your E-bike and storing it well. You should also consult the manufacturer’s manual to get specific instructions on your E-bike’s model.
It will explain how to remove and charge your battery, temperature regulations for your bike, and other technical details for storing your E-bike for the short-term or long-term.
Overall, storing your E-bike outside should not be difficult as long as you take care to protect your bike. You can ensure protection by:
- Using high-quality locks
- Keeping your battery indoors
- Cleaning your bike thoroughly before storing
- Using protective tools such as bike covers, a shed, or a roof
Living in an environment that rains often, has high humidity, or has long winters, will naturally mean you’ll need to store your bike in an indoor location such as in the house, basement, or garage.
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