A good e-bike maintenance schedule has four parts: a three minute check before every ride, a quick clean and chain lube each week, a closer look at tyres, gears and battery each month, and a professional service once a year. Most of it needs nothing more than a cloth, a pump and a few minutes.
This guide sets the schedule out for any e-bike, with notes on the parts the Ridewave Miniwave uses.
By the Ridewave team, updated October 2026
What does an e-bike maintenance schedule look like?
It follows the rhythm the NSW Government sets out for bicycles and e-bikes: a three minute check every time you ride, weekly and monthly checks at home, and a professional service at least once a year (NSW Government guide to maintaining your bicycle or e-bike). Here it is at a glance, with the Miniwave alongside.
| When | Every e-bike | On the Miniwave folding e-bike |
|---|---|---|
| Before each ride | Tyres firm, brakes working, battery charged, seat and handlebars tight | Two hydraulic disc brakes to test, frame, stem and pedal folds to check |
| Weekly | Clean and lube the chain, check tyre pressure, look over the battery | KMC 8 speed chain, removable battery |
| Monthly | Tyre wear, chain and gears, handlebar and stem, bolts, battery | Shimano Altus 8 speed gears, front suspension fork with lockout |
| Yearly | Frame check and a professional service | Brakes, gears, motor and electrics checked by a mechanic |
Ride often, or ride on the beach, on gravel or in the rain? Do the weekly jobs more often.
What should you check before every ride?
Three minutes, every time. It catches most problems before they become a stop by the side of the path.
- Tyres. They should feel very firm. The right pressure is printed on the sidewall of each tyre.
- Brakes. Squeeze each lever. It should feel firm and stop the wheels cleanly.
- Folding parts. On a folding e-bike, check the frame latch and the folding handlebar stem are fully closed and tight before you set off.
- Seat and handlebars. The seat should be at the right height and tight, and the handlebars shouldn't twist or move. The NSW Government also advises that the seat post sits at least 5 cm into the frame.
- Battery and display. Check the charge on the display, and that the battery is seated firmly in place.
- Lights. Turn them on and check they work.
If anything feels loose, soft or noisy, sort it before you ride.
What should you do each week?
A quick clean and a chain lube keep everything running smoothly on any e-bike.
- Wipe it down. Use a damp cloth or a soft brush and a little mild soap. Keep water away from the battery, motor and display, and never use a pressure washer. CHOICE warns that a high pressure hose can damage the electrical parts (CHOICE guide to maintaining an electric bike).
- Clean and lube the chain. Wipe the chain with a rag, apply a bike chain lube, then wipe off the extra so it doesn't collect grit.
- Check tyre pressure with a gauge and top up to the figure on the sidewall.
- Check the spokes and wheels for rust or damage.
- Look over the battery for any damage (more on that below).
What should you check each month?
Once a month, take ten minutes for a closer look.
- Tyres. Look for wear, cuts or splits in the rubber, and pick out any glass or stones.
- Chain and gears. Check the chain for rust or stiff links and run through every gear. Shifting should be crisp. If it slips or hesitates, the gear cable may need adjusting. The Miniwave has eight gears.
- Handlebar and stem. Check the stem and the fold mechanism for any play.
- Lights and reflectors. Check everything is fastened and working.
- Bolts. Check the bolts on the seat, handlebars, rack, baskets and mudguards are snug.
- Front fork. A suspension fork needs a wipe and a check that the lockout works. The Miniwave has a front suspension fork with 80 mm of travel and a hydraulic lockout.
- Brakes. Look at the brake pads through the calliper if you can see them, and listen for squeals or scraping.
What happens at the yearly service?
Once a year, check the frame yourself, then book a professional service. The NSW Government suggests a professional service at least once a year, and CHOICE quotes an e-bike retailer who sets service reminders for every 12 months or 2,000 km, whichever comes first (CHOICE on e-bike servicing).
At home, look over the frame, welds and folding joints for cracks, dents or corrosion.
At the service, a mechanic can:
- check the hydraulic brakes and replace pads or service the system if needed
- check the motor, wiring, connectors and charging port
- check wheel bearings, the chain and gear cluster for wear, and replace them if needed.
When you replace a chain, the NSW Government notes it's worth changing the gear cluster too, as the two generally wear out together.
How do you look after the battery?
Charge it with the right charger, keep it cool and dry, and check it regularly for damage. The Miniwave comes with a removable battery and a 48V 2A charger.
- Use the supplied charger. Only use chargers recommended by the manufacturer for your battery.
- Let it cool first. Give the battery time to cool after a ride before you charge it.
- Charge somewhere sensible. The NSW Government recommends charging large batteries in a garage, shed or carport, away from living areas and doorways, on a hard surface, and never leaving them to charge unattended or overnight (NSW Government guidance on lithium-ion batteries).
- Store it cool and dry, out of direct sunlight.
- Know the warning signs. Stop using a battery that is swelling, leaking, cracked, dented, overheating, giving off smoke or vapour, or has been in water.
The NSW Government also advises replacing a battery when the range drops noticeably, when it takes longer than normal to charge, or when it no longer delivers power consistently. Battery repairs should always be done by a qualified professional.
Which jobs should you leave to a mechanic?
Anything inside the brakes, motor or battery. Those are workshop jobs that need the right tools and training.
Book in if you notice:
- brake levers that feel soft or spongy, or pull further than usual
- a new grinding, clicking or knocking from a wheel or the rear axle
- the motor cutting in and out, or an error on the display
- wiring that is cracked, pinched or loose
- a wobble in a wheel that wasn't there before.
Ridewave e-bikes are covered by a 2-year limited warranty, and our team can help you work out what's going on. Call us, or find a service partner near you on our locations page.
What this schedule can't replace
A checklist won't spot everything. If something feels wrong, stop and get it looked at, even if the schedule says it isn't due. Your own e-bike manual comes first for model specific details.
Keep riding, keep exploring
A few minutes before each ride and a little care each week keep your e-bike ready for the beach path, the café run and the long way home. If you'd like to see how the Miniwave folding e-bike folds, where the battery comes out and what the checks look like in person, come and visit.
Riding an electric trike? Our e-trike maintenance guide covers the extra checks three wheels need.
Test rides run at our showrooms in Vermont (Melbourne), Girraween and Marrickville (Sydney), and most visits take 30 minutes to an hour. Call ahead so we can have the right model ready for you: book a showroom test ride, or call us on +61 468 095 888.
Sources
- Maintaining your bicycle or e-bike, NSW Government, checked October 2026
- Lithium-ion batteries and e-micromobility devices, NSW Government, checked October 2026
- How to maintain your electric bike, CHOICE, checked October 2026
Related articles
- How to clean your e-bike after a beach ride: the extra care salt and sand call for.
- Getting e-bike tyre pressure right: the pressure for grip and range.
- How to clean an e-bike chain: a step by step chain clean.