EMTB in the rain?

[Jamm13dodger]

So i was wondering how emtbs coped in the wet, so did a search on YouTube. Low and behold the Top video is Robs one called “Ride an electric bike in the rain?”.

After watching im pretty certain i have nothing to worry about.
Once things are a bit more normal any chance of more group rides? Where was this one?

 

[lightning]

Well, that got the replies pouring in!
I was thinking the same thing, after all the motor water ingress scares on here and on YT my ebike has stayed in the spare room when rain is forecast.
Maybe l should just go out on it.

 

[Zimmerframe]

Well, that got the replies pouring in!

Maybe l should just go out on it.

Yes.

Just try not to get the motor submerged. Though mine has been for 200m once at 50cm and by some miracle still works - though I consider my guarantee void as they'd probably find caviar in there.

Another day out, very wet ... flooded trails :

 

[lightning]

That's a bit more positive!

After reading some of the threads on various forums l ended up thinking that bikes fitted with the Shimano E8000 should come with a bus pass, so you can get home after the motor fails when out on a ride.

 

[steve_sordy]

I have been out in all weathers on my e8000, plus transporting the bike on my towbar (three winters). OK, I haven't done any river crossings like Zimmer, but I have had zero problems with water generated issues. I cracked my display screen at one point and now and again I get some condensation in there that fogs up the screen slightly. But it doesn't happen often. The only thing I do not do is to use a hosepipe to wash the bike, I use a watering can and a bucket of soapy water. NEVER a jet wash.

 

[Zimmerframe]

Like he says ... No JET WASH !!

And try not to do river crossings (Stupid people do stupid things).. The motors aren't sealed round the cranks so water can get in and most of the electric areas would get wet if you submerge it.

 

[lightning]

ln the event that water does get into the motor casing, is there any way
for it to get out?

 

[Nicho]

I cracked my display screen at one point and now and again I get some condensation in there that fogs up the screen slightly.

Have you tried buying a sheet of cut-to-size clear screen protector? That will cover the crack and probably keep the rain out.

 

[1981Miked]

Living in Scotland if I didn’t go out when it was raining or just finished raining or due to rain I’d never get out. I have ridden my Trek Rail in some really shitty conditions with loads of mud etc and I have had no issues at all. For cleaning I tend to hose the bike down but keep the main body of water away from the battery and motor area.

 

[1981Miked]

My last ride a couple of Sundays ago was fairly wed and muddy. Was riding up in Ballo Woods between Dundee and Coupar Angus.

 

[lightning]

Well, the above has made me feel better about going out when it's wet, so that's a good thing.

 

[Shifty]

After 3500K of all weather riding and deep puddles all the bearings in my bike have needed replacing. Front and rear wheel (rear collapsed), cassette bearings at 1600k, headstock locked up dry, atlas peddle ball bearings dropped out when removing the peddles and I replaced. Rear suspension mounting bearings are all being replaced Friday! Engine has never suffered for being submerged!!

 

[7869hodgy]

I rode mine a couple of times a week throughout the winter. No issues. Regular condition after a ride.

For perspective....

View attachment 61943

 

[Tobers]

I ride in northwest Scotland a lot and it can be very wet. I’m on a Levo SL. Never had a problem whatsoever, in the rain and riding trails that are more like rivers than singletrack.

 

[lightning]

Nice to get some good reports coming in, all l seem to read is engine failure threads.

 

[flash]

We don't get a lot of rain here. When we do I tend not to ride. Not because of the bike. I just want to respect and protect the trails as they're not used to water. But we do ride a few days after and there are usually some puddles and muddy bogs. Bikes and riders are filthy at the end. I have an E8000, EP8 and Fazua motors and never had an issue in any conditions.

Gordon

 

[Hobo Mikey]

I would not buy a mountain bike if you could not take it out in the rain. If you could not take them out in the rain or wet conditions the trails in England would be very deserted.

 

[lightning]

True enough, l live in the Peak District in Derbyshire
So l know about rain.

lt was just that l got a bit twitchy about riding the bike in bad weather conditions after reading too many motor failure threads.

TBH l never worried about it with my old Bosch powered hardtail ebike back in 2016, l used in all weathers and never had an issue with the motor, except for water getting to the connections underneath the detachable display unit.