How can I cycle in a way that maximizes the lifespan of the drivetrain?

A mid-drive motor puts greater than usual strain on the drivetrain, which accelerates wear. This wear and strain can be reduced by using different gears evenly during your ride. In this way, wear and stress are distributed as evenly as possible across the cassette, rear hub, and chain. If you only use a couple of the highest gears, the drivetrain is unnecessarily strained and will need maintenance sooner. This also applies to non-electric bikes, but an electric motor allows you to use too high a gear for your speed without putting excessive strain on your legs. If the drivetrain is over strained, the chain can cause deformation on the sprockets, which leads to the chain not staying on the teeth but skipping over them.

When changing gears, you should ease off the pedaling as you switch gears. On a derailleur bike, you must keep pedaling as the chain needs to move for the gear to change. On a hub gear bike, you can stop pedaling altogether. If there is still drive in the system while changing gear, this can strain the chain, cogs, and hub. With an e-bike, you should also note that the motor’s assistance does not stop immediately when you ease off the pedaling.

It is recommended to maintain a pedaling cadence of around 75 rpm (revolutions per minute). This way, the gear is always appropriate for your speed. Used correctly, the drivetrain can last for thousands of kilometers. However, if you regularly use too high a gear for your speed, the drivetrain will be put under significant strain and will require maintenance more quickly. On a derailleur gear bike, the smallest cogs (highest gears) can become unusable after just a few hundred kilometers. By maintaining the recommended cadence, the need to use the highest gear only arises at speeds above 25 km/h.

In addition to the above, the lifespan of the drivetrain can also be extended by regularly cleaning and lubricating the chain. Use a high-quality lubricant designed for bicycle chains. Using the wrong type of lubricant can cause dirt to accumulate on the chain, which may accelerate drivetrain wear. If you are unsure about the correct cleaning and lubrication methods, we recommend consulting your dealer.