What can be more frustrating than having your e-bike chain snapped during a joy ride? It is even worse when you are in the middle of a lonely road where no car is passing by. Knowing how long does an e-bike chain last can save you from such inconveniences, don’t you think?
Well, a good e-bike chain should last for about 2000 to 4000 miles or 3 to 4 years. Although this statistic depends on the type of bike, speed, weight, conditions, and the area it rides through.
Keep reading if you are still interested in knowing more about the e-bike’s chain lifespan and how to tell when to change it. More so, you might want to know how much it costs to replace your e-bike and get tips to make the chain last longer. I will discuss it all here you know!
How Long Does An E-bike Chain Last?
Generally, an e-bike chain lasts for 2000 to 4000 miles and is about 3 to 4 years. However, some factors affect an e-bike chain and make its lifespan imprecise. For some people, their bike chains only last for a few months, while others, with much carefulness and maintenance, use one chain for longer than the expected time.
Factors That Determine How Long E-bike Chains Last
1. Types of Bike
The types of e-bikes you ride have a role to play in the chain’s lifespan. Most bikes have more loads on the chain than some others.
| Electric bikes | 2000 to 4000 miles |
| Mountain bikes | 500 to 1500 miles |
| Road bikes | 2000 to 5000 miles |
- Electric bikes
Electric bike chains have a long life span. If their owners apply more care to them and take maintenance precautions, they can last for 2000 to 4000 miles. However, this doesn’t mean you can go 2000 miles in one go. Most users make this ride in a total of 3 to 4 years.
- Mountain bikes
The stress the mountain bike loads on its chain are more than what the chain can carry for too long. Although most mountain e-bikes come with stronger chains, it still does not last for very long. Riding a bike on a mountain stresses the chain and the rider. So, the chain will last for 500 to 1500 miles, which might take about 1 to 2 years to complete.
- Road bikes
Road bikes go easy on their chains. They apply little stress on the chains, which makes the chain’s lifespan longer. A road bike’s chain can last for up to 2000 to 5000, approximately 3 to 6 years.
2. Weather Condition
The weather condition also affects the lifespan of your e-bike chain. Generally, all bike chains react to the weather positively or negatively.
Dry weather condition
Dry weather with little to no rain has a more positive effect on the bike chain than negative. For the positive effect yet, the ground will be dry, and the bike will slide freely. Aside from the normal stress that the e-bike gives the chain, the road adds no more stress. Therefore, the lifespan will increase.
The negative aspect is that the bike will find it hard to ride through smoothly in some sandy areas. Most times, riders have to come down and manually roll their bikes off such lanes.
For people who would rather ride through the lane, the sand will slow down the bike’s speed and stress the chain as well. With this, the lifespan of the chain will drop drastically.
A suitable e-bike for sand would be best for you in this case. These bikes come with a stronger build and powerful motor for beating the best of sand and beach side.
Wet weather condition
Just like the dry weather condition has two sides to its effect on an e-bike chain, the wet has too. Some wet grounds are easy to ride through because they are strong and compacted. So, riders go through them fast and without stress.
However, some wet grounds get too sticky and muddy. The bike will get stuck on such grounds, and it will be hard to move it out.
Even when the rider comes down to push the bike, it still does not move out. Here, the chain is likely to get stressed, and stress is a major disruption to a chain’s lifespan.
Another problem with the wet season is rainwater meeting your bike chain, which will be a disaster. Also, wet ground can be slippery. If your e-bike tire does not have enough friction, it might fall when you are riding. The chain might get rusty and wear with time.
3. Trail Conditions
You might wonder how a factor as easy as trail condition will affect your chain lifespan. To clear your doubt, it can.
Whether you are on the road or off the road is enough to make your bike chain last long or shorten its lifespan. However, it doesn’t shorten it by many miles.
- When you are on the road
Riding on the road is smooth sailing, and your bike doesn’t suffer much stress. With this and proper maintenance, your e-bike chain will last for the estimated time. Sometimes, the bike lasts even longer.
- When you are off the road
The effect on the chain when riding off-road depends on how off the road you are. If you are on sandy ground, it will be a tremendous struggle between you and your bike about who survives the stress.
It won’t make much difference if you are off the road on the leveled ground except for a little lifespan change in about 100 to 500 miles. This is because the good ground is still clear off the road, although not as smooth as the road.
4. Speed
Many people do not know that riding their bikes at high speed stresses the chains. The higher the speed, the lesser the lifespan. This is because when you ride at high speed, you are forcing the chain to roll faster than usual. That stress reduces how long the chain will last.
5. Weight
Weight contributes to shortening the lifespan of the chain of an e-bike. It makes the stress on the bike much, hence the break or weakness.
When you carry a load that is above the load capacity of your bike, it presses the bike down and makes it hard to ride. Forcing it to ride is the damaging point.
6. Length of Chain
This mostly affects people that have gear bikes. Most people do not get the chain that suits their bike and all the gears, and they have to force the chain to work.
When you change gear and the chain has to go to the next crank, it will break if the chain is not long enough. Sometimes the chain doesn’t break; it damages the crank and the gear component.
7. Type of Surface
The type of surface you ride your e-bike on can either make the chain last or reduce its lasting days. Whether hilly, rough, or flat, it affects your bike chain.
- Flat surface: Riding on a flat surface is the best. It doesn’t stress you or your bike chain. So, you are sure that your bike chain will last.
- Rough surface: When you are riding on a rough surface with the struggles and bouncing off that occur, it stresses the chain. Stressing a bike chain is an easy way to decrease the chain’s lifespan.
- Hilly surface: Riding up the hill with an e-bike is another stress mechanism on your chain. This act stresses your chain more than every other one, and it reduces its lifespan faster.
8. Riding Frequency
Some people only ride their e-bikes just one time in one day or two days. With the right maintenance routine, such people can use their bike chains for over 5 years and more. But, people that use their bikes more frequently will have to change their bike chains regularly too.
The more you put the chain to work, the weaker it gets and affects how long does an e-bike chain last.
Bike racers change their bike chain at least once every week because of how frequently they use their bike. If your bike chain breaks on the road, you need a quality bike rack for electric bikes.
How To Tell If Your Bike Chain Needs Replacement?
Generally, when your bike chain has broken, you need to change it. However, you can change it before it breaks and keep you stranded. To do this, you need to know how weak the bike chain is to replace it even when it hasn’t broken yet.
Ways to tell if your bike chain needs replacement even when it has not broken are:
- Using a chain checker
A chain checker is often among the tools in your tools box. To use it, insert the end of the hook into the chain link and try to attach the other end with the 0.5 or 0.75 stamps. If it doesn’t enter, it means your bike chain is ready, but if it does, replace the chain.
- Using the ruler means
For this method, get a standard ruler and measure the length of the chain when you get it. Then, use the ruler to measure the increment in the chain’s length to know if it needs a replacement. This is because when your bike chain wears off, it increases in length.
- Using a manual measuring method
This method is not completely accurate. To do this, shift the chain to be on the largest chainring. Ensure that the bike chain is on the smallest congest at the back. Then, attempt lifting the chain off the chainring.
If it lifts easily and enough for you to put more than half of a chain inside it, replace the chain.
- Using the 2000 to 3000 miles rule
This is the easiest method. When your bike chain has done up to 2000 to 3000 miles, it is okay to replace it.
This is because 2000 to 3000 is the benchmark of lasting for a bike chain. Most people can maintain their chains to do better than that. But, to be on the safer side, replace the chain after 2000 to 3000 miles.
How Much Does It Cost To Replace An E-bike Chain?
E-bike chains are not that expensive. You can get an e-bike chain for as low as $13 and as high as $100 and above. Ensure that you get a quality change to avoid buying it again after a few months.
To get a good quality bike chain, go for those with a high price. The more expensive they are, the stronger they will be.
Tips to make your e-bike chain last longer
- Grease the chain often
- Avoid rough and hilly territories
- Get a quality bike chain
- Monitor the weather condition
- Do not ride at top speed
- Add little weight to the bike
- Keep the bike chain away from water
Conclusion
E-bike chains are easier to wear or break than a regular bike. So, how long does an e-bike chain last? An e-bike chain can last for 2000 to 4000 miles, which is equivalent to 3 to 4 years. However, some factors that affect the lifespan of the bike chain can alter this estimate.
Proper and timely maintenance can save from spending a few extra bucks. However, even if you need to replace your bike chain, the guide provided in this article will you out.
