Hi

I am looking to purchase an ebike.

The type that have the battery down behind the seat post, are the bottom connections totally sealed? or can water collect there and cause problems?

Thanks

Hi

I am looking to purchase an ebike.

The type that have the battery down behind the seat post, are the bottom connections totally sealed? or can water collect there and cause problems?

Thanks

 

General rule of thumb is that you can cycle an ebike in the rain no worries.

 

But they don't like being left standing in rain much

 

More common than batteries with water ingress are lcd panels. At least that's how it seems to me from this forums users anyway

Thank you Kristine , new to ebikes

Appreciated.

Nothing is totally sealed with external batteries, as K has said they are ok for riding in the rain. Issues appear when left in standing rain for hours on end or the user decides to use a hose pipe or pressure washer. If bothered you can add a small dob of grease to the contacts.

For the display you can cover it with a bag for instance if you use the bike for shopping when it rains and have to leave it a while.

Edited November 26, 20196 yr by Nealh

Thank you for the advise

Complete novice

I’m the novice not you

I have used evostick to seal where any cable goes into a device.

For the LCD display I rubbed grease into the joint between the clear plastic face and the casing. Also, I set mine slightly loose on the handlebar, so in bad weather I can turn it upside down.

Thanks Mike, grateful newbie.

Although unfashionable a bike cape for riding or a bike cover for when it rains and left locked outside.

thanks

I have used evostick to seal where any cable goes into a device.

For the LCD display I rubbed grease into the joint between the clear plastic face and the casing. Also, I set mine slightly loose on the handlebar, so in bad weather I can turn it upside down.

 

I also use sugru for various jobs incuding this

 

And, as I used to travel a lot for work in UK, a large stash of shower caps from hotels. I always keep one in my bag for really horrendous weather to stick over the the LCD

 

It was a tip from an ex member!

Although unfashionable a bike cape for riding

Has anyone ridden with a cape, when I tried decades ago it was caught by the wind & billowed around

Has anyone ridden with a cape, when I tried decades ago it was caught by the wind & billowed around

 

Yes I have, I tend to either ride fast as a commuter or off road mtb. It doesn't really suit either tbh

 

However for what you might term utility cycling they are absolutely great

 

Decathlon sell them BTW, or used to a few months bsck

 

Edit. Still do

 

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/500-cycling-rain-poncho-petrol-id_8561790.html

When I commuted, I used to use a cape. Yes, you get blown around a bit when it's windy, but it's manageable and at least you and your bike stay dry and comfortable. Before the cape, I tried just about every other type of waterproof. Considering everything, I think the cape is the best solution, and it protects your bike too. Plus, you can use it as a bike cover if you have to park in the rain.

All really great ideas thanks

When I commuted (only 5 miles, and 250 ft climb each way, non ebike, 1/2 off-road in summer, all on road in winter) I used regular waterproof top and trousers. My contribution to lack of fashion was welly boots, surprisingly comfy to ride in and no risk of water being dumped in from trouser bottoms.

 

I never tried a cape, though, so can't compare.

I do remember police officers on cycles wearing capes, so they must be good.

I do remember police officers on cycles wearing capes, so they must be good.

The difference was though that the Police cape was a heavy woollen affair that did not blow around. As a teenager I had one of the traditional oil cloth capes, less likely to blow about, but after a year or two, it turned into a sticky glutinous mass!

Yuk

Do they still make oilskin capes? Mine is around 30 years old and needing replacement fairly soon. It weighs a ton (well, perhaps a couple of kilograms) but that's what makes it so good - it doesn't flap all over the place in the wind like the flimsy polythene capes you see nowadays that make people say capes are a waste of time. I tried one and threw it away - the old fashioned ones are brilliant.

Do they still make oilskin capes? Mine is around 30 years old and needing replacement fairly soon. It weighs a ton (well, perhaps a couple of kilograms) but that's what makes it so good - it doesn't flap all over the place in the wind like the flimsy polythene capes you see nowadays that make people say capes are a waste of time. I tried one and threw it away - the old fashioned ones are brilliant.

I think that they were just lightweight cotton soaked in Linseed oil

Back to original question, I think water ingress depends more on the specific battery mounting setup than where on the bike is mounted. Our Woosh tandem conversion with a Hailong battery on the middle tube (maybe 20 degrees off horizontal) has the connections pretty well enclosed underneath the battery. The only wet I can see getting in is (a) if we went through a very big puddle and water was thrown up underneath from the front wheel (despite mudguards) (b) if we went through a ford, © we were really silly while cleaning it.

 

The mount on our Motus with rear mounted Bosch battery is less well designed. The battery pushes up to the mount leaving a small vertical gap for water to get in. Admittedly the gap is small, and the actual connections have a little more protection. Also, the rails the battery sits on are designed so it is easy to push the battery home but not correctly mounted on the rails. This leaves a slightly bigger gap, and a battery that rattles and is probably doing no good to the connections.

If you watch this video it would lead you to believe there's no need to worry about the battery or contacts getting wet!

https://www.giant-bicycles.com/global/news/how-to-wash-an-e-bike/21541

In my opinion it should be labelled "how not to wash (or lubricate) an E Bike."

Giant should be ashamed.

Dave.

Thank you, use water sparingly seems to be the message.

Thank you, use water sparingly seems to be the message.

Or not at all in my case. I can't remember when my bike was last cleaned. I let the rain clean it. It's the same with my car, except I've recently changed my dirt coloured one for a white one, so it might show up now.