Can you ride an Ebike in the Rain? Wet weather tricks and one thing to NEVER do!

[@Area13ebikes]

Have you ridden your ebike in the rain or are you a fair weather rider?

[@thedutchwoodworker3472]

Bolton Ebikes whe always drive our Emtb’s in the rain no problem at all Kenevo 2018 Levo 2019

[@c4CHIN]

Does the water “permanently” damage all the electrical parts that are not protected ?

[@Area13ebikes]

Possibly, depends on what gets wet.

[@powertuber3.047]

You didn't mention the battery, mine has the on/off switch on top.

[@fredbissnette3104]

i ride in snow rain hail sleet or heavy fog i have an ultra motor europa and have no issues

[@darrents44]

I think all e-bike should have a good level of water resistance after all they are not for indoor use..

[@jub8891]

i like to ride mine around the living room

[@snickerz5810]

@@jub8891 🤣😭

[@ernestmurphy3898]

Early ebikes have no water repelantcy, newer ones do have some. Ebike manufactures are not making submarines.

[@joel3683]

@@ernestmurphy3898 still doesn't mean that there should be a lack of waterproof e-bikes out there. If people want it they should be able to get it. And there is definitely a market for that. Think of the food couriers.

[@Yoshikarter1]

@@ernestmurphy3898 Cars aren't submarines either, yet they are still designed to protect the components in heavy rain. Why should ebikes be any different?

[@shaneweightman]

Surely they should weather proof stuff that is gonna spend most of its life outside , crazy that you have to go to all this hassle , they should make these things water proof from the word go

[@KaneLono]

Maybe.. but I'm thinking most people are not really into riding in the rain? I've never really ridden any of my non electric bikes in the rain. Not on purpose anyway. It's always too cold and miserable. I think it's okay for a "waterproof" ebike to be more of a niche market. Save the rest of us the expense. Cuz it will be much more expensive to build a waterproof electric bike. And its transportation so water-resistant would not work. E-bikes are too heavy to get stranded.

[@henrikpettersson2886]

shaneweightman agree. It should be as waterproof as a normal bike.

[@OneIroNauT_1]

Shaneweightman- I agree completely. With all of the Kickstarter and Go fund me campaigns, they put alot of talk into starting a movement, making these an actual form of Transportation, a way to go green and save the planet, etc., But in the end they just try and carve out a niche cult market or following, then attach proprietary Batteries and Controllers, to increase price and screw the consumer on upgrades. They do very little to make these more affordable, durable, or convenient. I'm sure they (manufacturers and companies) could come up with the best battery pack and connector to use universally, The Voltage and Watts could be geared into those specs, making back up batteries and upgrades easy. You ever try buying a back up battery from Rad or Sondors? Almost always out of stock. They can hardly keep up with their new bike supply, so why worry about current customers. Customer service directs you to the Facebook cult communities to "Find " one for sale there. Stream lining would bring down cost for every one, and make waterproofing and durability more achievable. But e bikes are about market share and the next years bike. They run these companies like they are selling Cellphones, not a mode of reliable transportation. Which in turn makes it impossible for regular riders to do anything but use the Ebike as a novelty. It's to bad a bunch of shitbag Capitalists got ahold of it. Ruined it before it had a chance to get started. Just like Electric Cars, it's become about making people pay continuously, to "Super charge" or keep functions. Rather then make safe affordable, Green, Planet Saving Transportation. Very Sad. They could make Electric Cars for 10k or less if they wanted. The ability is their. But it's never been about going green has it!

[@exgenica]

I've seen a few of the really cheap bikes with what I thought was superior design for riding in rain than much more expensive bikes; *no* mid-wire/exposed connectors, rubber grommets around wire entry points to controls/sensors, all the wiring coming out from the bottom of frame elements (rain won't be driven into them but splashing *could* let some water in), and partial sealing on the wire exit points from the frame providing additional protection from any splashes (rubber shields fit to the holes and a neat cut to allow the wiring to exit without leaving a gaping hole. When provided on one *$300* ebike, even the USB port had a seal.

[@exgenica]

You have to also watch out for FAKE CLAIMS of water protection. They are unfortunately more common than I had expected. See my comment at kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKmclGyNqJWpo9E&lc=Ugz4QOI_O6sUtQfsG2R4AaABAg I've seen even expensive gear make absurd fake claims about water protection, and I never trust the "IPxx" specification/claim anymore without first looking at the product. I've returned junk for false claims and told them their advertised specs and claims were "misleading".

[@robertmeadows1657]

I once went through a deep puddle with my prodeco outlaw rear hub motor bike. It started acting hinky. I could propel myself only by turning the power switch on and off. Then later it wouldn't respond at all. While staring at it in my living room later it suddenly took off, wheelie ing into the kitchen. Made a heck of a racket.

[@1puppetbike]

I had the same thing happen with a potato gun. Don't ask..

[@robertmeadows1657]

That’s pretty funny.

[@dickflinghammer58]

Polterbike😬

[@michaeljohn7467]

Everyone e bike tells you to never go through a puddle deep enough for motor to go through, check all puddles out first if they seem to be deeper, also dont go so fast that you cant stop in time to check out deep puddles, if to deep n you cant go around go back

[@nickhersheys2706]

I had the exact same issue of the motor cutting off while riding in the rain last night. I'm switched the battery off and on and would run fine and would shut off again for 3 more times till I made it home. The possible cause is the BMS shuts the bike off as safety mechanism. I park my bike in my apartment so I guess my bike. Will test Tonite with a fully charged battery. What happened in your case is you probably left your bike ON and when the BMS dried it activated the bike and did a self wheelie to your kitchen. Your bike might have been hungry.Probably your throttle might have got stuck too.

[@karlcarrigan4451]

I use my ebike to commute to work daily, around 8 mile round trip. Mine has those juliet Connectors on it, and a removable, but built into the frame.. I have never had any issues in the rain, and boy I've ridden in some right cloud-bursts, and huge puddles. I was a bit tentative at first, and covered the controller, and wrapped the oversized down tube with its flush battery with shrink wrap, just a quick once round of both, this seemed very effective.. The electrical cables are all hidden and well grommeted, and as I said, Juliet connectors. Then, I got caught out in a big rainstorm, unprotected and it had no dire effects, so haven't "shrink wrapped" it since..! My bike is a Petrigo City Commuter, its 9 months old and no water ingress issues yet.. Good first foray into ebiking.. I'm in the UK!

[@brochman8307]

Like the bag and band idea. When i installed a BBS02 just recently i used Self Amalgamating tape (self fusing tape,Cold tape depends where you live to what it is named) on all the connections, this tape lasts for years and i used it twenty years ago when working for a Satellite company for outdoor electrical connections and have used it since for any outdoor wiring e,g Boats and it has never let me down.

[@exgenica]

If I've finished riding my hub-motor ebike in the rain, and it's still working properly, I take it under cover and run the motor slowly at first and then max it out with wheel lifted in the air for a few minutes. This lets centripetal force help discharge a percentage of any water out from inside the motor casing to the atmosphere. The percentage can depend on the design of the case, but it can be a significant percentage. I also keep my bike inside the house (theft issues) so room heat helps evaporate water from this and other areas. Keeping it inside also helps prevent additional water condensing on cold metal parts from a high humidity atmosphere as the motor cools especially if left outside and the temperature is dropping or will drop a lot.

[@uncrunch398]

At some point I'd consider disassembling the motor and any other component to clean out any sediment that might have been "washed" in by flowing water. Leaving it might interfere with electrical by short circuit or mechanical functioning by jamming or scraping.

[@DukeX.Official]

Mine is water resistant parts. Been riding my ebike in the rain, ice and snow. Still working like when I bought it. Obviously I do keep my bikes in top condition to obtain best durability.

[@wallyd8160]

What brand electric bike do you have?

[@monkee20]

I was gonna ask the same thing

[@DukeX.Official]

@@wallyd8160 just diy ebike. Less hassles to keep up with 😁

[@gabrielescobar2384]

@@DukeX.Official what kit would you recommend ?

[@DukeX.Official]

@@gabrielescobar2384 you can get any kit, just follow instructions of disassembly of motor for greasing it properly to keep moisture out. Check rubber seals as well, and keep everything running smooth. There are many good kits out there today. Just make sure you have a great battery 🔋 😉

[@SuperTerryBull]

The best advice ive seen is given out on this channel ,not just with one video but with multiple videos

[@johnaudio2024]

Good advice video! My advise; take your intro music down by 9dB 😉

[@cryptokids3760]

I have been using these screens for years now in rain, snow, or shine. I live in Oregon and am a daily rider. Never had a problem

[@jamesoren7238]

Yep, had my BBS02 almost 2 years now, riden in quite a bit of rain on my commute, no problems. I did however start off assuming that it wasn’t really water proof, so all my connectors have some silicon grease in them, under heat shrink with electrical tape at the ends (I don’t like the sound of that melts stuff - I’ve definitely unplugged anough connectors over the last 2 years to know I personally would hate that). I also used tape along the seals of my battery, and a bit of silicone sealant around the motor casing. I assume water can still work it’s way through the crank if you give it long enough, but for normal riding it’s fine to check and re-grease that when cracking open the motor every other month to check on wear (I highly recommend doing this - not only so you can keep on top of things, but also so if you have to swap out the clutch or nylon gear or whatever far from home you know exactly what to do). In general bikes don’t like riding in the rain, and you have to take care of them afterwards to prolong their life... basically an ebike is the same. If you’re thinking an ebike is less maintenance, it’s really not - it’s a normal bike with extras

[@exgenica]

_James Oren said, "(I don’t like the sound of that melts stuff - I’ve definitely unplugged anough connectors over the last 2 years to know I personally would hate that)"_ Assuming you don't have enough wire to just snip oout the connection, or can't deal with redoing the connections entirely, I've found that the insulation cutting section of a cheap wire crimping tool makes shorter work of removing the shrink tubing from shrink-wrapped connections. Also a lot less likely to cut myself using an X-acto blade or something like that. Once I've gone over the shrink tubing a few times and cut it into a few ring-like sections, I've found it fairly easy to snip off those small sections with a precision diagonal cutter. However, the shrink-wrapped connection has to be able to be separated from nearby wiring and objects so you can rotate the crimping tool around the shrink wrap to cut it.

[@michaeljohn7467]

I rode non ebikes many times in the rain n so have many other people, but when it really rains heavy ya i dont do it unless i have no other choice

[@cooloutac]

holy crap is that the type of maintenance I have to do!?!? lol

[@wardaddy6002]

If anything they're more maintenance because you wear out tires and brakes faster.

[@FlyingFun.]

I just built my first ebike, I put the controller and all the connectors inside a 2l pop bottle with the bottom cut off, rain runs down and off the bottom without and risk of running back up the wires and into controller. I also added a splash plate later on to stop water from back wheel getting in. I used simple throttle with no LCD for cheapness and more resilient to uk weather without it. So far so good and been caught in some heavy downpours.. I thought about heat shrink but figured the water would get in and be trapped which as you say is worse.

[@megaady36]

So I can buy a £5000.00 motorcycle that has far more electrical connections and is 100% viable for UK rainy weather but I can't buy an E bike of the same cost that will survive a wet ride home - not merchantable quality then.

[@simony2801]

You have a point.

[@delphisrichard5279]

Exactly, }

[@jeffyell1600]

I learn something every time I watch your videos thank you very much have a blessed day be safe

[@ferguson8143]

If you use heat shrink just buy the heat shrink that has adhesive on the inside and your good to go and should use dielectric grease and that alone will keep water and moisture put and help with makeing better connections

[@jcreedy20]

Ride in the rain pretty much all the time on my DIY ebike. The sabvoton controller I have is externally mounted, I took the end covers off and used a bitumen neutral cure sealant on the edges of the covers all round and screwed them back on. For the Case the rubber seals wore out, but i got some MOX tape and used that around the edges and screwed the side panels on crimping the mox tape in place I've also used some dense packing foam cut to shape which also worked quite nicely in the past. For the few switches I have on the handles bars I sealed with either plastic bags like in the video or I used insulating tape in conjunction with some small cable ties to crimp and seal the ends and finished it off with some vaseline to further seal it. The hub motor I took the side motor covers off and used the neutral cure bitumen sealant on the edges and put them back on as water will!! make its way inside and corrode everything, I also put some in the axle where the wires enter. Also you must use proper mudguards to stop water being jetted into the frame off the tires, as the constant spray will wittle down any protection you put in place. I have a full mud guard on the front which stops spray hitting the controller and i fabricated a rear mud guard using a plastic flexible corrugated (where a hard hat) sign i found on a building site making sure it goes all the way round and is long enough at the back to stop my ass being hosed! If you ever do get water in your battery case or frame, just switch it all off and borrow the misses hair dryer and blast it out, then hosing down any electronics with electrical spray cleaner wouldnt go a miss. 9/10 you turn it back on and everything is ok provided you have a half decent BMS fitted. My ANT BMS has been wet a couple of times and malfunctioned, but as soon as i dried it, it was fine. Also with wires and connectors Ive used heat shrink and on the ends before i heated it squidged some sealant in both ends then heated it, then tied them off with cable ties.

[@CrIMiN8l]

Good advice - I had a ktc display on my previous ebike and i covered it with a sheet of see through plastic and electrical taped it all the way round for a neater look.. Also did the same for the buttons. Now moved to bafang and am using another display and did the same thing. No probs..

[@RediscoveringDavid]

love the rain soundtrack. This is one of your more soothing videos.

[@m9078jk3]

I have an older Veltop (Classic 2+ model for upright bikes) attachment (Windshield with canopy it's like convertible car) that I have modified a bunch and I ride a lot in the rain. I have had this for 3 or maybe 4 years. (edit it was actually 6 years ago) No problem unless it gets very windy outside. But I can go up to 28 MPH with no issue on my electric bike now a RadRover (used) I mostly ride on streets or bike trails no off trail riding. One thing about the older version of the Veltop accessory the Fiberglass rods broke a lot (a nuisance and costly but can sometimes be repaired) so I bought a pair of 102 inch flexible stainless steel whip antennas from eBay ,cut them to the desired length and use them instead as they work a lot better and are not fragile. Unlike before I have the Stainless Steel rods always attached to the top of the windshield and attached to the rear Canopy pack so it's quicker to put up the canopy. It also adds extra stability to the Windshield. The older version of the Veltop needed extra mounts so that the Windshield wouldn't flop back or forward especially when going over a pothole or some other shock. With modification it works good and riding in the rain is a pleasure. I think the new model of the Veltop (Urban) has worked out a lot of those previous quirks and defects and it's much easier getting on the bike now. However I don't own it so it could possibly still need some modification for better stable mounting for rough riding. It's sold online and comes from France. When I ride I get a lot of surprised looks from motorists and some have taken pictures of it and talked to me about it. One thing for sure it keeps me dry and I don't have to wear sweaty bike rain clothes and have rain in my face. I ride like a king and it's fun.

[@sg7392]

There is a silicon sealing spray the army used on connectors that formed a protective clear layer. I left a connector in water over night opened it up and there was no water ingress. It was a spec military formula I have never seen it again but it must be around somewhere. Would be fantastic on e bike connectors, modules, battery cases etc. Cheers Steve from Aus. Used to be nicknamed spray on gloves.

[@JohnSims3]

Try ACF-50 spray

[@mglmouser]

Came in here from an EV perspective where some people keep asking me if I can charge it in the rain, thinking «well that's a dumb question» and BOOM, it's actually a thing on e-bikes?! I would have thought they'd have put some care on this. Almost makes me reconsider buying one. Guess first thing to be done on it will be RTV on the bafang motor and find a way to secure the screen of my projected purchase of a RadMini.

[@diskgrind3410]

So, how long will it take for them to make a water resistant or water proof bike? Sounds like something that a designer would of done in the first place.

[@jimj2683]

They will never do it as long as people don't complain more loudly.

[@davej3736]

I KNOW eh! I also have a motorcycle, and have been riding them since ‘69, and never had one affected by extended downpours or washing. E-bikes are NOT cheap either, so why did they not make them waterPROOF. We don’t all live in Arizona or California.

[@wendygerrish4964]

Great video. I your main steed is an ebike, and it rains where you live, mud guards become essential too.

[@vickipps6821]

You can carry a roll of plastic cling wrap with you and wrap every thing, and connectors can be wrapped with self valconizing rubber tape it works well

[@thetechgenie7374]

Most decent e-bike components nowadays are sealed. Yes early days displays and controllers were not sealed and could get water instead and of course corrode. Nowadays they seal them pretty much. Plus when I built them I put controller under seat where water doesn’t typically get in. Then do loops so water can drain out of cable but using water proof cables as well, so don’t have to worry about connections corroding. Plus use a waterproof sleeve over battery casing which is also water resistant. Then don’t obviously ride in heavy rain and dry bike once at destination, I keep a couple clean rags inside bag. Don’t leave bike outside when it rains, but also thieves. Doing this haven’t had rust/corrosion issues and been riding for years. Plus I service bike regularly like degreasing and lubricate regularly so everything runs smooth.

[@RogerBY]

I like the fair weather but you do get caught sometimes. And I'v been using ebike daily in summer 30-50 km . Mainly for exercise "yes exercise"

[@LeontheKiller11]

It can be ever more exercise than a standard pedal bike because you got motivation to go out daily and do x3 distance and explore much more while having x3 more fun on ebike

[@CloroxGodThe1st]

@@LeontheKiller11 That's 100% true. I noticed ever since I got a EBike I started going on 1-2 hour bike rides well over 30 miles just riding and exploring new parts of my city that I've never been.

[@Gutowski1944]

SWAGTRON EB 5 owner/commuter for over 3 years and I have biked through rain, snow, and dog attack with no issues whatsoever.

[@paulschmidtke425]

Ridden my bbshd homebuilt kit in torrential downpour many times, no problemo,,even fully submerged my bike on one occasion in a flooded causeway when I fell off , picked it up as quick as I could, but it was still under for probably 15 seconds ,once again no problem

[@ramzy1013]

Thanks for the information I have power washed my bike. I'll be careful not blast the electrical areas

[@Snotnarok]

Ok, so I got an interesting mess of 'how water proof is your bike' info dump. I got a Himiway Cruiser right? -Avoid riding in rain, they say light rain is fine. Sure, sounds sensible. Sure. . . Except- Then they say riding in the snow is 100% fine. That sounds less fine because surely that's gonna get in places that you aren't going to be able to brush clean easily and it'll melt and surely will get into thinks. Then they say to clean the bike- use a hose. Sure, you're not riding it while soaking it but you're blasting it from all different angles and that's ok but rain isn't?? I don't know what to think and there's almost no clarification on any of this- asking customer support gets me a generic FAQ answer and that's it. From what I understand people here seem to say riding in the rain is fine, just don't store it there. I just wish there was a better answer from the maker themselves vs "here's an awful excerpt from our FAQ that doesn't answer enough.

[@ts8538]

There is also a product called "liquid electrical tape." It can be used alone or in combination with self-fusing silicone tape and/or shrink tubing. The liquid electrical tape is always the last layer. It is flexible and adheres very well.

[@exgenica]

Tip: If you use silicone RTV/sealant that solidifies, be sure to use the kind that does NOT smell like vinegar as it cures. The acid in that type damages metal, solder-joints, etc. "Aquarium-safe" sealant should be OK but double-check you aren't scammed by counterfeit sealant from some sources. Acetic acid is released during the curing process of RTV sealant that contains acetoxysilane compounds.

[@ramzy1013]

Gobs of di-electric grease at the plugs

[@Knoppox]

Have been using Juiced CCX for about 6 months now and have managed to keep it out of the rain

[@allanjack143]

I use to bring a roll of glad wrap which I wrap around my whole bat etc

[@robizemgunreviews9745]

I have a e bike and been able to make it home in bad thunderstorms! Never corvered it up! I think i should start doing that incase it fails.

[@OD99C]

I've been washing my radrunner bike with a hose for 4 years almost after every ride to get dirt and salt off, no problems, but stopped after the upgraded controller and screen.

[@scottrocks1993]

I have that LED display KT-LCD3. I took it apart while ago and it has a rubber gasket around everything. And it's waterproof I leave it in the rain all day & all night all the time. And no problems at all water doesn't get in. I'm guessing some of the same ones must not have gasket in 🤔 The only thing what needs to be waterproof is the Hub motor it has no gasket whatsoever. Just couple of times in the Rain it went very rusty inside. I used gasket sealer & Greece. Haven't checked it since but I think it's 99% waterproof now

[@debee1544]

Just wondering about greasing a rear hub motor....wouldn't it end up on the brake discs Waiting for 1st e bike to arrive😬

[@diskgrind3410]

I wonder if some kind of gasket can be made to ad to the Bafang casing to further protection. Something 3d perhaps?

[@plasmar1]

conformal coating(take apart the electronics and make it water proof:P) and liquid tape(not a huge fan but maybe handy) maybe handy in some scenarios

[@adgeebike9173]

I've got the same kit that isn't waterproof and ride it through pouring rain here in Manchester UK and have had no problems whatsoever.

[@pauleiwalsh]

Adge E Bike Thanks for this. I’m in Manchester and thinking of getting one

[@buckrogers8661]

I have definitely done that a few times

[@Media-oq9ux]

How good are the bike covers for carrying the bike on the rack? remove battery and screen of course but.......... Long trips through various states and rain will find you !

[@thomaslight2272]

Question: what about detachable battery is there a way to protect it if in wet weather not by choice?

[@WilliamCloud9]

Been riding my Ebike in the rain for 3 years in Vancouver BC! I always store it inside no special precautions I have a bbshd unit with a shark battery pack all bought though Luna cycle

[@Area13ebikes]

Cool Bill! Glad you're taking care of your ebike. Storing it inside when you live in rainy conditions is important.

[@BubbafromSapperton]

Curious how you got your Luna, I'm in Vancouver too...

[@exgenica]

Tip: If I knew I was going to have to ride in a lot of heavy rain a lot of the time... One of the very first things I'd do is eliminate as many mid-wire connections as possible...replacing wire harnesses if necessary to do so. Put as many connnections INSIDE instrument and controller cases as possible. If feasible, consider direct to PCB contacts on both ends instead of using connectors. Rubber grommet and if necessary further silicone seal any wire ports with non-acidic curing sealant. See comment at: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKmclGyNqJWpo9E&lc=UgzcR8covv8liS9N5QJ4AaABAg I'd also beef up any existing seals as needed. For example, I added a folding ebike and the folding break-point is NOT well sealed against water. *It has NO flexible sealing* between the section of the frame that holds the connector for the battery and section of frame that holds the connector with the brushless motor controller. The top of the folding joint is completely exposed to the rain. So that basically demands I provide a water-tight seal. At the very least I could easily apply a bead of silicone sealant going about the connectors. At the best, I'd obtain a fitted O-ring that conforms to an interior recess in the compartments. Might even provide a secondary seal for this section due to the stress it receives.

[@thegee-tahguy4877]

Love this channel. Very informative

[@holeshothunter5544]

industrial supply companies (Grainger, atc) have heat shrink tubing with adhesive already inside. It activates from the heat that shrinks the tube, It is smooth until you shrink the tube. It was invented for military applications,. but is readily available.

[@sbdr.1241]

I ridden in storms, blizzards,extreme heat,hail storms BUT i always carry plastic deli bags & cover lcd, controller, throttle & silicone seal hub motor & trust me plastic rules when it comes to saving your ebike, i have a mid drive & direct drive & also made battery cover storm resistant..green soft plastic bags from vegetable isle works best & easy to remove.

[@ej6893]

Good stuff! I've been wondering about this the last week, so your video is right on time!

[@sbdr.1241]

I rode my ebike thru rain, storms,hail (yes it hurts) sleet,snow, blizzard, since 2013 only problems i have is bad drivers with roadrage not weather.

[@terryaqualad6779]

I do all the time only in light rain never heavy. If it gets heavy I pull under somewhere so far no problems. I wrap all my wires in eletric tape. No problems I've been commuting almost everyday now, an I never run threw very steep puddles

[@orbitaljellyfish808]

In a pinch buy some bubblegum to use as sealant. Great vid!

[@yeshuaifollow5045]

OK MacGiver .........

[@ebikeengineer]

I haven't ridden in the rain yet. I did a conversion using a Bafang mid motor kit. Not sure the 500c display is up to the rain, and I'm positive the power poles used to connect the battery are not water proof. However all the other cables have these really good water proof right connections.

[@cooloutac]

yes i've noticed that too isn't that interesting. Why not make that wire waterproof too? The area around the controller even if encased seems to be the most problematic.

[@ebikeengineer]

@@cooloutac well about a month ago I got caught in a downpour. The power poles didn't have a problem, neither did the 500c; , but I've still replaced then with XT60s for commonality with our other bikes.

[@cooloutac]

@@ebikeengineer i'm reading that people put dialectric grease in everything. I'm thinking of doing that for my battery terminals but I have no experience with that stuff.

[@ebikeengineer]

@@cooloutac I've used it on some of my Jeep connectors, but have not thought about using it on my e-Bike. Good idea!

[@taylored4u]

Transporting the bikes - When bikes are on the rack and the battery is out how do you protect the connections from the rain

[@davidmccarthy6061]

Sounds like the only solution is tarp the bikes on the hitch if you are in a area of sudden showers or have a long drive.

[@RogerBY]

I think I'll keep a couple baggies and elastics on my bike now. I got caught in rain once and I waited it out under a shelter have no fenders yet either. So ya I have water proof my bike for this summer.

[@Area13ebikes]

Simple precaution! Better safe than sorry.

[@richardbailey2130]

Any suggestions on protecting the battery contacts or a bottle type battery on the down to

[@richardbailey2130]

ON the bottle type...downTUBE! (Voice text often sucks even on an Apple product!)🤪

[@cthumper6233]

I recommend using dielectric grease on all connector plugs to waterproof them and protect them from any corrosion.

[@Bigsmegma44]

I did that to mine as well! Cheap insurance for $5.00!!!

[@isthisoneunavailable]

Is there any reason you couldn't add a gasket to that motor? It wouldn't waterproof it, but it would help for sure

[@jimj2683]

I had an ebike with a cycle analyst, a phaserunner controller and a gmac hub motor. All three components got damaged by being outside. The cycle analyst and the phaserunner are marketed as being safe in the rain, but they are not. And all three parts will collect condensation inside (the condensation seems to happen with the cycling of temperature throughout the day during winter.). It is basically trash. I would hope high-end ebikes like stromer etc are water resistant.

[@jimkinnoir6131]

All my connectors have some Red rubber grease made by Castrol in them. Total waterproof

[@jofus3604]

E-Bikes r not made for the rain, common sense! Save a $50 UBER fee, fry a 2K+ bike...DUH? The big draw back of the heat shrink is that it will hold moisture in all the time and cause corrosion! Great post, lots of good tips.

[@davidmccarthy6061]

It is NOT common sense. My $50 FitBit can survive the shower but a bicycle I spend thousand$ on can't? Are all these designers idiots? Spend $30 on gaskets and charge me $100 more for the bike. THAT would be common sense.

[@cyberstar251]

are there tricks to improve the water-resistance of the motor itself? like adding silicone sealant around the seam of the housing? or would that not work?

[@guitardzan5641]

I am deeply suspicious of using any of these bikes anywhere near saltwater....OR salt sand....

[@wesleymartin6506]

Simple spray cem.out the that work very well for the rain.etc. we use them our rc eflight planes cars etc. Just saying.

[@ToThePointCT]

I am a courier I have had my ebike out for 6 to 8 hours at a time in torrential rain never had an issue. I think they are a lot more waterproof than people give them credit for

[@povlfalk-jensen4499]

Very well explained. Thank you.

[@user619tlsdca5]

It is the turning on corners that is the most expected of failing. You have to slow down to 1 mph or the bike will slip and make you fall on side. Its happen to me many times until I JUST STOP TAKING CHANCES AND SLOW DOWN TO ALMOST COMPLETE STOP TO BE SAFE FOR BIKE AND MYSELF WHEN IT IS RAINING , EVEN AFTER RAIN STOPS THE ROADS ARE FILLED WITH PUDDLES AND SLIPPERY ROAD..

[@WhiteDwarfVR4]

I was of the impression brushless motors are not affected by water. In particular I recall one video where someone has one arm of a modern drone underwater and the motor still respond perfectly. Other components of the device such as battery connections external switches etc DO need to be protected. Can you expand, elaborate elaborate and give your view on this scenario?

[@TheAlston19]

Very easy, very practical!

[@tripuallampudi7402]

As always, Kyle, very helpful tips and a great video ❤

[@speedforce131]

Oh wow! That plastic bag trick might come in handy with my e-scooter some day!

[@shanedonlon1039]

Need an update with a video like this on current tech with ebikes

[@skip123davis]

great video! i live in the pacific northwest. am i just screwed? i mean, not riding in the rain is simply not an option. it doesn't rain a lot up here, just all the time. why don't the bike manufacturers make the bikes rain proof?? i mean, i ride my bmw motorcycle in the rain all the time! it's the only option.

[@pjanoo6973]

If you use enough dielectric grease,liquid electrical tape, saran wrap, hydrophobic spray, and coil the wires to the motor and battery so the water doesn't travel upwards into the motor you should be good

[@exgenica]

If you use *confirmed* genuine BMW parts in your case, you're probably ok, but I've seen counterfeit motorcycle parts and a lot of aftermarket parts that are NOT sufficiently protected from rain even when they claim to be protected with an IPx7 or higher rating. We just can't trust the claims made by parts vendors. I've only had Honda, Yamaha, an Indian off-road bike, and some weird Czech street bike I had for a few years a long time ago for which I don't even remember the name. I mostly remember it was a constant challenge to maintain the Czech cause of parts issues, but it still held up in 30 inches per year of rain.

[@synthplayer]

Please tell us the name of the shrink wrap that has a higher than 2:1 shrink, and actually seals the connections to make them water tight. Thanks, Bolton!

[@Area13ebikes]

Something like this will work: www.amazon.com/Dual-Wall-Heat-Shrink-KIT/dp/B00RC36FWA

[@gilbertorestrepo551]

I got 3:1 marine grade shrink tubes at harbor freight in the USA. I use liquid electrical tape from Home Depot to fill in and seal anything else I can think of too.

[@smckinnon]

Bolton Ebikes what about your controllers? How waterproof are they?

[@witch532]

Howabout dielectric grease on the connectors and possibly inside the plugs-if able.

[@Yowzoe]

Glad to see this video. Wondering if it's based on older models and if the newer ones, like the latest Blackbird, are more protected and resistant to ordinary riding in the rain. I'm thinking about a Blackbird, I have q's about water resistance as I live in the PNW. I esp. am wondering about the motorcycle-style front fender, which is so far from the wheel. It seems that it would allow water from the road/trail to splash all over the rider, esp. at high speeds? Anyone have an idea about this? ty

[@cooloutac]

I doubt anything has changed because the motor, controllers and batteries haven't changed much. Unless he is using different models on the new blackbird. I'm not sure whether the battery is integrated or not makes any difference either since many people riding with DIY bikes and claim they ride in the pouring rain. I sure as hell am not going to chance it on my bike. lol.

[@Yowzoe]

@@cooloutac I think I’m gonna hold off on my E bike journey until things like this gets straightened out. I’m in no rush.

[@cooloutac]

@@Yowzoe even diy Is super expensive. I just ordered a cheap chinese bike and the brakes suck and the suspension fork is faulty. I'm gonna have to take it to a shop to be sure im devastated. Already I'm thinking I have to replace front brakes and fork. I regret the purchase. You have to spend at least 2k for something decent.

[@Yowzoe]

@@cooloutac Yeah, it’s sort of a no-win situation for me right now. I went down the rabbit hole with E bikes about a year ago. I figured the quality versus cost ratio is just not there yet for me. I think in a few short years, E bikes will likely be much better built and probably cheaper too

[@cooloutac]

@@Yowzoe Alot of the problems too is ordering direct to home when fedex literally has no regard for your package. I would of refused the delivery if I known the plastic pieces to protect the front tire roter was smashed to pieces and stuck in the axel. Or that the metal rod to protect the fork was broken off. Hell I don't even know what happened to the plastic front brake wedge. Even if I was to buy a $2000 aventon that comes with a zoom fork. I have yet to see an unboxing of that bike that didn't have bent fenders, literally, and one guy made a video about how his fork doesn't lock out and leaks oil. So it really depends on your area as well. I should have known better. When I lived in Queens, NY for 20 years I never had a single issue with UPS or FED Ex damaged deliveries. Now that i moved out here to South Jersey nothing but issues with damaged deliveries and here I am ordering an delicate ebike. DOH!.

[@PianoBlackTrimRep.]

Electric bikes should be 100% waterproof just like cars. Some of the bikes cost $5,000+

[@azmagaref]

@Potwheelz What? I've driven my car through severe rain conditions with no issues, a flood is a disaster and you're dumb if you drive in it.

[@exgenica]

I agree, especially for the more expensive bikes. But it will require design changes like special cooling for the battery and possibly high-watt motors. I really don't like to have my lithium battery all closed off from ventilation so the design needs to allow that without letting in rain and splashes. Heat kills real-time battery performance and really stresses them and can shorten their life by a LOT (like getting only 100 charge-cycles instead of 500). The motor controller (which uses MOSFETS that often get VERY hot) can generally be mounted to any metal frame with a high quality thermal conductive medium to help move heat from the controller case to the atmosphere. Additional heat-sinking may be needed as well in the case of carbon fiber frames. This assumes the motor controller itself is designed to dissipate the heat generated by the electronic components inside of it. An overheated controller can shutdown riding due to overtemp condition or even destroy the controller...especially if a dirt-cheap circuit is used that has no thermal limiting protection.

[@leighmonty13]

Well yeah the money you pay for one you would think so

[@1puppetbike]

@Potwheelz it's a car, not a submarine!

[@1puppetbike]

@Potwheelz but they are on a submarine! ;'D

[@AdAstraOnYafro]

Also try not to lay the bike down . Wet pavement, especially freshly wet pavement has oil, gas and other slippery things in it. I ride my ebike every night on my paper route. Even though I was a very experienced rider I have found several ways to crash an ebike and end up counting stars. I ride a rad wagon cargo bike, which is a nightmare to ride loaded with all the weight up high. My worst nightmare is a perfectly round 1/4” diameter stick laying in front of me careening around a corner!

[@squidcaps4308]

Go with water resistant in DIYs. It is much better than poor water tight. The latter will collect water but not let it out, water resistant has enough holes that water will drain out and the moisture can evaporate. A well designed water resistant cases can be submerged quite deep into water before the water level inside rises too high. You can control the ventilation holes and locations to prevent spray from all directions. You can also give it time, making the hole so small that even when submerged it takes some time to fill up, and if it is all but certain that the enclosure always has the same orientation towards the earth, air can be used to further protect it.. Fully water tight has to be fully water tight and its seals have to work years from now. Not a trivial task. There are many cheap electronics out there that get safer if you destroy their suppose water tight seal at a strategic location. Cheap solar LED lights that are often used in yards are the worst in this, as they also have to combat water as a gas being sucked in as the temperature changes... So, yes, a bad seals on a controller can cause it to draw water vapor in as it cools down. This is true with all things that warm up and cool down, a weak seal can appear to be water tight but once temperature is added to the equation... Storing things in a dry place when they cool down is a good idea.

[@e-bikeautonomy]

I studded the tires on my fat tire e-bike and can ride on the river or canal when frozen. Also helps with puddles.

[@sufferingnside]

ive ridden my ecotric sportcool in torrential downpours many times never had any issues with my s900 display getting wet

[@themainthing3966]

good stuff. excellent presentation

[@nathanaelszafranski3952]

What about dielectric grease? Overkill or counter productive?

[@michaelcliffe562]

I have a german made trekking bike that uses Bosch componants and I use it just like my motorcycle in all kinds of weather no problem. I don't expect my Honda CB 500 to stop working in the rain, so why should I expect differently of my E-Bike? Using common sense, I think any well made vehicle shouldn't have any problems operating outside.

[@casparcoaster1936]

Christ, I would never have thought of the clear plastic bag thank you dude I owe you I suspect I may have brain cancer (atypical stage 3 mengioma probably) and I sometimes forget crucial shit, and rarely think of a simple, creative ultra cheap solution to a serious problem... also chronic, which is why i need e infront (or behind or best mid drive) of my bike! I drink coffee, it helps.

[@jyy9624]

NYC delivery guys work in heavy rain all the time on their bafang arrows

[@davej3736]

FYI, if you purchase a 2019 Giant Toughroads GX-E, be aware it is NOT waterproof. They do not claim it’s waterproof, and there is no warranty. Mine was on the carrying rack on a highway, when it rained heavily for about an hour. It cost me $400 for a replacement LCD unit. If it even LOOKS like rain, I take the analog bike. To quote Kevin Kline in “A fish called Wanda”…dissaPOINTed!

[@psully311]

Hello Kyle, I plan to build a 36v ebike for spring/summer this yr. Im interested in the 36v 8.8Ah battery on your site, is it made with quality cells? Ive had great luck with LG brand 18650's for vape. Also do you have any insight of suggestions for a 26" hub wheel. Not looking for top speed as much a torque for hauling groceries once or twice a week 12mi round trip. Also Ive been drooling over the Rad Bike cargo bike Wagon, any thoughts on it? I know a lot of question lol {{{ edit: just for you series on how to, some of my questions may be answered }}}

[@Area13ebikes]

It is made with quality cells. If you're looking for hauling, you might want to consider something that can take more power though.

[@leighmonty13]

You think waterproof would be standard, alot of bikes are work bikes you don't get a choice in weather, i use plastic bags for my mobile when its raining

[@CopperCityPatriot]

Is it pouring rain we are hearing, or a fan/air conditioner?

[@jamesloll4601]

Every single E-Bike kit I ever bought? I used gorilla duct tape to cover all the wiring connections but never over the controller itself save it WAS in a case that is semi-water resistant and controller and lithium 48 volt 14 ah hour pack open to the elements. So maybe I got lucky because even heavy down pours didn't seem to affect my E-bike then later E-trike. The bag and with the wiring EASILY does lead water into the controller. I thought the BIGGEST thing he was going to say was NOT to plug your lithium battery in a downpour. Always get a big ZAP before but luckily I store my bike under some steps outside so rarely gets hit with rain outside unless the rain is almost horizontal and at work? Half way through the shift I bring it inside ONCE our lobby is closed. My problem is despite my cheap kits? Rain never has seemed to actually effect it so I only clicked this to see the possible problems... and after what he described how to waterproof your e-bike? I came nowhere near to what he was suggesting. Am I lucky or is his advice OVERBLOWN??? My word of advice? Yes water can cause shorts but I think it is a moot point with MOST kits because you basically have to SUBMERG the darn things. If my have ever acted up? Wasn't enough for me to actually notice and maybe covering my connections with gorilla duct tape maybe saving me from more headaches than I know if but on the same note? The BEST way to wrap electrical wires too! Even better than electrical tape! Downside? Gorilla duct tape does get enough of the elements? The glue almost turns into a powder when the bandages actually start coming loose. Good news? Takes YEARS.

[@azmagaref]

I've done many Uber deliveries using a rented E-bike in heavy rain with no issues whatsoever, the bike was drenched from battery to screen and I did like 20km until my socks gave up and my feet went numb from the cold water.

[@Area13ebikes]

Sounds like a crazy adventure! That's not usually the case with heavy rain and electricity.

[@RagnarokLoW]

Hmm, it's a shame that the bafang motor doesnt have an O ring to it. it seems like it'd be an easy addition that would skyrocket the rating...

[@hemaccabe4292]

This was really useful. Thank you.

[@Area13ebikes]

Glad it was helpful!

[@hemaccabe4292]

@@Area13ebikes Have you ever heard of Day 6 bicycles? Have you ever reviewed them?

[@mkirk29053]

Thanks

[@lunalight1609]

You can use silicone spray to make your ebike water resistant

[@diskgrind3410]

why wouldn't they make it water proof?

[@Yowzoe]

no kidding. it's only a bicycle, ffs

[@VictoriaAerial]

Too much water ingress in e bikes. What about ventilation of the controller?