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Introduction to E-Moto Inspections & Maintenance
From battery installs and brake checks to drivetrain maintenance and throttle responsiveness, we break down the exact process we use to get our bikes track and trail-ready. This simple visual inspection leads to early detection of worn or broken parts that need to be services, repaired or replaced, extending the life of your components, making your bike safer and more reliable while you're out riding.

Pre-Ride Inspection Checklist

1. Starting With the ABC's - "Always Be Checking"

Give your bike a walk-around. Look for anything loose, missing, cracked, or sketchy. Handlebar bolts. Levers. Pegs. If it looks off, it probably is. Many riders even do their ABC's during breaks on ride days. Whenever we look at our bikes, we're looking for things that may be wrong or out of place.

Visual cues are your first line of defense. Train your eye. Don't just stare at your bike because it's sexy. Stare at it because it's both sexy and necessary.

2. Install the Battery (Correctly)

Your battery should be fully charged and secured in the bike. Cables connected and locked in tight. Loose power leads are a one-way ticket to a dead throttle at 30mph plus. 

Make sure your bike is turned OFF before continuing to the next step.

3. Check Tire Pressure

Look at the sidewall for max PSI. Use that as your baseline, then adjust for terrain. Low pressure = flats and faster tire wear. Don’t ride squishy, but experiment with adjusting tire PSI for your weight and the terrain you're riding on. But don't veer too far away from the max PSI stated on your tire's sidewall.

Rule of thumb: Hard surfaces/Heavy Rider = Higher PSI. Soft surfaces/Light Rider = Lower PSI.

4. Inspect Your Tires

Check for punctures, sidewall or tread damage, worn tread, thorns, glass, or anything that looks wrong. Fix or replace the tire before riding.

5. Check Brake Rotors

Spin the wheels. Listen for rubbing. Look for rotor wobble. If your rotor’s slightly warped, fix it. If it's toast, replace it. Brake fade sucks when you need to stop in an instant. Letting your rotors rub the pads will lead to premature and uneven wearing of the pads, which can lead to unpredictable stopping characteristics. 

6. Tighten the Essentials

Torque down axles, caliper brackets, and cable mounts. Front and rear. Wiggle check everything. If it moves when it shouldn’t, that’s your sign.

7. Measure Brake Pads

If your brake pads are thinner than a dime (<1.3-1.5mm), it’s time to replace them. Worn pads damage rotors and wreck stopping power. Swap early. Prevent damaged rotors and calipers. Ride safe and thank yourself later.

8. Check the Drivetrain

• Chain bikes: Should have some slack, but not floppy. (It's best to refer to your owners manual for chain slack specifications)
• Belt bikes: Look for broken or worn teeth, cracking, fraying, mud/debris, good tension.
  Either way, clean and inspect.

9. Clean and Lube That Chain

Use Muc-Off Chain Cleaner and the Oinker Mess Free Applicator. No mess, no fuss. Follow up with all-weather lube, and wipe away the excess.

10. Inspect Sprockets

Look for sharp gears (shark teeth), broken teeth, damage or uneven wear. Bad sprockets = drivetrain death spiral. Replace both together when needed. If you have sprocket damage, it's common to see chain damage as well, so be on the lookout for that.

11. Test Brakes and Throttle

Squeeze brake levers. They should feel firm, not squishy, and the brakes should rebound forward completely.

Twist throttle wide open, let go. If it's slow or sticks when closing, fix it. Sticking throttles are a recipe for disaster.

Any delay in braking or throttle = unsafe ride.

12. Check Bars and Suspension

Grab your handlebars. Push. Pull. Twist. No movement? Good. Movement? Tighten them up!

Then compress the front and rear suspension. Should be smooth and reactive to force. No weird sounds, no stickiness. Afterwards, the suspension should rebound strong and fast.

13. Power Up and Scan for Errors

Turn on the bike. Look for error codes on the display. Check headlight, tail light, brake light, horn—whatever your setup includes. Make sure they're all functioning properly.