Electric Dirt Bike Maintenance Checklist

Electric Dirt Bike Maintenance Checklist

Electric Dirt Bike Maintenance Checklist

How to keep your e-moto running strong, safe, and ready to rip

Electric dirt bikes are lower maintenance than gas bikes — but they are not no-maintenance. A simple routine can dramatically extend the life of your battery, drivetrain, suspension, and wheels.

Whether you ride a trail-ready machine from Surron, E Ride Pro, Talaria, Altis, or an upgraded build from Electro & Co., this maintenance checklist applies to nearly every electric dirt bike and e-moto on the market.

At Radmoto, this is the same philosophy we use when inspecting and building bikes for customers across New England.

1. Clean Your Bike Between Rides

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Dirt holds moisture. Moisture creates corrosion. Corrosion kills components.

After each ride:

  • Use low-pressure water (never pressure wash bearings or electronics)

  • Wipe down fork stanchions

  • Clean the chain and sprocket

  • Dry the bike before storing

  • Re-lube the chain after washing

Riding in Salt?

If you're riding winter streets in New England, salt is brutal. Wash it off immediately. Salt will attack:

  • Spokes

  • Brake rotors

  • Bolts

  • Chain

  • Swingarm

If salt sits overnight, corrosion starts fast.

2. Check Chain Sag & Tension

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Chain sag matters more than people realize.

Too tight:

  • Wears out bearings

  • Damages output shaft

  • Reduces suspension performance

Too loose:

  • Can pop off

  • Can damage sprocket

  • Can lock rear wheel (rare but serious)

Most electric dirt bikes should have moderate slack — check your manufacturer specs.

After your first few rides, recheck tension. Chains stretch early on. That’s normal.

And yes — lube it.

Why Lube Matters

An electric dirt bike has instant torque. Dry chains wear fast.
Use proper chain lube after cleaning and allow it to set before riding.

3. Check Tire Pressure

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Low tire pressure is one of the biggest causes of flats.

For most dirt setups:

  • ~12–18 PSI for trail riding

  • Adjust for rider weight and terrain

If you ride out with low pressure:

  • You risk pinch flats

  • You damage sidewalls

  • Handling becomes unpredictable

Make tire pressure part of your pre-ride routine.

4. Check Spoke Tension

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Spokes loosen during break-in.

Especially on:

  • New bikes

  • Heavy riders

  • Hard landings

Use a spoke wrench and lightly tap each spoke. You’re listening for consistent tone. If one sounds dull, it may be loose.

Loose spokes can:

  • Warp rims

  • Cause wheel wobble

  • Lead to catastrophic failure over time

We check spoke tension on every Radmoto build sheet.

5. Battery Care (This Is the Big One)

Your battery is the most expensive part of your electric dirt bike.

Follow these guidelines:

Storage Best Practices

  • Keep between 20%–80% charge when sitting

  • Do not store fully depleted

  • Avoid storing at 100% for long periods

Temperature Matters

  • Do NOT charge below freezing

  • Store above freezing

  • Let cold batteries warm up before charging

Lithium batteries do not like extreme cold. Charging a frozen battery can cause permanent damage.

If your bike has Bluetooth or BMS monitoring, check for:

  • Cell balance

  • Voltage consistency

  • Error codes

Aftermarket controllers with higher power settings can stress batteries. Make sure tuning matches your battery capability.

6. Quick Pre-Ride Checklist (60 Seconds)

Before you twist the throttle:

✔ Tire pressure
✔ Chain tension
✔ Brake feel
✔ Throttle smoothness
✔ No dashboard error codes
✔ Battery securely seated

This takes less than a minute — and prevents expensive repairs.

Manufacturer First Ride Reminder

Here’s a great example from ETM’s first-ride checklist that we like to reference:

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Notice how they emphasize:

  • Chain tension

  • Brake freeplay

  • Shock pressure

  • Tire pressure

  • Spoke tension

These fundamentals apply to nearly every electric dirt bike maintenance schedule.

How Often Should You Do Maintenance?

After Every Ride

  • Clean bike

  • Inspect chain

  • Quick bolt check

Every 5–10 Rides

  • Check spokes

  • Check brake pad wear

  • Inspect bearings

Seasonally

  • Deep clean

  • Suspension service (if riding aggressively)

  • Firmware updates (if applicable)

Why This Matters

Electric dirt bikes are powerful machines. Some 72V systems produce more torque than a 125cc gas bike — instantly.

Routine maintenance:

  • Extends component life

  • Protects battery health

  • Prevents flats and chain failures

  • Improves safety

  • Protects resale value

At Radmoto, we offer full electric dirt bike inspections, service packages, and battery diagnostics. If you're unsure about your maintenance routine, bring your bike in and we’ll help you dial it in.

Take care of your e-moto, and it’ll take care of you.

Ready to rip — every ride. ⚡

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