We often hear people asking how can you ride an ebike in the rain? Electricity and water don't mix. Won't the electrical components become wet and wires’ short out?
Some people even go as far as putting plastic bags over their screens or some other form of unsightly aftermarket protective measures. But we've never had issues before. Even in torrential rain or riding through small puddles. Even after 2-hour long bike rides in rain, day after day, our bikes have still been fine.
We consider it not too different from driving a car in the rain with only the bonnet between the 12V battery and the water. Cars have designated channels to disperse the water safely away from electrical components. They also shield the electrical components from direct water with their body panels. Similarly, ebikes need to be fit-for-purpose and built for any scenario it’ll be used for.
Not only the ebike needs to be well-built but also the ebike rider themselves needs to understand some basic rules when using their electrical bike in rain:
- We recommend not to alter, customise, tinker with, or expose wiring on factory ebikes. If it’s a DIY ebike, ensure your finished work is neat and tidy. Ensure all wiring is tucked away into the bike frame or within a waterproof triangle bag or a plastic case (depending on your bike type). One of the biggest reasons we see water damage is due to untidy workmanship.
- Connectors should not be visibly exposed to any water as a high priority (use electrical tape for these where they are exposed).
- Don’t wash your ebike with direct water, instead use a slightly damp sponge or wet wipes. The number 1 reason for water damage that we typically see is due to washing of ebikes with a hose or pressure washer (not rain!).
- If you are building your own DIY ebike using one of our kits, we recommend that the wiring is completed in a neat and professional manner and with no connectors facing up towards the rain but rather down e.g. so they can’t collect water. Also, all connectors and wiring should be run below the frame members where possible and therefore allowing water to drain away from the connectors (not into them).
- Unless you are never planning on getting caught-up in the rain, use front and rear mud guards which cover most of the wheels. Water splashing up from the wheel and collecting on a part of the frame is the worst (as gravity will help the water find holes and crevasses to enter).
- Don’t leave your ebike standing unattended in the rain. Rather leave it undercover if you are not currently riding it. Generally, when riding your ebike in the rain, your body helps significantly by shielding the electrical components so it’s much safer to ride your ebike in the rain compared to leaving it standing around in the rain. Wind passing over your ebike due to riding it also helps prevent water from ponding and building up on electrical components. Therefore, it’s better to ride your ebike in the rain but don’t leave it standing in rain.
- If you can avoid it, then we recommend not to ride your ebike in heavy rain in the first place. Although, we’ve been lucky so far it may not always be the case for everyone. This is our main recommendation as it will help maintain your warranty on your ebike and avoid any unnecessary risks.
Although, we don’t recommend riding our ebikes in torrential rain for warranty purposes, we do typically find it safe in mild rain. So, rest assured that, if you get caught up in the rain on your journey home or to work or wherever you’re going, you don’t need to panic as you’ll make it home.