Before investing in an e-bike, the motor’s durability will always hit you first. Turns out, not all e-bike motors offer the same longevity, especially with regular usage.
Generally, an e-bike hub motor can withstand anywhere from 8 to 10 years of usage without any repairs. However, this number may upsurge depending on the motor type, capacity, manufacturer, and how you use it.
Using the wrong e-bike in the wrong place is sure to decrease motor-life as well. Like, if you use a commuting e-bike for hiking or on non-waterproof one in the rain.
Maintenance tasks like regular oiling, low stress riding, and towing less weight can keep the motor running like a charm for even more than a decade. But these aren’t the only ones.
Today, we will dig into how long does an electric bike motor last, and everything you can do to improve its lifespan. We also left you guys with a lifespan list chart, so you can understand exactly what you need in mere seconds.
How Long Does an Electric Bike Motor Last: List Chart
As a rule of thumb, higher-end ebikes come with high-end motors with robust build that translates into longer lifespan. The chart below shows you how long an ebike battery can last, depending on the motor capacity:
| Motor capacity | Longevity without any fixes | |||||||
| City roads | Uneven/ Gravel roads | Mountain terrain | In snow and sand | For muddy terrain | For cargo | Commuting | ||
| 250w | 8 years | 6-7 years | Not eligible | 7-8 years | 5-7 years | 5-6 years | More than 7 years | |
| 350w | 9 years | 6-7 years | 5-6 years | 8-9 years | 6 years | 5-6 years | More than 9 years | |
| 350w | 9 years | 6-7 years | 5-6 years | 8-9 years | 6 years | 5-6 years | More than 9 years | |
| 500w | 10 years | 7-8 years | At best 8 years | 7-9 years | 6-7 years | 6-7 years | More than 10 years | |
| 750w-1000w | 11-12 years | 7-8 years | 5-7 years | 7-8 years | 5-7 years | 6-7 years | More than 10 years | |
Note: These figures are just plain numbers. You can improve the longevity of e-bike motors with regular maintenance and some love. Waterproofing and the encapsulation also can play a role here.
How Long Does an Electric Bike Motor Last: According to Motor Wattage
Generally, an e-bike motor watt and acceleration capacity highly influence longevity. If you own a 250w or a 350w motor, then you need to crank up its power more for reaching 17 mph. On the other hand, a 500w motor doesn’t need to work as hard for it.
Removing the speed limiter from an e-bike or frequently hitting on the maximum speed can decrease its lifespan by two to three years. Then again, this number depends on the motor capacity and top speed. Here are the lifespans of e-bike motors, according to motor capacities:
How Long 250w Ebike Motors Last
250w motors may not hold much power, but they are cheap and reliable. Ramping up to 15 mph, these motors can hook you on a ride on all city roads easily. You can expect a 250w motor to last about 8 years for daily commuting to the office.
On the other hand, muddy and gravelly roads can decrease their lifespan to about 6 years. People using these motors to pull cargo won’t get any good results either.
Mountain riders won’t get too much out of them as they aren’t powerful enough for sloppy roads. Overall, a good 250w motor should last more than 8 years or even more with proper care.
Here’s how Long 350w Ebike Motors Last
A 350w motor is slightly more powerful than the 250w one. However, you can ride for up to 7 years on uphill terrain with these motors. All you need is to enable the PAS mode and wallah.
On regular city roads, e-bikes with a 350w motor will last more than 9 years. They are cheap to manufacture, but you can ride them for 8-9 years straight. For reliable and cheap commuting or joyriding in the alleyways, a 350w motor capacity should be enough.
These motors will start needing repairs after about 6 years of cargo carrying. Roads filled with gravel and uneven bumps can knock a few screws off before the 8 years’ time.
500w Ebike Motors Last This Long:
Now, we have entered a mid-range category. A 500w motor e-bikes is a lot more powerful than a 250w or a 350w motor. These mid-range motors can effortlessly get you up and running on city roads, mountains, and even bumpy roads.
The best part is, these sweeties can withstand more than a decade of constant use. Still, a 500w motor may face a 2 year lifespan decrease while towing and in muddy terrain.
However, under the 700 dollar e-bike range, a 500w motor e-bike isn’t too bad. You can use a 500w motor on sand, snow, or water, but can’t decrease the longevity too much.
750w-1000w Ebike Motors Longevity
When it comes to premium level longevity, a 750w-1000w motor rules them all. Starting from regular roads, to all the way to hilltops, a 750w e-bike will last more than 8-10 years. Use it for long drives, mountain riding, off-roading, and whatever comes into your mind.
The reason is, unlike other motor capacities, a 750w and above one needs to withstand less pressure to reach top speed. You can ride them at half the top speed and still get some decent on-road experience.
Overall, an e-bike motor with a 750w capacity can easily last for 11-12 years without too much maintenance. Then again, with a bit of love and care, you can take their life space to more than 15 years.
How to Improve E-Bike Motor’s Longevity? Tips and Tricks
With love, care, and a bit of caution, you can surely improve an e-bike motor’s longevity to a whole new level. Let’s see the tips and tricks below:
Don’t Ride at Full Speed
Rolling the e-bike at top speed isn’t too great for the motor life. If you want to improve the bike’s longevity, make sure to ride at least 5-6 mph less than the default top speed. You can race with friends every once in a while, but don’t make it a habit.
Avoid Muddy Terrain (if the Motor Isn’t Water-Proof)
Without a water-proof outer layer, mud can accumulate inside the motor and cause internal damage. Even water-proof motors have a hard time resisting mud baths. The less you ride on muddy terrain, the better it is for the e-bike motor and other components.
Waterproof Everything
Try keeping everything as water-resistant as possible. Water molecules may penetrate into the motor, which can aggravate rust. Besides, other parts like the wiring, battery housing, etc., can also degrade if the bike isn’t waterproof.
Clean It Regularly
Cleaning the bike from top to bottom can also improve motor longevity. So, never allow mud particles or regular water to stay in the nooks and crannies of the bike motor. Wash the ebike first, and follow it with a good wiping.
Dry the Motor After Every Clean
Once you are done with the cleaning, dry every wet corner of the bike. You can keep the bike in the sun for a few hours or use a dryer as well.
No matter what you do, water shouldn’t stay too long on the motor surface.
Use Lubricating Oil
Lubricating oil doesn’t just make you go faster, but also improves the motor longevity. Frequent oiling will reduce internal friction, making the motor last for longer.
Remove a Faulty Battery
Sometimes, a faulty battery can output more power to the motor, causing it to overheat. If this continues, your e-bike motor will see its service years dwindle. Rule of the thumb, always replace any battery that discharges inefficiently.
Fix All Wire Related Problems
Though rare, internal wiring can also cause your e-bike motor to malfunction. In most cases, it’s the braking wire that does the damage.
Every time you accelerate, the braking wires increase the friction and the motor wears off faster. So, check the wiring every time you feel the throttle response has gone weak.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Most Reliable E-Bike Motor?
In a competitive market like e-bikes, it’s hard to consider just one as the best. The fact is, some motors are better at providing more torque, while some are better at speed management, and so on.
If you want pure on-road performance, go for a Bosch one. For maximum torque and throttle response, a SACHS e-bike motor is king. Other manufacturers like Shimano, TQ, and Yamaha, aren’t half bad either.
How Long Will a Bosch E-Bike Motor Last?
A bosch e-bike motor can last anywhere from 8 to 10 years without needing repairs. However, with proper care, you can boost its longevity to more than 11 years. Commuting Bosch e-bike motors tend to last the most years, whereas mountain hiking ones last the least years.
How Long Can a Well-Kept Motor Be Expected to Last?
A well-kept motor can last more than a decade. Then again, the more expensive you go, the longer the motor will last. Usually, after hitting two hundred thousand miles, an e-bike motor will start needing repairs.
Does the Back Wheel or Motor Make a Little Noise when Backing the Bike Up?
A healthy e-bike won’t make any back wheel or motor noise when backing the bike. Generally speaking, not oiling the motor gears frequently, can induce a slight noise when pulling back. If the problem doesn’t go away after a few rounds of lubrication, you need a mechanic.
End Note
Hope now you know how long an e-bike motor lasts, depending on the use, motor capacity, and road condition.
If you take the most care possible, an e-bike motor can crank about 10 years of constant usage. Afterward, you may need to rearrange a few screws here and there to get it fixed.
Here we have seen that riding on mountain terrain and muddy roads causes the most damage to the motors. But hey, can’t you deduct a year or two of service life to have the best time of your life?
This is all for today. Keep your ebike safe and ride with safety gear on.