Can An EBike Travel On A Bike Rack In The Rain?

[DaveinMtAiry]

I reached out to Biktrix but never got a response. I was traveling and came upon big thunderstorms. As I could not find the answer I covered the bike with a cover but it acted like a parachute and killed my gas mileage. Was this unnecessary?

 

[harryS]

I cover the display, and the handlebar controls. The battery is already inside vehicle.

 

[DaveinMtAiry]

I cover the display, and the handlebar controls. The battery is already inside vehicle.

Yeah mine came with a cover for the display and bars that covers the seat as well. I learned it was not meant for travel, the wind did a pretty good number on it.

 

[Alaskan]

In the rain, water falls on the bike and drips downward off the bike. On a rack, at speed, in the rain, the atomized water from your tires (and everyone else's) is moving in all directions, including from down to up.

I suspect some bikes endure hard rain exposure on a rack better than others. Some basic precautions I always do rain or shine is to remove the battery but also covering the battery terminals on the bike, removing the display and covering the contact points on the mount as well as remove the saddle and either cover or plug the seat tube. When washing down the bike I do just that...wash down always holding the hose above the bike and rinsing from up to down, never from down low to up. And boy does a bike need a good washdown after a long drive with it on the rack in wet conditions. I never use a cover when the bike is moving but do carry one to put on the bike when I have to leave the bike on the rack while parked.

 

[DaveinMtAiry]

In the rain, water falls on the bike and drips downward off the bike. On a rack, at speed, in the rain, the atomized water from your tires (and everyone else's) is moving in all directions, including from down to up.

I suspect some bikes endure hard rain exposure on a rack better than others. Some basic precautions I always do rain or shine is to remove the battery but also covering the battery terminals on the bike, removing the display and covering the contact points on the mount as well as remove the saddle and either cover or plug the seat tube. When washing down the bike I do just that...wash down always holding the hose above the bike and rinsing from up to down, never from down low to up. And boy does a bike need a good washdown after a long drive with it on the rack in wet conditions. I never use a cover when the bike is moving but do carry one to put on the bike when I have to leave the bike on the rack while parked.

Thanks. I had considered removing the battery but figured it was protecting the contacts in place. My cover did not cover the battery, only the display and seat.

 

[retiredNH]

If you have a decently built bike with decent components, I wouldn't sweat it. If you have a bottom of the market bike, lower your expectations. Better bikes will have sealed bearings, and wiring that's water resistant. The contact points for the display and the battery will be corrosion resistant, and can just be wiped with a cloth if necessary. Seats these days are usually plastic and pretty water proof. And a wet bottom never hurt anyone...

Cheap bikes, OTOH, may need more protection, depending on what corners were cut to get to a lower price point.

I wonder if anyone reading this can report any first hand experience?

 

[DaveinMtAiry]

If you have a decently built bike with decent components, I wouldn't sweat it. If you have a bottom of the market bike, lower your expectations. Better bikes will have sealed bearings, and wiring that's water resistant. The contact points for the display and the battery will be corrosion resistant, and can just be wiped with a cloth if necessary. Seats these days are usually plastic and pretty water proof. And a wet bottom never hurt anyone...

Cheap bikes, OTOH, may need more protection, depending on what corners were cut to get to a lower price point.

I wonder if anyone reading this can report any first hand experience?

Yeah I hope to get more responses. I ride a Biktrix and I don't consider that a low end bike.

 

[Alaskan]

Given that ebikes range in price from CDN$1,000 up to CDN $15,000 Biktrix is not a high end bike nor even a mid range bike.

Biktrix bikes are Chinese built bikes offered by a good North American Company that adds substantial value with service, brick and morter operations, parts and a responsive team that stands behind the bikes way better than the fly by night, here today, gone tomorrow website warehouse model that offers similar bikes at lower prices with little or no support. Biktrix price point on their similar bikes is higher because they have a far better service team not because they build the bike that much better.

What matters when it comes to extra steps taken to make a bike more resistant to damage and corrosion by rain the water ingress actually using better materials, component that cost more and are designed with greater protection must be used, not just a higher price charged.

The real difference is readily apparent if you compare the durability of a Specialized, Trek or European made mountain bike, subjected to hard, dirty, wet use, to that of a mountain bike built in China. This is not to say any of the above are trouble free, but a better built, and costlier bike, built to the more stringent standards required by the EU will likely also be more durable and not as troublesome.

 

[DaveinMtAiry]

Given that ebikes range in price from CDN$1,000 up to CDN $15,000 Biktrix is not a high end bike nor even a mid range bike.

Biktrix bikes are Chinese built bikes offered by a good North American Company that adds substantial value with service, brick and morter operations, parts and a responsive team that stands behind the bikes way better than the fly by night, here today, gone tomorrow website warehouse model that offers similar bikes at lower prices with little or no support. Biktrix price point on their similar bikes is higher because they have a far better service team not because they build the bike that much better.

What matters when it comes to extra steps taken to make a bike more resistant to damage and corrosion by rain the water ingress actually using better materials, component that cost more and are designed with greater protection must be used, not just a higher price charged.

The real difference is readily apparent if you compare the durability of a Specialized, Trek or European made mountain bike, subjected to hard, dirty, wet use, to that of a mountain bike built in China. This is not to say any of the above are trouble free, but a better built, and costlier bike, built to the more stringent standards required by the EU will likely also be more durable and not as troublesome.

Soooooo, does that mean I should cover my bike with a tarp? On a side note I have not experienced this wonderful customer service Biktrix is known for. The fact that the chat could not answer my question about the rain and I never got the promised call back is yet another example. But I do like the bike and am still convinced I got the best bike for my needs and my $2,000 budget.

 

[retiredNH]

Say you use a tarp. What about wheel spray from beneath?

Bikes are not delicate devices. Does your warranty have an exclusion for water damage, like many smart phones do? Probably not. Bikes are designed for outdoor use. AFAIK, outdoors includes an occasional rainstorm. Your car is designed for outdoor use too. Does it get damaged by rain? Do you cover it with a tarp? Many engineering principles apply to both.

 

[Alaskan]

Soooooo, does that mean I should cover my bike with a tarp? On a side note I have not experienced this wonderful customer service Biktrix is known for. The fact that the chat could not answer my question about the rain and I never got the promised call back is yet another example. But I do like the bike and am still convinced I got the best bike for my needs and my $2,000 budget.

I refer you to my first response to the question at hand in post number 4 above.

I am glad you are pleased with your bike, if not the service behind it. Hopefully it will give you lots of miles of fun riding.

 

[Gordon71]

I cover the display, and the handlebar controls. The battery is already inside vehicle.

But what about the now exposed contacts? On my Rad Rover they would literally fill up with water.

 

[Alaskan]

But what about the now exposed contacts? On my Rad Rover they would literally fill up with water.

If you have an internal battery with the cover attached and removing it opens up the down tube cavity to water ingress, either get a velcro neoprene down tube cover and put that over the cavity to keep water out. Otherwise use some Saran Press N Seal sticky plastic wrap with some electrical tape above and below the cavity to keep it from blowing away.
or get one of these:

RAD Power Bikes Battery Terminal Covers Accessories Small 3d - Etsy

This Cycling Accessories item by JPambitions has 177 favorites from Etsy shoppers. Ships from Elizabeth City, NC. Listed on Dec 11, 2023

www.etsy.com

For those with Bosch motors, Bosch makes a rubber contact cover that is supposed to come with your bike but can be purchased quite inexpensively.

Bosch Battery Pin Terminal Cover

Bosch Battery Pin Terminal Cover This rubber plug protects the exposed battery connector when the battery is removed from the bike. Ideal if you travel much with bikes on a bike carrier. There are two variants available one for the previous Bosch Generation and one for the Bosch Smart System. If...

www.electricbikerotorua.com

 

[DaveinMtAiry]

I refer you to my first response to the question at hand in post number 4 above.

I am glad you are pleased with your bike, if not the service behind it. Hopefully it will give you lots of miles of fun riding.

Yes I did see that. To be honest I don't feel comfortable removing the display. I was either just going to let it ride or cover the entire bike with a tarp before I realized the cover I got covered the display and seat, but not the battery. As I posted it did not do well in the wind and started to shred. A tarp will be loud, a bit of a hassle and kill the gas mileage but I'm willing to do that if it is necessary. I ended up not driving in that much rain, and I don't see moving the bike in rain all that often, but it may happen in the future.

 

[Alaskan]

Yes I did see that. To be honest I don't feel comfortable removing the display. I was either just going to let it ride or cover the entire bike with a tarp before I realized the cover I got covered the display and seat, but not the battery. As I posted it did not do well in the wind and started to shred. A tarp will be loud, a bit of a hassle and kill the gas mileage but I'm willing to do that if it is necessary. I ended up not driving in that much rain, and I don't see moving the bike in rain all that often, but it may happen in the future.

All Bosch displays, with the exception of the Purion are easily and quickly removed from their mounts with a push of a button. If there is any possibility of rain, I cover the mount with its contacts with a plastic bag with some electrical tape to secure it from blowing off. I know others are had wired and not easily removed. I'm not familiar with the Rad setup. If I had a hard wired, bolted on display, I would cover it with a plastic bag and tape it if there was any chance of rain.

If I had a rad, I would get a set of those terminal covers on Etsy that I just showed in post 13. Shy of that Boshield and other sprays leaves a waxy film when it dries and would protect the terminals from corrosion. However that film can also impair conductivity, as can dielectric grease, so the contacts should be cleaned off before reconnecting the battery, which makes it a far less than ideal way to protect from corrosion. best to physically protect them from any water contact at all.

 

[soyabean]

I ride a Biktrix and I don't consider that a low end bike.

Optinions are good. Here is mine: I do "consider that a low end bike".

 

[opimax]

Not all opinions are good and even more are not needed

 

[Alaskan]

Optinions are good. Here is mine: I do "consider that a low end bike".

What a positive and useful contribution to the discussion...NOT. And what the heck is an "optinion" anyway, the opposite of an optoution?

 

[6zfshdb]

Since value per dollar varies greatly in the market, price alone cannot determine what constitutes a "low end" bike. The definition itself is very subjective. The big name brands can inflate their prices simply because buyers are willing to pay. The extra money does not always result in proportionally higher quality components. Is a $9000 bike really ten times better than one that costs $900?

The BEST bike is the one YOU like and will ride everyday. There is no way to put a price on that!

 

[Gordon71]

If you have an internal battery with the cover attached and removing it opens up the down tube cavity to water ingress, either get a velcro neoprene down tube cover and put that over the cavity to keep water out. Otherwise use some Saran Press N Seal sticky plastic wrap with some electrical tape above and below the cavity to keep it from blowing away.
or get one of these:

RAD Power Bikes Battery Terminal Covers Accessories Small 3d - Etsy

This Cycling Accessories item by JPambitions has 177 favorites from Etsy shoppers. Ships from Elizabeth City, NC. Listed on Dec 11, 2023

www.etsy.com

For those with Bosch motors, Bosch makes a rubber contact cover that is supposed to come with your bike but can be purchased quite inexpensively.

Bosch Battery Pin Terminal Cover

Bosch Battery Pin Terminal Cover This rubber plug protects the exposed battery connector when the battery is removed from the bike. Ideal if you travel much with bikes on a bike carrier. There are two variants available one for the previous Bosch Generation and one for the Bosch Smart System. If...

www.electricbikerotorua.com

Thanks. I found a seller on ebay that was selling two sets along with a rad key chain and a thumb throttle adapter. Already had an adapter on my rover but will need another one for the Rad Mini when it arrives.