Broke Down on Your E-Bike?

Hurt, in danger, or the battery is smoking? Call 911 now. Get away from the bike if the battery is hot, smoking or making noise.

1. Get somewhere safe

Walk the bike off the road, onto a sidewalk, driveway or parking lot, away from traffic.
If it's dark, turn your lights on if they still work, and stand where drivers can see you.
In the heat, find shade and drink water. Florida sun gets dangerous fast when you're stuck.

Most e-bikes can still be pedaled or walked home like a regular bike. Only ride on if the brakes and steering work normally.

Flat tire

Switch the bike off.
If you carry a pump and the tire only went soft slowly, pump it up and see if it holds long enough to get home.
If you carry a spare tube and know how to change it, and the flat is on the front wheel, you can usually fix it at the roadside.
Rear wheels on hub-motor bikes have a motor cable and heavy axle nuts. If you haven't done one before, walk it home or call for a ride rather than forcing it.
Don't ride on a flat. It can damage the wheel and make the bike hard to control.

Battery died

Switch the assist off. The bike can be pedaled with no power; it's just heavier.
Shift to an easy gear and take it slow.
Some batteries recover a little after a short rest. Switch on again after a few minutes and use the lowest assist level.
If the battery is hot, swollen or smells strange, stop and read battery safety. Don't charge it.

Chain broke or came off

Switch the bike off before you touch the chain, so the motor can't move it.
If it just came off, shift to the smallest rear gear, lift the chain back onto the front ring, then slowly turn the pedals backward by hand.
If it's broken, you'll need a chain tool and a quick link that matches your chain. Without them, walk it, or coast downhill if it's safe.
Keep loose chain clear of the wheel and the brakes.

Motor stopped helping

Check the battery is clicked fully into its mount and shows some charge.
Squeeze and release both brake levers. A lever that doesn't spring back fully can cut the motor.
Switch the system off, wait ten seconds, and switch it on again.
If the display shows an error code, write it down and look it up.
If the brakes work normally, you can pedal it home without assist.

I crashed

Check yourself first. If you hit your head, feel dizzy or are bleeding, call 911.
Look at the bike before riding: brakes, handlebars straight and tight, wheels spinning true.
Look at the battery. If it's cracked, dented, hot or smells strange, don't ride or charge it. Read battery safety.
If anything feels different, don't ride it home. Walk it or get a ride.

A friend or family member with a car or bike rack is usually fastest. The message above tells them where you are.
Bikes Plus in Jensen Beach offers local pick-up and delivery for repairs. Call during shop hours (Mon–Fri 9–5, Sat 9–2) to ask if they can collect the bike. It's a bike shop, not an emergency service.
Next time: a two-minute pre-ride check and a repair bag prevent most roadside stops.
Check your memberships. Some auto clubs and e-bike insurance policies include bicycle roadside help. Look at your card or policy.

This page doesn't contact anyone for you. Texting and calling use your phone's own apps. In an emergency, call 911.