How do you guys handle puddles and mud?

Posted by Separate-Command1993@reddit | ebikes | View on Reddit | 15 comments

I ride an Emoto off road only like an adult 😂 but this applies to any e-bike I would think. Whenever I’m on a trail and I come up to a mud puddle or creek crossing I stop and take like 10 minutes figuring out how to get around it without getting wet. Do y’all worry about this too? Should I worry about it? My particular bike is IP54 which is terrible so I’m extra cautious about even rain and puddles in the parking lots of the ohv. Is there anything you guys have found that helps with the possibility of water damage?

It’s actually pretty funny to me having to stop dead when I encounter a mud puddle to determine my risk analysis. I’ve thrown stick and rocks in to check depth and have just flat out turned around a few times. I’m looking to upgrade my bike to a better rated one soon, the one I’m looking at is ip67 and I’ve seen videos of it driving underwater and be totally fine.

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chuckwolf@reddit

put the pedals so they're level, put it in Dual motor and throttle through, unless the water is 8 to 10 inches deep it isn't touching anything important with 26x4 tires and wheels. know from experience after a hurricane road was washed put but i thought is was just a puddle... it was.. a 6\~8 inch deep puddle, 100 feet across. bike nade it through without missing a beat.

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Separate-Command1993@reddit (OP)

It is a mid drive with a 19/18 wheel setup , good to know I can be a little more confident and power through

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Anxious-Depth-7983@reddit

What parts of your bike are exposed to water penetration and is there something you can do about it? Most electronics can handle water just fine as long as they're not submerged when on and a short is possible. Maybe you should do some waterproofing to the most sensitive parts.

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Separate-Command1993@reddit (OP)

Mainly the motor and battery

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Anxious-Depth-7983@reddit

Waterproof the battery connector and the motor should have a pretty good amount of waterproofing already. If not you can seal up the potential locations for water ingress with silicone or polyurethane caulk.

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Separate-Command1993@reddit (OP)

That’s a great idea actually

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Anxious-Depth-7983@reddit

If it's a hub motor it's joined in the middle and you can run a thin bead along there. Don't spread it with your finger though as that makes the edges very thin and they drie out first and start to peel away. Make sure to clean it with alcohol first. There's also a product from Grin Technology in Canada called stator aid that will improve the performance and protect the internals as long as it's not a geared hub.

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WarcraftTurok@reddit

I ride ebikes like an adult on any flat bit of ground I can, I just maintain the appropriate speed for all instances. If the road is 45mph, I'll go that speed. If I'm on a green belt I'll go closer to 15-20mph, for muddy bits I ride towards the edge of just make sure I'm very stable and level as I ride thru it.

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Separate-Command1993@reddit (OP)

I meant like an adult I don’t ride my electric dirtbike on the streets

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TwoWheel_Detective@reddit

The trail nearby sometimes has lots of puddles.
I would try to veer around them but every now and then...

This spring my motor was making noises and when I
took it apart to grease the planetary gears, I found it
full of rust.

No more trails with puddles for me...

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toaster404@reddit

Big mud guards. Stock on my bike. Bike stays dry

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Captain_EFFF@reddit

Fenders and mud guards, riding around the side only serves to make the puddle wider for others, and just be smart about it, if you are trail riding a day or two after rain fall, through trails adjacent to rivers or wetlands you just kinda expect and accept you’re gonna get a bit muddy

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