Fixing punctures on e-bikes - is it a problem?
#1
I'm considering replacing my manual Gazelle Esprit belt drive bike with a similar e-bike at around the £2000 mark. I am considering the Tenways CGO800S; one positive review states:
I can fix punctures on my current belt driven bike, but it seems that the motor connector position rules out DIY repairs. How is that to be solved 15 miles from home? Is this a problem common to electric bikes?
changing a puncture on the rear wheel would not be a job for home. First it’s a belt drive, so you’ll require some knowhow of tensioning those in replacing the wheel, but more so because the rear hub motor’s cabling seats within the chainstay with a connector apparently buried. That’s not a home DIY task
I can fix punctures on my current belt driven bike, but it seems that the motor connector position rules out DIY repairs. How is that to be solved 15 miles from home? Is this a problem common to electric bikes?
#2
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 5,057
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From: socal
Bikes: DIY
The "solution" is to get the best thorn-proof tires and tubes. This won't eliminate the problem, but will make it very unlikely (unless you ride in parts of the country where cactus spikes (or equivalent) are ubiquitous). Tenways has brick and mortar stores. I'd ask them what is required, but am not an adherent of belt drives.
#3
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,587
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From: Chicago Suburbs
Bikes: GT Transeo & a half dozen ebike conversions.
Doesn't seem hard, if you carry the tools, own a leather jacket and those cool gloves, It's got the standard motor connector used on many hub motor bikes,
#5
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From: in a house
Bikes: Specialized Aethos, Specialized Diverge Comp E5 and 2025 Spesh Tarmac SL8 Expert
It is not easy to remove the rear wheel, especially if the drive motor is part of the assembly, from the frame of an ebike in a shop, on a stand. In the 'wild' even more difficult.
This is because of a variety of factors including the weight of the bike and wheel, connector cable from the wheel to control panel, proper positioning of the axle guides on the wheel, you also generally have to use a larger than 'normal' wrench for the oversized nuts, etc.
I've worked on some 'cheap' ebikes that don't have a connector for the electric cable making it even more difficult.
As has been said using thorn 'resistant' tires and tubes offers some relief from general punctures but nothing is fool proof. You can also try tire liners, they have proven to be pretty good at preventing typical punctures.
This is because of a variety of factors including the weight of the bike and wheel, connector cable from the wheel to control panel, proper positioning of the axle guides on the wheel, you also generally have to use a larger than 'normal' wrench for the oversized nuts, etc.
I've worked on some 'cheap' ebikes that don't have a connector for the electric cable making it even more difficult.
As has been said using thorn 'resistant' tires and tubes offers some relief from general punctures but nothing is fool proof. You can also try tire liners, they have proven to be pretty good at preventing typical punctures.
#6
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Joined: Nov 2022
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From: California's capital
Bikes: Litespeed Firenze, Spot Acme, Specialzed S Works Pro Race, Davidson Stiletto, Colnago Superissimo
Agree armored tires will help, how much depends on what the local cut and puncture hazards are.
Better still would be armored tubless tires but these rims may not be tubless-compatible.
My Alfine belt bike (not electric) rear is easy to remove and finicky to replace. My ebike is mid drive and flat fixing is the same as any bike with normal drivetrain. With that combo I can't comment on the rear-drive ebike flat fix process, but it's worth investigating before purchase.
Better still would be armored tubless tires but these rims may not be tubless-compatible.
My Alfine belt bike (not electric) rear is easy to remove and finicky to replace. My ebike is mid drive and flat fixing is the same as any bike with normal drivetrain. With that combo I can't comment on the rear-drive ebike flat fix process, but it's worth investigating before purchase.
#8
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,587
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From: Chicago Suburbs
Bikes: GT Transeo & a half dozen ebike conversions.
In fact, I bought two new tires after asking the shop to suggest tires that were easy to mount/dismount. So much easier if you can break them loose without tire irons.
#9
Senior Member

Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 3,540
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From: SF Bay Area
Bikes: Now: HPV Gecko FX 20 w/ assist.. Old: Trident Spike 2 recumbent trike w/ e-assist
Two solutions:
1. carry a split tube: https://gaadi.de/en/. You cut the punctured tube with a knife and remove and insert and pump up one of these, no wheel removal. Do a proper fix when you get home.
2. Marathon PLUS Schwalbe tire and fill with kevlar flat out. My rear tire has been this way for 2 years, zero probs, while i have replaced my front two trike tubes multiple times (easy). the rear hub motor on my recumbent trike makes
repairing on the road a royal pain. I actually do both - carry a gaadi tube, marathon plus tire and kevlar flat out.
1. carry a split tube: https://gaadi.de/en/. You cut the punctured tube with a knife and remove and insert and pump up one of these, no wheel removal. Do a proper fix when you get home.
2. Marathon PLUS Schwalbe tire and fill with kevlar flat out. My rear tire has been this way for 2 years, zero probs, while i have replaced my front two trike tubes multiple times (easy). the rear hub motor on my recumbent trike makes
repairing on the road a royal pain. I actually do both - carry a gaadi tube, marathon plus tire and kevlar flat out.





