Shuangye ebike
How to start electric bike without key [6 methods]
E-bikes are the latest addition to the ever-evolving world of urban mobility. After electric cars, e-bikes are popular with daily commuters and fitness-conscious people. Why choose a regular bike when an e-bike is faster, more reliable, more economical and easier to use than an electric car.
However, one of the problems people face with e-bikes is losing their keys. If you don’t have a key, you can’t start your bike and you’re basically in limbo. Correct?
Well, not exactly. Ideally, an e-bike needs a key to start, but there are a few other ways to start an e-bike without an e-bike key. You can also ride your e-bike manually until you find a plan of action.
If you’d like to learn more about why e-bikes need keys, what you should do in the unfortunate event that you lose your keys, and some ways to start your e-bike without a key, read on.
Do I need a key for my e-bike?
Keys for e-bikes are not exactly the same as keys for motorbikes. They don’t energise or start the bike, instead the key is fixed to the battery in the e-bike. So we come to our main question, do e-bikes really need keys? The answer is yes, but perhaps indirectly.
Without a key, you cannot protect the battery of your e-bike. This means that the motor of the e-bike cannot be powered unless the battery is secure and the e-bike will not start without the key.
You can step on the pedals and start riding the bike manually without a key, but the battery will not supply power to the motor unless the key is inserted and switched on.
Most e-bikes come with two identical keys, so you can have one for everyday use and one as a spare.
Each e-bike has a specific key, which means you can’t use your e-bike key to try and power your friend’s e-bike. This is an important and useful safety measure to ensure that your e-bike is safe and secure.
What to do if you lose your key
If, in some unfortunate circumstance, you end up losing your keys, try to remain calm. It’s not the end of the world if you lose your keys and there are a few things you can do.
Firstly remember where the spare e-bike key is stored. Remember that e-bikes usually come with two identical keys, so one of them may be kept in a safe place in your home.
If you don’t have a spare key, you can contact the bike manufacturer and order a new one for yourself. This will cost you some money and you may also need to pay additional shipping costs, depending on where the e-bike manufacturer is located.
To order a replacement key, you will need to have the special key card that came with your bike.
While you’re waiting for a new set of keys to arrive, it’s not negligent to start double-checking common locations where you might have lost your keys.
Go through your home and office, check all the clothes you have to wash in case you’ve left your keys in your trouser pockets, check your bags and rucksacks, and even ask your friends and family if they remember seeing the keys somewhere. Chances are you haven’t lost your keys forever, you’ve just misplaced them.
6 Ways to Start Your E-Bike Without Keys
If you’ve looked everywhere you can think of and come up empty-handed, you may need to look for alternative ways to start your e-bike while you wait for a new replacement key.
The main purpose of an e-bike key is to protect the battery and allow power to flow from the battery to the motor. Without a key, you can still get power manually.
In fact, starting an e-bike without a key is relatively easy and manageable.
However, we wouldn’t recommend it unless it’s an emergency and you have no other options. That’s because some methods of starting your bike manually are less safe and can damage your bike, motor and battery.
So here are six ways to start your e-bike without a key. Examine each method carefully and consider which is the most convenient and easy to use for you. You can even try more than one method to see which works best for you.
- Connecting wires
Connecting wires is another method of ignition. E-bike ignition works differently than a motorbike or car. The only function of the e-bike key is to complete the circuit and provide power from the battery to the motor. You can manually connect the wires and complete the circuit without the need for a key.
To do this, you will need to spend a few minutes finding the correct wires that need to be connected. The ignition wiring will most likely be located underneath where the key locking system is located.
Once you have identified the correct wires, you can cut them and connect them. After connecting the wires, the circuit will be complete and your e-bike will start.
However, only attempt this method if you keep safety measures in mind. There is a high risk of electrocution when handling exposed wires. Wear rubber gloves to avoid electric shock.
- Remove the battery
Removing the battery is one of the safest ways to start your e-bike without causing any damage to the bike or the battery. Once the battery is removed and disconnected from the e-bike, you have essentially turned the e-bike into a regular manual bike.
With the battery connected and the e-bike switched on, when you peddle, you start the motor and it will help you peddle and help the bike go faster. When you do a little peddling manually, the motor does most of the work.
When you remove the battery, there is no power to the motor. So when you peddle, the bike will move entirely on your manual labour and will act as a normal hand bike. There is no need for any electrical power.
- Applying spacers
Another way to start your e-bike without the need for a key is to make a shim. A shim is essentially a small wedge or strip of material that can be used to align the inside of a key locking system. Shims are a very safe and inexpensive way to start your bike without a key.
The easiest way to make a shim is to cut a strip of aluminium from a drinks can. Cut off the top and bottom of the can until you are left with a plain sheet of metal. The sheet is then cut into an “M” shape and folded along the vertical axis.
This will give you the proper form you need. When cutting, try to get the dimensions of the shim as close as possible to the length and width of the key. Insert the shim into the lock, then bend and twist to start the bike.
- Using a screwdriver
If you have a toolbox nearby, get out your screwdrivers, you may be able to use one of them as an alternative key to start your bike. You must find a screwdriver with an appropriately shaped tip that looks somewhat like a key. It will most likely be a smaller flathead screwdriver.
However, this option may not work for newer e-bikes, as it usually works for older locks. Additionally, you must be careful not to damage the e-bike’s key locking system when you try to start the bike with the screwdriver.
Using too much force may damage some of the small parts in the key locking system and you will then have to complete repair work or replace the system.
- Using the crash key
Crash keys are the same as universal or master keys. These keys can be used to unlock almost any lock! If you have a crash key to hand or know where to find one, it’s definitely worth taking the trouble to try it out. With any luck, it will start the bike.
However, the problem with bump keys is that they are not very easy to find. If you don’t have a spare key for your e-bike, then you may not have a crash key to hand.
In addition, manufacturers design e-bikes with unique keys specific to each bike, which means that using any other key to start it may not be possible. Consequently, the crash key may not effectively function.
- Use a plastic pen
Finally, the last method that can help you start your e-bike without a key is to use a plastic pen. This is definitely the last method of choice, and we don’t recommend you try it unless you’ve already tried all the other methods.
This is because the plastic pen method is risky and a bit old-school, as it mainly only works with old-fashioned tubular locks.
All you have to do is find a plastic pen and take it apart. Once you’ve removed the ink tube and nib, leaving only the plastic cylinder, place it over an open flame and melt it.
You want to make sure that it doesn’t melt completely and only melts to the point where it is malleable. Insert the malleable pen into the keyhole and wait for it to get cold and solidify. You can then try turning it to start the bike.
This method may damage your key locking system, so we don’t always recommend it. Plastic may get stuck in the keyhole and be difficult to remove. You may over-melt the pen and injure yourself. There are many risks to be aware of.
If all else fails, ride your bike manually!
If you’re out and about and find you’ve lost your keys, there’s no need to worry about getting into trouble. If all else fails, remember that you can always ride your bike manually.
Most e-bikes allow you to switch between using the motor or just pedalling with your legs. This can be a good option for you if your e-bike runs out of power and you don’t have any alternative charging options.
All you need to do is disconnect the battery or remove it. Once this is done, your e-bike is essentially converted to a manual bike and you can ride it home and store the spare key.
Conclusion
Losing your keys can be a frustrating and annoying experience, especially if you don’t have a spare key to fall back on. If you have lost your e-bike key, don’t worry too much. You can always get a replacement kit from the e-bike manufacturer.
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