Fix it right, your bike manuals in 3 seconds

On a second-hand electric bike, most of the value sits in the battery pack and the motor. Here are the seven checks to run in order, and what each fault costs to put right.

Every check in the right order, with hard numbers: drivetrain wear measured with a gauge, brakes, spoke tension, bearing play, tyres and e-bike battery. Two hours in April buys back a ride in July.

What tubeless really gives you, what it costs in sealant and in time, how you fix it at the roadside, and the very real cases where an inner tube is still the better call.

Working out what the pack is really worth, then choosing between an original battery, a compatible pack, a rebuild or selling up: the full sum, with the trap hidden in each option.

Weight, average speed, stop-start town riding: an e-bike asks two to three times more of its brakes than a pushbike. What that changes for pads, rotors and service intervals.

Sweat, constant effort, a cassette taking it all in one place: what really ages a bike indoors, how to measure it, and what to replace before you head back outside.