Upway sells electric bikes with a one-year warranty. The warranty guarantees the bike has no defects in materials or workmanship under normal use for twelve months from the purchase date by the original buyer. Another way to protect your electric bike is with e-Bike insurance, which we offer through our partners at Sundays at the time of purchase.
What Processes Are Used to Test E-Bikes Before Resale?
Written by: Rémy Rossi | October 3, 2025 | Time to read 4 min
What happens before a used e-Bike earns a second life? At Upway, every ride is tested, tuned, and trusted before resale.
More about the Author: Remy Rossi
Rémy Rossi is a bike writer, mechanic, and educator who got his start in community-based bike shops and co-ops. With a decade in the industry, he still wrenches on bikes when he can and plays bike polo on a fixie.
Going for a test ride has long been a part of the hunt for the perfect bike— that is, until online shopping became so convenient. But test rides are also crucial to the reconditioning process to inspect mechanical parts and ensure top performance before resale. At Upway, each bike undergoes a full test ride before being listed online. This test covers the acceleration and e-assist systems, brakes, gears, suspension, riding position, and cockpit ergonomics. Find out more about the entire refurbishment process below, from initial sourcing to the final checks.
Bikes are inspected upon arrival
Electric bikes must meet certain criteria to be accepted by Upway, for both safety and quality reasons. We cannot accept any electric bikes that have defects or damage that make them unsafe, such as a cracked frame. This is typically dealt with before the bike gets to Upway, but we do occasionally have to reject bikes that arrive at the warehouse with critical defects, though the rate is less than 1%. Our detailed acceptance criteria and close inspections when the bike arrives at an UpCenter are the first line of defense to ensure that bikes are safe and high-quality before eventual resale.
Inspection checklist & report
Our 50-point inspection and certification process guides the reconditioning of used e-Bikes at Upway’s UpCenters. There’s an in-depth checklist that outlines the necessary steps and parts to review, as well as a final inspection report included with every e-Bike posted for sale. Mechanics inspect and test things like braking, shifting, rotational or bearing-based systems, motor, battery, and so much more.
Upway’s inspection report for refurbished e-Bikes has:
Upway’s inspection report for refurbished e-Bikes has:
- Inspection checklist
- Completed professional servicing or repairs
- Battery health report
- Total mileage
- Mechanic’s note
- Ownership history
Repair or replacement of components
If the inspection reveals the need for servicing or replacement of certain parts, Upway master mechanics will make the appropriate repairs. Some of the most common repairs are things like replacing worn tires, cassettes, chains, and brake pads, as well as truing wheels and rotors. Any repairs or replacement parts will be listed on the e-Bike’s individual inspection report. The Upway team is highly rigorous and doesn’t hesitate to reject repairs from our own team during the internal quality-control process to ensure the bike is 100% up to standards.
Battery diagnostics
Another important part of the quality-control process before resale is checking battery health and diagnostics. As one of the most expensive single parts of an e-Bike, the battery is crucial to overall value and performance, and even though a bike was owned previously, it should still have a battery that’s in excellent condition. Upway technicians run diagnostic software on batteries to know their exact capacity, as well as consider factors such as the number of charge cycles, age, and total mileage of the bike. If a battery has less than 80% of its original capacity, we replace it with a fresh one.
Full test ride
All e-Bikes go for a comprehensive test ride before being listed for sale, much to the delight of our expert mechanic team. These hands-on tests provide important information to test the mechanics and electrical systems of the e-Bike. Here’s what’s covered in a full test ride:
- E-assist systems: Acceleration, toggling through all pedal-assist levels, and throttle (if available).
- Brakes and braking power: Ensure safe and reliable stopping, with no rubbing or noise.
- Drivetrain and shifting: Move through all the gears multiple times to ensure proper shifting performance.
- Front and rear suspension: Test the dampening and rebound of front fork suspension and rear suspension.
- Correct rider position: Seat and handlebars are adjustable and set to an appropriate and ergonomic position.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the warranty on Upway bikes?
Where does Upway get its bikes?
Upway sources its electric bikes from a variety of channels. We get many of our bikes directly from manufacturers that have bikes they want to send, overstock, or last year’s models. We also receive e-Bikes from bike shops across the country and individuals looking to give their used e-Bikes a second life.
Key Takeaways
- Every e-Bike undergoes a rigorous 50-point inspection covering brakes, gears, motor, and battery.
- Batteries with less than 80% capacity are replaced to guarantee performance and value.
- A full test ride ensures safety, smooth shifting, suspension performance, and ergonomic setup.
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