Fix guide · Chain & gears

Why Your E-Bike Chain Skips

Worn chain, stiff link or gear adjustment

Quick answer

Usually a worn chain or cogs, a stiff link, or gears that need a small adjustment. Check the chain for wear first, since motors wear chains out faster.

A bike chain running through the rear derailleur's two pulley wheels — The chain runs through the rear derailleur's two small pulley wheels. Photo: Alextredz, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (resized)

Try this first

Free, and each takes under 5 minutes.

Find out when it skips
Look for a stiff link

In plain English

Motor power puts much more force through the chain than legs alone, especially on mid-drive e-bikes. Chains and cogs wear faster, and once worn, the chain skips over the teeth under load. A stiff link or a gear that's slightly out of adjustment causes skipping too.

Watch how it's done

Rear Derailleur - Advanced Troubleshooting Park Tool · YouTube · loads when you tap play

Video by Park Tool. It may show a regular bike: on an e-bike, switch off and remove the battery first, and unplug the motor cable before taking off a hub-motor wheel.

Step-by-step checklist

Work from the top. Steps go from free and easy to shop jobs. Switch the bike off before touching any connector. Tick each step as you go. Your progress is saved on this device.

1Find out when it skipsFree In every gear, or only some? Only under hard power? Skipping in one or two gears points to adjustment. Skipping everywhere under power points to wear.
2Look for a stiff linkFree Turn the pedals backward slowly and watch the chain go through the rear derailleur. A stiff link makes the derailleur jump. Flex it side to side and add lube.
3Check the chain for wearEasy Use a chain wear checker. See our chain wear guide for when to replace it.
4Fine-tune the gearsEasy Shift to a gear where it skips. Turn the barrel adjuster on the rear derailleur or shifter a quarter turn at a time until it runs quietly.
5Ease off when shiftingEasy On mid-drive e-bikes, ease off the pedals for a moment as you shift. Shifting under full motor power wears the chain and can make it skip or snap.
6Have the gears and chain checkedShop job A shop can straighten a bent derailleur hanger, set the gear limits and replace worn chains and cassettes.

Parts you might need

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. These links go straight to Amazon.

Only buy a part if the free steps didn't fix it. Always match the voltage and connector type to your bike.

Chain wear checker
A small gauge that tells you when a chain is worn out.
Link coming soon
Bike chain
Match the number of gears on your bike (for example 8-speed). E-bike rated chains last longer.
Link coming soon
Chain lube
Keeps the chain quiet and stops wear. Use bike chain lube, not household oil.
Link coming soon

Still not fixed?

Pages to try next:

When it's time for a shop: if you've worked through every step and the problem is still there, take the bike to an e-bike shop. Bring your notes on when it happens, plus the code.

Words on this page: UART

Quick answer

Try this first

In plain English

Watch how it's done

Step-by-step checklist

Parts you might need

Chain wear checker

Bike chain

Chain lube

Still not fixed?