Bicycle Service Guide
8 steps to keep your bike happy
You've made the investment in your bike. You rip trails with your best riding friends. To keep the good vibes flowing, be sure to protect your investment with regular maintenance to keep your rig rolling like new and bringing you smiles mile after mile!
Below are our guidelines for preventative services to prolong the life of your bike's suspension. The service intervals below are not hard and fast but just general guidelines for what we think the average rider would need. If you are riding more than once or twice a week, are often riding in bad weather, on technical, rocky/rooty trails, and/or live in an area where the climate could affect your bike's performance, your bike would probably enjoy the spa treatment more often than we discuss below.
Our team is committed to keeping you and your bike on the go by keeping everything in excellent shape. Our mechanics are certified, extremely knowledgeable, and experienced in bikes and builds of all shapes, sizes, and brands.
Why should you service your bike?
Regular maintenance on your bike not only ensures a smooth ride, but it keeps you and your bike safe. While there are many methods you can do at home to keep your bike in great condition, it’s important to regularly have your bike serviced professionally. On mountain bikes, maintaining a healthy suspension gives you the smoothest, most controlled ride, making you less susceptible to injuries and damages to your bike!
General Service Guidelines
Step 1. Every Ride
Check Tire Pressure: Ensure tires are inflated to desired pressure.
Lube and wipe down chain: Lube 1x per every 2-3 hours of riding and make sure to wipe off any excess lube.
Check Hubs and Wheels: Move wheel side to side while holding the seat tube or fork; any play may indicate a loose bolt or compromised hub, this should be addressed before riding. Spin wheel and check for trueness and brake drag.
Check thru-axles and quick release tension: Ensure that they haven’t rattled loose or come undone.
Wipe/rinse off excess dirt and mud after each ride.: Dirt and mud that's left caked on the components can absorb grease and lubricants, causing them to dry out faster; we encourage wiping dirt/mud off instead of washing your bike. If extremely muddy, use a low water pressure setting and bike-friendly cleaner.
Step 2. Every 3-5 Rides
Check Brake Pads: If you do a lot of riding in wet conditions, you will want to check the status of your pads more often. Looking through the caliper with a light or bright background helps when checking pad wear.
Check shock/fork air pressure: Like tires, air shocks slowly lose pressure over time. Use a shock pump to keep your suspension pressure at the desired PSI.
Check for chain wear or slack: A stretched out chain causes wear on your cassette, cog teeth & front chainring. Use a chain checker to gauge wear on the chain and replace if necessary.
Check bolt tensions: Loose parts create problems fast; if your bike feels funny or is making mysterious noises, stop and figure out why, it's usually something that's worked itself loose. Snug parts as needed with a multi-tool on the trail. Use a torque wrench when you get home to tighten bolts to manufacturer specifications.
Step 3. Every 3-6 Months
Service fork lowers: Change out seals and fork oil.
Bleed hydraulic brakes: Flush if fluid appears darker than normal.
Thoroughly clean drivetrain: Includes chain, cassette, derailleur pulleys, and chainrings.
Check tubeless tire fluid sealant: Verify that no cuts or wear are causing fluid to leak out; add more sealant if low.
Check tire tread & sidewall integrity: Low tread and/or cracking sidewalls will warrant new tires (sidewalls should be checked more frequently, especially before longer rides).
Step 4. Every 6-12 Months
Service rear shock: Most air sleeve maintenance can be done in-house; internal damper service only needs to be done if not functioning properly or if the shock is making a "weezing," "klunking" or "slurping" sound.
Service frame: Fully disassemble and clean all linkages, headset and bottom-bracket; replace bearings as needed and re-grease all mating surfaces upon reassembly.
Mountain Bike Suspension Types
Modern mountain bike suspension is highly sophisticated equipment that uses internal valving systems, suspension oil and air to inject the highest levels of performance, control and enjoyment into your rides. Just like you replace the oil and other small parts as part of the regular maintenance of your car, mountain bike suspension needs to be checked and serviced every so often to ensure it can do its job correctly.
Forks
Suspension forks do more than just soak up bumps and make your ride plush. The primary jobs of a suspension fork are to keep your bike on the ground and gripping the trail, headed in the direction you want, and to help you maintain momentum and retain maximum control.
Shocks
Just like your suspension fork, your rear shock and the suspension it works with keeps your rear wheel on the ground tracking like it was designed to!
Dropper Posts
Dropper posts increase the control you have over the bike in technical sections of trails and on steep downhills by getting the saddle out of the way and allowing you to move your weight further back.
Mountain Bike Suspension Service intervals
These intervals are based on the manufacturer's service recommendations and vary depending on the rider. Intervals can, and should, be shorter if you are a heavier (over 185lbs) rider, or if you are more inclined to aggressive terrain to prevent long-term damage to your components.
Service | Suggested Maintenance Interval |
Step 5. Lower Fork Service (oil seals & wipers) | Every 30-50 hours of riding |
Step 6. Shock Air Can Service (oil seals & wipers) | Every 30-50 hours of riding |
Step 7. Full Shock Service | Annually/every 100 hours of riding |
Step 8. Full Fork Overhaul/Inspection | Annually/every 100 hours of riding OR post-crash |