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Mountain Bike Service Interval Guide

You have your new mountain bike and you are ready to roll!

But you’ll probably want to start protecting your investment and keep that new rig rolling like new for as long as possible. Follow our guidelines for preventative service and you can prolong the life of your bike. 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 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 then we discuss below. 

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 soap.

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.

Every 3-6 Months

Service fork lowers: Change out seals and fork oil.

Bleed hydraulic brakes: Flush if fluid appears darker than normal.

Thouroughly 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).

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.