MTB Tune-Up Tips

The most neglected item on your mountain bike is the air fork and the air shock. Most manufacturers, like Fox, recommend you service them at least every year for 125 hours. This includes your dropper seat post. A good rule of thumb for your fork is 50 hrs on the lower legs of the forks and a full service, including the internal damper, every 100 hrs. The seals and oil of the shock should be done every 50-100 hrs. The seat post gets a bit less used, as do the seals and oil once a year or two. Get a Nitrogen pro fill, too. Get a complete tune-up, including suspension: MTB Overhaul.

At Archer’s Bikes, we carry all the parts needed for our expertly trained mechanics to rebuild, refurbish, and repair your shock or fork. No appointment is required to drop your bike off. Expect it to be in the queue for at least a week unless parts need to be ordered. Find Us.

Many of us ride an average of three hours per week and should plan to service the entire bike annually. More frequent service is required if you ride more. Get all your suspension parts, the drivetrain, and pivot points done simultaneously. A tune-up uncovers many hidden wear points. Shifting cables and housings are notorious for invisible wear. Brake pads and discs can become dangerously worn out. Even the brake fluid will deteriorate over time.

Keeping the suspension clean and fresh helps it last longer and keeps you at peak performance on every ride. The bearings on the pivots do wear out. When they reach the end of their useful life, they can even damage the frame if not replaced. Even a bike in storage can experience deterioration. Grease and oils dry out, and those tires become brittle and less compliant.

Tubeless sealant is a common failure point. Most sealants only last three months. Although it can be refreshed, it builds up inside the tire over time, unbalancing the spin and adding weight. Cleaning out the inside of the tire at every refresh keeps buildup to a minimum. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for how much sealant to use. Add a little extra for new tires. Generally, a mountain bike tire needs at least 2 ounces of sealant to work best. Plus, the size needs more. Many riders carry a small (2oz-4oz) squirt bottle of backup sealant in their pack, just in case. Flat tires are no fun.

Winter riding, especially rain, mud, and snow, can damage any bike. If you missed your annual Spring tune-up, Fall is an excellent time to get set for a trouble-free ride all Winter. Make sure you rinse the mud off when you get home. Mud, especially dried dirt, is terrible for your stanchions and drive drain.

You can extend the time between tune-ups by cleaning the bike regularly. Many riders clean their bike after every ride. When cleaning the bike, rinse with a soft spray first to loosen dirt and dust. Wipe the bike down with a soft cloth and a mild dish soap solution. If your drive drain is especially greasy, spray that first, on a dry bike, with a good cleaner. Brush the cleaner into the crevices and let it sit before you rinse. After everything is dry, check the chain. It should be lubricated on the inside (not the outside). Use a good quality bicycle chain lube after every thorough scrubbing (read more on drive train maintenance). Put a few drops of shock lube on the fork and shock seals regularly to keep them from sticking. Get your shock & fork filled with a Nitrogen Pro Fill, too.

During your tune-up, expect us to review everything, make adjustments, and advise you about additional items needing attention. Here is the basic rundown:

• General inspection
• Set tire pressure
• Check chain wear, clean and lube drive train (off bike)
• Lubricate, adjust and inspect the drive chain
• Remove derailleur and brake cables, clean and lubricate
• Adjust derailleurs and shifting
• True unbent wheels (off bike)
• Check and adjust brakes
• Check and adjust wheel bearings
• Check and adjust headset bearings
• Check and adjust the bottom bracket
• Lubricate all pivot points
• Check all critical bolts for correct torque specs
• Motor: check all elect connections, computer & motor operation
• Wipe down bike

Thanks for reading. Read more here: Maintenance.

Copyright Randy Archer, Archer’s Bikes 2024