MOUNTAIN BIKE SUSPENSION SERVICE
By Evan Lee
As we approach the end of summer, questions regarding suspension service begin to arise. Why does my fork feel sluggish? What’s that bubbling sound in my shock? What’s that service interval thing again?
The efficiency and durability of your suspension system requires periodic maintenance, and whether you choose to have us perform the service or buy the supplies and tackle it yourself, WRC is here to keep your rides fast and smooth.
How often should I service my suspension?
Sooner than you’d think. Fox says every 100 hours of ride time or yearly, whichever comes first. RockShox says every 50 hours. Review the charts below for particulars:
Add up your ride hours for a month – we average 12-18 hours per week around our household – and you’ll see suspension maintenance is as important as an oil change for your vehicle. It adds up quick.
While this may seem frequent, it isn’t some manufacturer’s attempt to gouge you for dollars. These are precision parts, and they require proper maintenance to perform their best. Regular fluid and consumable parts changes are going to maintain optimum performance better and more reliably.
What? I could be servicing once a month?!
Possibly, but not probably. After thousands of suspension service jobs completed, our results show the recommended intervals are determined by more than just time. For example, one muddy race weekend can significantly reduce the interval. Multiple days in dusty conditions are equally bad. Conversely, if you’re not a hardcore mountain biker and you ride more on established paths in nice weather conditions, you’ll likely be able to just go with the annual service model.
Simply stated, the RockShox schedule seems extravagantly frequent and Fox is kind of optimistic while openly suggesting you should do it sooner than 100 hours. You will likely fall somewhere in between. Assess your suspension performance as time progresses and make the call.
For a real-world look, Pinkbike once did a rider poll on average suspension service times: check it out here.
You mentioned durability?
Suspension service is the best way to prolong the life of your fork and shock. Contaminants get into the oil, fix into the seals and wipers, and wear on the surfaces of the stanchions. Oil and abrasive grit, applied at a robust pace to a refined surface. Think about it like wet sanding your expensive fork legs and the stanchion in your shock. Not ideal.
What was that about performance?
In addition to premature wear of your suspension bits, performance will begin to noticeably suffer. When things were fresh and plush, it felt like riding a waterbed over that chunky downhill. Now after a summer of killer descents it feels like a dump truck with low tires. You’ll notice the suspension getting draggy, its responses slowed. It will get significantly slower in compression and rebound, and you’ll begin to feel the suck. This will negatively affect the performance of your bike, and certainly your overall ride experience.
Do I have to do my dropper post, too?
Definitely. It’s like your fork and shock and needs maintenance attention as well. It doesn’t work nearly as hard so annual service is sufficient. Do keep it clean though. You’ve been wiping the dust off your dropper post after each ride, like you do your fork and shock (you are doing that, right?) and this goes a long way to keeping stanchion wear at bay. When it begins to exhibit some stiction, hit it with some suspension lube spray, move it through its travel a few times and wipe it clean.
What do I do?
Make your appointment today. Treat your suspension to what it needs, and it will return the love. If you’re unsure that your suspension needs service, our experts can help diagnose the issue if you bring your bike by the shop. Diagnoses is always free and we would never service a fork or shock that didn’t need it.
Visit the Suspension Lab page for more info, diagnosis tips, and pricing.