How Often Should I Service My Mountain Bike?: Pro Tips

I’ve tuned trail bikes for years, from race builds to weekend rigs. I know how a clean, smooth bike can turn a rough ride into a great one. Here is the clear answer to How often should I service my mountain bike? with real numbers and simple steps. I’ll show you what to check after each ride, each month, and each season. You will see when to DIY and when to book a shop. This guide blends expert practice with lessons I learned the hard way.

Your MTB Service Timeline At A Glance

Here is a simple schedule that works for most riders. Adjust it based on your terrain, weather, and hours on the bike.

• After every ride: Rinse, dry, lube chain, quick safety check.
• Weekly or every 5 hours: Drivetrain clean, tire and shock pressure, bolt check.
• Monthly or every 25–30 hours: Deep clean, inspect pads, rotors, cables, housing, tires, sealant, and wheels.
• Quarterly or every 50 hours: Brake bleed check, derailleur tune, pivot check, hub freehub clean and grease.
• Seasonally or every 100 hours: Fork lower leg service, shock air can service, dropper post clean and lube, fresh brake bleed.
• Yearly or every 150–200 hours: Full suspension service (damper and air), pivot bearing service or swap, full cable/housing or fluid refresh, wheel bearings.

Brands publish hour-based intervals for forks, shocks, and brakes. Most set lower leg and air can at 50–100 hours, and damper service at 125–200 hours. Heavy mud or dust shortens these.

Why Frequency Depends On You And Your Trails

Service timing is not one-size-fits-all. These factors shift your schedule.

• Conditions: Mud, dust, and creek crossings speed wear.
• Terrain: Long descents and rock gardens stress brakes and wheels.
• Rider and load: Heavier riders and packs add force to pivots and wheels.
• E-MTB torque: More power means more drivetrain wear.
• Storage and washing: Wet storage or strong jet sprays harm bearings and seals.
• Hours vs miles: Time in rough terrain matters more than distance alone.

When I coached a junior team in a wet spring, we halved the hours between suspension services. It kept forks smooth and saved seals.

Post-Ride And Weekly Checks

These quick habits prevent big bills later.

• Rinse light dirt with low-pressure water. Wipe dry with a clean cloth.
• Lube the chain. Wipe off extra. Pick a wet or dry lube to match the trail.
• Check tire pressure and look for cuts or sealant weeps.
• Squeeze brakes. If they feel soft or pull to the bar, note it.
• Spin wheels. Watch for wobbles and listen for rubs.
• Weekly: Inspect bolts with a torque wrench. Focus on stem, handlebar, rotors, cranks, and pivots.

Tip: Avoid pressure washers. They push grit past seals.

Monthly To 50-Hour Tasks

Do a deeper pass each month or every 25–50 hours.

• Drivetrain: Remove and clean chain, cassette, and pulleys. Measure chain wear. Replace before it eats your cassette.
• Brakes: Check pad thickness. Most pads need swap near 1 mm backing plate. Clean rotors with isopropyl alcohol.
• Cables and housing: Look for drag or rust. Replace if gritty.
• Wheels: Check spoke tension and true. Grease the freehub if it gets noisy.
• Tires and sealant: Top up tubeless sealant every 2–3 months. Patch cuts early.

I once tried to stretch a worn chain another month. It ate a high-end cassette. The cheap part I skipped became a costly fix. Do not repeat my mistake.

100-Hour And Seasonal Service

This is the sweet spot to keep the ride plush and safe.

• Fork lower leg service: New wiper lubrication and bath oil. Clean foam rings. This reduces friction and stiction.
• Shock air can service: Swap seals and grease. Keeps small-bump feel alive.
• Brake bleed: Flush old fluid. Remove bubbles and moisture.
• Dropper post service: Clean, re-grease, and check cable or line.
• Pivots: Inspect bearings and hardware. If you feel play or hear creaks, plan a bearing change.

These jobs follow common maker guidance. Dusty or wet use can cut the interval to 50–75 hours.

Annual Or Big-Mileage Overhaul

At least once a year, or at 150–200 hours, do a full reset.

• Suspension damper service: Replace oil and wear parts. This restores control on fast hits.
• Full pivot service: Replace bearings or bushings. Reset torque with thread locker where needed.
• Hubs and bottom bracket: Clean, grease, or replace bearings if rough.
• Cables, housing, or brake fluid: Refresh fully for crisp shifts and firm levers.
• Dropper post: Air cartridge or full rebuild if slow or sagging.

If you ride park or race, do this sooner. The hours add up fast on lift days.

Signs You Need Service Sooner

Do not wait for failure. These flags mean it is time now.

• Brakes feel spongy, or lever pull grows longer.
• Fork or shock feels harsh, sticky, or tops out with a clunk.
• Chain skips under load, or shifts are slow and noisy.
• New creaks from the frame, bar, or cranks.
• Persistent wheel wobble, spoke pings, or rim dings.
• Dropper returns slow or stops part-way.

If you hear a new sound, find the cause. Noise is a warning.

DIY Vs Shop: What To Tackle And What To Leave

You can do a lot at home with simple tools. Some jobs need special tools and training.

• Good DIY: Cleaning, chain care, cable swaps, rotor and pad changes, bolt checks, tire and sealant work.
• Intermediate: Wheel truing, freehub clean, lower leg and air can service, basic brake bleed.
• Shop jobs: Damper and shock rebuilds, pivot bearing swaps, carbon repairs, advanced wheel builds.

Use torque specs from your frame and parts. A small torque wrench saves threads and keeps you safe. If the job risks your warranty, call your shop first.

Cost And Time: What To Budget

Prices vary by region and parts. Here are typical ranges.

• Basic tune: 60–120 USD. Clean, adjust, safety check.
• Brake bleed: 25–50 USD per brake plus fluid and pads if needed.
• Lower leg or air can service: 50–100 USD plus seals and oil.
• Full suspension service: 150–300 USD each for fork or shock depending on model.
• Pivot service: 100–250 USD plus bearings.

Plan 1–2 hours per home session for cleaning and checks. Shop lead times spike in peak season. Book ahead before trips or races.

Record-Keeping: Hours Vs Miles

Suspension and brakes use hours, not miles. Track both to stay on schedule.

• Use a ride app or head unit to log hours.
• Note service dates and hours in a small notebook or phone.
• Tag rides with mud, dust, or park days. Shorten intervals after rough weeks.
• Keep receipts for warranty and resale.

I keep a sticker under my top tube with fork and shock next-service hours. It is a simple reminder that works.

Frequently Asked Questions Of How Often Should I Service My Mountain Bike?

How Often Should I Lube My Chain?

Lube after every wet or dusty ride. In dry, clean conditions, every 2–3 rides can work. Wipe the chain first, then lube, then wipe excess.

How Many Hours Between Suspension Services?

Do lower leg and air can at 50–100 hours. Do full damper services at 125–200 hours. Shorten intervals for mud, dust, or park use.

When Should I Bleed My Brakes?

Bleed every 6–12 months, or sooner if the lever feels soft, travel grows, or fluid looks dark. Heavy descending needs more frequent bleeds.

How Do I Know My Chain Is Worn?

Use a chain checker tool. Replace near 0.5% wear for 12-speed and near 0.75% for older 10–11-speed. Early swap protects your cassette.

Do I Need To Service Pivots Every Year?

Inspect pivots each month. Service or replace bearings yearly or at the first sign of play, roughness, or creaks. Wet riding speeds wear.

Should I Wash My Bike With A Pressure Washer?

No. High pressure pushes water past seals. Use low-pressure water, bike cleaner, and soft brushes.

How Often Should I Refresh Tubeless Sealant?

Top up every 2–3 months. In hot, dry places, check monthly. Shake the wheel and listen for liquid. If dry, add sealant.

Wrap-Up And Next Steps

A clear service plan keeps your mountain bike fast, quiet, and safe. Think in hours, not only miles. Do quick checks after each ride. Book deeper services at 50, 100, and 150–200 hours. Adjust for mud, dust, and big descents. Small habits save big money.

Set your next service date today. Start a simple log. If you found this useful, subscribe for more guides or leave a question in the comments. Ride more. Wrench less. Enjoy the trail.