[Closed] Typical full suspension bike service cost and interval.

I have dabbled in fork and shock servicing, but I'd rather just send them off to have the pros do it. Cost wise it's between £100-150 depending on the model of fork/shock for each component. Plus any parts that might need replacing (springs/dampers etc.)

I've used my LBS to send them off and send them myself, both worked seamlessly for me, but obviously LBS are all independent so your experience may vary. When I used the LBS it was because I had all the frame bearings replaced at the same time. LBS are also in all day to receive/send packages, whereas I'm at work.

Parts and seals can be hard to get hold of depends on the age of your stuff, brand, model. Prices once you've chucked oil, tools etc in the basket end up not too far from the service cost (first time round).

It was a few years ago now, but I think I paid about £400 all in for bearings/bushes, forks, shock service.

bearings - if you do them yourself its typically 50 quids worth of bearings on a multilink bike, much less on a single pivot. The frequency depends on what sort of conditions you ride in, I get a year and a half between bearings, and not all bearings need replacement everytime. Or 100 quid for LBS to do it.

Fork - most of the time you can do a lowers service yourself, and it just costs 30 quid ish for the dust wiper seals. If you need the damper rebuilding then its usually around 100 quid. I do the lowers about twice a year, and rebuild the damper when I have a problem (not very often at all).

Shock - same as fork, do air can service yourself for 20 or 30 quid (assuming its not a fox float x2 or other similar non home servicable shock), do it twice per year, get the damper rebuilt when there's a problem. 100 quid to get someone else to rebuild the damper.

Last year I spent £30 on bearings for my Anthem and £90 for the tools. The proper tools make the job a breeze.

Forks were serviced  for £60 in LBS. The rear shock rebound adjust doesn't work but is stuck in exactly the right place so won't be getting serviced til it explodes!

Its worth learning to do it yourself just so you can understand what needs doing. Just shipping it off and saying "do everything" is a big waste. Some bits will go for way longer than other bits. You can still ship it off for the trickier bits. Never had any issue sourcing parts. The hard part is finding the equivalent generic parts rather than the often overpriced bike specific ones.

Lots of variables.

Fox stuff is much harder to home service, they'd rather you didn't and use some almost mythical 'special tools'. I'm sure some people can home service fox stuff (full service, not just lowers etc) but I've never met anyone who can.

Rockshox stuff is pretty easy, they produce good quality, easy to follow guides for everything and if you take your time it's easy to do - just don't expect to save much money first time around, by the time you buy the seals, oils, special greases and tools if you don't have them already, it'll cost more short-term. I love home servicing stuff, really zen like.

I personally service my suspension twice yearly alternating between lowers and full strip down. Frankly I've never knowingly removed a worn or damaged seal from any part of my RS Lyriks or the forks I've before, I don't really think you need to, a clean and regrease will probably do, but I wouldn't want to take them apart without a seal kit only to find it's that one time I need some.

Pivots can be hard, some bikes are much easier than others, again more tools can mean first time around it would be cheaper to sub it out, but as mine seem to need replacing every 9-12 months (year around riding in Wales will do that) it was worth buying a press kit and some cheap punches and of course taking the time to learn how.

It depends as with everything.

Most folks i ride with say their bearings last years and that they are only shot when they replace them. More likely they are shot after 6-12months but they dont notice.

If your sending it to a LBS look at 30-100 quid on bearings and then labour on top. Shoks and forks about 110 quid an end.

Learn to to the lowers / end can yourself and do this every year and most will run for a very long time.

Invest in the correct tools for your frame and change the bearings each year. This means your not cutting bearings out of a frame and it becomes easy.

Considering a second hand purchase and want to know what to budget for these services if required

Ask for proof of last service for forks and shock or factor in £200 for both to be fully serviced and start my own service regime from there. If its got a dropper then add another £60

Ask for proof of last service for forks and shock or factor in £200 for both to be fully serviced

This, plus £100 for the frame bearings to be done - if it's not a single-pivot.

Thanks for the input. The associated costs make buying used less attractive as I would like to have it fully serviced so I knew where I stood. As it would be an N+1 purchase I reckon it would see 60 hours riding a year May thru October. Do you think an annual service is still required at that usage?

Others may disagree, but I'd suggest you'd get two or three years between full services on the suspension units.

Just do a lower leg and air can service yourself yearly if you can.

Frame bearing life is hugely variable, but for a fairweather rider I'd hope you'd get two years. And it's sometimes just the little ones that need changing anyway.