Frequency of tune-ups?

[gurp13]

When I was buying my bike, the LBS owner recommended that I bring my bike in after 30 days for a break-in tune-up. I asked if there was any kind of deal for me in tune-ups since I was buying my bike from them. He said he didn't do that because the newer bikes, especially like mine, were so high quality that they didn't need more than one tune up per year or so. Is this true? How often do you get your bike tuned up? If you do it yourself, what's a good way for me to learn how to do it and what are the most important things to tune? Are the newer bikes so well made they don't need tune ups very often (or is simply the compenent level)?

[CalEpic]

I would have the LBS where you bought the bike do the 1st tune-up. Ask the tech to show you what he did.

Bikes aren't that complicated. You can do most things yourself with a few bike specific tools.

A good resource for DIY help is here: http://www.parktool.com/repair/

C

[mtnbikej]

Generally when the bike is first built, things like cables stretch, spokes settle, BB set in and headsets sometimes come loose. Most shops offer 6 months free maint. on new bikes. How often you use it depends on how much you ride.

mtnbikej

[PacMan]

My LBS did free tune-ups for the first 6 months--as many as you wanted. I get mine totally overhauled every 6 months: new cables, fork and shock serviced, plus a full tune-up. My LBS gives me a deal on it all. I figure with as much as I ride, if I take care of my bike, it'll take care of me. I mean, with what bikes cost/are worth these days, it's really about taking care of your investment.

Plus, I have found that regular maintenance is more like preventative maintenance. Several of my buds never do anything to take care of their rides and they are always having trouble. I very rarely (knock on wood) have mechanical troubles.

[Epic_Mtn_Biker]

Since you have a new bike you'll experience cable stretch, and that will only be a small adjustment here and there. also, the LBS will take an allen wench to tighten anything. it's a very simple procedure, your components will be fine for a long time unless you tweak any of them on a fall or accidentally hit your rear derailleur on some rocky section of a trail. i've mainly learned all my stuff thru the use of books and asking more experienced MTB'ers questions that's if they work on their on bikes.

[gurp13]

Originally Posted by mtnbikej

Generally when the bike is first built, things like cables stretch, spokes settle, BB set in and headsets sometimes come loose. Most shops offer 6 months free maint. on new bikes. How often you use it depends on how much you ride.

So, is there a mileage standard, then?

[gurp13]

Originally Posted by Epic_Mtn_Biker

Since you have a new bike you'll experience cable stretch, and that will only be a small adjustment here and there. also, the LBS will take an allen wench to tighten anything. it's a very simple procedure, your components will be fine for a long time unless you tweak any of them on a fall or accidentally hit your rear derailleur on some rocky section of a trail. i've mainly learned all my stuff thru the use of books and asking more experienced MTB'ers questions that's if they work on their on bikes.

Fall? Hit my derailleur? What that's about? You're trying to jinx me.

Or, maybe you've just seen me ride. That's probably it.

So, after the initial 30 day tune up, what kind of maintenance? A good book to recommend?

[Evel Knievel]

http://www.parktool.com/repair/ The Park tool book is the best resorce ever.

This site is tripping me out . Now my link here won't work ? WTF ?

[Evel Knievel]

http://sheldonbrown.com/home.html Sheldon Brown is bike guru that can answer most anything out of the ordinary.

[Evel Knievel]

If I can't post links to help people and my photo album is not wanted then I have to leave. http://sheldonbrown.com/home.html

[Evel Knievel]

Goodbye

[gurp13]

Originally Posted by Evel Knievel

If I can't post links to help people and my photo album is not wanted then I have to leave. http://sheldonbrown.com/home.html

The links worked for me, Evel, thanks!

[Epic_Mtn_Biker]

Originally Posted by gurp13

Fall? Hit my derailleur? What that's about? You're trying to jinx me.

Or, maybe you've just seen me ride. That's probably it.

So, after the initial 30 day tune up, what kind of maintenance? A good book to recommend?

all of what i'm saying is based on my experience. i've beat my bikes up pretty good, and not intentionally on some of those occasions. you're bike will be fine, don't worry, just hang out and we'll go over things more. :cool:

[Epic_Mtn_Biker]

Originally Posted by Evel Knievel

If I can't post links to help people and my photo album is not wanted then I have to leave. http://sheldonbrown.com/home.html

Patience, Amigo

the website is going thru a transitonal period :cool:

things will be at 100% sooner than you think

BTW, Great job, George, on the new Forums!!

[Pho'dUp]

Drivetrain and brakes I say. Learn to do basic adjustment of the derailleurs and how to adjust the disc brakes so they don't drag. Good to know to in case you need to fix something on the trail too.

Since you have a suspension bike, the pivots should be checked periodically too. Especially for the first shake down tune-up.

Parktool, Sheldon Brown are great sites. Also the Shimano drivetrain instructions are good too for learning about derailleur adjustments. Searching Mtbr.com forums is also a good resource.

Down the road get a decscent set of allen wrenches and maybe a torque wrench. I'm a ham fist and have stripped a few bolts from over tightening in the past. You could probably use a good multi-tool like the Topeak Alien for minor adjustments for now.

Further down the road, maybe go to full housing for the shifters. This plus going all Sram has made life much better for me.

Anyhow, goodluck and don't be afraid it's not too complicated.

[Skeeter]

Quick addition to this question.

Do the brake lines have to be at least partially covered by a metal casing? Along the rear swingarm by brake line is covered by a hard metal sleeve but with the suspension adjusted at the longer travel option the brake line does not move the same as the swing arm and extends sideways slightly upon compression.

I do have extra slightly flexible carbon fiber covering that could replace the metal brake line cover and should fix the problem.

Now again the question, can the brake line be covered by flexible brake line the entire distance.

By the way, they are mechanical disk brakes, if that makes a difference.

[LBmtb]

Originally Posted by Evel Knievel

Goodbye

Not sure what happened on the old site with your gallery but if you would have let me know when you noticed it I would of had a recent backup of it.

The new photo album allows people to create albums at will, and if you post pictures to a category (like a trail category or something), it automatically also shows up in your personal gallery.

What do you mean by your link won't show up? How are you trying to create the links? I find that typing everything out, highlighting the text you want to be a link, clicking the link button (little globe with link on it), and then tpying in your link in the pop-up window works well.

Older browsers might have some trouble on the site (I havent tested) since it does use some AJAX features.

But if you must then you must leave. No hard feelings.

[mtnbikej]

Originally Posted by gurp13

So, is there a mileage standard, then?

NOt really. You and I could ride the same distance, however you could shift more often than me and cause the cable stretch to happen faster than I am. YOu will know when it happens because all of a sudden your shifting is not as crisp as it was at first.

mtnbikej

[gurp13]

Good advice, all, thanks! I had seen a little of the Sheldon Brown site before, now that I think about it. I was having knee pain and adjusted my saddle per instructions on that site.

I'm gonna learn about those derailleurs and brakes, too. Thanks Pho'd for the advice. I'm totally not a ham fist, I just don't have the strength for it. That's one of the reasons I hate working on cars. Not enough hand strength. But, I do have some allens already. I might pick up an Alien tool, even though I have a Specialized mini-tool. I just don't like it that much.

What's the advantage of the full housing on the shifters (the cables, right?)?

[gurp13]

Originally Posted by mtnbikej

NOt really. You and I could ride the same distance, however you could shift more often than me and cause the cable stretch to happen faster than I am. YOu will know when it happens because all of a sudden your shifting is not as crisp as it was at first.

Gotcha. That makes sense. Thanks.