Bikes need to be serviced regularly, no matter what type they are. This will help them stay in good condition and run smoothly. Like your car, a service will keep it running for longer without any issues or expensive repair bills.
Even though there isn’t any legal requirement to service our bikes, it is definitely worth the investment. Bikes that are regularly serviced live much longer, perform better, and are more enjoyable to ride. Furthermore, the upscale price of the bike is generally higher than those that haven’t been serviced by as much as 20% or more.
On average, bike tune-ups cost anywhere from $40 to $180 depending on factors such as the type of bike, regularity of maintenance and cost of the parts. Most bike shops have a pricing level plan depending on your work ranging from a safety check to a complete bike tune-up, including parts.
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Average Cost of a Bike Tune-Up
A basic bike service will set you back around $40 and should include:
- A complete safety inspection.
- Inspect the alignment of the wheels.
- Adjusting gears and brakes.
- Lubricating the chain.
Mid-level maintenance prices are between $70 – $100 and will include;
- Everything in the basic tune-up.
- Check wheel hubs and rims.
- Bearings.
- Drive train.
- Headset.
- Bottom bracket.
- Cable replacement.
A premium tune-up typically costs $120 – $180 and includes an entire strip to check all 24 parts, clean, re-grease, and check for movement.
| Tune-up | What’s Included | Cost |
| Bronze/Regular/Standard | Full safety check and basic 12-part clean and adjustment Gears and brakes adjusted and aligned Tyre condition and pressure checked Lubricating the chain | $40-$50 |
| Silver/Premier/Deluxe | All the benefits of a Bronze Full safety check, 15-part clean Adjustment and new brake and gear cables fitted Cables replaced Wheels trued (straightened) Gears lubricated and hydraulic brakes bled | $70-$100 |
| Gold/Elite/Super Deluxe | All the benefits of a Silver Service Full safety check, complete strip down with 23-part clean and regrease and new brake and gear cables fitted Bike stripped back to frame and inspected, cleaned, re-built and re-greased Replacement parts fitted for free Components adjusted | $100-$180 |
| Break Tune-up | Break service Replacement cable Hydraulic break bleed Break level fit | $10-$70 |
| Gear Tune-up | Gear service Drivetrain service Drivetrain clean Chain or cassette fit Gear shifter fit Crank replacement Gear hanger replacement | $10-$120 |
| Wheel Tune-up | Inner tube/tyre fitting Puncture prevention – adult bikes Puncture prevention – kids bikes Wheel true (straighten) Spoke replacement (1 – 5 spokes) Hub servicing or bearing replacement Cone adjust Wheel build (5+ spokes) Tubeless conversion inc. Kit | $10-$120 |
How Often Do I Need A Bike Tune-Up?
In general, most experts recommend getting a service every 6 months or 1,000 miles, whichever comes first. However, it will depend on the type of bike, how often it is ridden, and the conditions it is ridden in.
I would advise you to get a full safety check every 1,000 miles or at the beginning of the year. That way, you can ride with confidence that your bike is safe and working correctly; some shops will give a discount if you get more than one done together, so if you have a bike for everyone in the family, it’s a great opportunity.
For a complete/gold bike tune-up, you to get this done at 10,000 miles or every 24 months. If you have a mountain bike and regularly go off-road, it might be advised to have a full tune-up at 5,000 miles or 12 months. You won’t need this as frequently for road bikes, hybrids, and commuting bikes.
For Ebikes, I would get a tune-up every 12 months and replace the battery every 24 months. Ebikes have more moving parts than standard bikes, and they travel at higher speeds, so they will need regular tune-ups. Tyres and gear will take a lot of the brunt of the cycling so consider a safety check at 6 months.
How Long Does A Bike Tune-Up Take?
A bike service usually takes around 1-2 hours, depending on the type of bike and what is included in the service. However, this is a small price to pay when you compare it to the cost of a new bike or expensive repairs that could be needed further down the line.
Typically, the bike shop will give you a time slot to complete your chosen tune-up. If the bike requires repair or the bike store advises a higher tune-up level, they will always ring you to discuss the new price and reasons. This means the bike could be in the shop for an extra few hours or sometimes a day.
If the bike shop charges you for repairs or a tune-up level, you didn’t ask for or give permission for the work to be complete. Contact your local trading standards service for advice.
What Tune-Up Can You Do At Home?
To save on the price of expensive tune-ups, you can do some minor servicing at home and keep your bike running well. I suggest that you always clean your bike after each ride with a bike cleaning solution and water. This will reduce the amount of salt, mud and dust accumulating on your bike.
Here is my favourite bike cleaning product. It’s designed for bikes only and is great for removing dirt and grime.
Lubricant your chain and gears: Following a good deep clean, always lubricate your chain, derailer, gears and cassette. These moving parts collect the most amount of dirt, and if they aren’t looked after, they rust very quickly. Here is my exact lubricant for my gears and chain.
Things to Check Before Your Ride
- Wheels: are the quick-release skewers tight? Spin the wheel and look for brake contact on rims. Move the wheel sideways to check for looseness. Straddle the front wheel between your thighs and grip the handlebars. Try to move them side to side.
- Tyres: check the pressure with a gauge, look for cracks, cuts or tears
- Test the brakes, and ensure they grip the rim.
- Lube and visually inspect the chain for corrosion.
- Hold a crank in each hand and try to shake them to see if they are loose.
- Check the gear shifts operate.