Cycling is an amazing sport, and there’s very little that can beat a day out on the bikes with your friends when the sun is shining. Having a bike is a lot of fun, but bikes do require attention from time to time, and this comes in the form of a service or what some call a tune-up.
We get asked regularly by our readers about how much a tune-up should cost and what it includes. The total typically varies quite a lot, and you will find different levels of services, and also the cost of parts makes a big difference too. In this article, we’re going to break tune-ups down into service levels, cost of parts, and labor, and then tell you what roughly you should be paying.
Why Do Bikes Need Servicing?
Like any vehicle with moving parts, bikes require attention regularly, not just to keep them running but to keep them running smoothly and performing properly. The better you look after a bike, the longer it will run and the better experience you will have riding it. Here are our top reasons why it’s vital to look after your bike;
It stops it from breaking down
The more you keep on top of regular servicing, the less chance of your bike breaking down in the long run. If you leave parts unserviced, they will eventually end up breaking completely, and then the cost is much higher on replacing whole parts.
Performs better
A bike that is well looked after will have smoother bearings and a clean chain line, and with newer parts, it can work much more efficiently. You will never see a pro at the start of a race with a bike that needs any attention.
Safer
If you don’t keep working on your bike regularly, then it will eventually become dangerous. For example, if you don’t replace the chain often, it can slip and cause you to fall off the bike, old tires can rip or can burst, and even broken brake cables can cause the bike not to stop.
What Are the Levels of Service?
Servicing comes in many different levels, typically, you will get a basic, standard, or premium, or some shops badge it up as bronze, silver, or gold. Although all bike shops are different, here’s what you can typically expect from each.
Basic
- Overall Safety Check of frame and forks
- Wheels and tires checked, replaced if required, tightened, and trued
- Brakes checked, replaced if required, and adjusted
- Cables checked, replaced if required, or adjusted
- Drivetrain checked, and parts replaced or adjusted (Chain, Cassette, and Chainrings)
- Headset checked, replaced, or greased if required
- Suspension checked any seals replaced
A basic service is perfect for a bike that has been sitting for a while or isn’t frequently used and, when being ridden, rides as it should.
Cost for Basic: $50 – $80
Standard
- Overall Safety Check of frame and forks
- Wheels and tires checked, then trued and re-tensioned
- Brakes checked and adjusted for best performance
- Cable inners and outers with many shops completely replaced
- Drivetrain checked, parts replaced then adjusted for optimum performance
- Headset checked, replaced, or greased if required
- Suspension checked, any seals replaced
- Bike is cleaned, then degreased and reoiled
A standard service is ideal for bikes that are used regularly and, although still working fine, need attention to carry on working properly as they are consistently wearing.
Cost for Standard: $100 – $150
Premium
- Bike is completely stripped down and rebuilt, with every part checked and reinstalled at the correct torque settings
- Wheels and tires are checked for wear, trued, and re-tensioned
- Brakes checked, parts replaced, and adjusted for best performance
- Cable inners and outers completely replaced
- Drivetrain parts are replaced if required and then adjusted for optimum performance
- Headset replaced and regreased if required
- Suspension is removed and serviced with new seals if required
- Bike is cleaned and oiled
A premium service is ideal for you if you’re using your bike regularly or don’t service it quite as much as you should. They completely rebuilt the bike while salvaging all the good parts and replacing heavily worked parts.
Cost for Premium: $150 – $250
The Cost of Parts
A service or a tune-up isn’t all you will be paying for when it comes to getting your bike on top form. You will also have to pay for any parts that might need replacing. Parts hugely differ in price depending on the brand and their performance level.
Take a chain for an example. A basic Shimano Tourney chain will cost about $10, while a top-level Shimano Dura-Ace is around $50 or more. If you keep on top of services, you typically won’t get any nasty surprises.
If you don’t keep on top of servicing, it can go downhill pretty quickly. A good example is a chain again. Once a chain is worn, it will start wearing down your cassette and chainrings faster than if you had been replacing that chain regularly. So you might save money short term, but you spend a lot more in the long run.
The Cost of Labor
When getting a service, you won’t be charged for labor. That’s what the price of the service is typically for. You will get charged labor if you choose to get a small repair done outside a service. Many people ask us about labor charges in bike shops, so it’s important to speak about it here. Typically you can expect to spend around $30 – $40 per hour on labor.
Conclusion
When getting a service or a tune-up, you can expect to be paying roughly around these prices;
Basic Cost: $50 – $80
Standard Cost: $100 – $150
Premium Cost: $150 – $250
Then on top of this, you will also have to pay for parts as well. This could be a new chain, new brake pads, or even a new set of wheels and tires. We highly advise going to a reputable bike shop that will take good care of your bike and use high-quality components.
