How often should you service your bike?

How often a bike or e-bike needs a service, how long suspension, chains, brake pads and tyres last, and the signs your bike needs attention now. Based on manufacturer guidance.

By the Ashburton Cycles workshop · Updated 1 October 2026 · 6 min read

The short version

Have your bike professionally serviced at least once a year, and every 3 to 6 months if you ride most days or in the wet.
Bosch recommends a first inspection of a new e-bike after about 4 weeks or 300 km, then a check at least once a year, including software.
Suspension runs on riding hours: RockShox lower legs every 50 hours, Fox forks and shocks every 125 hours or yearly.
Replace the chain at 0.5% wear on 11 and 12-speed or 0.75% on 5 to 10-speed, before it wears out the cassette.
Shimano says not to use brake pads 0.5 mm thick or less, or rotors 1.5 mm thick or less.

How often, by how you ride

The NSW Government's advice is to have your bike professionally serviced at least once a year. That is the minimum. How much sooner depends on how far you ride and in what conditions. This is what we recommend in our workshop:

How you ride	Basic service	Full service
Daily commuting, rain or shine, or an e-bike ridden most days	Every 3 to 4 months	Every 12 months
Regular riding, 2 to 4 rides a week	Every 6 months	Every 12 to 24 months
A few rides a month	Once a year	Every 2 years
Mountain biking in mud or dust	Every 3 to 6 months	Every 12 months, plus suspension by hours (below)

Workshops publish similar advice: 99 Bikes suggests a tune-up every 4 months, a standard service every 12 and its most thorough service every 24, while Bicycle Superstore recommends a full service every 3 to 6 months. If your bike lives outside, or you ride near the beach, lean towards the shorter end.

E-bikes

An e-bike needs everything a normal bike does, plus checks of the motor, battery, wiring and software. The extra weight and power also wear chains, brake pads and tyres faster, so e-bikes usually need servicing more often than pedal bikes ridden the same distance.

Bosch recommends a first inspection by a specialist dealer after about 4 weeks or 300 km, and says to have the system checked by an expert at least once a year, including its software. A dealer can set a service reminder by distance or date, which then shows on the display.
Shimano's e-bike manual says maintenance intervals depend on how and where you ride. Your shop can set a maintenance alert that appears on the display at a chosen distance or date, and firmware updates go through the shop or Shimano's E-TUBE PROJECT app.
Replace the battery when its range drops noticeably, it takes longer to charge, or power becomes inconsistent. See our e-bike battery safety guide for charging and storage.

Suspension forks and shocks

Suspension is serviced by riding hours rather than months. Old oil and worn seals let dirt in, and a neglected fork can need expensive parts rather than a routine service.

Brand and part	What the manufacturer says
RockShox forks	Clean the upper tubes and seals after every ride. Lower-leg service every 50 hours; damper and spring service every 200 hours.
RockShox rear shocks	Air can service every 50 hours; damper and spring service every 200 hours.
Fox forks, shocks and dropper posts	Full service every 125 hours or once a year, whichever comes first. Sooner for downhill or bike park riding, very wet or dusty conditions, and e-mountain bikes.

Counting hours

At 6 hours of riding a week, 50 hours comes around about every two months and 125 hours in under five months.

Parts that wear out, and when to replace them

Chain: measure it with a chain checker. Park Tool says to replace it at or just before 0.5% wear on 11 and 12-speed chains, and 0.75% on 5 to 10-speed. Changing it on time usually saves the cassette and chainrings. SRAM Flattop and T-Type chains need a checker made for them.
Brake pads and rotors: Shimano says not to use pads that are 0.5 mm thick or less, or rotors that are 1.5 mm thick or less, and to replace pads that have oil on them.
Tyres: Schwalbe says a tyre has reached its wear limit when the puncture protection belt or casing threads show through the tread. Replace a tyre sooner if the sidewall is cut or cracked.
Cables and housing: replace them when shifting or braking feels slow or gritty even after an adjustment.

Signs your bike needs a service now

Gears skip, jump or will not settle in some gears.
Brakes squeal, feel spongy, or the lever comes close to the handlebar.
A creak, click or knock when you pedal, stand up or brake.
A wheel wobbles, or rubs on the brake pads.
The chain is noisy, dry or rusty, or drops off.
On an e-bike: error codes, sudden loss of range, or assistance cutting in and out.

The NSW Government also suggests a three-minute check before every ride. Ours: tyres pumped and free of cuts, both brakes working, the chain clean and lubricated, wheels secure and lights charged.

Common questions

How often should I service my bike?

At least once a year. If you ride most days, ride in the wet or ride off-road, every 3 to 6 months.

How often should an e-bike be serviced?

Bosch recommends a first inspection after about 4 weeks or 300 km and a check at least once a year after that. For an e-bike ridden most days, we recommend a service every 3 to 4 months.

Does a new bike need a service?

Yes. New cables stretch and parts bed in over the first few weeks, so gears and brakes drift out of adjustment. A first check after a few weeks or a few hundred kilometres is worth it.

How do I know if my chain is worn?

Use a chain checker, or ask a shop to measure it. Replace it at 0.5% wear on 11 and 12-speed chains and 0.75% on 5 to 10-speed chains.

Due for a service?

Book online with Ashburton Cycles. Full and Gold services include home collection and drop-off.

Book a service

Sources

Written by the workshop at Ashburton Cycles, 277 High Street, Ashburton VIC. We check every fact against the sources above and update the guide when rules or prices change. Last checked 1 October 2026.