Mountain Biking - Tune-ups -what to expect?

Just curious, what do you expect from those tune ups that are thrown in?

Basically everything except replace parts? Clean everything, lube everything kinda thing?

There sould be a sticky about maintainence (May have missed) that would give the novice some general guidelines to adhere to. Such as how many road miles before cleaning, trail is easy - needs a clean right away. Also there should be suggestions on what a person should use on different parts as not to kill a fork or gum up a derailer. Please all add some info to this as I would like to be more proactive with my new rides. Thanks.

Just curious, what do you expect from those tune ups that are thrown in?

Basically everything except replace parts? Clean everything, lube everything kinda thing?

I doubt it. Don't expect much.

Basic is the word. If you read the fine print, it will include ONLY adjustments and wheel truing. Everything cleaning/lube is extra/not free unless it is a warranty issue.

Personally I expect them to look at it. Adjusting and MAYBE a chain change. MAYBE. Seriously lbs tuneups are useless. Anybody with the remotest skill in tuning a bike can do what the shops do for these types of tuneups (unless you find that rare shop that goes above and beyond)

they tighten up ur brake wires and stuff and lube everytin up real good.I got my haro back and it was a oily greece ball!

Wheel truing is about all most tune ups are good for.

not all brakes use "wires"

Personally I expect them to look at it. Adjusting and MAYBE a chain change. MAYBE. Seriously lbs tuneups are useless. Anybody with the remotest skill in tuning a bike can do what the shops do for these types of tuneups (unless you find that rare shop that goes above and beyond)


Hmmmm really? This is strange...Most of the advice I had been reading said that one of the main reasons to buy from an LBS was the tune ups. Perhaps only for super noobs e.g. me

Basically, I want them to fix my creaking headset, lube the chain and fork, and adjust the derailleurs and brakes. Would an average store do this?

I am not really an advocate of an LBS for that reason. Personally, tuning a bike is monkeys work. There is very little a normal person without 1 hour of training and a little mechanical ability can't do. I find working on bikes to be very simple. LBS's serve people who don't want to do the work by themselves, if you are a doer looking to save money, lbs's are almost pointless.

Lube the fork, you mean maintain the oil etc...no chance, not in my shops. Creaking headset, maybe. Lub chain and adjust stuff...heck ya.

i hate some of my lbs's. i go in there tell them whats wrong get the bike back it fine for mabey 10min then back to the same. i gave up and have done most of it myself now.

Our tune-ups consist of :
TRUING
DER. ADJUST
BRAKE ADJUST
HEADSET ADJUST
CHAIN CLEAN/ LUBED
GEARS CLEANED
BOTTOM BRACKET ADJUST
HUB ADJUST
GENERAL CLEANING(even cleaner during Jan. and Feb.)
pretty much everything it needs, without taking the bike apart e.g. repack hubs, bottom bracket
We offer one free 15 hour tune-up after that, its $75.00

I am not really an advocate of an LBS for that reason. Personally, tuning a bike is monkeys work. There is very little a normal person without 1 hour of training and a little mechanical ability can't do. I find working on bikes to be very simple. LBS's serve people who don't want to do the work by themselves, if you are a doer looking to save money, lbs's are almost pointless.

Lube the fork, you mean maintain the oil etc...no chance, not in my shops. Creaking headset, maybe. Lub chain and adjust stuff...heck ya.

No not like touch the internals of the fork, just put grease on teh stanchions. Dunno if they'd do that or not.

I hope they clean mine. It's really dirt and I don't have any lube to lube it back up if I use a hose