FS Tech

Hi all, I am forming a new service business here in So Cal, and to be honest, I hope to get some feed back from this forum community. Whether you are a casual rider, enthusiast, home mechanic, shop owner or employee, I need your opinion so I can determine the best target to aim at.

My question is; What do you do with, or how do you remedy your broken, worn or otherwise malfunctioning suspension components?

Bicycle owners;
1. Chuck the offending shock or fork and buy a new one?
2. Park your bike in the garage to rust, and take up a different activity/sport?
3. If you think the component is covered under warranty do you drop it off at the shop you bought it from?
4. If you don't think it's a warranty, do you drop it off anyway, prepared to pay for the repair?
5. Do you just fix it yourself?


Bike shop owners/employees (considering this is not a warranty issue)
1. Chuck the offending shock or fork and put on a new one?
2. Even if it's not a warranty-send it to the manufacturer for repair?
3. Outsource the repair to another shop?
4. Do all suspension repair and service in-house?
5. Hide it in the warehouse, and hope the customer does not call?

Well, I look forward to your responses.

Thanks,
Ed McCain
FS Factory Spec

phantomcow2

Well i would say i like to repair my stuff in general. I got a SID some time ago (see my posts) and it had some problems but i fixed it myself for 5 bucks. I know i went to a shop nearby and they were going to charge 60 dollars for a seal change, thats just labor. So i decided to do it myself and its worked fine. If it is more than that i will send it away, either way its cheaper than buying a new one

FS Tech

Thanks for your input phantomcow2, I understand saving a few bucks!

BostonFixed

All my bikes road/mtb are rigid. So I guess I don't have those problems!

FS Tech

I guess I should have included that option on the poll! Sorry, don't mean to leave anyone out!

Ed

KleinRider

Just redid my '95 Judy XC about a month ago, so I voted "fix it myself". Had you posted this poll a month earlier, I would have had to vote "put it up indefinitely".

Good luck with your business endeavor.

Edit: "redid" means replace the internals of the fork with an air-type aftermarket kit.

Rev.Chuck

We do almost all of our suspension repair. There have been some exceptions with really old rear shocks, where I could not get the parts. These I sent to HippieTech.

halfbiked

Likewise. So I said "Chuck it and buy a new one."

FS Tech

Thanks for replying halfbiked, Rev.Chuck and KleinRider, your input is appreciated!

Ed

FS Tech

bump

Rev.Chuck

I noticed that many owners said they would repair the fork themselves. In the general population of suspension fork owners "service it myself" is pretty much limited to changing the oil and on some forks the seals. To correctly(That means with out damaging) change the seals on alot of forks requires proper tools to remove and install the seals. If the fork needs to be bushed I imagine few if any people that do not do this for a living possess the correct tools to get the old bushings out much less the press jig to insert the new ones to the proper depth. So, your poll may be tainted somewhat.

I would start this as a part time venture, and you will have plenty of "off" time in the beginning. You also need a fair investment in tools to properly have a go, 2K would be a good start to have most tools, a place to put them, and a spot to work at.

Do word of mouth advertising, go to races, advertise in the local(cheap) indie rag. You want the people that are willing to pay you $30-40 to change their oil, flush the damper and regrease the bushings. If you can tune a fork for the application, work that end as well.

Two other things, Be the best and the highest priced(That means charge what your worth, not gouge,and do a better job than anyone else. AND, Don't quit your day job.

phantomcow2

Yea thats just the thing, my bike shop wont service suspension forks and i asked why. ANd they said its just not worth it to then, and their right. It seems like there are many special tools needed. FOr instance if you look at the SID service guide you need the SID threaded base plate removal tool. Only available from rock shox no doubt, so i can understand if people keep it to chaning oil or seals.

bluejack

I guess this answer wouldn't help you set up your business:

"I don't use suspension on a bicycle. I hate it. Therefore, it will never break, and I'll never have to worry about it being fixed."

Karldar

I ride almost exclusively MTB XC on very rocky terrain. I voted: Not under warranty. Take it to LBS anyway. I have two Cannondales(MTB) with Headshok forks. While I could repair them myself, I'd rather not worry about it since they've never malfunctioned(yet) nor would I want to spend the money on proprietary tools for them. Guess I could make the tools, but, like I said, no probs so far. I have had my local dealer upgrade the spring/elastomer in my HT, but I think(hope) that's a once-in-the-lifetime-of-the-bike thing.

On the flip side, I have no issues with tinkering with my rear shock on my FS. Thus far I've only had to add air to it. If it fails, I'll probably replace it myself as a learning experience. Forgot about the rear suspension in regards to the poll as I hardly ever ride my fully.

FS Tech

Thanks for the advice Rev. it's very well received, and very true.
Let me use this as a segue into an introduction.
Actually, my "day job" is I own and operate a a hydraulic and pneumatic equipment sales and service shop here in So Cal. I have 15 yrs into this type of business (equipment repair, specializing in high pressure hydraulic/pneumatic). In 2003 I left my corporate career to start my own company. Now, in my geographic area, and field, I am the best, and I'm certainly not the cheapest. I am first and foremost a businessman, I have an immense amount of experience in hydraulics, and have spent my entire life on bicycles.
I have twice in the last 10 yrs created two complete business plans for bicycle industry business-both of which concluded in cold feet (those of you in the industry know what I mean!), with one progressing as far as negotiating leases and capital.
This particular venture is based upon a business plan that I began putting together in April of 2004, I'm 75% finished with it now, frankly, what I am doing here is gathering a bit more marketing data.
I have thousands of dollars worth of the type of tooling required to service anything hydraulic or pneumatic-which is what suspension components are-and you would be simply amazed at how many internal parts in these components use very standard bushings, seals, o-rings etc.
In conclusion, adding bicycle suspension component service to my existing business accomplishes two things; diversifies my current customer mix, and fulfills a life long dream of a business involvement in the bicycle industry.
Ed

FS Tech

Bump
8 days left to cast your vote.
Thanks to those who have already done so, your input is appreciated!

Rev.Chuck

"I have thousands of dollars worth of the type of tooling required to service anything hydraulic or pneumatic-which is what suspension components are-and you would be simply amazed at how many internal parts in these components use very standard bushings, seals, o-rings etc."

I used to be a heavy equipment tech so I have seen it a bunch. It is understandable, why buy the equipment to make a lip seal when you can buy one premade, by a company that specializes in it, for $3 Same thing with spring washer valves and bushings. The rear Hugi hub on my C-Dale has bearings that are "supposed" to be in a 1" air impact wrench

darkmother

I will repair anything that can be reasonably and economically repaired. Unfortunately, with suspension forks, replacement parts are sometimes overly hard to find, and expensive. I've got a '98 bomber that needs new seals and bushings. The replacement parts alone would have cost me more than the new fork I bought of ebay to replace it. Not only that, but actually getting replacement parts for that fork seemed impossible, or at least unlikely. The two stores that I asked to order that parts for me never got them in.

FS Tech

Good point, and a very common experience. In this industry and other industries also-"ordered, but never came in" is usually double speak for "did not even try". I find it frustrating in the repair industry (not just bicycles or automotive) that there is a general lack of honesty-if you can't do the repair-for whatever reason, knowledge, skill, time, tools, are all of the above-be honest with your customer and tell them! I very much dislike these kinds of stories, where the customer is strung along until they take matters into their own hands-like you did. It is highly unlikely that the soft parts for a Bomber would exceed the cost of even the most smoking e-bay deal.
As for being able to find the replacement parts-that's where the cost kicks in-for the two stores you mentioned. Marzocchi may not provide the parts any more-but it's worth looking into to see if the necessary parts are otherwise available. These suspension manufacturers did not invent seals and bushings-heck, one vendor I use has over 73,000 sizes of shaft seals of the type used in mtb suspension components.
If you could have gotten your Bomber going again for $60 would you have?

FS Tech

As a reminder-This poll closes in 7 days, if you have not clicked a response-please feel free to do so!
If you have already-thank you!
You don't have to leave a comment when you vote-and it is anonimous.
Thanks again!
Ed