bzink29

I am looking to purchase a new hybrid this coming week. One LBS offers free tune-ups for life if you purchase through them, but they do not open up for the season until mid march. The LBS that is open now says that the longer I wait the more expensive the bikes will be (because right now is off-season)

Is it worth the wait for the free tune-ups for life? Am I going to get my moneys worth out of that? I don't even know what a "tune-up" entails if it is worth it.

I am extremely impatient and want to begin working out and riding because the weather isn't all that bad.

Unsure what to do

Thanks

10 Wheels

Where are you?

Buy a used bike from Craigslist and ride now.

jbchybridrider 

Buy now and learn maintenance yourself. Youtube will help you there.

bzink29

I live on Long Island... so the services that are provided in tune-ups are easy enough to learn myself (someone with no experience)

KLiNCK

Once you start riding and become familiar with how your bicycle works, it's pretty easy to learn how to keep on top of your bicycles' basic maintenance requirements. If you are interested in that sort of thing. Lots of Youtube videos on how to do everything from chain lubrication to adjusting brake and derailleur cables. You will however need to invest in some basic tools. Personally, I would find it very inconvenient to have to rely on my LBS to make every little adjustment to keep my bikes running smoothly. Tuning up your bike is part of the fun!

bzink29

Awesome thanks for the advice so I won't let that deal hold me back from going to get a new bike

Little Darwin

My guess is that most shops that offer free tune-ups for life don't include parts in that offer. So they offer you the advantage of the free tune-ups in return for being your source for consumable parts along the way. Plus, when a cyclist goes to a shop, they obviously look around, so it helps their bottom line that way as well.

Routine maintenance is very easy, and anything beyond that is probably beyond the scope of free tune-ups too. In addition, even though the tune-ups will be free, the chances are that you will have to drop your bike off for a day or two (more during peak season) and not have use of the bike during that time.

If you learn to do the maintenance, you can save time, and also by carrying a multi-tool be able to address some mechanical issues that may happen on a ride.

Burton

Tune-up's are just simple adjustments and inspections and separate from repairs. My guess is that your 'free' tune-ups will get expensive fast. The best reason to pick a shop is their repution for customer service - not because of freebies (bait).

Wanderer

This is the right answer, if you plan to learn a few basics...........

rumrunn6

are free tuneups for life worth it?

not from a shop that is closed

cafzali

Only thing I'd add is, even if you're not very mechanically inclined, there's relatively little that has to be done regularly on a bike that will be out of your grasp. If you keep your drive train clean and learn how to do simple derailleur adjustments, you'll largely be set.

In my experience, the wheels on hybrids aren't always the greatest -- meaning that it pays to avoid potholes and other objects that could cause the wheels to go out of true. Truing a wheel isn't rocket science, but it takes a bit of patience to learn how to do a touch up yourself.

Dave Mayer

This is actually true - not just marketing talk. Actually, the best time to buy a bike is November, with demand and prices then jumping substantially during the first nice weekend in April.

Free tuneups - basically less than zero value. These only cover stuff that you must know how to do yourself. Such as inflating tires, adjusting derailleurs and checking the torque on bolts. Plus you must know how to change a tire and eventually change a chain.

Free tuneups do not cover parts, and you may be then locked into the shop for replacements, which at retail prices plus shop labor rates is beyond my price threshold.

Plus these tuneups may lull you into a false sense of security. When you are riding a bike, you are depending on 20 pounds of hardware between your legs to be completely reliable on a 50mph twisty descent. Not enough of a safety blanket for me. You must know your hardware.

Personally, I'd be willing to pay more for a bike as a heap of individual parts in a box, because then I could build it up myself and make sure it is done correctly. Whenever I do get a bike, whether new or used, I break it down to individual component parts, and then build it back up again. But maybe that's just me.

bzink29

Whilst it sounds nice to be able to do this, I have 0 experience with bike hardware and its actually an intimidation factor for me to be purchasing one and everybody telling me how I should be able to make all these tweaks and be able to do this that and the other thing, not rely on LBS, meanwhile I know absolutely nothing.

Obviously I hope to know everything you do and I will do everything I can to learn but it seems like a lot!

mwl001

My bike came with free tune-ups for life. I got great service there and every bike I rode was properly tuned before purchase -- shifted like butter and brakes were grippy. So that played more into my decision. There were Specialized and Trek shops that offered this as well. But the shop I bought from is only 10 minutes away and I don't mind dropping the bike off for a day or two if needed. I'm sure at some point I'll do some of my own maintenance but it's nice to have the option. So I wouldn't let it influence where you buy your bike but make sure you are buying the bike that's right for you.

Dave Mayer

Fair enough. But through experienced friends, or classes, or onling learning, every cyclist must know how to do the following:

1. Inflate tires to proper pressure (specific to their tire).
2. Use the barrel adjuster on the rear derailleur to tune the shifting.
3. Clean and lube a chain
4. Fix a flat.

My local shop says they see the same customers every 3 months. Like clockwork, they come in with one or more flat tires. Why? Because that is the amount of time required for the tires to deflate to the point they get a pinch (impact) flat. $10 service charge + $5 for a tube later, they are back on their way. The shop has been bold enough to ask why they just don't get a pump. Customer replies with incredulity, that the shop just fixes the flat for them....

Don't be one of these folks.

Wanderer

Don't be afraid of making your own adjustments. It's not rocket science. There are any number of utube videos showing you how to do things.

Bikes aren't hard, and actually require very few adjsutments. More lubrication is important, and easy.

Keep it clean, lubricated, and enjoy the ride.

You can ask any question in this forum, and get lots of answers and opinions.

Trust us, we'll help. What city are you in? Might be able to get lots of free instructions.

bzink29

Awesome advice, Im currently in Long Island right now around the Smithtown area

Wanderer

OK Long Islanders, time to chime in.................... and make a new friend!

fietsbob

Wow people distrust a shop trying to offer customer service, after the sale, for every bike they sell .. a rather Cynical Lot..



Yes, out side of the specified warrantee period, replacement parts are Never Free, anywhere. .

Little Darwin

I don't think most people are saying to distrust the shop, just that free tune-ups shouldn't be an important part of the buying decision.

manc

There is no such thing as a 'free dinner'. Its not being cynical. Its just common sense.
A free tune up will likely be a 5 minute adjustment that you could easily do yourself. While they hope you buy something while you are in the shop or pay for any repairs that need doing.
That is the reality.

Wanderer

What good is an offer to adjust forever, if they aren't open when you need them? I would call that a failure of the dealership.

Burton

Maybe a look at some numbers might help Bob. The shop I work in isn't huge, but we sell a little over 600 bikes a year. One complete free tune-up is given within a 12 month period for each bike sold aside from any no cost minor adjustments done during the first few months.

Aside from adjusting the brakes, derailleurs and shifters, a basic tuneup includes lubing the chain and cables, checking and adjusting the bb, wheel bearings, headset, spoke tension, tire pressure, the condition of the cables and housing, the tires, all fasteners for tightness, and cleaning the bike and inspecting the frame and rims for cracks. On a new bike that might take a half hour to 45 minutes if everything is normal - an older bike needs more adjustment and can take an hour.

So every year we're expecting to spend about 500 to 600 hours on free customer service.
But if we had to do that on a lifetime basis after 10 years we'd have to plan on 6,000 hours of unpaid labor. That's equivalent to almost three people working full time all year long on bikes that were sold years ago.

I'll leave things at 10 years because people move or trade in their bikes but the point is - it's a good recipie for bankruptcy. That would be half the staff working full time and not bringing in any money.

So yup - I heard of places that promise a lifetime of service and I've also heard lots of horror stories about how fast parts mysteriously wear out and MUST be replaced.

jbenkert111

How do you know the individual parts are put together properly, or at that point do you say "damm the torpedo's, full steam ahead" and throw safety caution to the wind and say I'm going to live dangerously!!

fietsbob

LBS here is a 7 day a week Business , sundays are just a Bit shorter hours ..

You want 3 shifts 24/7?