Price of shock service

[osiris]

Sent my Anthem in to have both shocks serviced.

A Monarch an a Recon Gold.

Service came to R1800.[emoji22]

Not sure what was done asked but lbs still needs to let me know.

Is this price normal for a shock service? This is my first shock service an if this is the price I might as well buy the tools an DIY.

[igg]

Sounds about right.

Front fork is usually 400-500, with rear being 800-1600 depending on if it's pivots/bushings only or includes shock service.

 

Fork is pretty easy to DIY, no special tools required.

You'll need bearing pullers if you want to use the proper tools on the rear suspension. Otherwise a lot of people use mallet + wooden blocks or threaded rod + sockets/washers. Maestro is a little tricky though because the bearings are recessed. You'll save yourself some money here by only replacing stuffed bearings, bike stores will usually replace them all.

I know nothing about servicing the rear shock itself.

[osiris]

Thought it would be max R1k,

If this is the price of a normal shock how much does a brain shock cost to service?

[Edge_Design]

R1800 is steep if it's just the suspension and a standard service (and not pivot bearings etc as well which is separate to the shock itself) - hopefully there were some replacement parts included in that price. They owe you a breakdown of what exactly is included (worth having for your records as well for future reference).

[David Marshall]

Rock Shox fork service around R850-00.  Monarch air can service R420.  Air can and damper R900.  They may have had a courier charge in it as well.

[JohanC]

Done my 150hr service on brain fork just before W2W. Cost: R1500

[osiris]

My seals were replaced an shocks serviced.

Nothing was done to the bike.

If this price is normal for a service then it costs about R18 per hour riding my bike.

It also makes the Spez brain not that expensive to maintain.

[NicNacDH]

If this price is normal for a service then it costs about R18 per hour riding my bike.

 

It would be actually quite interesting to know how much the real cost is, because you should include spares, clothing, shoes, hydration, entrance fees and so on too.

 

Or .....  may rather not. It just kills the fun!

Edited November 14, 2015 by NicNacDH

[KanonDonkie]

By comparrison, I also ride a Honda CBR600 and had the front suspension recently seviced (after 85000km). Total cost from Honda incliding parts and labour came to R1500. That's new seals, oil, etc. All performed by a factory trained mechanic. I maintain that our LBS are ripping us a new one every time we walk in there. Sometimes it's disgusting at what we're expected to pay when we compare component prices to Europe and the US.

[LazyTrailRider]

By comparrison, I also ride a Honda CBR600 and had the front suspension recently seviced (after 85000km). Total cost from Honda incliding parts and labour came to R1500. That's new seals, oil, etc. All performed by a factory trained mechanic. I maintain that our LBS are ripping us a new one every time we walk in there. Sometimes it's disgusting at what we're expected to pay when we compare component prices to Europe and the US.

 

The fact that the Honda has higher service intervals aside, are you of the opinion that it's supposed to be cheaper to service a fork on a mountain bike than on a motorbike?

[KanonDonkie]

The fact that the Honda has higher service intervals aside, are you of the opinion that it's supposed to be cheaper to service a fork on a mountain bike than on a motorbike?

I'm asserting that we, as cyclists, are chumps because we are willing to pay far more to keep a bicycle on the road than a high performance motorcycle. I see bicycle mechanics with top of the range bicycles and expensive cars flitting off to races in exotic destinations. I cannot say the same for the humble motorcycle mechanic. I look at what i get charged when I take my bicycle for a service and have to inevitably replace the chain and BB bearings because it has already done 3000km and is so worn it can damage other stuff and I cringe. I am astounded at the piss-poor quality of the equipment that we are offered and the astonishing prices. I no longer care about my LBS as I'm tired of getting ripped of. I'm slowly aquiring knowledge and tools and am doing more myself. I also have no pain importing because I am abe to get what I want at 1/2 to 2/3 what the LBS and megastores sell for (although I have to wait 5 days). And, suprise, suprise, when i do it myself the stuff lasts longer.

[Tankman]

My seals were replaced an shocks serviced.

Nothing was done to the bike.

If this price is normal for a service then it costs about R18 per hour riding my bike.

It also makes the Spez brain not that expensive to maintain.

 

 

What work do you have?

 

Fox Dustwipers and Foamrings are pricey compared to Rock Shox.

 

Fox Dustwipers and Foamrings  = R569

RockShox  Dustwipers and Foamrings = R199

 

Labour on a fork service in around R500

 

Seems you were charged reasonable prices. 

[Tankman]

Consider the downside if you dont think preventative maintenance will work for you:

 

Replacing Stanchions, Bushings, Seals, Dustwipers and all the rest will work out way more expensive than maintaining your equipment.

 

All of the above can set you back R5k to R6k

 

 

 

 

Unfortunantley, I get to see this way too often.

 

"My fork isnt working anymore, can you fix it?"

 

You should have handed it to me 3 years ago when it first started acting funny!!

 

 

 

 

[Spoke101]

Thought it would be max R1k,

If this is the price of a normal shock how much does a brain shock cost to service?

Brain Rear Shock service is R1800 alone.

 

Bear in mind that you wont be able to DIY your rebound on your shock.

[raptor-22]

Brain front and rear will cost you Over R3l and you don't get your own internals back. It's only yours till the first service then you get someone else's and pay a premium.

 

R1800 is about the going rate. A lefty service is about R1600 on its own and that's without needing any sliders or needle bearings

[Han So_L0w]

I realize that this is an old post but it came up in a Google search so I thought I would share what I have learned.

I am by no means an expert, I am currently on the first bike that I paid for myself (not mom or dad) so I speak from limited experience but have done some research (because I am a DIY nut and like to be prepared).

 

I have a RockShox fork and rear shock.

Service prices vary vastly between shops. So phone around and ask before you commit.

RockShox in general has two service intervals, 50 hours (minor) and 200 hours (major).

RockShox specify that with the minor fork service you "clean" the seals and foam rings and reuse them if they are in good nick, even the crush washers can be reused here. Replace only if damaged or in poor condition 

RockShox specify for the major fork service, that your replace the seals, foam rings etc. along with a damper and spring service during the major service, more seals, more oil (often different oil in your damper than in the lowers).

Here is where the cost comes in for the rear shock.

RockShox specify that with the rear shock minor service you replace the seals. There is no reuse here.

RockShox specify that with the rear shock major service you replace the seals and do a damper server.

 

Ultimately a rear shock service works out to be more expensive because when done in accordance to OEM specifications you use more consumables.

I knew that a rear shock would cost more but didn't realize that it would be that much more expensive than a fork. Perhaps I should have gone hard tail....

When I phoned for quotes no one ever asked me what service I need to do The cheapest I got was about R1500 for both fork and shock, from one of the big chains in 2021 so I suppose they know what they do. They all quoted a price for labor and for and seal kit. So I get the feeling that they really just service the air can with seals and the lowers with seals. This means that 3 out of 4 fork services you are over serviced and over changed and one for service you are under serviced and under charged.

A 50 hour fork service may not need anything other than oil, seal lubricant and a cleaning that comes out to about $1.50 (yes, we will never get a quote for this in our beautiful RSA) a 200 hour service comes to about $21.50 
A 50 hour service kit for my shock is about $35. and a 200 hour service kit for my shock is about $60.

As you can see a huge different in costs between fork and shock.

My prices are accurate as I have just imported everything I need for 9 fork services (8 minor, 1 major) from the US totaling R1250 including international shipping.

Hope this helps someone.