Brain Shock Service

[JJDT]

I recently acquired a Specialized Epic Comp, which I bought from my son. Although I mostly paid for the service and repairs on the bike and know the history of the bike since my son bought it in 2015.

The rear brain shock was serviced in Dec 2019 and after that my son did very little riding on the bike as he bought himself a gravel bike in Jan 2020 and occasionally ride the MTB. I sold my own MTB and bought his MTB because it was just standing and his bike is just better compared to my bike. I decided that I will do a service again which includes both shocks as I noticed that the seal on the rear shock is not sealing properly.

My issue - the bike is a 2014 model and after 8 years there is no mechanic in the Spez store that can service the brain shock(this is what I found at the local Spez store). The shock is send to the Cape for a service as it is the only place that may service these shocks. Surely after 8 years and the first generation of brain shocks surely there should've been trained mechanics at the stores to service these shocks instead of shipping it to a single service center.

Are there any other professionals that can do services on these shocks going forward, as I do not want to wait two weeks for just a shock service in order to ride my bike again? I can understand if I was informed of possible part shortages and I need to wait, but a single service center who needs to service about every brain shock in the country is a single point of failure, looking from a business continuity perspective.

[bolt67]

Spez shops normally have loan units to put on your bike until yours is returned. 

[thinusjvrs]

Afternoon JJDT.
Is it not a case of specialisation, and the company using this service hub as quality control and a training facility to train new mechanics?
As a side note, I've serviced my own rear brain shock in the last year at Lynnwood Cyclery, and they fitted a loan rear shock (at no cost), so my bike usage was completely uninterrupted. 
Had great service personally and did not even notice the week or so wait at all.
Regards, Thinus.

Edited June 9, 2022 by thinusjvrs

[fanievb]

chat to Robbie at RBC

MUCH better service than you'll ever get from those okes in skellembosch 

https://www.rbco.co.za/ 

[droo]

Proprietary parts need specialized equipment to service, and this is no different. The tooling to service Brain shocks goes for about R 80k, so to expecting your LBS to have this on hand is a bit unreasonable.

There are a few places that are tooled up for this - we're one of them, RBC in PE and Protune in PMB are the other two that I know of besides Specialized HQ in Stellenbosch.

[Dexter-morgan]

Let me guess, prepare to sell a kidney in the process or bond your house.

[thinusjvrs]

16 hours ago, Dexter-morgan said:

Let me guess, prepare to sell a kidney in the process or bond your house.

Morning Dexter-morgan. 
My experience has not been this at all. 
I found it very reasonable, all things considered. 
Regards, Thinus. 

[JJDT]

19 hours ago, droo said:

Proprietary parts need specialized equipment to service, and this is no different. The tooling to service Brain shocks goes for about R 80k, so to expecting your LBS to have this on hand is a bit unreasonable.

There are a few places that are tooled up for this - we're one of them, RBC in PE and Protune in PMB are the other two that I know of besides Specialized HQ in Stellenbosch.

Droo thanks for this information, especially for the tools needed and the associated costs. If I knew the history behind the servicing and the specific tools required I would've never created this topic.