Pinkbike Poll: How Often Do You Service Your Suspension Fork?

Over a decade later, I can still vividly recollect the smell that filled the shop whenever a Marzocchi Monster T came in for a round of long overdue service. Cracking open the top caps would release a face-puckering scent that can only be created by starting with nearly a quart of oil, exposing it to mud, silt, water, and fluctuating temperatures, and then letting it steep for a season (or two, or three) to create a putrid sludge. If the customer was still in the shop when that toxic smelling oil soup hit the catch pan, the look on their face usually made it clear they realized sooner would have been better than later when it came to servicing their fork.

It's the remembering that's the hard part, especially since many of today's high end suspension forks can go well past their recommended service intervals without even emitting an oil seep of complaint. Plus, unlike cars, there's no odometer to tell you how long it's been since the last oil change, and with service intervals typically measured in ride hours, it usually comes down to making an educated guess about when it's time to show your suspension some love. On modern, cartridge style suspension forks, most manufacturers recommend at least changing the lubrication oil every 30-50 hours, and doing a full, more extensive damper overhaul once a year. It doesn't take long to rack up 30 hours of riding, especially in the middle of summer when there's time to sneak in a three hour ride even after working a 9-5, but this type of service can typically be done without the use of any special tools in the comfort of your own home (but you might want to put something down to cover the carpet if your living room also serves as your personal suspension service center).


Despite what the conspiracy theorists might have you believe, the recommendation that you service your fork regularly isn't a ploy to separate you from your hard earned dollars. It's simply a way to extend the lifespan of its internals, which in the long run will prevent you from shelling out even more money to replace parts that break or wear out due to neglect. Is it mandatory that you stop everything and rush straight to the bike shop when that 30 or 50 hour mark rolls around? Nope, but it shouldn't be ignored completely either. A little preventative maintenance goes a long way, and with high end forks hovering around the $1000 mark, spending a fraction of that on an oil change is a worthwhile investment.

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Think back to the last time you serviced your suspension, and answer the poll below. All participants will be entered into a drawing to win a brand new SR Suntour Aion Fork.

The SR Suntour Aion has 34mm stanchions, and is available in two versions - a 130-160mm travel 27.5", and a 130-140mm travel 29" option. Adjustments include air pressure, along with rebound and low speed compression damping.

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