Service, Repair or Replace

Servicing, repairing, or replacing an MTB suspension depends on several factors:

  • cost of service, repair, or replacement
  • time required
  • long-term benefits
  • whether replacement is even possible

Servicing, repairing, and replacing are not the same thing:

  • Servicing: MTB suspensions require regular maintenance. This includes several operations but always involves a complete or nearly complete disassembly and reassembly once a year for any rider who wants to maintain performance, comfort, and durability of both the suspension and the bike itself.
  • Repairing: Repair means correcting a fault that prevents the suspension from working as it did originally.
  • Replacing: Replacement means renewing the suspension with a new one, whether identical, equivalent, or better.

When to service

Manufacturers recommend regular servicing to preserve the performance, comfort, and durability of suspensions. Reminder: MTB suspensions often make for 30 to 40% of the total value of the bike, and their main role is to help maintain control while protecting both bike and rider. Without suspension, accidents are possible—and before that happens, the bike will be damaged and the rider will get hurt. Manufacturers typically recommend full service every 50h, 100h, or 200h, depending on the suspension type and how it is ridden.

COST: Service at PMB (September 2025): 250 CHF / 268 EUR, which is about 10%–30% of the cost of a new suspension. Yes, servicing is cheaper than replacing.

When to repair

Most suspensions less than 10 years old from common brands (Fox, RockShox, Öhlins, Marzocchi) are repairable. The cost of repair depends on the type of malfunction or extent of damage. After 10 years, repairs become less feasible: first, because parts are only available as long as there is demand, and second, because many suspension models have a lifespan of under 10 years—they were not designed for regular use beyond that. There are exceptions, however: for example, Fox DPS, Öhlins TTX22m, or Fox Van RC, which were sold for many years.

COST: There are many different cases, but for example, repairing a Fox DPS often costs around 300 CHF, about 40% of the replacement price with correct valving and proper mounting hardware (the price you see online for a shock with just the right eye-to-eye doesn’t tell the whole story). In such cases, yes, repair is cheaper than replacement.

When to replace

MTB suspensions often represent 30–40% of the total value of the bike, with many forks costing between 1000 and 1500 CHF/EUR, and many shocks between 700 and 1100 CHF/EUR. Replacement is not always straightforward, since stock suspensions often include very specific internal configurations. You also need to account for physical fit of the fork (headset, steerer tube cutting, star nut installation).

COST: In practice, replacing a fork usually requires a budget between 600 and 1700 CHF/EUR. A shock between 700 and 1200 CHF/EUR. This is obviously the most expensive option, though still less than replacing the entire bike—and in many cases it allows you to install a more durable and higher-performing suspension.

NOTABLE EXCEPTIONS:

  • Some suspensions are nearly impossible to replace, like for instance when the bike manufacturer ask Fox or Rockshox to make one-off suspension types that will only work with specific bike models. In such case replacement can be impossible or very expensive.
  • Some bikes are built around one type of suspension and nothing else. In such case the replacement can be difficult, leaving very little or no choice, meaning it can not be replaced by something really better.

Special case: when the suspension lasts longer than the bike

Some suspensions can be resized, changing eye-to-eye length and travel as often as the rider wishes. This is not free and always requires components, but if the suspension has a durable design, such as the TTX22m.2, it is generally cheaper than buying everything new. These cases are rare but mean a suspension can outlast a bike and be used on multiple bikes. Some PMB customers have owned a TTX22m since 2015 and used it on three different bikes since then.