A guide to maintaining your mountain bike

Your mountain bike is a technical machine, equipped with precision parts that need regular maintenance to keep them running smoothly. As a regular rider and enthusiast, you need to know that regular maintenance (cleaning and servicing) is absolutely essential to keep your mountain bike in good condition for as long as possible.

Because a clean bike, free of mechanical defects and noise, is always more motivating, Probikeshop gives you all the advice you need to clean and maintain your mountain bike.

Why maintain your mountain bike?

No mountain biker can afford to neglect the maintenance of his or her mountain bike, otherwise the lifespan of its components will be shortened. Water, mud, salt, dust and other impurities are the enemies of the most fragile ATV parts, such as the transmission and suspension. This dirt can create corrosion points or friction that will prematurely wear out the chain, sprockets, chainring and rollers, or scratch the fork plungers. A rider who doesn't take good care of his mountain bike will have to replace certain parts well before their due date.

These costs are avoidable: all you have to do is clean your bike regularly, focusing on the components most subject to wear and tear. Not just cosmetic, cleaning is part of basic mountain bike maintenance. General mountain bike maintenance also involves checking the level of wear and tear on essential components (brakes, chain, tires), and following manufacturers' recommendations for the periodic overhaul of forks and shock absorbers.

Regular cleaning and maintenance of your mountain bike will ensure its long-term performance. It also helps you preserve your settings and prevent any major defects. As you pamper your mountain bike, you have the opportunity to examine it from all angles and inspect its various components. It's important to make sure that no faulty parts threaten your safety, so you can ride with peace of mind and without restraint!

All you need to clean and maintain your mountain bike

Specialist bicycle maintenance brands offer effective cleaning products, tools and practical accessories to make your job easier. Probikeshop has compiled a list of useful equipment for each stage of mountain bike maintenance (cleaning and basic technical maintenance).

MTB cleaning products :

Degreasers ;

Cleaners ;

Lubricants ;

Cleaning kits.

MTB cleaning accessories:

Workshop stand ;

Floor mats ;

Low/medium-pressure cleaner ;

Chain cleaner ;

Brushes, sponges and microfibres;

Workshop gloves.

Products for technical mountain bike maintenance:

Brake fluid ;

Suspension oil ;

Anti-puncture preventive.

Tools for technical ATV maintenance:

Bleeder kit ;

Chain wear tester.

Clean your ATV in 5 steps

Probikeshop offers you a "how to clean your mountain bike" tutorial, which corresponds to a complete bike cleaning. You can easily adapt the steps described below, depending on how dirty your bike is and what equipment you have.

Here are a few important tips to get you started:

- Avoid using strong cleaning products that could damage your equipment;

- Choose bike cleaners that are adapted to your equipment;

- Avoid using high-pressure cleaners;

- Avoid pointing a water jet directly at bearings;

- If you don't have a jet or a portable cleaner, use the classic bucket of water/sponge for rinsing.

Step 1: Prepare the ATV for cleaning

After removing the accessories (counter), place the ATV on its workshop stand;

Remove the wheels, which will be cleaned separately;

Install a dummy rear hub to hold the chain and allow it to rotate;

Prepare a set of clean cloths for drying the various parts;

Wet the wheels and ATV from top to bottom to loosen dirt and remove the worst of it.

Step 2: Degrease the ATV transmission

Protect the brake caliper from greasy splashes;

Apply degreaser to chain, sprockets and chainring;

Use appropriate brushes (hard bristles, chain cleaner) to thoroughly clean the various components, not forgetting the rollers;

Rinse the transmission to remove degreaser residues.

Step 3: Clean the entire ATV

Apply your bike cleaner to the frame, fork, peripherals and wheels;

Clean thoroughly with a soft-bristle brush or sponge;

Rinse the bike thoroughly;

Dry the bike thoroughly.

Step 4: Lubricate the mountain bike chain

Make sure your drivetrain is completely dry before applying lubricant;

Lubricate the chain links with a product adapted to your use (dry or wet conditions);

Allow the oil to penetrate for a few minutes, then remove any excess.

Step 5: Finalize ATV cleaning

If necessary, clean the brake calipers with a special degreaser;

Clean the wiper seals on the forks;

Refit wheels;

Apply a polish to the frame, hiding the calipers and discs.

4 points for technical maintenance

When you've finished cleaning your mountain bike, while it's still hanging on its workshop stand, it's a good time to carry out a few routine maintenance operations.

Step 1: lubricate components

Lubricating the chain is the final step in cleaning. You can also regularly lubricate the small joints of derailleur gears, using a specific product (with a precision tip). When cleaning the fork's wiper seals, you can also lubricate the plungers (always with a suitable product).

Step 2: check tire, chain and pad wear

We advise you to check the condition of your tires, brake pads and chain at regular intervals. Remember also that hydraulic disc brakes need regular bleeding.

Point 3: Suspension overhaul and maintenance

All brands of forks and shock absorbers have a specific maintenance schedule. Probikeshop explains how to maintain a mountain bike fork and a mountain bike shock absorber.

Point 4: all the usual checks on a mountain bike

The following operations will enable you to identify any technical faults that may require minor adjustment or the intervention of a specialist:

Tire pressure ;

Tightening wheel axle fasteners;

Brake caliper and disc tightening;

Tightening cockpit components;

Steering play;

Bottom bracket play;

Fork play;

Hub and wheel play;

Frame appearance.

How often should I clean and maintain my mountain bike?

MTB cleaning and maintenance operations follow the rhythm of your outings. If you ride intensively, they will be recurrent; if you ride occasionally, they will be more spaced out. Above all, don't wait for dirt to appear before cleaning. And don't wait for any noise to appear before checking the condition of components. When it comes to ATV maintenance, it's best to think ahead and follow a good discipline.

Clean your ATV as often as possible

Regular cleaning (ideally after every ride) prevents dirt from settling in and makes subsequent cleaning easier. Degreasing the drivetrain, cleaning the bike and lubricating the chain are basic mountain bike maintenance operations, which should be repeated as often as possible. Recommended after every outing, a thorough cleaning is imperative after a ride in the rain/snow, mud or winter (due to de-icing salt).

Regular technical maintenance of the mountain bike and its components

Technical maintenance of your mountain bike also follows a regular schedule, in line with the rhythm of your riding. Basic checks (tightening of axles and cockpit) can easily be integrated into a pre-ride ritual (along with checking tire pressure). Wear checks (brake pads, chain, tires) are carried out as the season progresses. Bleeding the hydraulic circuit is a good way of responding to a drop in brake performance (at least once a year). Always make sure you note and respect the dates set by the manufacturers for suspension overhaul (lubricating oil change & complete maintenance with system bleeding and replacement of gasket kit).