Maintenance & Inspection
Whether it's a trekking bike, e-mountain bike or racing bike - after the first successful tours, sooner or later the first bike service is due. A regular inspection not only ensures your safety and the perfect functioning of your bike, but also helps to maintain its value. Find out here why regular maintenance is a good idea, how often your bike should be checked and what is important in a professional inspection.
Why does a bicycle or e-bike need to be inspected?
A bicycle or e-bike should be inspected regularly to ensure safety, durability and optimal performance. Here are the main reasons:
Security:
Brakes, lights, tires and other safety-relevant components are checked to avoid accidents.
Especially for e-bikes that reach higher speeds, flawless functionality is crucial.
Wear control:
Components such as chains, cassettes, brake pads and tires wear out over time. An inspection helps to identify wear early and replace it in good time.
Optimal performance:
A correctly adjusted gearshift, well-inflated tires and a maintained drive ensure a pleasant driving experience.
The electronics of the e-bike are tested to ensure the performance of the motor and battery.
Prevention of major damage:
Small problems, such as loose screws or incipient material fatigue, can be detected and remedied early before they lead to expensive repairs.
Value retention:
Regular maintenance keeps the bicycle or e-bike in good condition, which has a positive effect on the resale value.
Manufacturer's warranty:
Many manufacturers require regular inspections to maintain warranty claims, especially for e-bikes.
Longer lifespan:
Regular care and maintenance increase the lifespan of your bicycle or e-bike.
How often does an e-bike or bicycle need to be inspected?
How often an e-bike or bicycle should be inspected depends on usage, conditions and the manufacturer's recommendations.
General Guidelines for Inspection
First inspection (after purchase):
- E-bike and bicycle : After approx. 200–300 km or 6–8 weeks .
- Reason: New components settle, screws can come loose, and settings need to be checked.
Regular inspections:
- Frequently used bikes/e-bikes (daily commuting, sports use): Every 6 months or after 1,000–2,000 km .
- Occasional drivers : Once a year.
- Intensive riders (e.g. mountain bike trails, long tours): Every 3–6 months .
E-bikes – special features:
- Electrical components (motor, battery, software) should be specifically checked during the inspection. Manufacturers such as Bosch, Shimano or Yamaha usually recommend an annual service to update the software and check the performance of the battery.
After special events:
- After a fall, riding in heavy rain, prolonged non-use or unusual noises, an unscheduled inspection should be carried out.
manufacturer's inspection guidelines
Specialized inspection
1. At the beginning after about 200-300km
2. For frequent drivers approximately every 1000km
3. At the end of the season
Specialized's warranty terms emphasize that damage caused by improper maintenance, misuse or corrosion is not covered by the warranty. Therefore, it is important to follow the recommended maintenance intervals and perform regular inspections to maintain Specialized warranty entitlement
Trek inspection
Every 25 hours of driving time: small inspection
Every 50 hours of driving time: Major inspection
Trek's warranty policy emphasizes that improper maintenance or neglect may void the warranty, so it is crucial to follow recommended maintenance intervals and perform regular inspections.
Cannondale inspection
Initial inspection: After the first 150 km, an initial inspection should be carried out by an authorized Cannondale dealer. This includes checking the Pedelec system, the condition of the chain, the gears, accessories, wheels, tires and brakes.
Regular inspections: A comprehensive inspection is recommended every 1,000 km. This involves making adjustments and replacing worn parts. On e-bikes, components such as wheels, tires, chain and brakes can wear out more quickly and therefore require special attention.
These regular maintenance and checks are crucial to ensure the safety and longevity of your Cannondale bicycle or e-bike. They can also affect warranty claims, as neglecting maintenance can void the warranty.
Focus Inspection
Initial inspection: It is advisable to have an initial inspection carried out after the first 150 to 300 kilometers or at the latest after three months. This is to ensure that all components have settled in correctly and are working properly.
Regular inspections: Depending on the frequency and intensity of use, further inspections should be carried out at regular intervals. For frequent drivers, a six-monthly inspection may be useful, while occasional drivers should consider annual maintenance.
FOCUS offers an extended manufacturer's warranty for certain models. To benefit from thiswarranty , it is necessary to register the bike online within eight weeks of purchase. In addition, the prescribed regular maintenance must be carried out by an authorized dealer and documented in the service booklet.
Haibike inspection
Initial inspection: It is advisable to have an initial inspection carried out after the first 300 kilometers or at the latest after three months. This is to ensure that all components have settled in correctly and are working properly.
Regular inspections: Depending on the frequency and intensity of use, further inspections should be carried out at regular intervals. For frequent drivers, a six-monthly inspection may be useful, while occasional drivers should consider annual maintenance.
Haibike grants the original owner a 5-year manufacturer's warranty on the frame, provided that the recommended service intervals are observed and the maintenance is documented accordingly. Failure to comply with these maintenance intervals may void the warranty .
Do I have to take my bike in for inspection?
Is there an inspection obligation?
Whether you need to take your bike in for inspection depends on several factors, such as the manufacturer, the warranty and regular maintenance necessary for safety and longevity, or the way you bought or want to buy the bike.
If you buy privately, you are not obliged to have your bike inspected. However, depending on the manufacturer, there may be difficulties in the event of damage if you want to make a warranty claim and the recommended inspections have not been carried out.
If your bicycle or e-bike is in a leasing contract through a leasing company such as Jobrad, Bikeleasing, BusinessBike, etc., an inspection is often mandatory.
You can find all the information in the manual, on the manufacturer's website or on the official websites of the leasing companies.
So if you want to be on the safe side, you should carry out regular inspections and have them documented.
Would you like to do small service jobs yourself?
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Would you like to do small service jobs yourself?
How much does a bicycle inspection cost?
If you have the inspection carried out in our master workshop, it will cost you 89 euros. We charge 99 euros for the inspection of your e-bike.
Where can I have an inspection done?
You can of course have your bicycle or e-bike inspected at any specialist workshop. You do not necessarily have to have it inspected at the dealer where you bought your bicycle/e-bike.
At Liquid-Life we have 3 locations with 3 master workshops where you can bring your bicycles and e-bikes from brands such as: Cube, Specialized, Santa Cruz, Cannondale, Raymon, Mondraker and many other premium manufacturers for service or inspection:
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