Whether you have a mountain bike or a traditional road bike, it’ll need regular maintenance to ride smoothly. You’ll need to take it to a bike shop for tune-ups regularly to keep it at its optimal performance.
The tune-up will ensure that all the components of your bike are working properly and it can also help you prevent bigger problems. But how much does a bicycle tune-up cost?
In this article, we’ll discuss the average bike tune-up cost, along with different types of tune-up packages, their costs, and the factors to consider before getting a bike tune-up.
What’s the Average Bike Tune-Up Cost?
The average bike tune-up usually includes cleaning and degreasing of the bike, lubricant application, wheel alignment, safety checks, and inspection and adjustment of brakes, drivetrain, and bearings. The average cost of this service ranges from $50 to $150.
It’s a long-range that can also vary depending on the shop, area, and the type and condition of the bike. Most bike shops offer different tune-up packages (discussed below) to choose from.
It’s important to note that this average pricing doesn’t include the cost of the bike’s replacement parts. For example, if the brake pads of your bike are worn out and need to be replaced with new ones, you’ll need to pay for that.
Other common bike components that need to be replaced after a certain time include chains and gears, cables, handle grips, bearings, tire tubes, and tires.
It’s important to make sure that the shop informs you about the total cost of the tune-ups, including replacement parts before they start the tune-up process.
How Much Should a Bike Tune Up Cost?
The answer to this question isn’t simple as it depends on several factors, such as the type of bike, tune-up package, shop, area, and bike’s condition. For example, the cost of gear vs non-gear cycle tune-ups will be different.
The bike with gears has more components than a non-gear bike. It means that the mechanic will need to spend more time inspecting all the components to make necessary adjustments, increasing the gear bicycle tune-up cost.
Ideally, if your bike doesn’t have any component that needs to be replaced, the bike tune-up shouldn’t cost you more than the average pricing discussed above.
Different Types of Bike Tune UPS and Their Cost
Most bike shops offer different types of bike tune-up packages, consisting of different services. These multiple packages help you choose the option that suits your needs the best. The following are the common types of bike tune-ups, along with their costs.
Basic Tune-Ups
The basic tune-up is like a basic check-up service for your bike. It usually includes inspection and adjustments of brake, drivetrain inspection, tightening of fasteners, tire pressure adjustment, and lubrication.
This tune-up package usually costs anywhere between $30 to $80.
This price can still vary depending on your area, bike type, and shop.
Keep in mind that a bike shop may not offer all the services, mentioned above, against the basic tune-up. Therefore, it’s important to ask the service provider before dropping off your bike.
Standard Tune-Ups
The standard tune-up package includes several services that the basic package doesn’t offer for a more in-depth tune-up. Other than all the services of the basic package, the standard tune-up also includes cleaning and degreasing, drivetrain removal and installation, wheel alignment, and a test ride by a professional mechanic.
The average cost of the standard tune-up ranges from $80 to $120 other than the replacement parts.
You’ll need to pay additional money for one or more components of your bike that need to be replaced.
Overhaul Tune-Ups
The overhaul tune-up package includes everything that the basic and standard packages offer with additional services. Usually, the entire bike is stripped down and then reassembled to inspect each component deeply and resolve all the underlying problems.
The overhaul tune-up package includes all services of basic and standard packages, along with deep cleaning of the entire bike, lubricant application, installation of new bearing and cables, and a labor guarantee against the tune-up.
The bike tune-up cost of the overhaul package typically ranges from $120 to $200.
When and How Often Should You Get a Bike Tune-Up?
The frequency of taking your bike to a shop for a tune-up depends on several factors, such as the condition of the roads you use, the duration for which you ride the bike daily, and the condition of your bike.
Generally, you should take it to a shop for a tune-up at least once every three months if you ride your bike daily for about 30 minutes on flat roads. However, if you’re an avid cyclist and ride your bike over 200 miles a week, you’ll need to get your bike tuned up more frequently, at least once a month.
There are some tell-tale signs that will help you determine when it’s time to get a bike tune-up. You’ll either notice a decrease in the performance or notice noises or breakage in some part(s) of your bike.
The following are some of the most common signs indicating that it’s time to get your bike tuned up.
- Unusual squeaking and rattling sounds while riding
- The drivetrain has become noisy
- Brakes don’t work as they used to (they might feel loose as well)
- The pedaling process feels crunchy
- Shifting isn’t operating optimally
- The chain has become loose or started rusting
- The tires have become dry-rotted, scaly, or have abrasions
- You have not taken your bike for a tune-up in the last six months or so
Things to Consider Before Getting a Bike Tune-Up
The following are the most important things that you need to keep in mind before taking your bike for a tune-up. Considering these factors allow you to choose the bike tune-up service that suits your needs the best.
Price
You’ll find several bike shops in your area and it’s important to ask all of them for a quote in advance. Make sure that you find out what tune-up packages they offer and what each package includes. It’ll allow you to compare all the available tune-up services and choose the one that fits your budget.
As mentioned earlier, most bike tune-up services don’t include replacement parts. If your bike has deteriorated components that need to be changed, you’ll need to pay additional money for them.
Therefore, you’ll need to add that to the package and then choose the service that costs you the least amount of money. It’s worth noting that replacement parts can be expensive and they can exceed the amount that you’ll be paying for the tune-up.
Considering all these factors related to price will help you manage your budget and get your bike tuned up without breaking the bank.
Customized Tune-Up
It’s not always the case that you’ll find everything you need by opting for the shop’s premade tune-up packages. So, consider asking them if they offer a service for customized tune-ups. It’ll allow you to personalize the service based on your bike condition.
The customization option will also come in handy if you want to modify your bike for a more comfortable and functionally enhanced riding experience. For example, you can opt for components that your bike doesn’t have, like cycle computers, fenders, and racks.
Qualified Staff
You don’t want an unqualified and inexperienced person to tune up your bike. It’s easy to understand the basics of repairing a bike but achieving technical skills and expertise is another story.
An experienced mechanic will listen to all your queries and questions and suggest the best and most affordable solutions. Additionally, they’ll also pay attention to detail and spend less time completing the job.
Which Tune-Up Should You Get?
The type of tune-up you should get depends on the condition of your bike.
When to Get Basic Tune-Up
You can go with the basic tune-up if you have a brand-new bike. That’s because all the parts will be in good condition and lubricated. You’ll only need to make sure that everything is aligned and tightened properly.
When to Get Standard Tune-Up
If you have an old bike (more than a couple of years) and you ride it regularly but you never skip scheduled maintenance service, you should go with the standard tune-up.
The mechanic will clean and degrease the bike, restore the drivetrain’s performance, and inform you if any component of your bike needs to be replaced. It’ll cost you more money but will ensure that your bike operates optimally.
When to Get Overhaul Tune-Up
If your bike has been sitting in the garage for a long time or you bought something from a yard sale, consider opting for the overhaul tune-up. The mechanic will disassemble the bike, remove rust, replace damaged components, and make your bike look like a new one.
Conclusion
The cost of a bike tune-up can vary greatly depending on several factors such as your area, bike type, riding style, and the bike’s current condition. Generally, it ranges from $50 to $150 on average for a bike that you ride regularly.
We hope this guide has helped you understand when to take your bike to a shop and what tune-up package you should choose. Don’t forget to consider all the factors discussed in this guide before getting your bike tuned up for the best results.
