How Frequently Should You Service Your Bike Bearings?

As a cyclist, you might be wondering how often you should service your bike bearings, especially when you rarely ride in wet conditions and your bike has been running smoothly. For example, a rider in Austin, shared that his DT Swiss 350 hubs haven't needed maintenance in over 7,000 miles, with limited exposure to wet weather. So, when should you check your bike bearings, and what’s the ideal maintenance schedule?

Let’s break it down.

1. What Affects Bearing Maintenance Frequency?

The frequency with which you need to service your bike bearings can vary depending on several factors:

• Weather conditions: Riding in wet, muddy, or salty environments can accelerate bearing wear. However, if you mostly ride in dry, sunny conditions, your bearings will generally need less attention.

• Terrain: If you're riding on rough, mountainous terrain, bearings are subjected to more strain compared to smooth, flat roads.

• Use: Regular, intensive riding will naturally wear out bearings quicker than light recreational riding.

  
  

2. How Often Should You Service Your Bike Bearings?

As a general guideline, we recommend checking the bearings every 5,000 km (about 3,100 miles). This is an ideal threshold for most riders to assess the condition of their bearings and decide whether they need attention.

3. How to Check Your Bearings?

Checking your bike bearings is simple.

• Spin the wheels: Give your wheels a spin by hand. If they spin smoothly without any resistance or unusual noises, your bearings are likely in good condition.

• Feel for any roughness: If you feel any roughness or notice resistance, it might be time for maintenance or regreasing.

  Check How To Service Bearings.

  
  

4. How Long Can Bearings Last Without Maintenance?

Surprisingly, some high-quality bearings can go much longer without servicing. Based on our field tests, both HSC and AITA ceramic hub bearings have lasted over 30,000 km (about 18,600 miles) without needing a single service or regreasing.

5. The Importance of Less Frequent Servicing

Speaking to the bearing we have tested. The reason the bearings last so long is simple: less frequent servicing. When bearings are serviced too often, there's a risk of contamination or damage from cleaning and regreasing. By checking the bearings every 5,000 km and only servicing them if necessary, we avoid unnecessary wear and keep the bearings in top condition.

6. Real-World Example

Take, for instance, the experience of one of the top MTB cyclists who tested HSC and AITA ceramic bearings in separate years, each for a one-year race season. During this period, he rode through extreme conditions, and a single set of bottom bracket, jockey wheel, and hub bearings performed well across all terrains. Meanwhile, another brand of bearings had to be replaced once during the same period. This real-world test demonstrates just how durable high-quality bearings can be, even in tough environments.

Conclusion

In summary, by regularly spinning your wheels and listening for any roughness, you’ll be able to keep your bearings running smoothly without unnecessary maintenance. In fact, our field-tested bearings have lasted up to 30,000 km without any service, which shows the potential durability of high-quality bearings.

If you need advice on how to maintain your bike bearings or are looking to upgrade to something that will last longer, feel free to reach out. Happy riding!