Suspension is the one part of the bike that quietly gets worse without ever breaking. Seals dry out, oil contaminates, and friction creeps up so slowly you adapt to it without noticing. A serviced fork can feel like a different, far better fork, and the only thing that changed is fresh oil and seals.
The two intervals that matter
Manufacturers quote hours, but real-world conditions move the numbers. Wet, gritty, dusty riding shortens everything.
- Lower-leg service (fork) / air-can service (shock), roughly every 50 hours. Fresh lubricating oil and wiper seals. Cheap, quick, and the single biggest bang for your buck.
- Full damper service, roughly every 200 hours or annually. The damper cartridge is opened, oil replaced, and seals renewed. Restores consistent damping.
Track service by hours ridden, not by the calendar. Two riders can put the same fork through wildly different wear in a season. Log every service in Dialed so you know exactly how long it has been.
Warning signs you are overdue
Do not wait for the interval if the bike is telling you something. Any of these means it is time.
Lost small-bump sensitivity
The fork feels sticky off the top and chatters on fine trail buzz. Dried-out lubricating oil and stiction are the usual cause.
Oil weeping past the seals
A wet, oily ring on the stanchions or shock body that returns minutes after you wipe it means the wiper seals are done.
Damping feels inconsistent
Rebound that changes over a long descent, or a fork that gets harsher as it heats up, points to contaminated or aerated damper oil.
Knocking, sucking or topping noises
New sounds usually mean low oil, worn bushings or a failing air seal. Stop chasing clicks and book a service.
Riding a fork with failed seals does not just feel bad, it accelerates damage. Grit gets past the wipers and scores the stanchions and bushings, turning a cheap lower-leg service into an expensive rebuild. When in doubt, service sooner.