How To Make Your Bike Last Longer | MTB Maintenance Tips

If you don't stay on top of routine maintenance, the components on your bike can wear out prematurely which can become costly! Here are Neil Donoghue's top tips to help make your mountain bike last longer which can help save you some money.
⏰ Time stamps 👇
0:00 - Intro
0:14 - Bolt-Check Regularly
1:33 - Wash Your Bike!
3:39 - Use Lubricant
5:40 - Good Drivetrain Maintenance
7:16 - Look After Your Tyres
8:00 - Take Care Of Frame Bearings
10:06 - Frame Protection
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Do you have any tips to help make your bike last longer? Do you know of any horror stories of big workshop bills due to wear and tear on components that could have been avoided?
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[@gmbn]

Do you have any tips to help make your bike last longer? Do you know of any horror stories of big workshop bills due to wear and tear on components that could have been avoided?

[@jdgdesign]

3rd Chapter has a title matching Doddy's tech video. Loving the videos as always

[@jesusalbertoguerrerocarden6628]

Regular suspension maintenance.

[@keithfurrow5899]

A headset bearing check is quick and easy.

[@adamm9642]

I did 5000+ kms on my bmx. Never maintained it, just changed the tires / grips when they wore out. I literally never changed anything else including brakes but that’s because I got rid of the brakes lol, nothing ever broke, and it rode smooth , I’d ride it in all conditions including winter with salty roads. Anyway just picked up my first higher end mountain bike and I’m looking to take great care of it!

[@DaxPlusPlus]

A bmx single speed chain and parts are much more resilient to wear and tear. A 12 speed (or similar) MTB much less so .. if you look after just one bit of your new MTB make sure it's your drive train.

[@paulsymons562]

You aren't using that particular chain checker correctly - it works differently to the majority on the market. You need to press down between the two 'anchor' hooks before you try to insert the measuring pin. Its designed to give a more accurate 'reading' but only if you use it correctly.

[@simonhill866]

Battery powered leaf blower is brilliant for drying a bike off, especially e bikes.

[@gmbn]

Great tip Simon, thanks for sharing! 🤩

[@neland]

I also like this idea as I often only get to do service later at night and I want my neighbors to be like "wtf is that guy doing in his garage at 10pm with a leaf blower?" Always keep em guessing, ya know?

[@DaxPlusPlus]

Using wax based lube on the chain has been a revelation, even in the wet, on all my bikes. Drive chain has never been cleaner - chains last longer too. Just wash afterwards with hot, soapy water, no need for degrease, and then dry chain off and re-apply. Also use the silicon spray on the dropper post too.

[@GrahamFootBicycleLover]

SQUIRT FOR THE WIN! SPOT ON

[@johns9974]

SQUIRT is the best chain lube for all conditions. Please forget about other lubes particularly Wet Lubes they are just grinding paste.

[@stevencole7331]

Yep my chain doesn't want to wear out using squirt . Now I heat it up in the microwave for 20 seconds and immediately apply to chain . Don't leave the top on during as it creates pressure and it's hot . Same with shaking be gentle . This gives a paraffin wax affect and dries in a harden state

[@neland]

Right on. I've not used a wax-based one yet. Will try. Thx for the suggestion. 🙌

[@The1Music2MyEars]

Mucoff Drylube is also wax based. Any advantage of Squirt over it? Also, how does one get all moisture out of the chain if you use water to wash it?

[@chriscowan6630]

Excellent advice and great content once again…thank you! Cheers from Kimberly BC Canada.

[@James1980-]

I use a dehumidifier in my garage during winter pointed at the freshly washed bike. It definitely helps my CX bikes and stops bearings rusting and cotton tub tyres rotting. same on mtb.

[@VictorElGreco]

I just try to embrace the Zen Of Bicycle Maintenance, enjoy it as part and parcel of the MTB life. 😌

[@TheOneAndOnlyTed]

I've been really liking the mucoff brake rotor covers I got. It just takes the worry out cleaning the drivetrain especially. Even if I was careful before, I feel like I always ended up with noisy brakes, but now it hasn't been a problem and I can really make sure everything's cleaned properly.

[@MrSupermugen]

took me forever to buy the covers, I was like "meh thats just silly" then i just did and theyve been handy, ive use them for a few things, i bought some more and ive cut them into shapes so i can cover other parts in transit or when bleeding brakes etc. fanastic

[@phenofinder9145]

Every lube that mucoff makes straight sucks

[@TheOneAndOnlyTed]

@@phenofinder9145 Never even mentioned the lube. I was talking about brake covers.

[@phenofinder9145]

@@TheOneAndOnlyTed just that brand reminds me of how crap their lubes are

[@emxayyyy]

@@phenofinder9145 why

[@umfilmmaker8253]

Definitely a leaf blower to blow out any extra water, and bouncing the bike a couple of times helps too. I hang my bikes on the wall or a stand so they aren’t sitting on the tires if I don’t ride as frequently. I rotate through several bikes, and don’t want anything sitting on rubber for extended periods. I also spin the tires on the tubeless setups at least once a week. For my emtb I check the battery once a week to make sure it isn’t close to zero.

[@lifebehindbars8504]

Compressed air with nozzle works great for the bolts and tiny places 👌

[@umfilmmaker8253]

@@lifebehindbars8504 great idea, I don’t own a compressor. Most people in my area have leaf blowers.

[@auxsabotsrouges718]

Thanks, very useful 👍🤘

[@gmbn]

Glad it was helpful! 👍

[@Paganiproductions84]

i use a screwdriver to get the black gunk of the chainring and jockywheels and use tie tiewraps between the casette

[@GeoffIsMyName8]

Using a screwdriver can damage both of them, if you can, try to use a cloth or brush and some drivetrain degreaser

[@Paganiproductions84]

@@GeoffIsMyName8 If you now how their are no problems

[@GeoffIsMyName8]

@@Paganiproductions84 I said it can damage them, also damage doesn't have to be visible. It can still wear down both of them quicker without the damage being fully visible

[@stevencole7331]

What I do before every ride is clean the suspension stanchions and dropper and put a dab of slickoleum on them which greatly extends servicing them .

[@mikemike7523]

So important to do these things regularly! A loved bike always loves you back! 😃😃😃

[@karelbartman]

Im with my nx eagle drivetrain on my fifth chain, i just keep replacing it at the 0.75 Mark.

[@anitalandkroon]

Great video 😃 clean it , dry it , grease it 😊 and you do that after every ride ❤

[@gmbn]

Sound advice, Anita! Thanks!

[@epicgamer0858]

Great Video

[@gmbn]

Thanks!

[@IanThompsonmohaanozz]

brilliant well done

[@gmbn]

Thanks, Ian! We're stoked you enjoyed!

[@stephenlukyn2138]

A leaf blower helps with drying your bike

[@AlekseyKluban]

Oh My Bike 😱 I like this Triple G Giga Gives Gladness

[@rider65]

After washing down the bike. To clean the dust seals around the stanchions I use a Q-tip just with either a drop of fork oil or silicone sprayed onto the Q-tips. This, after I have removed excess water or any dust/grit with an air compressor or a can of air duster.

[@GANENDRAGIRI]

Nice tips Mate,.. wash it, dry and grease ,.thx so much

[@phillipharriott8632]

Use a blower after washing to blow out water that can sit in areas that you can't get to.

[@Wilko-ig7el]

What's your views on a ceramic coating for the frame?

[@AbrahamMartinez]

Did you install back on the bearing washer/spacer that fell down in between the chainring and frame? :)

[@johnwilkes9142]

Small pieces of frame protection in the precise spots; eg rear triangle adjacent the tire… On an unrelated note, can Neil come to the States I wanna have a beer with Neil.

[@chrismccannIRL]

If your shed has electrics get an 80w tube heater or two and a simple Amazon dehumidifier. Run them both and bikes stay dry and rust free

[@Dan_Kornfeld]

It looks like GMBN dropped the Muc-Off sponsorship for Peaty's products.

[@krzysiu4003]

I heard you shouldn't check the part of your chain with the quick link. It wears slower so can give a false reading.

[@randybobandy402]

That Berm Peak guy is def real life Ned flanders

[@lifebehindbars8504]

I like my bike to feel longer too!

[@andrewolfensberger8197]

Shouldn’t you check the chain on the upper part rather on the lower one or does this not matter?

[@mattgies]

Doesn't matter. However the Don wasn't using that chain checker properly: You're supposed to pinch the short run of chain against the tool and only then let the long end of the tool try to fall into a link.

[@bobothericefarmer1878]

My cranks already done and it’s only been 10 months

[@elias.f.]

How many kilometers would a drivetrain last under dry conditions?

[@Sebatron-pr9bv]

I'm not sure but if your looking to get a new one I got a new nx groupset off fb for £100 and had no problems it

[@Jerrythill]

Also, not riding it will make it last longer.

[@gmbn]

Very true! Although it's a good idea to keep your bike well maintained if you aren't using it regularly. 👍

[@johannesmuller4632]

Sorry i guess i'm addicted 🤷

[@JohnBlack-kv8us]

Not necessarily. Especially if it's sitting in the garage or shed. Or even worse... completely outside

[@45graham45]

Never found the need to use any detergents on my bikes. Just cold water & a sponge. I use degreaser on a removed chain occasionally. I never use any aerasols near my bike apart from brake disc cleaner. No need for them & not worth risking getting thr rotors contaminated.

[@marklouieadame]

You can leave your bike outside its fine as long as you use is and clean it. Leave it there for a month you will rusting on bolts

[@stephenlukyn2138]

If you are storing a bike in an unheated shed, run a oscillating fan, it will keep the moisture from settling

[@NelsonSherry]

FYI, you need to read your chain checker instruction on that particular park tool which is not used correctly in this video.

[@simonm1447]

If you use threadlocker (Loctite etc) be careful using the right one. There's one for bolts which can be removed afterwards, and one where bolts can barely get removed. You may damage the bike if you use the one which secures the bolts permanently.

[@iamcyberpunk68]

fuck i would love to own that bike i am on a 2013 TREK

[@krakon2981]

2 words “garden hose”

[@Kiwimomma69]

Yo

[@gmbn]

🤘

[@fx_matze]

Washing your bike too often is not good. Most of the time I avoid bike cleaners. Check your spoke tension regularly. Crash less.

[@iamcyberpunk68]

I would kill to have that bike. wow she is sweet

[@zwingler]

"replacing stancions on your suspension" ... oh boy. I had a nick on my forks from a nasty rock hit and let me tell you, you cant replace stancions / its not worth it. You can only buy a complete upper assembly and those run about 500€. Thats not the lowers, not the damper, not the air spring just the stancions and a steerer tube. It is literally cheaper to buy a new pair of forks and save the scraps as replacement parts.

[@45graham45]

Yes, you can get just stanchions replaced. And steerer tubes too if your forks start clicking & creaking.

[@fengzhang7156]

After about 3 years the last Keurig stopped working kzbin.infoUgkxBrV-RbF5Nk0Rlt9i15aao-YMzqzTG8Vf initially was able to unblock, however eventually we couldn't fix. That one was a replacement unit sent by the manufacturer after we had problems with our very first Keurig. This works fine (lol, at least for now) however I didn't realize the water reservoir was so much smaller than our prior unit. With 2 people having one or two cups of coffee each morning, it seems like I'm refilling it daily. Otherwise just happy to have the convenience of pod coffee vs. making a morning pot.

[@goonswarm007]

Please use a tension meter and not a cheap multi tool 😢