[Lovespicyfood]

My current bike is a Bulls Wild Cup 3, I think it's a '16 or '17 model. It's been a good bike, esp. since I bought it for $900 as a barely used demo. I've put close to 2,000 miles on it.

When it came time to replace the frame bearings, O.M.G. I tried myself and got a few out. Then I gave up. Brought it to my LBS and they charged me $100 to take out 6 more. I don't really care about the price to do this, but it was pretty annoying that they scratched the heck out of my parts doing this...the bike was well used at this point but still. If they had problems, how the heck would I be able to do this?! I prefer to do most of my own maintenance because I have found that though I'm SLOW AS S***, I often times do as good of a job or better than the LBS.

I've seen posts where old Giant bikes sold customer bearing tools. It doesn't seem that any manufacturers doing this any more. Is bearing replacement a common pain point for every full suspension bike?

Lastly, I do really like the bikes that have a decent amount of protection out of the factory (though I've never had a bike that has had that). I'm surprised that most bikes have maybe some chainstay protection and sometimes downtube protection (better than nothing). I'm not keen on the after market protection kits as they are kind of pricey and I'm sure a bit tricky to apply. Frame protection should be applied before components are put on.

This year I'm going to buy a new "good" full suspension bike (likely trail) with a budget of up to ~$6k. With the previous mindset, my top consideration right now is a Jeffsey Core 4. I also really like the Ripmo but it's definitely more $ and the protection is not as good as the Jeffsey.

I'd actually prefer a Shimano XT groupset but it seems the high end SRAM is lighter?! My biggest dislike is DOT fluid...

Would love to hear your thoughts and if I'm missing anything. TIA!

 

[ocnLogan]

To be honest, I'm not familiar enough with each bike and brand to know which ones are easier/harder to service the bearings on.

However, I can say, after LOTS of looking around at companies and bikes, I'm only aware of two brands that actively protect the bearings more than just the standard bearing seals.

Raaw, and Propain both have secondary seals (around the bolts, trying to prevent the gunk from getting to the bearing seals in the first place). So if you're looking for longer bearing life, and a trail bike, then personally, I'd say check out the Raaw Jibb, or the Propain Hugine (both of which were in the recent Pinkbike field test actually).

 

[dan l]

The Santa Cruz bikes are easy to maintain. There is a grease fitting on the lower link, to take care of those 4 bearings.

 

[craftworks]

Don’t get a Yeti unless you love practicing bearing replacements yearly if not every 6 Months stuffing existing ones with grease

 

[eshew]

Santa Cruz works be high on my list as well.

But honestly for increased bearing life, so long as you can get to the bearings.. popping off the seals, cleaning and regressing with a good waterproof grease works wonders. Especially if done at least every year, or before and after the wet season if you ride a lot.

 

[milehi]

Not trendy but with a cult following is Ventana. They stack two bearings on top of each other. I sent my shock to Cane Creek for service and cycled the rear and it was buttery smooth 15 years later. No crunchiness, notching or grinding. Their later generation of frames have a grease port at the main pivot.

 

[drjos]

My current bike is a Bulls Wild Cup 3, I think it's a '16 or '17 model. It's been a good bike, esp. since I bought it for $900 as a barely used demo. I've put close to 2,000 miles on it.

When it came time to replace the frame bearings, O.M.G. I tried myself and got a few out. Then I gave up. Brought it to my LBS and they charged me $100 to take out 6 more. I don't really care about the price to do this, but it was pretty annoying that they scratched the heck out of my parts doing this...the bike was well used at this point but still. If they had problems, how the heck would I be able to do this?! I prefer to do most of my own maintenance because I have found that though I'm SLOW AS S***, I often times do as good of a job or better than the LBS.

I've seen posts where old Giant bikes sold customer bearing tools. It doesn't seem that any manufacturers doing this any more. Is bearing replacement a common pain point for every full suspension bike?

Lastly, I do really like the bikes that have a decent amount of protection out of the factory (though I've never had a bike that has had that). I'm surprised that most bikes have maybe some chainstay protection and sometimes downtube protection (better than nothing). I'm not keen on the after market protection kits as they are kind of pricey and I'm sure a bit tricky to apply. Frame protection should be applied before components are put on.

This year I'm going to buy a new "good" full suspension bike (likely trail) with a budget of up to ~$6k. With the previous mindset, my top consideration right now is a Jeffsey Core 4. I also really like the Ripmo but it's definitely more $ and the protection is not as good as the Jeffsey.

I'd actually prefer a Shimano XT groupset but it seems the high end SRAM is lighter?! My biggest dislike is DOT fluid...

Would love to hear your thoughts and if I'm missing anything. TIA!

Trek has a lot of very custom hardware that is aluminum and prone to wear. Really hard to get parts also. They want you to take it to a dealer. I think the serviceability of non "full floater" bikes will be better as that system created tension in all the lower pivots.

+1 for ventana.

Ibis seems good so far. Bushing and bearings. Feels like my old Turner.

I really like bike designs built around 1 bearing type. Makes it simple to get parts for a refresh.

 

[Cleared2land]

How about maintaining and servicing your bearings over replacement?

 

[Lovespicyfood]

This has been a great conversation, thank you to all for participating!

I waited way to long to replace the bearings the first time on my full suspension. Almost all the bearings were notchy and some were straight up frozen. It was bad. Once I replaced the bearings, it was like a new bike...I couldn't believe the difference.

IMO, bearings aren't that expensive and I'm not sure a bike needs high end bearings anyways, maybe decent seals being the priority. I don't mind replacing them once a year...but if they are a total challenge, even for a bike shop that has all sorts of high end bearing presses, that's concerning.

Certainly, if I can service my bearings and make them last longer, that too is a big plus in my book. But aren't sealed bearings usually unserviceable?

 

[Lovespicyfood]

Trek has a lot of very custom hardware that is aluminum and prone to wear. Really hard to get parts also. They want you to take it to a dealer. I think the serviceability of non "full floater" bikes will be better as that system created tension in all the lower pivots.

Good to know! I am never getting a Trek now, that is annoying.

 

[dan l]

This has been a great conversation, thank you to all for participating!

I waited way to long to replace the bearings the first time on my full suspension. Almost all the bearings were notchy and some were straight up frozen. It was bad. Once I replaced the bearings, it was like a new bike...I couldn't believe the difference.

IMO, bearings aren't that expensive and I'm not sure a bike needs high end bearings anyways, maybe decent seals being the priority. I don't mind replacing them once a year...but if they are a total challenge, even for a bike shop that has all sorts of high end bearing presses, that's concerning.

Certainly, if I can service my bearings and make them last longer, that too is a big plus in my book. But aren't sealed bearings usually unserviceable?

I would argue that sealed bearings are not serviceable due to damage done to the seal upon removal. Removing the bearings for repacking also can lead to damage. There are vocal critics who disagree with this. It is not possible to have a scientific discussion on the topic of bearings here.

There are bikes that need no fancy bearing service practices and they go decades on a set of bearings. Other bikes and certain quality bearings do not last as long. Think about that.

 

[Cleared2land]

If you need to remove a bearing in order to service it, then just replace it. Most bearings can be serviced without removal.

Scientific discussion?

 

[Lovespicyfood]

If you need to remove a bearing in order to service it, then just replace it. Most bearings can be serviced without removal.

Scientific discussion?

I don’t agree that sealed bearings can be serviced…at least easily. I have pulled seals off rc car bearings but it was really tricky to do and I usually messed up the seal.

I am curious, does Santa Cruz use open bearings? Seems to me that they might if they have a grease fitting.

 

[BadgerOne]

If you want a bike with easy/sensible maintenance, you want something that uses bushings instead of bearings, at least in the areas of greatest load bearing. Ibis comes to mind. If Santa Cruz has a grease zerk, they are probably using bushings also. Bearings are frankly kind of a dumb compromise and really aren't the right component for the job, but since they are easy to source and design around that's what we're stuck with. Some do a good enough job with them, others not so much.

 

[prj71]

I went the route of choosing a bike with less bearings. The leaf spring design takes a few bearings out of the equation.

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Spot Bikes | mountain bikes, gravel bikes, city bikes, belt drive bikes. Located in Golden, Colorado. Demo our flagship models Mayhem 130, Ryve 115, Ryve 110, Rollik 150, Rocker SS, Acme, & more.

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Also not a fan of any bike with bearings on the chainstay near the rear hub...such as the Jeffsey you are looking at. To me that's a big wear area with how much the flame flexes in that area.

 

[EatsDirt]

I would argue that sealed bearings are not serviceable due to damage done to the seal upon removal.

If they are damaged, you're doing it wrong.

 

[ocnLogan]

My Anecdotal experience, is that carefully picking the seals out, and re-greasing the bearings with some good waterproof grease, seems to extend the life of said bearings. Although I see how you could damage the seals with the pick if you are not careful.

For the record, here are the secondary seals that Propain, and Raaw use. I'd love it if more brands did this... it just makes sense to protect them more.

 

[LVLBTY]

All of the suspension bearings on my Pivot Switchblade get replaced yearly. Some definitely need replacement, some seem okay but get replaced for good measure anyway. I've made my own bearing removal tool with nothing more then some long bolts, washers, nuts and the correct size socket.

 

[plummet]

The reality is that most bikes bearings are a pain in the arse to remove/replace bearings once they are packed with 3 to 4 years if grit and grime.

I don't think you should spec a bike on bearing maintenance. Get the bike that best suits your riding style and terrain then set about a maintenance schedule to check, clean, maintain and replace those bearings before they are seized in there with plenty of years grit and grime. Maybe even pull the suspension down when the bike is new and grease more parts for easy removal later. Its usually the lack of grease and the build up of grime that make the bearings a c#$t and a half to remove.

I have sworn and cursed at multiple different brands of suspension bearing access and removal, then I grease and clean thd appropriate areas and next time I go to remove that part... easy peasy. It was jus the factory over tightness/lack of grease/lack of maintenance that cause the freaken difficult to access/replace.

Also slowly build a tool kit of various bearing pulling, pressing tools, soft jaw clamping tools. I made a blind bearing puller out of a dynabolt once to get a bearing out of a shock eye....

PS If you lbs scratched the shut out of your bike to remove the bearings they did a piss poor job. Don't take it back to them.

 

[eb1888]

You're doing this to ride first. The best performing bike for your terrain would be my choice. Bearing remova/servicel tools for that bike figured into the purchase. And do the maintenence. Every time it gets easier. If you need to be there to watch the service guys do it the first time. Use your phone to get the steps down.