Are Full Suspension Bikes High-Maintenance?
Written by: Rémy Rossi | March 17, 2025 | Time to read 4 min
Some riders may be put off riding a full-suspension bike because of the additional maintenance— but is it really that bad? This article explains what’s needed to keep a full-squish bike running properly.
More about the Author: Remy Rossi
Rémy Rossi is a bike writer, mechanic, and educator who got his start in community-based bike shops and co-ops. With a decade in the industry, he still wrenches on bikes when he can and plays bike polo on a fixie.
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What is a full-suspension e-Bike?
Full-suspension e-Bikes feature a front suspension fork and a rear shock. The extra suspension travel helps provide more control and traction on rougher terrain, making them an ideal choice for technical mountain biking.
Compared to hardtail e-MTBs, full-suspension bikes have a lot more going on because of the rear shock, linkages, and more complex design. While there are some full-squish city e-Bikes out there, nearly every full-suspension model falls into the electric mountain bike family.
Suspension settings and adjustments
When considering the required effort to keep full suspension bikes in working order, there are some initial steps to take care of. Riders will need to adjust the suspension settings correctly to match their weight, desired performance, and expected terrain. And since there’s a rear shock in addition to the suspension fork, there’s a bit more to pay attention to.
- Adjust the air pressure or spring preload: Getting these settings right on your fork and shock means the suspension system functions as it’s supposed to given your specific weight. Think of this as dialing in the starting point of your suspension package. Shock manufacturers will have recommended numbers according to rider weight.
- Set up the sag: Dialing in the sag is typically the first thing mountain bikers do when they get a new bike. Sag is how much your suspension compresses when you’re in a neutral position on the bike, like just sitting on it. The recommended sag range for rear shocks is around 28-30% and about 15-25% in the front.
- Adjust the rebound: Rebound affects how fast the suspension system comes back to its neutral position after compressing so your bike can properly adapt to the route. Too fast and it’ll feel bouncy or throw the control out of whack, but too slow and it will feel sluggish and unresponsive on the trail.
Maintenance and repairs
First off, you’ll want to ensure that the air pressure in the suspension systems is at adequate levels. Similar to bike tires, air suspensions lose air over time, but it happens at a much slower rate. If you need to pump up your fork or shock frequently, it’s probably time to take your bike to the shop.
Another important maintenance task is keeping the stanchions and suspension seals clean. Dirt and grime can work their way into the suspension and decrease performance, especially if you go on muddy rides often. Seals and important O-rings can break which require replacement to get your full-squish bike back to full health.
Beyond seals, linkage bearings are crucial to bikes with rear-end suspension. The bearings must be properly greased and shouldn’t be too loose that there’s noticeable play at the rear end. This is a type of maintenance that isn’t required for hardtail bikes, for example.
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Are full-suspension bikes high-maintenance?
Better-built bikes require less maintenance down the road, so it’s a good idea to invest in a high-quality full-suspension bike from the get-go. Upway has a huge selection of electric bikes from the top brands for less, including professional reconditioning and a one-year warranty!
Key Takeaways
- Full-suspension e-Bikes require more maintenance: With complex linkages, shocks, and bearings, they demand more upkeep compared to hardtails, but proper care minimizes major issues.
- Adjustments and cleaning are essential: Setting up sag, air pressure, and rebound correctly improves performance while keeping seals and bearings clean extends the bike’s lifespan.
- Quality bikes reduce maintenance: Investing in a well-built full-suspension e-Bike and following good maintenance habits leads to fewer mechanical problems over time.
