Can I service my own bike at home in South Africa?

Yes — most of these jobs need only a workstand, hex keys and a torque wrench, and doing them yourself saves money and downtime. Brake bleeds are the one exception: they are safety-critical and easy to get wrong, so if you are unsure, hand that job to a shop. Every guide flags its difficulty and whether it is safe for a beginner.

How often should I service each part of my bike?

It depends on how and where you ride — muddy Highveld winters and dusty MTB trails wear bearings far faster than dry road kilometres. Each guide gives a realistic interval (for example, bottom brackets roughly annually, brake bleeds every 12 months), and the signed-in My Workshop tracks the actual mileage on your Garage bikes to tell you what is due.

Why does BikeBuy split servicing by brand?

Because Shimano and SRAM genuinely do not service the same way — mineral oil versus DOT fluid, different torque figures, different bleed kits. A generic how-to gets these wrong. Each guide gives you the correct manuals, torque specs and videos for the exact brand fitted to your bike.

Workshop

How to service your bike

The handful of jobs that keep any South African bike running. Pick a component, choose the brand fitted to your bike, and get the manuals, videos and manufacturer torque specs for it.

We deliberately leave forks and rear shocks out — suspension servicing needs specialist tools, oils and seals, and is best handled by a qualified workshop.

Your service year

What’s due, and when — by the distance you ride

Drivetrain Frameset Wheels Brakes

2.5k

7.5k

10k

12k km

Brakes — measured in time, not distance

Bleed every 12 months · pads as needed

Safety-critical

See what YOUR bike needs — My Workshop

The jobs — pick a component

component shot 01

Drivetrain

Bottom bracket

Kill the creak. Keep the cranks spinning smooth.

Shimano SRAM Praxis Works Chris King Campagnolo Hope Tech

component shot 02

Frameset

Headset

Kill the knock. Steer smooth again.

Chris King Cane Creek FSA Hope Tech Acros Shimano

component shot 03

Wheels

Wheel bearings

Free speed lives in the hubs. Repack before they rumble.

DT Swiss Shimano Chris King Hope Tech Industry Nine Novatec Fulcrum

component shot 04

Drivetrain

Derailleurs

Crisp, silent shifts — every gear, every time.

Shimano SRAM Campagnolo

component shot 05

Brakes

Firm lever, no rub, full stopping power. Get the fluid right.

Shimano SRAM Magura Hope Tech TRP

How honest is this?

These are practical how-to guides, not a substitute for your bike's official manual. Every torque figure we list is manufacturer-claimed — always confirm it against the spec for your exact model before you tighten anything. Videos link out to a YouTube search rather than a hand-picked embed, so nothing is fabricated or paid-for.

If a job is beyond your comfort level — or if it's safety-critical, like a hydraulic brake bleed — take the bike to a workshop. You can find a bike shop near you in the BikeBuy directory.

Home-servicing FAQ

Can I service my own bike at home in South Africa?: Yes — most of these jobs need only a workstand, hex keys and a torque wrench, and doing them yourself saves money and downtime. Brake bleeds are the one exception: they are safety-critical and easy to get wrong, so if you are unsure, hand that job to a shop. Every guide flags its difficulty and whether it is safe for a beginner.
How often should I service each part of my bike?: It depends on how and where you ride — muddy Highveld winters and dusty MTB trails wear bearings far faster than dry road kilometres. Each guide gives a realistic interval (for example, bottom brackets roughly annually, brake bleeds every 12 months), and the signed-in My Workshop tracks the actual mileage on your Garage bikes to tell you what is due.
Why does BikeBuy split servicing by brand?: Because Shimano and SRAM genuinely do not service the same way — mineral oil versus DOT fluid, different torque figures, different bleed kits. A generic how-to gets these wrong. Each guide gives you the correct manuals, torque specs and videos for the exact brand fitted to your bike.