Basic Maintenance for Your Tern Bike’s Suspension Fork
Regular cleaning is important to help keep your suspension fork working smoothly and reduce wear on the seals and stanchions. Dirt can build up on the fork, especially in wet and dusty conditions, and road salt or spray can lead to corrosion. Keeping the fork clean helps prevent premature wear and avoid costly repairs or replacement. Follow the steps below to carry out basic maintenance on your Tern bike’s suspension fork.
Tern bikes that are equipped with suspension forks include the GSD and HSD.
Step 1: Inspect your suspension fork
Inspect the fork before performing any maintenance. If you notice worn seals, cracks, or structural damage, do not ride the bike. Instead, bring the bike to your nearest authorized Tern dealer for inspection and repair.
Step 2: Clean your suspension fork
Wipe down your fork’s stanchions with a soft, damp cloth to remove dust, mud, and road grime. This is good practice, especially after riding in the rain. If there is dried mud, use a soft brush to loosen it before wiping. Never use a pressure washer on your suspension fork.
Step 3: Remove trapped dirt from the seals
Here's how:
1. Apply some suspension fork lubricant around each stanchion, just above the dust seals. Use only lubricants intended for suspension forks. Avoid incompatible oils to prevent damaging the dust seals.
2. Check your suspension lockout. Your Tern bike’s suspension fork has a lockout dial on top of the stanchion. If the suspension is locked, turn the dial to unlock it. Otherwise, the fork will not compress when you push down on the handlebars.
3. Stand on either side of the bike and push down on the handlebars about 10 times. This will let the lubricant bring trapped dust out from the seals.
4. Use a soft, damp cloth to wipe away any excess lubricant so it does not attract dirt. All done!
Check how often you need to service your suspension fork
Basic cleaning only takes a few minutes and helps keep your suspension fork running smoothly, but it still needs a full service from time to time. Your nearest Tern dealer can help you disassemble the fork, inspect internal components, and replace worn parts, such as the dust seals. To find out how often to tune up your bike, browse our Tern Bike Maintenance Schedule.
For more essential e-bike maintenance tips, check out the Maintenance section of our Complete Guide to E-Bikes.