How Much Does It Cost To True A Bicycle Wheel

The wheel of your bicycle needs its spokes because they put tension on it, which helps the wheel stay perfectly round. Once bike spokes bend or get loose, they can no longer support that round shape.

However, like regular or rough use, other things can also cause a wheel to become misshapen. How much does it cost to true a bicycle wheel?

Most bike repair shops will charge you between $20 to $30 to true a bicycle wheel, however if the wheel is significantly bent, it will cost more due to increased mechanic’s time. You can true a bicycle wheel on your own for around $10, however you will need to invest in a $50 truing stand.

How Much Does It Cost To Get A Bike Wheel Trued

Unless you’re buying the equipment for yourself, the cost to get a bicycle wheel trued is pretty standard. A truing stand can take a slightly out-of-shape wheel and turn it back into a perfect circle in no time.

If the shop you go to isn’t busy, they can fix it in a very short time and have the wheel back to you the same day for less than $30.

However, if the shop is busy or backlogged and the mechanic needs to stop and interact with customers, it can take a couple of days before you get that wheel back.

As one member of the MTBR community points out, “It takes me about 20 mins per wheel, and I wouldn’t say I’m proficient at it.”

So you don’t need to worry about this type of fix taking hours, plus you don’t need new parts for a true wheel. Mostly it depends on when the repair person can get to it.

How Much Does A Bike Shop Charge To True A Wheel

Most shops will charge you around $20 to $30 to true a bicycle tire, but it could be more. If the tire is more bent than usual, or it’s been too long since you last had it trued, then it will take longer to fix.

The more time a mechanic has to spend, the higher the service fee because they charge hourly.

Additionally, some shops charge higher fees because the cost of living is greater where they’re located. Always ask about service fees and hourly for the mechanic before you agree to the service.

How Much Does It Cost To True A Bike Wheel Halfords

Halfords will true your wheel for ten pounds. That price is only for one wheel, so it’s twenty if you need them both done.

Additionally, if you require their mobile services, it will cost more for them to come to you, but you can often arrange for mobile service.

If you want more information, you can find everything you need to know about Halford’s bike services on this page.

Some bike services need to be booked in advance, so it’s always a good idea to check their website first or call ahead to make sure they have time to fit your wheel in on the day you drop it off.

How Much Does It Cost To True A Bicycle Wheel Myself

If you are a serious DIYer, you may want to learn how to true your wheels yourself. You can invest in a professional truing stand, but there’s an easier way.

All you need for minor wobble is a leg strap and a spoke wrench. Mostly, it comes down to loosening and tightening wheel spokes.

Best of all, you can get everything you need to make these minor fixes for about $10.

Can I True A Wheel Myself

There are two schools of thought on truing wheels yourself. First, there’s a risk. If you don’t know what you’re doing and screw up your wheel, you’re looking at a costly replacement.

Wheels often run $80 or more, so for some people, it’s not worth the chance that you might exacerbate the issue.

Still, many cyclists feel that it’s always worth the trouble to learn how to fix something for yourself. It’s not terribly difficult to learn how to adjust your own spokes.

Plus, you can end up saving a lot of money in the long run by doing your own repairs and extending the life of your wheels.

I recommend checking out this video from Flatbike if you want to learn how to make this inexpensive repair on your own.

Is It Worth Truing Your Own Bike Wheels

It is well worth learning how to do your own bike maintenance. Especially for those who ride daily, bike maintenance can get pricey.

Even if you invest in a truing stand, it will still pay for itself over time. Better still, you won’t need to worry about appointments, shop fees, mechanics hours, or pick-up times for your equipment.

A professional truing stand costs anywhere from around $50 to over $300.

Depending on your budget and how high-tech, versatile, and reliable you need your truing stand to be, you should be able to find the right option for your budget.

How Often Should You True Your Bike Wheels

It would be best if you trued your bike wheels once per year at least. However, if you have any wobble, brake pad rubbing, or other indications that something is off, then you may want to check your wheels.

Loose spokes are a sure sign something is wrong, but you should also check if your bike has been in any significant impact-based accidents.

Those who ride stunt bikes like BMX or do a lot of dirt trail riding and jumps like some mountain bike enthusiasts will want to check more often.

When you go that hard on your wheels, they tend to get a little bit bent and wobbly more often.

Helpful Tips To Know About How Much It Costs To True A Bicycle Wheel

• One simple way to spot a wheel that is out of shape is to listen. If the wheel is making a ‘thwip’ sound with every revolution and hitting the brake then it’s probably slightly bent. You may also notice it wears one brake pad significantly more than the other side.

• Regardless of how long it’s been since you last had your wheel trued if your bike has loose spokes, it’s time to go have an adjustment. Because the spokes are a structural element of your wheel, anytime they’re loose it means they are no longer providing support. The thin pieces of metal have to press outward to help keep the shape of your wheel round. A rattling spoke almost always indicates a less-than-true wheel.

• Bike mechanics charge by the hour, and they often have a one-hour minimum. That said, truing a bike wheel with a professional stand takes around ten minutes once you have some experience using the equipment.

Final Thoughts

Truing a bicycle wheel is not expensive. If you’re in the UK and you go to a big shop like Halfords, then you’ll only pay ten pounds for the service.

Meanwhile, a wheel truing generally runs $20 to $30 in the USA. Either way, it should only take a few minutes, and you need to true your wheels at least once per year.

Best of all, you can learn to fix off-true wheels yourself at home for about $10 in supplies or invest in a truing stand for $50 to $150.