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Comment by fiftyacorn | Hacker News Reader

The issue isnt just maintenance - its a lot of specialist parts will have a shelf life of 5-10 years then you will be lucky to find them. An example being with custom headsets on frames - you'll not get a replacement and the frame will be end of life

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It's not just finding replacements in the future. It's about stocking a reasonable workshop with tools and spare parts today given the diversity of bikes.

I have 2 bikes, my wife and son each have one. Four bikes total and each one uses a different bottom bracket standard, rim and tire size, headset, seatpost diameter, hub diameter or attachment (QR vs thru), and different suspension systems. I need custom tools/parts for all of them. Heaven forbid our friends and neighbors come over asking for some bike maintenance help - because their bike has uses a fifth standard for all of the above.

I don't know. There have always been custom headsets, and they can be replaced pretty easily if not like for like. I personally find modern bikes easier to maintain. It's good to be aware of specialist parts but even Shimano hardware can be hard to source sometimes.

At least Shimano stamps a part number on most all of its parts. I work on a lot of vintage stuff and need to do a lot of guess-work, cutting or measuring to predict/force compatibility of parts.

I'm an aspiring home machinist. I smell opportunity.

A good headset usually outlives the bike its installed on, in my experience. Fairly simple things if threadless, and a lot of threaded had loose bearings you could find to replace easily. (If it's damaged tho I can see you being out of luck)

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