CPSC, Firms Announce Recall of Bicycles and Bicycle Components

Washington, DC (SafetyAlerts) - In cooperation with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, five separate firms are voluntarily recalling certain bicycles and bicycle components.

PRODUCT: RANS Bicycles -- RANS Inc., of Hays, Kan., is recalling about 4,000 long-wheelbase recumbent bicycles. The models being recalled are the RANS Stratus, Stratus XL, Gliss, Tailwind, Wave, Response and Nimbus. RANS models Tailwind and Wave bicycles with a serial number of 0700 or 0301 after a two-letter prefix are not included in the recall. Serial numbers are located beneath the bottom bracket or crankset of the bike. Specialty bicycle shops sold these bikes from June 1993 through July 2001 for between $700 and $1,500.

PROBLEM: The bicycle's front fork steering tube can break, causing the rider to lose control of the bicycle, fall and suffer injuries.

INCIDENTS/INJURIES: RANS Inc. has received eight reports of forks breaking on these bicycles. The company has received no reports of injuries.

WHAT TO DO: Consumers should stop using these bicycles immediately and return them to the store where purchased or to a qualified bike mechanic for inspection and repair, if necessary. For more information, call RANS Inc. toll-free at (877) 990-7267 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit their web site at www.rans.com/recall or at www.ransbikes.com/recall.

PRODUCT: Specialized Bicycles Hemi 12-inch Children's Bicycles - Specialized Bicycles, Inc., of Morgan Hill, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 3,500 Specialized-brand bicycles. These Hemi 12-inch boys and girls model bicycles were sold for the 2001 model year only. The model names are the 2001 Hemi Pro 12-inch boys team red and the 2001 Hemi Fastgirl 12-inch girls pink bikes. "Specialized" and the model name are written on the bicycles. Specialized dealers sold the bicycles nationwide from July 2000 through May 2001 for between $110 to $130.

PROBLEM: The frame of the bicycle can break during use causing the rider to lose control of the bicycle, fall and suffer serious injuries.

INCIDENTS/INJURIES: Specialized Bicycles Inc. has received two reports of these bicycles breaking resulting in minor injuries.

WHAT TO DO: Consumers should stop using these bicycles immediately, and return them to the nearest Specialized dealer for a refund. To determine if the bicycle is part of this recall and for more information, call Specialized Bicycles Inc. at (800) 214-1468 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday.

PRODUCT: Cannondale "Carbon Left" Suspension Forks - Cannondale Corp., of Bethel, Conn., is voluntarily recalling 367 "Carbon Lefty" suspension forks. These single-sided suspension forks were sold on the 2001 model Cannondale F4000 SL, Jekyll 4000 SL, Raven 4000 SL bicycles and separately. All forks made prior to May 31 are subject to recall. The brand name "Cannondale" appears on the frames of these bicycles. The recalled forks are marked "Carbon" and "Lefty." Cannondale dealers sold the recalled forks on bicycles from December 2000 through June 2001. The bicycles sold for between $3,500 and $4,300.

PROBLEM: The bicycle forks can break, causing the rider to lose control of the bicycle, fall and suffer serious injury or death.

INCIDENTS/INJURIES: Cannondale has received six reports of forks breaking. However, there have been no injuries reported.

WHAT TO DO: Consumers should stop using these bicycles immediately and return them to a Cannondale retailer to arrange to have the fork to be rebuilt and upgraded at no charge. To determine if your bicycle is subject to recall, and for more information, call Cannondale toll-free at (800) BIKE USA between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET Saturday, and between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Sunday.

PRODUCT: Magura Bicycle Brakes - Magura USA, of Olney, Ill., is voluntarily recalling about 360 hydraulic disc brakes. These 2001 Gustav M hydraulic disc brakes are the only Gustav brakes with silver brake levers. Bicycle stores sold the brakes nationwide from September 2000 through May 2001 for about $260 each. They were also sold with Cannondale MT 4000 tandem bicycles.

PROBLEM: The brakes could fail, causing the rider to lose control of the bicycle, fall and suffer serious injuries.

INCIDENTS/INJURIES: Magura has received no reports of incidents or injuries.

WHAT TO DO: Consumers should stop using bicycles with these brakes immediately and contact their local dealer for repair. For a free Gustav M Brake Upgrade Kit, contact your local Magura dealer. For more information, call toll-free at (800) 448-3876 between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday.

PRODUCT: Bike Handlebars and Bar Ends - Supergo Corp., of Santa Monica, Calif., is voluntarily recalling 125 "PAZZAZ" ATB-98 carbon fiber-wrapped aluminum riser mountain bicycle handlebars and 199 pairs of "PAZZAZ" carbon fiber mountain bicycle "bar ends." The bar ends were sold separately and can be bolted on to the end of most mountain bicycle handlebars to assist in climbing. The handlebars are about 23.5-inches long (unless cut by the user) with a .75-inch rise from the clamp to the grips. "PAZZAZ" is written in white letters under each handle grip area. About 6.75 inches from the right end of the handlebar a logo reads "PZ & Company," and about 6.75 inches from the left end of the handlebar a logo reads "PAZZAZ FIBER." The bar ends have a black carbon fiber grip area about 3-inches long with a glossy finish. The carbon fiber section has a logo which reads "PAZZAZ FIBER" in white letters, and the clamp is polished aluminum. Supergo stores in California and Chandler, Arizona sold the handlebars from June 2000 through May 2001 for about $39. Supergo stores sold the bar ends in California and Chandler, Arizona from July 2000 through May 2001 for about $25. Supergo also sold the bar ends nationwide through mail order.

PROBLEM: The handlebars can crack and break, causing the rider to lose control of the bicycle, fall and suffer serious injuries. The carbon fiber wrap on the handlebar can hide cracking of the aluminum handlebar underneath the carbon. The carbon fiber bar ends can become detached from the aluminum clamp during riding causing the rider to lose control and crash.

INCIDENTS/INJURIES: Supergo has received two reports of handlebars breaking and one report of a handlebar cracking. The firm has received two reports of bar ends detaching. There are no reports of injuries.

WHAT TO DO: Consumers should stop using bicycles with these recalled handlebars and bar ends immediately. The firm is offering a refund or a free replacement aluminum handlebar, which will be installed at Supergo stores. For bar ends, Supergo is offering a refund. For more information, call Supergo at (800) 326-2453 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. PT Monday through Friday.

Notice of this product warning was sent via email to SafetyAlerts subscribers July 17, 2001.  For more information regarding the SafetyAlerts free email alert service please click here.