Thirteen companies are recalling nearly 1.3 million bicycles equipped with front disc brakes and quick-release levers that can cause the front tire to lock up or completely separate from the bike, posing an increased risk of injury to riders.
The voluntary recall, which involves 17 different bike brands produced between 1998 and 2015, was initiated because of the risk that an open quick-release lever can come in contact with the brake rotor and cause the front wheel to stop suddenly or separate from the bicycle.
According to a notice from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the issue occurs when the quick-release lever is fully opened – meaning there is less than six millimeters of space between the lever and the disc brake rotor on the bike wheel.
Bicycles that do not have disc brakes are not included in the recall. The CPSC released a video to assist owners in identifying if their bike is involved in the recall.
There have been three incidents reported in which an open quick-release lever on a bicycle’s front wheel hub came into contact with the bike’s front disc brake assembly and caused the front wheel to come to a sudden stop or separate from the bicycle.
In one case, a man suffered a broken finger, a wrist injury, a shoulder injury and abrasions. The other two incidents did not result in injuries.
Consumers are advised to immediately stop using the affected bikes – which sold from between $200 and $10,000 at bike shops nationwide – and contact the recalling company for the free installation of a new quick-release on the front wheel.
In addition to the roughly 1.3 million bikes covered by the recall in the U.S., nearly 245,000 of the bikes were sold in Canada, and 9,000 in Mexico.
Here’s a full list of recalled bikes and manufacturers:
by Ashlee Kieler via Consumerist