MORGAN HILL, CA (BRAIN) — Specialized is working with the Consumer Product Safety Commission to recall about 12,200 bikes due to faulty carbon forks. Models affected are the 2012 and 2013 Tarmac SL4, 2013 Crux and 2013 Secteur Disc complete bikes and framesets.
The Morgan Hill, California, company found a manufacturing issue with the fork’s carbon fiber steerer tubes, which can cause them to crack or break. So far two incidences of fork failures were reported but neither resulted in major injuries, said Sean Estes, who handles global public relations for Specialized.
The forks were manufactured in China by Topkey. Specialized director of quality Chris Menicou said, “We have fixed the problem at our manufacturing facilities, we have a systematic process in place to expedite the fork inspection and repair and we will do our best to ensure our customers are quite satisfied.”
Bike owners will be notified by mail and asked to bring their recalled bikes to a Specialized dealer. Dealers will send forks in for inspection to Specialized. Once inspected and, if needed, repaired, the fork will be shipped back to the dealer. Specialized said the process should take seven to 10 business days and is offering owners affected by the recall $100 store credit for Specialized merchandise.
“We are proactively recalling these bikes as a precaution and out of safety for our riders,” said Mike Sinyard, Specialized CEO. “We take quality very seriously and are working with our dealers to inspect these bikes and get our riders back on their bikes quickly and safely.”
