The joint voluntary recall was announced by bike manufacturers in conjunction with the Bicycle Product Suppliers Association (BPSA), US Consumer Product Safety Commission, Health Canada, and the Consumer Protection Agency of the United Mexican States.
The recall addresses bicycles that were sold equipped with disc brakes and a front quick-release lever that can come into contact with the front disc brake when improperly adjusted or left open while riding. Basically, if a pencil won't fit between the disc brake rotor and the quick-release lever when it's fully open, the skewer is being recalled.
US consumers are being asked to check if their quick releases are problematic by conducting a simple check as per the below video, and if so to return their bikes to their local dealers in order for the skewers to be replaced.
The problematic quick-release skewer design. Source: http://quickreleaserecall.com
This skewer is unaffected by the recall. Source: http://quickreleaserecall.com
Australian manufacturers and distributors contacted by SBS this morning are unclear whether a formal Australian recall is likely to follow, but most have indicated that they are aware of the issue and several are already taking measures to address it.
In the meantime, it would be no bad thing to double-check your bike's skewers in advance of any official communication.
Bike brands and model years involved in the US recall
Diamondback: 2004-2015 www.diamondback.com
Raleigh: 2004-2015 www.raleighusa.com
Breezer: 2005-2015 www.breezerbikes.com
Fuji: 2005-2015 www.fujibikes.com
SE: 2005-2015 www.sebikes.com
Cannondale: 1998-2015 www.cannondale.com
GT: 1998-2015 www.gtbicycles.com
Felt: 2006-2015 www.feltbicycles.com
Jamis: 2005-2015 www.jamisbikes.com
Giant: 2003-2004 www.giant-bicycles.com
Haro: 2000-2015 www.harobikes.com
Norco: 2000-2015 www.norco.com
Access: 2009-2015 www.performancebike.com
Civia Cycles: 2008-2012 www.civiacycles.com
Novara: 2002-2015 www.rei.com
Ridley: 2014-2015 www.ridley-bikes.com
Specialized: 2002-2015 www.specialized.com
Trek Bicycles conducted a similar voluntary recall worldwide earlier this year: as this type of skewer has been used on entry-level bicycles industry-wide for years, a larger-scale recall was only a matter of time.
