NEXT and Specialized Bicycle Recalls: Broken Chains and Defective Forks

Two bike recalls announced this week will pull more than 100,000 bicycles off the market for safety reason, including more than 90,000 sold at Walmart. 

The largest is a NEXT bicycle recall, which was announced by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) on September 22 after the manufacturer, Bridgeway International, received at least 11 reports of the bicycle chain breaking, causing riders to lose control and fall. Nine of those bicycle accidents resulted in injuries, including lacerations and contusions.

The recall affects about 91,000 NEXT brand of men’s 26-inch hybrid bicycles. The affected bikes have model numbers of LBH2611M and LBH2611M2. The model numbers are located on the frame between the pedals. The bicycles are red or orange and have “Power X” and “Suspension” printed on the frame.

The recalled NEXT bicycles were sold at Walmart from February 2011 through July 2011 for about $100.

The other recall, announced by the CPSC on the same day, affects about 14,200 bicycles using Advanced Group carbon forks. The CPSC has determined that the brake component inside the carbon forks can disengage and allow the brake assembly to contact the wheel spokes while rotating, which can cause a fall hazard.

Advanced Group, the manufacturer, has already received at least two reports of the brake component disengaging from the carbon fork. However, there have been no injuries reported in connection to the defective bicycles.

The recall affects nine models of bicycles released in 2011, all of which used Advanced Group carbon forks, including Sirrus Expert, Sirrus Comp, Sirrus Elite, Vita Expert, Vita Comp, Vita Elite, Vita Elite Step Thru, Tricross Sport, Tricross, and Tricross Comp. The bikes all have the word “Specialized” on the lower front frame tube with the model name on the top tube. The bikes were sold at authorized Specialized Retailers nationwide for between $700 and $2,000 from June 2010 through August 2011.

Consumers affected by either recall should stop using the bicycles immediately. Affected NEXT bicycle owners should contact Bridgeway International at (877)934-3228 or visit the company’s website at www.powerxbike.com for information on how to get a free repair. Consumers affected by the Advanced Group recall should return the bicycles to an authorized Specialized retailer for a free repair or to have the carbon fork replaced.