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.

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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.

6 Comments

  • BarryJuly 19, 2019 at 1:36 pm

    I too have a broken chain for years has been sitting. And the bearings in the pedal axle in frame have been bad for long time.

  • AngieJuly 8, 2019 at 4:12 am

    We purchased this bike in May of 2011 from Walmart. At some point the chain broke and the bike has just been sitting in the garage. Today, we started looking on line to see about replacing the chain and ran across this article. Is there anything that can be done this late?

  • brianNovember 5, 2015 at 4:13 pm

    gotbike for son 2 years ago been siting do to chain broke shift cable and front break cable and delrealer never buy thid brand again

  • JeffreyOctober 22, 2013 at 6:19 pm

    I too crashed after applying the front break of my NEXT BIKE. I flew over the handle bars when the break refused to release right in front of traffic and an on coming bus. I was nearly killed.

  • SarahJuly 21, 2012 at 3:32 pm

    My husband was riding this bicycle for the second time in our neighborhood, not uneven terrain, and when he hit the brakes they never unlocked and he flew over the handlebars and fractured both elbows. That was 4 years ago. We are still fighting the bicycle manufacturer and Walmart. Its disgusting that there is no responsibilty taken by the companies for their defective products. I learned a big l[Show More]My husband was riding this bicycle for the second time in our neighborhood, not uneven terrain, and when he hit the brakes they never unlocked and he flew over the handlebars and fractured both elbows. That was 4 years ago. We are still fighting the bicycle manufacturer and Walmart. Its disgusting that there is no responsibilty taken by the companies for their defective products. I learned a big lesson, cheap bike arent worth it!

  • GregSeptember 23, 2011 at 8:52 pm

    I had a fork break in two under no stress (riding on level ground) in September, 2010 and suffered a concussion and lacerations to my face (280 stitches). Specialized was notified by my attorney and has yet to respond. Over $8,000 in medical bills and lost wages. BE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WHEN BUYING FROM SPECIALIZED.

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