SRAM LLC announced a recall of 25,350 of its hydraulic road rim brakes and hydraulic road disc brakes through the Consumer Products Safety Commmission (CSPC). SRAM President Stan Day had announced the recall via a video Dec. 13 and had been working with the agency since on the scope of the recall, which could cost SRAM up to $15 million.


In Tuesday's CPSC announcement, SRAM instructed consumers to immediately stop using bicycles equipped with the brake systems and contact any SRAM dealer to arrange for a free replacement product to be installed and to receive a $200 product voucher or cash per customer.

 

“We are estimating the recall to ultimately cost us $10-15 million,” said Michael Zellman, SRAM's director of public relations and media. “We are confident that roughly 5,000 hydraulic brake sets exist with consumers. We are also anticipating the majority of enthusiasts will return to the new hydraulic brake options when they become available.”

SRAM first became aware there were problems with its new hydraulic disc brakes for road bikes during an OEM ride camp in Europe and issued a narrow recall that captured what it then thought to be most of the affected brakes before they reached retail. But in December it began received reports that brakes were failing in freezing conditions during cyclocross events and issues a warning to cyclocross riders to stop using them Dec. 13.

 

“These are high profile bikes at high profile dealers and if you have one of these bikes it is personal,” SRAM President Stan Day said in a Dec. 13 video announcing the problem. “This is a particularly diff recall because Many who purchased these bikes viewed hydraulic as primary feature. Unlike a wheel recall….Your investment in new bike and your sport is essentially out of commission  until we give you a replacement.

 

At that time, Day estimated that it would have to recall 38,000 brakes affected 19,000 bikes and 5,000 riders.

 




“We have chosen to be a high performance product development company,” Day continued. “This choice comes with risks and we have just found a very painful edge.”

 

On Tuesday, SRAM narrowed the recall to 25,350, but said it still belives 5,000 riders are affected. It said it had received 95 reports of the brakes failing in the United States, including one involving a minor injury. There was also a report of a minor injury in Australia.


 

The brakes were sold as aftermarket products and as original equipment on 26 bicycle models made by 10 brands including ASI (Fuji), Cannondale, Diamondback, Felt Bicycles, Jamis, Kona, Norco, Orbea, Specialized Bicycles and Volagi and in the aftermarket by specialty bicycle retailers nationwide from May 2013 to December 2013. The brake systems were sold aftermarket for between $285 and $581 for the disc or rim brakes. Bicycles equipped with the brakes sold for between $2,500 to $7,500.


 

The recalled bicycle brake models include SB Red Hydraulic Road Disc, SB Red Hydraulic Road Rim, SB 700 Hydraulic Road Disc and SB 700 Hydraulic Road Rim, used as either front or rear brakes. The SB RED brake lever is labeled “RED” on the body of the lever assembly. The SB 700 brake lever is labeled “S-Series” on the body of the lever assembly. The serial numbers for the recalled brakes have the digit “3” as the fourth digit of the serial number. The serial number can be found on the bottom of the caliper body.