Answer and Manitou brand bicycle forks

CPSC Recall #00-105 — May 8, 2000

Recall Summary

Recall Number00-105
Recall DateMay 8, 2000
Remedy TypeInspect, Repair
Units AffectedAbout 17,500

Where It Was Sold

Bicycle stores nationwide and mail order catalogs sold these forks and bikes from August 1999 through May 2000. The forks range in price from $245 to $695
and the assembled bicycles with these forks range in price from $1
200 to more than $3
000.

Product

Answer and Manitou brand bicycle forks

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Answer Products Inc., of Valencia, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 17,500 BMX and mountain bicycle forks, which were sold separately and installed on bicycles. The tube that attaches the fork to the bicycle can fail, causing riders to lose control and fall. Answer Products has received six reports of these forks failing resulting in two consumers suffering minor injuries, including cuts, bruises and chipped teeth. These 2000 model bicycle forks have been installed on more than 30 models of bicycles and sold under Answer and Manitou brand names. Either "ANSWER" or "MANITOU" is written on the side of the fork and the model name is written on the front of the fork. The Answer BMX forks are the Carbo Pro and Mag Pro models. The Manitou mountain bike forks are Mars and X-Vert Super models. Bicycle brands that were made with these forks include Specialized, Klein, Jamis and Marin. Bicycle stores nationwide and mail order catalogs sold these forks and bikes from August 1999 through May 2000. The forks range in price from $245 to $695, and the assembled bicycles with these forks range in price from $1,200 to more than $3,000. Consumers should immediately stop riding the bicycles with these forks and take them to an authorized Answer Products dealer for a free inspection and repair. To determine if your bicycle's fork is part of this recall and for more information, contact Answer Products, Inc. at 888.MTN.DISC (888.686.3472) 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Central Time or at [email protected]

Hazard

The tube that attaches the fork to the bicycle can fail, causing riders to lose control and fall.

Incidents & Injuries

Answer Products has received six reports of these forks failing resulting in two consumers suffering minor injuries, including cuts, bruises and chipped teeth.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should immediately stop riding the bicycles with these forks and take them to an authorized Answer Products dealer for a free inspection and repair. 

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Inspect, Repair at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Follow the consumer action instructions in the recall notice above. Most recalls require you to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer directly — either by calling the toll-free number listed in the official CPSC notice or by visiting the manufacturer's website. You generally do not need a receipt or original packaging to claim a remedy. The manufacturer is legally required to provide the remedy (Inspect, Repair) at no cost to you.

Furniture tip-overs are a leading cause of pediatric injuries in the U.S., particularly dressers, bookcases, and television stands. CPSC data shows that a child dies approximately every two weeks from a furniture or TV tip-over. Unstable high chairs, baby swings, and bouncers are also frequent recall subjects due to fall risks. ASTM International standards now require that certain furniture must meet tip-over resistance standards, and CPSC has been actively pursuing mandatory requirements for dressers and chests. If you have furniture that was not recalled but feels unstable, wall-anchoring kits are widely available at hardware stores.

In most cases, no. CPSC-coordinated recall remedies are designed to be accessible without proof of purchase. Manufacturers typically ask consumers to self-certify ownership and may ask for photos of the product or its serial number. Some manufacturers request that you mail in a portion of the product (such as a cut cord or removed component) as proof of disposal. Check the specific remedy instructions for this recall for exact requirements. If you registered your product at the time of purchase, the process is usually even simpler.

If the original manufacturer has gone out of business, the recall remedy may no longer be available through them. In this case, contact CPSC directly at 1-800-638-2772 or cpsc.gov for guidance. If the brand was acquired by another company, the acquiring company may have assumed recall obligations. In some cases where a remedy is unavailable, CPSC advises consumers to safely dispose of the product. If you were injured by the product of a defunct company, consult a product liability attorney — parent companies, distributors, and retailers may still bear liability in some circumstances.