Frames can crack on alloy Instinct, Instinct BC, and Pipeline full-suspension mountain bikes.
Last week, Canadian brand Rocky Mountain Bicycles issued a voluntary recall of about 3,000 mountain bikes in North America due to a “potential failure of the front triangle.”
The brand said it received 12 reports of front triangles cracking on alloy models of its Instinct, Instinct BC, and Pipeline bicycles. According to the recall, the issue can “cause separation of the head tube from the frame.” It impacts about 1,530 bikes in the U.S. and another 1,470 in Canada.
The recall includes 2018, 2019, and 2020 model year bikes, but Rocky Mountain noted that it does not affect any carbon fiber frames.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission warns anyone who believes their bike may be affected should stop riding immediately. Rocky Mountain said it will replace front triangles on recalled frames at no cost. However, replacement triangles will only be available in two colors and may not match the front triangle (more details below).
Rocky Mountain Bike Recall
To check if your bike is part of the recall, check the serial number printed on the underside of the bottom bracket shell. Only small, medium, and large frames are part of the recall.
Owners whose models meet the following criteria should take their bike into an authorized Rocky Mountain dealer immediately:
- Products sizes small, medium, and large with serial numbers starting with PRK17 and PRK18
- Products sizes small and medium with serial numbers starting with PRK19
- May need replacement: Products size large between PRK19-00001 and PRK19-01275; some exceptions are known from your dealer, please contact them
You can also find a full list of recalled serial numbers here. The recall does not affect products size large starting with PRK19-01276 onward.
Limited Colors Available
While the brand said it will replace all affected front triangles free of charge, it noted that it opted to expedite replacement triangles over repainting.
“Every effort has been made to design new front triangle colors that match all year models. In collaboration with consumer safety authorities, rapidity to get you back in the saddles has been prioritized over original color matches,” the brand said.
The new front triangles will be either black or gray. Models for the 2020 year will receive one color or the other, based on serial number, while 2018-19 models will only receive gray.
Rocky Mountain also encouraged riders to inquire at their dealer about a courtesy bike to use during the repair. Owners who purchased the bike secondhand can receive free triangle replacement as well.
For more information, read the full recall and frequently asked questions here.
