Profile Design Recalls Stiffy Mountain Bike Handlebar Stems
Profile Design is recalling about 8,000 Stiffy threadless mountain bike handlebar stems that can break during use, causing crashes and injuries.
What this means for you
Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 4/5 (Severe).
The hazard poses a serious risk of illness, injury, or structural failure. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.
Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a structural defect in a bicycle component that has resulted in reported crashes and injuries, including teeth injuries, bruises, and abrasions, meeting the criteria for significant injury reports.
Plain-English summary
Profile Design LLC is recalling approximately 8,000 "Stiffy" threadless mountain bike handlebar stems. The stems connect the bicycle's handlebars to the fork and can break during use, which may cause the rider to crash and suffer serious injuries.
The company has received reports of six riders crashing when the stems broke, resulting in teeth injuries, bruises, and abrasions. The recalled stems were sold individually, on custom-built bicycles, and in bicycle parts kits by various independent bicycle dealers nationwide from March 1997 through April 2000. The stems were sold for about $50 and are available in black, red, blue, yellow, and cream. They are identified by the words "Profile" and "Stiffy" on the stem, a sharply angled (45 degrees) rear steer tube clamp, and two bolts on the front handlebar clamp.
Consumers should stop using bicycles with these stems immediately. They can obtain a free replacement stem by calling Profile Design toll-free at (888) 800-5999 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, or by returning the bicycle with the recalled stem to a Profile-Design retailer for a free replacement.
The recalled product
- Product
- Mountain bike handlebar stems
- Manufacturer
- Profile Design LLC, of Carson, Calif.
- Affected units
- 8,000
Distribution
Distributed nationwide across the United States.
Related recalls
Same manufacturer · Profile Design LLC, of Carson, Calif.
See all →- SevereProfile Design Recalls Bicycle Handlebar Stems Due to Crash Hazard
CPSC · 2017-05-09
Same hazard · structural failure
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