The Recall Desk
Our severity:SevereCPSC·02143·Announced 2002-04-18

Brunswick Recalls Mongoose and Roadmaster Bicycles with Ballistic 105 Forks

Brunswick Corp. is recalling about 103,000 Mongoose and Roadmaster mountain bicycles because the Ballistic 105 front suspension forks can break, causing riders to lose control and suffer serious 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 the bicycle suspension forks that has resulted in 31 reported serious injuries, including head and bodily injuries, which meets the rubric criteria for 'Severe' (significant injury reports).

Plain-English summary

Brunswick Corp. of Lake Forest, Ill., is recalling approximately 103,000 Mongoose and Roadmaster mountain bicycles equipped with Ballistic 105 front suspension forks. The recall includes all Ballistic model 105 forks installed on Mongoose and Roadmaster model bicycles manufactured by Brunswick Corp., except for the Mongoose A40 model. The affected forks are black with decals reading "BALLISTIC" and "105" on the sides of the suspension fork legs, and a small label on the bottom of the bicycle reads "Brunswick."

The recall is being conducted because the forks on these bicycles can break apart, causing riders to lose control, fall, and suffer serious injury. There have been 34 reports of forks breaking, resulting in 31 riders, including children and teenagers, suffering serious head and bodily injuries, abrasions, bruises, and chipped teeth. The bicycles were sold at discount department stores and toy stores nationwide from June 1998 through December 2000 for between $125 and $150. Some consumers may have received a Ballistic model 105 fork as a replacement during previous recalls.

Consumers should immediately stop using these bicycles and call Brunswick Corp. at (877) 243-5568 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday to obtain information on receiving a $65 refund for the bicycle fork. This remedy applies to all owners of bicycles with Ballistic model 105 forks manufactured by Brunswick (except the Mongoose A40), even if they received a new fork in a previous recall.

The recalled product

Product
Mongoose and Roadmaster mountain bicycles with Ballistic 105 front suspension forks
Manufacturer
Brunswick Corp., of Lake Forest, Ill.
Category
Consumer Product — Bicycles
Hazard
Affected units
103,000

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

Related recalls

Same hazard · structural failure

See all →

Similar recalls