The Recall Desk
HighCPSC·23086·Announced 2023-01-05

Quality Bicycle Products Carbon Handlebars and Bicycles Injury Hazard

Quality Bicycle Products is recalling carbon handlebars and bicycles because the handlebars can crack where brake and shift levers are installed, posing a crash and injury risk. The company has received 37 reports of cracking but no injuries have been reported.

What this means for you

Real risk of harm even if no illness or injury has been reported yet. Stop using the product and follow the agency's guidance.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a risk-of-harm product (structural failure of handlebars leading to crash) where injury has not yet been reported, meeting the High severity criterion. The source explicitly states "No injuries have been reported," which, combined with a structural defect that poses crash risk, places this at the High level rather than higher.

Plain-English summary

Quality Bicycle Products GBC of Bloomington, Minnesota is recalling approximately 8,740 carbon handlebars and bicycles sold through specialty bicycle stores nationwide. The affected handlebars include Salsa Cowchipper, Salsa Cowbell, Whisky No. 9 12F, and Whisky No. 9 24F models, which can crack or fracture where brake and shift levers are installed. The recalled handlebars were also sold as part of Salsa Cutthroat, Warbird, and Warroad complete bicycles. A cracked handlebar can fail during use and cause a crash, creating an injury hazard.

According to the notice, handlebars were sold from January 2018 through August 2022 for approximately $240 each, and complete bicycles with the handlebars were sold from August 2018 through June 2022 for between $4,700 and $7,000. The company has received 37 reports of handlebars cracking or fracturing while in use. No injuries have been reported.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled handlebars and bicycles and bring them to a local bicycle retailer for free installation of a replacement carbon handlebar or an alternative aluminum handlebar. For more information, consumers can contact QBP at 800-346-3340 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT, Monday through Friday, or email [email protected].

The recalled product

Product
Bicycle handlebars and bicycles
Manufacturer
Quality Bicycle Products GBC., of Bloomington, Minnesota
Category
Consumer Product — Bicycles / Bicycle Components
Hazard
  • handlebar-fracture
  • crash-injury
Affected units
8,740

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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