A part that fails in 1 out of 5,000 bikes prompted the British bike maker Brompton Bicycle Ltd. to recall all of its bicycles – some 144,000 – made between April 2014 and May 2017.
Faulty bottom bracket
Bromptons are popular folding bicycles that are used in cities around the world. The folding design and 16-inch wheels enables users to fold the bicycles into a compact package that can be carried onto a bus, thrown into a car trunk, or put in a suitcase for air travel.
The faulty part is the bottom bracket that can break, making it impossible to pedal the bike. In one case, the breakage caused an injury.
A company statement said:
“Although this still meets international safety standards this does not meet the standards which Brompton sets for its components. We have therefore initiated a programme to recall all affected bikes and replace the bottom bracket cartridge with a new and tested part, free of charge to all of our affected customers.”
The voluntary recall involves bikes with the serial numbers 1403284144 to 1705150001 (the serial number can be found on a silver plate or sticker on the bicycle frame).
Contact a local Brompton dealer to receive the bottom bracket cartridge or to have it installed. Find a list of Brompton dealers here.
The company says a German company made the faulty part, a FAG Bottom Bracket. Brompton CEO Will Butler-Adams said the part supplier would bear most of the cost.
Bromptons are made in a factory in London.
See more at Brompton Recall webpage.
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