October 26, 2018: Öhlins RXF Update
Dear Specialized Rider,
The safety and reliability of our products is a top priority for us. We have identified a potential problem with an Ö hlins branded RXF36 Air and RXF34 Air suspension forks sold as aftermarket equipment and as original equipment on some Specialized-branded Enduro, Stumpjumper, Fuse, and Levo mountain bicycles. The products were sold between January 2016 through September 2018.
We have received some reports of the air cartridge abruptly springing out of the fork stanchion tube posing fall and injury risks to the rider. We initiated a voluntary report with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (“CPSC”) and are working closely with them on a press release announcing the recall shortly.
We are advising customers globally who have purchased Specialized-branded Enduro, Stumpjumper, Fuse, and Levo mountain bicycles with Öhlins branded RXF36 Air and RXF34 Air suspension forks to immediately stop riding and bring them to their Specialized dealer to receive the repair.
We apologize for the inconvenience this will cause our customers, but it is critically important to us to do everything we can ensure that our bicycles are as safe and reliable.
Please email [email protected] or call directly at 877-808-8154 if you have any questions.
Jon Goulet Director, Global Quality and Rider Care
October 26 2018
Dear Specialized Rider,
We committed to keeping you updated on the progress of the impending recall of Öhlins RXF Air Forks as originally communicated on September 17, 2018.
We’re happy to update that Öhlins has been making progress with this investigation and has submitted a technical report to the appropriate government agencies for review. There are many factors affecting the timeline to full approval, so we can't project a date. Our Quality, Legal, and Rider Care teams, however, are directly engaged with both Öhlins and the regulatory agencies to help expedite the process.
We realize that you bought your bike expecting to actually ride it, and this issue is disrupting your trips, races, and rides with friends. As we work with Öhlins towards a safe and compliant permanent fix, we're committed to using all of our resources to keep you riding. We have a limited quantity of loaner forks that we can provide to your retailer for temporary use. Availability varies by region, but we encourage you to contact your retailer and we'll work with them to support you.
We will continue to provide weekly progress updates on this page, so please check back with us here next week.
Thanks again for your patience and thanks for riding Specialized.
Jon Goulet
Director, Global Quality and Rider Care
September 17, 2018: Ohlins RXF
Dear Specialized Rider,
At Specialized, your safety is our primary concern. So, whenever this is compromised, we take immediate action.
Based upon reports from the field, we've concluded that the Öhlins RXF 36 29/27.5+ and 27.5” Air Forks that are spec’d as original equipment on the 2017 Stumpjumper, Enduro, and Fuse, the 2018 Stumpjumper, Enduro, Turbo Levo, and Fuse, and the Öhlins RXF 34 Air fork sold separately in the aftermarket, may contain a defect in the top cap which potentially affects safety. Specifically, the right-side top cap on some forks may not be adequately torqued, which in some cases, may lead to the top cap working itself free through riding. When this happens, the air cartridge may abruptly spring out of the stanchion tube causing a risk of injury to the rider. Therefore, we've decided to ask riders to stop riding, and our retailers to stop selling, affected forks and bicycles.
We are working, urgently, in partnership with Öhlins on a remedy to this issue. Once we have obtained the necessary government approvals on our solution, we will issue a recall to fix the forks and get you back riding. As we progress with our recall strategy and approvals, we will provide weekly updates on this page.
Please note that other Öhlins Forks, such as the RXF 36 Coil forks, are unaffected by this notice.
We wish to apologize for this inconvenience and thank you for your patience.
Thanks for riding Specialized.
Jon Goulet
Director, Global Quality and Rider Care