NEWS from CPSC

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Office of Information and Public Affairs

Washington, DC 20207

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	CONTACT: Dynacraft Recall Hotline: (800) 551-0032
September 26, 2000	CPSC Contact: Kim Dulic
Release # 00-187	(301) 504-0580 Ext. 1183

CPSC, Dynacraft Industries Announce Recall of Mountain Bikes Sold at Target Stores

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Dynacraft Industries Inc., of San Rafael, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 24,800 mountain bikes. Because some were not welded properly, the front suspension forks on these bicycles can break apart during use, resulting in serious injury to the rider. Dynacraft is aware of 23 reports of injury to riders when the forks on these bikes broke apart. Injuries included a concussion, fractures, cuts, bruises, back strain, and chipped and lost teeth.

The recall involves 26-inch Vertical XL2, and 24-inch and 26-inch Magna Electroshock mountain bikes. The Vertical XL2 mountain bikes have model number 8526-26, were manufactured in July 1999 and have chrome frames. The Magna Electroshock mountain bikes have model numbers 8504- 90, 8504-96, 8548-78 or 8548-94, were manufactured July 1999 through October 1999, and have frames that are chrome and blue, blue and yellow, purple, and black. A label affixed to the frame near the crank identifies the model, and the year, month and day of manufacture. Another label nearby reads: "Dynacraft Industries" and "Made in China."

Earlier this year, Dynacraft Industries announced the recall of the about 19,000 26-inch Vertical XL2 mountain bikes manufactured the week of October 11, 1999. This announcement expands the scope of that recall.

Target Stores nationwide sold the Vertical XL2 mountain bikes from August 1999 through February 2000 and the Magna Electroshock from August 1999 through August 2000. Both model bikes sold for between $100 and $140.

Consumers should stop riding these bikes immediately and take them to the Target Store where purchased for a choice of a free replacement fork or free replacement bicycle of equal value. For more information or to receive a free replacement fork by mail, call Dynacraft Industries Inc. at (800) 551-0032 between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. PT Monday through Friday. Bicycles that have a label that reads "Fork made Jan., 2000" or "Fork made July 2000" at the bottom of the fork are not subject to this recall.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission protects the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death from 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270, or visit CPSC's web site at http://www.cpsc.gov/talk.html. For information on CPSC's fax-on-demand service, call the above numbers or visit the web site at http://cpsc.gov/about/who.html. To order a press release through fax-on-demand, call (301) 504-0051 from the handset of your fax machine and enter the release number. Consumers can obtain this release and recall information at CPSC's web site at http://www.cpsc.gov.