Trek Recalls Superfly Bicycles Due To Risk of Carbon Bontrager Seatposts Cracking

Trek recently announced a recall of its 2015 9.8 Superfly FS SL, X1, and XT bicycle models equipped with Bontrager Approved Carbon seatposts. The recall was issued when the company discovered that the seatpost could crack and break. A seatpost that unexpectedly breaks during a ride poses and immediate and dangerous hazard to the bicyclist.

The recalled bicycles equipped with Bontrager Approved Carbon seatposts were sold nationwide from September 2014 through July 2015. The Superfly FS SL model sold for about $5,300.00 and the Superfly X1 and XT sold for about $3,500.00. Consumers of the affected bicycles should immediately stop using the bicycles and contact an authorized Trek retailer for a free replacement seatpost plus a $20 coupon toward any Bontrager merchandise. The coupon can be used through December 31, 2015.

According to the United States Consumer Products Safety Commission the recall includes the following 2015 models equipped with Bontrager Approved Carbon seatposts:

• Trek 9.8 Superfly FS SL
• Trek 9.8 Superfly XI
• Trek 9.8 Superfly XT

Recalled bicycles have a serial number ending in J or K, which is located on the bottom of the bicycle frame. Superfly FS, X1, or XT is printed on the bicycle’s top tube. Trek is printed on the frame downtube. “Bontrager Carbon” is printed on the seatpost.

Keating Law Offices has significant experience and success with product liability cases and injuries resulting from bike usage. In Illinois the manufacturer of a product can be held liable when their product fails and the person was using the product in a reasonably foreseeable manner. This means that if a bicycle crash occurs because a part of the bike broke or failed during normal use, the manufacturer of that product would be responsible for any injuries or other damages suffered by the rider. Relevant to the recalled Trek bicycles, it would be reasonably foreseeable for a rider to expect the seatpost not to crack, making any resulting injury the potential basis for a claim against the manufacturer.

The attorneys at Keating Law Offices have handled numerous product liability cases. We strongly encourage Illinois' bicyclists to stay informed regarding recalls that may affect their bicycles or equipment. While manufacturers rarely intend to sell defective products, recalls are a reminder that product defects posing serious risks to cyclists can be discovered once a product is already on the market. It is important to monitor the safety of your bicycle and cycling equipment both before and after a purchase.

Keating Law Offices is the premiere personal injury law firm representing victims of bicycle accidents in Illinois. The firm is based in Chicago, Illinois and represents clients throughout Illinois. If you have any questions regarding this post or have a question regarding personal injury law, please contact Illinois Bicycle Attorney Mike Keating at 312-239-6787 (Office) or 312-208-7702 (Nights/Weekends). Our staff and operators are available around the clock. You can also email Mike@KeatingLegal.com 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All e-mails and phone calls are returned promptly. All initial consultations are confidential and free.

SR Suntour Recalls Forks from GT, Giant and Trek Bikes

12 reports of incidents with SR Suntour Suspension forks failing has led to a recall of about 17,000 GT, Giant and Trek Bicycles with SR Suntour Suspension Forks.
According to reports, the internal support tubes within the fork can fail. By "fail" this means that the suspension fork did not do what it was supposed to do and absorb force upon impact. A typical scenario would be the fork failing when a rider lands a jump. The result of this fail is the rider loses control and get injured when hitting the ground.
Keating Law Offices secured a six-figure settlement in 2011 for a rider who was injured in this exact fashion when the fork on the rider's mountain bike failed upon landing a jump.
While that suspension fork was manufactured and distributed by a different company, the facts are the same and the products were very similar. That case is also the same from a legal perspective. Illinois has "strict liability" product laws. While there are some exceptions, generally speaking a rider who is injured when a bike or bike component fails need only show that the product failed "when put to a reasonably foreseeable use." Attorney Mike Keating has also successfully litigated a case against SR Suntour over an allegedly defective sprocket set.
According to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, the following bikes with certain SR Suntour forks are the subject of the recall:

Bicycles	Model Years	Model Name	SR Suntour Suspension Fork Date Codes
Giant	2011-2012	Revel 1 Revel 1W	CK110301 through CK110731
GT	2012	Avalanche 4.0 Avalanche 4.0 GTW
Trek	2012	3700D 3900D

If you have any questions regarding this post or an issue involving Illinois product liability law, please contact Illinois Bicycle Attorney Mike Keating at 312-208-7702 or MKeating@KeatingLegal.com 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All e-mails and phone calls are returned promptly. All initial consultations are confidential and free.