Isaac International Ltd has issued a voluntary recall on all bikes and framesets built since 2004 due to a potential safety problem with some stem and spacer combinations…
Links:
http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/isaac-recalls-all-bikes-built-since-2004-20126
oh SNAP!!!
Doh! Roadie friend just picked up a nice Isaac road frame and is building it up prior to our yearly Spring training trip in the Smoky Mountains.
I’ll pass this along - thanks!
Of all the dumb places for carbon fiber, steerer tubes (and base bars) are at the top of the list.
I made the mistake of having a titanium square spindle BB, until I broke it. Another dumb application of a lightweight material.
Ouch…I’ve seen cf pieces come apart and break into nasty sharp pieces. Can’t imagine what would happen if a steerer tube broke inches under a riders throat.
when aluminum was first used for steerer tubes instead of steel, were there some intitial failures back in the day?
are we seeing the result of inherent material problems or simply lack of design experience with the material?
Hi,
I think we are looking at the latter, the material is fine for the application.
BUT
It must be properly engineered, produced, installed , used and cared for…every time.
It is not as though many forks are dying, but like many who position riders for a living, I see so many bikes out there with 8-12cm of steerer out of the frame, with aero bars being used…a bit of a ticking time bomb for a percentage of the end users.
What are you riding?
What are your big 09 events?
tp
what is the main motivation in carbon steerers? I can’t imagine the weight difference is very large. Is it just easier to make the whole part carbon nowadays?
what is the main motivation in carbon steerers? I can’t imagine the weight difference is very large. Is it just easier to make the whole part carbon nowadays?
No, it’s the weight difference. As you said, it’s pretty small but it’s a huge marketing value. People pay big for lighter components.
I wonder if the company can survive this… this is a disaster.
I would change the heading to “Recall: all Isaac Forks since 2004” since it’s not the bikes but the actual forks that have a potential issue.
nah… i still think carbon saddle rails take the cake.
what is the main motivation in carbon steerers? I can’t imagine the weight difference is very large.
yeah, and any weight savings has just been totally negated. now there’s a weight penalty. it appears that they want folks to use these GIANT plugs:
That article says his steerer was aluminum which was also my recollection…
That article says his steerer was aluminum which was also my recollection…
GOD DAMNED ALUMINIUM!!
thats it, lets all go back to round tubed steel bikes!
rust be damned
hehe
Have you heard of any Specialized Transition steer tubes breaking?
As a side note while we are speaking about carbon. I was riding an aluminum frame bike (P3SL) with carbon seatpost and carbon cranks when I was struck by a car (hit and run) from behind in 2006. Guess what broke beside my ankle and acetabulum? You guessed it! The carbon crankarms and the seatpost! And boy is carbon sharp.
I had to look that up
acetabulum
fuuuug
.
Where is that big fork plug from?
But…Hincapie was riding a bike with an Aluminum steerer, not carbon.
Bob
But…Hincapie was riding a bike with an Aluminum steerer, not carbon.
Bob
Didn’t that happen on cobblestones or something like that?