U.S. Shimano Bike Helmet Recall, Claim Safety Risk Posed

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA -- As if cycling isn't tricky enough on the road especially in the Silicon Valley, the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission issued a recall on small Lazer bicycle helmets made by Shimano, a top cycling product manufacturer based in Irvine, Calif.

The commission warns consumers should immediately stop using them, although no incidents or injuries have been reported from the helmet made in China and sold between January 2018 and April 2018.

The recall announced Thursday involves Shimano's small and extra small Lazer-branded bicycle helmets -- models Blade, Elle, Jade and Magma. They were sold in the following colors: black, and with pink, regular and dark blue, grey and yellow, khaki and orange, titanium, red, yellow and white. Lazer is printed on the side of the helmet, with the inscription "Model LZB-08" printed on a sticker inside the helmet.

USCPSC said about 4,200 of them that sold between $100 to $125 are on the market.

Shane Stent of VeloFix (https://www.velofix.com) of San Carlos was a bit surprised by the news. Shimano is well known in cycling circles, and it's his job to order high quality parts that will keep cyclists riding and safe.

"They may have occasional recalls on little parts -- tiny parts where they've used the wrong metal, but I don't think I've ever heard of a helmet (on a recall)," said Stent, who runs the franchise from San Francisco to Sunnyvale. He added he's "seen enough" with his mobile bike repair business -- and there's a first for everything.

"Be safe, and keep the rubber side down. That's what I say," Stent said.

More information about this one as well as other products up for recall may be obtained at https://www.cpsc.gov.

--Image via U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission