Bikes recalled in safety move

Thousands of Brompton folding bikes are being recalled over safety concerns about a component failure.

The company said a potentially faulty axle fitted on bikes manufactured between April 2014 and May 2017 has led to the voluntary recall.

It has been reported that up to 144,000 of the company’s folding bikes are affected, with customers asked to take them to a certified dealer where the bracket can be replaced free of charge.

The axle in the bottom bracket had failed on one in 5,000 bikes, the company said.

Chief executive Will Butler Adams said: “I’m sorry to say that we will have to recall a number of our FAG bottom brackets.

“We have had an increased number of failures – not particularly high – but sufficient enough that it has given us concern.

“This is a hassle, a pain and we are really sorry about that and potentially we’re going overboard but it is critical to us to protect the experience of our customers,” he said.