Ridgeback Issues Safety Recall for Hybrid Bikes Equipped with Vee Zilent Tires Sold Since 2020

Ridgeback, a bicycle manufacturer based in the United Kingdom, has announced a safety recall affecting several of its hybrid models sold from 2020 onward. The recall covers the Comet, Motion, and Speed bikes, specifically those featuring either a sloping geometry or a step-through frame, and bearing a product code that begins with RB21.

A comprehensive list of the impacted models and their corresponding product codes can be found through a link provided on Ridgeback’s official website.

The company has discovered a potential issue with the Vee Zilent tires installed on certain bikes. According to Ridgeback, a manufacturing flaw in the tread pattern could lead to tire failure, which in turn creates a risk of the rider crashing.

The recall notice includes an image showing a pair of tires where the tread has separated from the underlying fabric casing, occurring slightly off-center. Ridgeback is urging potentially affected customers to inflate their tires to the recommended pressure and then inspect the straight tread sections on either side of the tire’s center line.

The company states that any affected tire will be immediately obvious upon inspection. If the tread and seams appear consistent and uniform, then the bike is not impacted and can continue to be ridden safely.

What to Do If You Believe Your Bike Is Affected

Should you discover a potential defect in the tire, Ridgeback advises that you immediately cease riding the bike and schedule an inspection at your closest Ridgeback dealer. Any tires found to be defective will be replaced.

Ridgeback also notes that the Vee Zilent tire typically offers between 2,000 and 4,000 miles of use, or roughly three to five years, before requiring replacement. Given that some affected bikes date back to 2020, it is possible that certain older models may have already had their tires swapped out.