Sometimes, a simple mistake at the factory can have big implications down the line. That seems to be the case for Rocky Mountain as they’ve announced a recall of 2018 Altitude, Instinct, and Pipeline bikes. Citing a mistake in routing of the rear brake hose, the result could be brake failure – though it would likely take a very long time.
To prevent that from ever happening though, there is a very simple fix which can be done at your local Rocky Mountain dealer for free. The repair involves first making sure the 5mm brake hose and the 4mm shift housing are routed on the proper sides of the downtube port clamp with the shift housing exiting on the drive side of the bike as it heads to the derailleur.
It’s also important that there is about 30-45mm of clearance between the bottom bracket shell and the cable loop to prevent anything from rubbing on the shell as the suspension goes through the travel. Finally, a zip tie is used to secure the shift cable to the brake cable.
As mentioned, affected bikes are eligible for a free repair through your local dealer. Sold in both the U.S. and Canada, the recall affects 1,300 bikes in the U.S. and 1,800 in Canada. The bikes were available for sale as early as June 2017.
