Shimano’s worldwide Recall of 11-speed Ultegra and Dura-Ace cranksets now affects 2.8 million units globally.

The original recall was issued after a reported 4,519 incidents of cranksets delaminating in the US and Canada alone, resulting in six injuries.

The recall is set to have an enormous impact on riders, shops and Shimano itself – and it’s not off to a good start.

Muddled communications and unanswered questions have fostered an environment of confusion that Shimano will need to resolve. Bike shops are also frustrated by the expectation they will mop up the mess of an issue that’s been in the public eye for years.

BikeRadar first reported on this issue in April 2020. In that piece, we outlined the possible causes of the failure, which sees the two-part Hollowtech cranksets split in two, sometimes catastrophically.

Here, we analyse what happened in the hours following the announcement and what impact the recall will have on shops and riders.

We also examine the questions left unanswered by Shimano and speak to the man who has arguably done more than anyone else to bring this issue to light.

Why now?

Given this issue has been known about and reported on by several media outlets for a number of years, what has prompted Shimano to issue such a large-scale recall?

We put this question to the brand, and it told us: “Shimano monitors any warranty issues that arise with all products.

“We are not able to go into the specifics of the process and timing with the authorities.”

Inconsistent communications create early confusion

BikeRadar was first made aware of the Hollowtech recall on Thursday morning when it appeared on the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website. Only cranks sold in the US and Canada fell under this recall.

A call with a Shimano representative confirmed the recall would be extended globally, with a statement due to be published on the Shimano EU site “later that evening”.

Shortly after we published our initial story, the statement appeared on the Shimano EU and US websites.

The US statement included details absent from the CPSC notification, followed by a relatively in-depth FAQ. But the Shimano EU statement was lacking in detail until it was updated at around 9pm yesterday.

The original EU statement merely outlined how to identify affected cranks, concluding abruptly with a note stating “the timing of the inspection and other details will be announced on this website in the near future”.

In the brief window before the EU statement was updated, many riders were left confused as to the scope and nature of the recall.

It seems the publishing of the recall on the CPSC site forced Shimano into a scramble to get its own statements out on its official channels, leading to inconsistent messaging across different territories.

Don’t forget, we’re talking about 2.8 million cranksets, manufactured by the world’s biggest bike brand, that could fail – this recall is a big deal, so it’s surprising Shimano did not have robust and unified messaging from the outset.

Questions left unanswered

While the US and EU are now aligned, questions have been left unanswered by both statements. Information disclosed to retailers has also not been shared with the public.

To start, both statements say replacement cranksets will feature “slight cosmetic differences from the original crankset”.

However, training documents shared with retailers outlined the nature of replacement cranks.

Instead of true like-for-like replacements, riders will be provided with cranksets based on current-generation 12-speed cranksets, but adapted to suit 11-speed drivetrains. Unsurprisingly, the existing 11-speed design is no longer in production.

For example, a failed Dura-Ace R9100 crankset will be replaced by a special re-spaced Dura-Ace R9200 crankset (model number FC-09).

Some may welcome this unexpected ‘upgrade’, but Shimano can’t reasonably describe it as a “slight cosmetic change”. The crankset will, in terms of its aesthetic, appear part of a different groupset.

Prior to this recall, cranks that failed out of their original warranty period may not have been replaced. This meant many riders were forced to purchase new cranks.

Neither statement includes details on whether these riders, who have previously replaced cranks due to a failure, would be in line for new cranks or other compensation.

When asked for clarification, a Shimano spokesperson said: “If [a rider still has the] affected crankset… it will be considered as a new case and can be taken to the dealer for inspection. If it [has been discarded], Shimano won’t take any action.”

What is the cause of Shimano’s crankset failures?

Beyond explaining that “bonded crank parts can separate and break”, Shimano remains publicly tight-lipped over the cause(s) of failure.

Back in April 2020, when we originally reported on this issue, a Shimano representative said: “It is difficult to answer your question on patterns of failures because there are so many people globally using our products in different circumstances and in different ways.

“For example, one might assume that climatic conditions (eg weather), a rider’s personal riding style (eg power/weight), or usage conditions (eg a crash) could impact product performance but there is no overall pattern that we have identified to explain why one consumer might have an issue whilst a similar consumer will have a lifetime of riding enjoyment.”

This time around, when asked if Shimano had identified a common cause of the debonding failures, a spokesperson said: “The affected cranksets have certain manufacturing processes in common.

“One of the procedures involved in this process is a bonding technique, which facilitates the fusion of distinct layers within the crank arm.

“Reports received by Shimano indicate that the bonded layers on the crank arm could separate.”

This is merely a reiteration of what we knew already, but any additional information provided by Shimano could provide greater comfort or insight to riders using affected cranks, that are not yet showing signs of potential failure.

The observations of riders who have experienced a failure may be no more than anecdotal, but Shimano would do well to clarify again if there is any pattern to recent failures. More information will only help riders and shops to make informed decisions about their cranks.

Is continuing to ride an acceptable risk?

Shimano says if a crankset passes inspection with no sign of delamination then you can “continue to enjoy your ride”.

However, it cautions that, even if a crank passes initial inspection, riders should “pay attention to changes in the sound and feel of how your bike is riding”, warning that “changes could indicate wear out, breakage, or need for adjustment to some part of your bike”.

Responding to BikeRadar’s original article on the recall, some readers have argued that all cranksets should be replaced.

A commenter on our original story remarked that, although their Ultegra R8000 crankset “shows no signs of degradation yet, I think Shimano should replace it as a matter of principle.

“Waiting until an incident occurs and someone suffers an injury is far too late in my opinion,” the comment continued.

Again, outlining why the cranksets are failing could help reassure concerned riders.

In any case, Shimano has clearly deemed this potential risk to be low enough to not require a full-blown recall and replacement of every crankset.

And it is likely the case that most of those with affected cranks will continue to ride trouble-free for years – Shimano says the incidence rate of failures is “proportionally very low (less than 1 per cent)”.

Still, it would be wise to heed Shimano’s advice and check your cranks regularly.

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