Don't know if there are more recent recalls for Roadmasters or not.
Mongoose, MGX and Roadmaster Bikes
WASHINGTON, Feb. 23, 2001 -- By Us International Co. Ltd., of Taiwan, is recalling about 40,000 Ballistic front suspension forks installed on certain mountain bicycles. The forks on these bicycles can break apart, causing riders to lose control and fall.
By Us previously announced the recall of 13,500 of these forks in May 2000. The firm has since disclosed that more of these forks are included in the recall.
Bike Forks There have been 26 reports of forks on these bicycles breaking resulting in nine riders, including teenagers, suffering serious head and bodily injuries, abrasions, bruises and chipped teeth.
The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
The recalled forks were installed on Mongoose S-20 and MGX S-20 bicycles, which are orange, and the Roadmaster Ridge Rider bicycles, which is red. The forks on these bikes are black with decals that read "BALLISTIC" and "105" on the sides of the suspension fork legs.
Discount department stores, including Wal-Mart, and toy stores sold the bicycles with these forks nationwide from June 1998 through June 2000 for between $125 and $150.
Consumers should immediately stop using these bicycles and call the firm to determine if the fork on their bike is part of the recall. Consumers should have the serial number of the forks available. The serial number is located on the inside of the suspension fork leg. Consumers with recalled forks will receive a free replacement fork and free installation. For more information, call (877) 211-3525 toll-free between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit their web site at www.mongoose.com.
What you posted is unrelated to the brakes working or not. Although to the benefit of the manufacture it demonstrates that they do practice due care when a flaw is found.
One, the plaintiff needs to demonstrate there was indeed a manufacturing flaw in the brakes. Like the forks.
Second, the defendant needs to show there was no basic manufacturing flaw. As far as poor assembly the article is unclear how long the bike had been riden until the brake failure, plus the bike was for a girl and was the rider overweight being he was the older brother, what was his activities on the bike prior to the accident, and was the bike being used in the manner it was designed for? When was the last time a safety check was completed on the bike based on the wear & tear on the bike? Who is responsible for the safety check once the bike leaves the store? Was the bike stored and transported in such a manner as to compromise the initial assembly by the store?
Twenty years ago, my brother had a bike, that the fork didn't shatter. I bent up, locking the tire to the top of the fork. I cannot put into words what it looked like, but just to say, the front wheel could not move.
Wondering what he would do, he picked himself off the ground and rode a wheelie all the way home.