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Expanded Recall of Mongoose and Roadmaster Mountain Bicycles

WASHINGTON, April 18, 2002 -- Brunswick Corp. is voluntarily recalling about 103,000 Mongoose and Roadmaster mountain bicycles with Ballistic 105 front suspension forks. The forks can break apart, causing riders to lose control, fall and suffer serious injury.

By Us International Co. Ltd., of Taiwan, the manufacturer of the bicycle forks, previously announced the recall of 13,500 of these forks in May 2000. The recall was expanded to about 40,000 forks in February 2001. By Us International is no longer cooperating with the recall.

Brunswick Corp. is expanding the recall to include all Ballistic model 105 forks sold on the Mongoose and Roadmaster mountain bicycles they manufactured (except the Mongoose A40). The previous recalls were limited to forks with certain serial numbers.

There have been 34 reports of forks on these bicycles breaking resulting in 31 riders, including children and 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 recall includes only Ballistic 105 forks installed on Mongoose and Roadmaster model bicycles manufactured by Brunswick Corp. The forks on these bikes are black with decals that read "BALLISTIC" and "105" on the sides of the suspension fork legs. A small label on the bottom of the bicycle reads "Brunswick." The forks on the Mongoose A40 model bicycles and forks on bicycles not manufactured by Brunswick Corp. are not included in the recall.

Discount department stores and toy stores nationwide sold the bicycles with these forks from June 1998 through December 2000 for between $125 and $150. Additionally, consumers could have received a Ballistic model 105 fork as a replacements when participating in one of the previous recalls.

Consumers should immediately stop using these bicycles and call the firm to obtain information on receiving a $65 refund for the bicycle fork. This applies to all owners of bicycles with Ballistic model 105 forks manufactured by Brunswick (except the Mongoose A40), even if they received a new Ballistic model 105 fork as a result of a participating in a previous recall.

For more information, consumers should call Brunswick Corp. at (800) 508-2762 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the recall web site at www.ballisticforkrecall.com.

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