http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08368.html

Rouleur,

Will you be replacing yours?

Anyway, talked to Cervelo and they are replacing these with the 3t Funda Pro fork. I also asked them about why some 3t forks say only Funda and why others say Funda Pro. Cervelo said they are exactly the same fork, the Funda is the Funda Pro. Apparently the "Pro" lettering was mistakenly left off a production run.........makes you feel real good about the QC process. My LBS store said the process will be that you have to bring your bike in so they can take out the old Wolf SL fork. Then they will ship a batch of them to Cervelo in order for Cervelo to ship back the replacements. My LBS said it could take a week or so to get your bike back with the new 3t. Better check your LBS quick to see if they have any extra 3t's laying around!!!!!

 I registered by R3 purchase with Cervelo when I bought the bike. I have an affected fork.

Regardless of the recalled forks, I think it's irresponsible or even negligent to not use the registration info to inform owners of recalls, especially for something as dangerous as this.

 
--Unsatisfied customer
 

Well, lots of speculation, and now we know the answer. Cervélo (and I suspect this is a Phil /  Gerard decision) have gone with the recall option on the Wolf SL. I must admit that I am really impressed that in amongst one of their most successful times they have weighed up the risks and rewards and made a brave decision.

So, Cervélo, I realise that this is a very hard decision and I suspect that you are all wondering whether this is the right thing to do (or will people lose confidence in the brand?) - well, I for one at least am 100% certain that this is the right thing. I can't say that I am not disappointed (I went out of m way to get a Wolf SL on my bike rather than the Easton fork) but I will at some point take my bike to the shop to get a replacement. That said, having got the 120 mm insert, fitted it myself, and seen the way some people treat their bikes (bish bosh - can't believe my steerer failed, I only knocked it over on concrete?!?) I can't help feeling that the Wolf SL has taken a bit of stick that really should be directed at the 'owners' (possible bike shops that fitted them?). I am sure that the Wolf SL is as safe as the next fork and it is certainly a pretty one.

Just one question, either for Cervélo or someone who has gone through the process... Can you get the Funda Pro (as part of the recall) and cut, fit / bond it to the right length yourself? Whilst I admit to the fact that I have many failings, having fitted the Wolf SL I would like to do the same with the 3T product rather than given it to my local Cervélo dealer and not be 100% sure that the insert was bonded / the tube cut well. I am sure I am going to get flamed and told I couldn't do better than my LBS, but if I my fork failed (which I suspect will happen to some of the Funda Pro's as it has the Wolf SL) I would rather blame myself than some nameless character at the LBS!

Matthew:

I can't help feeling that the Wolf SL has taken a bit of stick that really should be directed at the 'owners' (possible bike shops that fitted them?). I am sure that the Wolf SL is as safe as the next fork and it is certainly a pretty one.

 - Completely agree with you on this point. Put it this way, CSC ride Alpha Q forks which have exactly the same steerer tube wall thickness as the Wolf SL. Would they ride them if they broke all the time?

Matthew:

....having fitted the Wolf SL I would like to do the same with the 3T product rather than given it to my local Cervélo dealer and not be 100% sure that the insert was bonded / the tube cut well. I am sure I am going to get flamed and told I couldn't do better than my LBS, but if I my fork failed (which I suspect will happen to some of the Funda Pro's as it has the Wolf SL) I would rather blame myself than some nameless character at the LBS!

Matthew, I am of exactly the same opinion having cut and fitted the Wolf SL in my R3 SL myself. 

I will be replacing mine when the dealers here in the UK allow me to. 

So they are replacing it.  What a hassle now to get that fork replaced (my bike is in Australia but I am in the UK).  I noticed that the Wolf SL weighed in at 314g (mine anyway) and the replacement is supposedly the 3t Funda Pro fork which comes in at 375g (http://www.thenew3t.com/products.aspx?i=Forks&p=funda).  That is a 61g difference. 

Why not replace it with something more comparable such as the 3T Funda Team fork, as it is more compatible?  It's like replacing an SLC-SL frame with an SLC (imagine the price difference).  It just comes down to the fact that for comparable value (and the hassle of it all and the down time) that the 3T Funda Team would be more appropriate substitution.  Just looking at the differences of frames and forks between brands of different years, the weight savings are marginal but you pay a lot more for each newer year model that is generally lighter.

As a weight weenie, I am not happy that my 48cm frame (1185g) + fork (375g) is now at 1555g.  My total setup is suppose to be getting lighter but with this change it will get up towards 7.4kg!  Bugger.

Rouleur:

 http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08368.html

I knew this was coming. As soon as I looked at the thickness of the SL forks when compared to the 3T funda forks I knew the SL forks were to thin in the steerer tube. Lucky for me I have two other frames that have the 3T fork so the down time is not a big deal. I have to commend Cervelo for stepping up and replacing the affected forks.

Redcorn:

I knew this was coming. As soon as I looked at the thickness of the SL forks when compared to the 3T funda forks I knew the SL forks were to thin in the steerer tube. Lucky for me I have two other frames that have the 3T fork so the down time is not a big deal. I have to commend Cervelo for stepping up and replacing the affected forks.

At the risk of sounding like a scratched record, the Wolf SL is most likely safe, Alpha Q use the same steerer wall thickness on their forks. The thinner steerer wall along with the insert is essentially producing a butted steerer tube, the walls are thin where not required but thicker ( by virtue of the insert ) at the clamping point. Virtually every modern bike frame uses butted tubing and exactly the same principle.

Cervélo are most likely issuing this recall because there is a risk of the fork being installed incorrectly and the fact that early forks shipped with an 80mm insert rather than the 125mm. The latter allowing the insert to extend further below the upp headset bearings and increasing strength.

I just called my dealer......Competitive Cyclist.   I have to send in the fork only.  They wlll send me a Funda 3T Pro....no choices.  I really hate to give up on the Wolf SL for my R3 SL as I like it a lot....weight, ride, style.  I installed it myself and I know it was done right in terms of the height/insert/torque etc.  Dang.

Just so happens I am in the middle of re-doing my Serotta Concours Ti and have a new uncut Easton EC 90 SLX for it .  I may put that on the R3 SL and the Funda on the Serotta..

Any thoughts on that idea?

I wonder how many 3T Pros we'll see on ebay soon. 

Dang

sagebum:

I just called my dealer......Competitive Cyclist.   I have to send in the fork only.  They wlll send me a Funda 3T Pro....no choices.  I really hate to give up on the Wolf SL for my R3 SL as I like it a lot....weight, ride, style.  I installed it myself and I know it was done right in terms of the height/insert/torque etc.  Dang.

Just so happens I am in the middle of re-doing my Serotta Concours Ti and have a new uncut Easton EC 90 SLX for it .  I may put that on the R3 SL and the Funda on the Serotta..

Any thoughts on that idea?

I wonder how many 3T Pros we'll see on ebay soon. 

Dang

 

 

 

I will trade you my Wolf SL fork for your 3T fork any day.

A link to the bulletin is now posted at the top of the Cervelo website. The following is an excerpt.

"We have seen that incidence of failure on this fork is higher than on other forks, and there is a potential for injury upon failure. True Temper Sports feels that the fork meets the industry standards and that the fork is therefore acceptable and no further action is required. Cervelo does not share this opinion and therefore, is proceeding with a recall of the True Temper designed and manufactured Wolf SL forks ourselves. True Temper Sports has declined to participate....

...Although it is not usual for a third party to recall a product manufactured by another company, we feel it is a necessary step to take care of our customer, and we will proceed with the full recall at no cost to the dealer or consumer".

I feel fortunate that I have the 3T fork and don't have to hassle with this. But Cervelo's stand-alone action without the backing of True Temper is impressive. And I'll be boycotting any tools made by TT in the future.

P.S. - For the record, I added the underline to the quote.

Rouleur:

At the risk of sounding like a scratched record, the Wolf SL is most likely safe, Alpha Q use the same steerer wall thickness on their forks. The thinner steerer wall along with the insert is essentially producing a butted steerer tube, the walls are thin where not required but thicker ( by virtue of the insert ) at the clamping point. Virtually every modern bike frame uses butted tubing and exactly the same principle.

Cervélo are most likely issuing this recall because there is a risk of the fork being installed incorrectly and the fact that early forks shipped with an 80mm insert rather than the 125mm. The latter allowing the insert to extend further below the upp headset bearings and increasing strength.

Allen.

I agree. The reported failure rate is 12 of 5800 units. 0.2%. 1 in 500. I'll take those odds.

I suspect that a voluntary recall has come about because someone has worked out the costs of a recall vs the costs of US lawsuits based on a failure which the injured party will be able to say Cervelo knew about.

I am really in two minds about whether to swap or not. My R2.5 was recalled. I still prefer the look of it to my R3SL, and it handled like it was part of me. I love the look of the Wolf SL and I'm reluctant to give it up. Chances are my LBS won't get the 3T replacements in for a while (the distributor in the UK is not exactly super-fast) by which time I'll have been riding the SL for another goodness knows how long (I bet) with no problems.  

got2ride:

Anyway, talked to Cervelo and they are replacing these with the 3t Funda Pro fork.
 

Just checked my mail to see the Cervelo newsletter announcing this. Except that the newsletter says that the replacements will be the 3T Funda Pro or the EC90 SLX. I've heard the latter is light but handles like spaghetti, so thanks, but no thanks to that.

I wonder if there will really be a choice between the forks for consumers, or whether the choice is that one or other (but not both) will be offered in any given territory. I also wonder whether, assuming the 3T is offered in the UK (dunno why, but I expect it will not be) there will be on option to u/g to the Team for a fee.

Just got an email from Competitive Cyclist.  They indtend to cut the new fork to the same length (or shorter) as the old and install the crown race and insert.  I would rather do it myself.  I'll bet that isn't in the cards as per Cervelo.