Shimano’s Crankocalypse: 760,000 Road Cranks Recalled

Gather around because we’ve got a Shimano recall story hotter than a steel seat post on a scorching summer day. You know, it’s not every day that you hear about 760,000 bike cranks causing more drama than a soap opera. So, Shimano, the big name in the cycling game, is in a bit of a pickle, and it’s got me scratching my head like I just hit a pothole.

It turns out these cranks, the 11-speed Hollowtech road cranksets, specifically the Dura-Ace and Ultegra models that were partying before July 2019, are causing quite the ruckus. They’ve been separating and breaking, and Shimano’s inbox is flooded with over 4,500 incident reports. I mean, if these cranks were a movie, they’d be titled “Crankception” because they’re breaking into a whole new level of trouble.

Now, you might be wondering why it took Shimano so long to hit the recall button. They’ve been keeping a close eye on their products, but they ain’t spilling the beans on the exact details. Shimano’s lips are sealed tighter than a Tour de France rider’s aerodynamic suit.

If you’re in possession of one of these potentially explosive cranks, here’s the deal. Shimano wants you to visit your friendly neighborhood bike dealer for a thorough inspection. If your crank shows signs of delamination or bonding separation (which sounds more like a science experiment than a bike issue), they’ll give you a replacement crank. But fear not, they reckon less than 1% of these cranky cranks will need replacing. Fingers crossed, folks.

Now, what’s the deal with these replacement cranks, you ask? Shimano’s whipped up some special ones, based on 12-speed crank arms with special chainrings for your 11-speed drivetrains. They’ll even hook you up with new chainrings when the old ones wear out. But hold onto your handlebars, ’cause some substitutions are in store. Ultegra cranksets with 53-39 chainrings become 52-36 chainrings, and Dura-Ace 180mm cranks slim down to 177.5mm. It’s like a crank makeover, folks!

But wait, there’s more! If you slapped a third-party power meter on that crank, like Stages, Pioneer, or 4iiii, Shimano’s got your back. They’ll take that crank back and give you a fresh one without the power meter. And hey, they’re even throwing in some compensation, starting at $300 and going up to $500 for the fancy dual-sided meters.

Here’s a kicker, though: these new right-side cranks won’t be best buddies with the spindles of your original 11-speed left cranks. It’s like introducing your old pal to a new friend, and they just don’t click. Compatibility issues, folks.

Now, Shimano says these replacement cranks will start rolling out the week of October 10. They’ll only ship ’em after they receive your old crankset and give it the thumbs-up for replacement. No, they won’t take just any crank; they’re selective like that. But they promise the whole process will take ten days or less, so you won’t be stuck without wheels for too long.

And in case you’re wondering, Shimano’s working hand-in-hand with the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Canadian authorities on this recall. They sold a whopping 680,000 cranks in the U.S. and 80,000 up in Canada. As for the rest of the world, Shimano’s saying it’s a global issue, but they’re handling it region by region. I guess different strokes for different folks.

So, if you’re riding around with one of these “Ultegra” or “Dura-Ace” cranks, and it’s got a production code that matches a recall list that’s longer than your favorite climb, it might be time to pay your local bike shop a visit. Shimano’s got your back, and they’re making sure you’re riding smooth and safe again. Until then, keep those cranks spinning, and remember, it’s not a bike ride without a few bumps in the road!