May 10, 2012

Notice of Free Replacement of Stainless Steel Bicycle Baskets

Bridgestone Cycle Co., Ltd. (president: Yuji Takeuchi) hereby announces the free replacement of 9,405 made-in-China rounded stainless steel baskets fitted to the lightweight JOBNO bicycles that have been sold up until now (fitted to bicycles manufactured between August 2011 and February 2012.) This recall was implemented after it was discovered that there is a possibility that radioactive materials had been mixed in with part of the stainless steel in the above-mentioned baskets. The level of radioactivity being emitted from the baskets is minimal and there is no risk of it causing radioactivity poisoning (as already reported on April 18 by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.) We hereby extend our deepest apologies for any trouble and anxiety caused. 1. Affected Products Rounded stainless steel baskets for use on bicycles (made in China.) Bicycles to which these baskets are fitted: Lightweight JOBNO (manufactured between August 2011 and February 2012.) Number of affected baskets: 9,405 Bicycle Model Codes: JB40TP, JB60TP, JB63TP, JB70TP, JB73TP, JB40T, JB43T, JB60T, JB63T, JB70T, JB73T (total of 11 types) Manufacturing Lots: 410801 to 420229 510801 to 520229 All items that match up to both the bicycle model codes and the manufacturing lots are covered by this recall.   2. Request to Customers Customers using the affected products are requested to take the basket in question to your dealer, where it will be collected and replaced free or charge. We apologize for the trouble and respectively request that you contact and visit your dealer. 3. Customer Notifications In addition to placing an announcement on our website, we have also placed announcements in national newspapers, hung posters in bicycle dealerships, and notified customers who have signed up for our three-year theft compensation package by direct mail. Notification Details <Customers> Bridgestone Cycle Co., Ltd. [Free Basket Replacement Customer Call Center] Freedial: 0120-31-5604 Business Hours: 09:00 to 17:00 Mondays to Fridays (excluding weekends, national holidays and special Bridgestone holidays) * This notification is a revised version of the news release issued on April 18, and it contains new information.