Ridgeback has recalled its Comet, Motion and Speed hybrid bikes in the UK over a tread fault in their Vee Zilent tyres. The brand told owners to stop riding until the tyres are checked. We found no US recall of the tyre so far.
What was recalled, and when
Ridgeback’s safety notices page carries the recall, dated 10 September 2026. The UK government lists it too, under reference 2609-0070, with a recall date of 1 October 2026.
BikeRadar and Cycling Weekly reported it in early October. Cycling Weekly’s headline said riders should stop riding immediately.
The defect
BikeRadar’s report on the recall describes a manufacturing flaw in the Zilent’s tread pattern. The rubber can peel away from the casing beneath it, close to the centre line. A tyre in that state could fail and put the rider on the ground.
Cycling Weekly, as republished on Yahoo Sports, adds that the tread can burst open when the tyre is pumped to its recommended pressure. The UK government rates the risk as Medium and says the bikes do not meet the General Product Safety Regulations 2005.
Which bikes are affected
| Detail | What the sources say |
|---|---|
| Models | Ridgeback Comet, Motion and Speed hybrids |
| Frames | Sloping or step-through (BikeRadar) |
| Sold | From 2020 onwards |
| Product codes | Start with RB21 |
| Sizes | SM, MD, LG, XL, XXL |
| Item count | 54 (BikeRadar, Cycling Weekly); 60+ SKUs (GOV.UK) |
The counts differ between outlets, so go by the full code list on Ridgeback’s site, not by any one article.
Is there a US recall?
Not that we can find. Ridgeback is a UK brand, and none of the three sources we read mention US sales. Our search of CPSC and NHTSA notices turned up nothing for this bicycle tyre. BikeRadar quotes no statement from Vee, either.
The tyre itself is sold here, though. Cycle Sport, a US retailer, carries a Vee Zilent 700×35 wire-bead clincher (72 TPI) at $51.56. It was out of stock when we looked, and the page has no recall notice.
That shows the Zilent is available as a US aftermarket part. It does not show that any affected production run reached US shops. We can’t say whether US-sold tyres share the fault, and we won’t guess.
What to do if you ride Zilents
- Ridgeback owner: compare your bike’s product code with the RB21 list on Ridgeback’s site. Cycling Weekly says defective tyres are replaced at no cost through a local Ridgeback dealer.
- Zilent on a different bike: BikeRadar’s check is to inflate to the recommended pressure, then look at the straight tread either side of the centre line. Visible separation means a defective tyre. Even tread means no defect.
- Suspect a fault: stop riding and have a shop inspect it.
Given the burst-open report, we would let a shop do the inflating if the tyre looks odd. Wear eye protection, and keep your face away from the tread.
UK owners can call Ridgeback customer service on 0208 385 3400. That is a UK number, so US riders will likely have an easier time through a local shop.
Questions riders are asking
People searching this topic also ask about e-bike recalls in 2026 and the Specialized Levo battery. This recall involves neither. These are pedal hybrids, and our sources say nothing about e-bike or battery recalls. For those, check the maker’s page and the US Consumer Product Safety Commission’s recall list.
We’ll update this piece if Vee or a US regulator issues a notice.
