The problem bike companies have with imported parts is that the parts supplier provides "proto-types" of very high quality. Then, when mass production of the part begins...

In going through "recall" notices, there was a clear pattern. Bikes from the best companies were being recalled in small batches, usually of a few hundred. The problem was generally only a few months old, and only a couple of samples were known to have failed in the field. Essentially, they are making preventative recalls, before any large number of serious problems occur.

Scariest recall: Shimano brake cables that may come apart when the rider attempts to stop the bike.

In contrast, the bikes being sold to Target, K-Mart, and Wal-Mart have been recalled in batches of over 100,000 bikes at a time. Forks that break. Frames that break. Wheels that fall off. I'd bet very few of their customers were ever contacted about the recalls.

By the way, if there is anyone here dumb enough to believe Waldo's claim that Cannondale does not test the seatposts they use, I can get you a good deal on a bridge connecting Manhattan to Brooklyn.