This story is getting wide coverage here. It may be of interest to anyone (like me) with Shimano HollowTech cranks fitted to their bike.

The key issue appears to be that certain Shimano models of cranksets are at risk of failure due to faulty materials. 

Coincidentally I had my ten year old Thorn Audax thoroughly serviced recently, and the mechanic discovered that the Hollowtech seals had corroded.  The cranks appear to be ok. Problem fixed now. I have no idea if my wornout seal issue was related to the current Shimano woes, but it was an unexpected maintenance problem.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-29/act-cycling-manufacturer-shimano-issues-global-review-crankset/102918296

The details from the Shimano site.

https://bike.shimano.com/en-AU/information/customer-services/corrective-actions/important-safety-notice-11-speed-hollowtech-road-cranksets-inspection-program.html

I got a recall notice from the bike shop (now owned by Trek) where I bought what I call my "midlife crisis bike," a 2017 Trek Domane. I called the shop, they said bring it in - most so far are not from the impacted batches, none have had the issue. Overall, the rate seemed to be about 1% from certain batches were failing.

Brought it in, they checked the serial number and manufacturing codes, and of course mine was from a potentially suspect batch!

They kept it overnight, went through Shimano's inspection instructions, and called back saying no signs of the issue. I asked about warning signs when I picked it back up: a creaking sound almost always precedes failure by many hours of use, cracks on the "seams" usually, too. 

So, I know what to look for if Shimano does not get forced to replace all of them. I routinely inspect my tires and wipe down my chain after each ride - I'll add wiping down and looking at the crankset. I think from what I've read and heard I'm comfortable with that. Though: I rarely stand on the pedals, but when I do being a "one percenter" will be on my mind!

Thanks John. Interesting.

When I read the Shimano site information it was clearer that only a fairly specific subset of components are at risk. eg 11 geared cranksets from certain batches. And the serial numbers are published. 

I doubt many cycle touring bikes will be affected. That said, like you, I have more bikes than cycle touring bikes.
But my only 11 geared bike is a SRAM componented MTB.

My other touring bikes are triple chain ringed with 9 speed cassettes. 

Hi, Graham - when I bought that bike I had ideas of doing lightly loaded 2-5 day credit card style touring with bikepacking bags - that is the type of touring I do anyway with panniers on my 30 year old Trek 520 with a 3 x 7 setup. or an even older Schwinn hybrid for path/trail type mini-tours. The Ultegra 2 x 11 definitely sacrificed the granny gear but I wasn't "talking to granny" on the multi-day tours I really do.

While I love riding that Domane, I quickly realized that the wheels and high end components really weren't up to the task of my 210 lbs and added gear combined with my slapdash style of/skill at maintenance. Everything is thinner and lighter and really smooth,  but more finicky and definitely lower time between failure or even adjustment.

I donated the hybrid to charity, relegated the 520 to basement duty on a trainer (and backup duty) and bought a steel Jamis Escapade with a 1X SRAM drive train, and strong wheels that I've been using on my typical multiday rides and gravelly day rides.

Switching between the bikes does mean relearning the difference between Shimano and SRAM shifting again each time!

John it sounds as if our bike purchase history has been almost identical. Different brands and different countries but very similar bike buying motives. My bike purchase history similarly culminated with a very under-used, light road bike. Beautiful to ride. But rarely used because it can’t be loaded with much stuff.

Perhaps us cycle-tourers are descended from pack-horse riders; freight carriers; not race horse jockeys.:)

Bah, humbug, we never had trouble with the old steel cranks with cotter pins!

Mike exactly… it’s time to bring back cotter pins, back-pedal brakes and hessian swags.

The first 25 years of my working life, I worked in offices with Bunn coffee makers and thought the coffee tasted fine. Then in 1998 I started working at home, and thought the coffee from the cheap Mr. Coffee-style coffee maker tasted even better.

Then, I took my wife on a  business trip outside of Boulder  and we ate dinner at a fancy restaurant (Flagstaff House?) that had table-side coffee service but wanted $10 for a cup of coffee - I decided spend the 10 bucks to see if I could tell the difference, since I do not have a very discerning palate.

It was the Dura Ace of coffee equipment. They ground the special, fresh beans with a burr grinder, and did a coffee press - the coffee was awesome. Not worth $10, but I could tell the difference. Now at home I have a burr grinder and various pour over/coffee press/glorified Mr. Coffee's ways of making coffee. I have moved up Maslow's hierarchy of needs with coffee - and with bikes!

Did a 50 mile/4000' of climbing club ride on Sunday on that fancy Ultegra exploding crankset laden Domane and it really was more fun than doing that on the 520 - especially the acceleration I could achieve in the section where the three car/bike chasing dogs live that I always forget about. That was a pretty good test of the integrity of the Hollowtech crankset.

LOL! Great analogy!