here is the latest news about the ban. it aint good

Here’s a nice round number that the CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) might want to think about when it considers whether or not to drop the ban on kid’s ATVs and motorcycles: $1 billion.

That’s one estimate of the impact on the powersports industry if the ban were to last throughout 2009. It was put together by the Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC).

“The potential losses for the powersports industry are massive at a time when this country cannot afford additional economic losses,” says Paul Vitrano, general counsel for MIC and its partner organization the SVIA (Specialty Vehicle Institute of America). “With these vehicles sitting in warehouses instead of on showroom floors, the related sales of most protective gear, accessories, and parts and services are virtually non-existent. Thousands of small businesses across America are impacted by this ban.”

Vitrano explains the calculations by detailing what the MIC included:


2008 estimated value of the retail marketplace for ATVs and dirt bikes. This number was then adjusted for estimated 2009 sales.
Estimated revenues from services performed on youth machines.
Parts, garments and accessories for youth machines and riders. This includes apparel such as helmets and riding armor that may contain excessive amounts of lead or other chemicals banned under the law.
It also includes product advertising, vehicle financing charges, insurance premiums, dealer personnel salaries, state sales and dealer personnel income taxes, and vehicle registration fees.
In round numbers, that comes down to about $3 million per day in lost revenue for the industry. Much of this may yet reach retailers if the CPSC acts quickly to lift the ban.

By one estimate, about 10 percent of youth machine purchases are made by impulse buyers, ones that won’t ever return. It’s likely that the other 90 percent of sales are being deferred until after the ban is lifted, if it is lifted before the primary selling season this spring.

The longer the sales ban remains in place, the more likely it is that deferred purchases will not be made, for a variety of economic and personal reasons.

The other problem for retailers, of course, is that their cash flow is reduced. Dealers located in the South are looking at lost revenue today for machines, PG&A, service and F&I, until the ban is lifted.

In many cases, OEMs are helping out with floorplanning costs, the fees that dealers pay to manufacturers when they finance the purchase of machines.

The CPSC is charged with enforcing the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) that was signed by President Bush last August.

The law limits the amount of lead that can be contained in paint and the total product. It also limits the amount of certain chemicals used in plastic. The law applies to products intended for youth age 12 and under. That includes ATVs, dirt bikes, PG&A and accessories. The ban on sale of these products went into effect Feb. 10.

Those calling for the exclusions believe that the lead-content provisions of the act, which originally were aimed at toys that can be swallowed by children, were never intended to apply to youth ATVs and motorcycles, says Vitrano.

Most of the components making up youth powersports products are in compliance, says the MIC. But some parts, that youths would not normally ingest, contain small quantities of lead in excess of the CPSIA limits, such as the valve stems on the tires, aluminum in some brake components, and the terminals on batteries. The CPSC is considering industry requests for exemptions.

I wonder if they added in the loss to OHV parks and race tracks, across the country. Stopping next generation riders is going to hurt many locations that are already fighting an uphill battle.

I dont know, but they need to. because one affects the other

Just saw this funny (sarcastic) clip about the evils of lead in youth ATV's:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6xH1e1qH14

LMAO Just shows you how stupid these new laws are!

That is funny.
I'm hungry...
... it's okay...
I'm slightly over 18 years of age.

At one time I would just blow this off and say "They wouldn't do that, too many folks ride them". As I read through all these post and regs. I thought back to the good ol three wheeler days! Heard over the news....there's gonna be a ban on three wheelers. I thought yea right! too many folks ride em' to ban em'. All the atv parks and racing..that will never happen.....well try and go and buy a 2009 three-wheeler Thats right ....it won't happen cause they banned them. i know they were dangerous and 4 wheelers took there place. but 4 wheelers are dangerous too. I fly planes....trust me..they are dangerous. As far as that goes....a mouse trap is dangerous if your not paying attention.

I know this ban is for the youth...but we were all youth at one time and some of us still are, and that's what drives anything to remain in existance whether its football/baseball/golf/atv sports/ or water sports...We need to keep an eye on this and act accordinally. We do have the poor economic situation on our side.

I recieved a new letter today, it says................


Dear Robert:



Thank you for contacting me regarding the impact of Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA) on youth all-terrain (ATV) vehicles and youth off-highway (OHM) motorcycles. As your Congressman, I appreciate hearing your thoughts and welcome every opportunity to be of service.



As you may be aware, the final version of this Act passed the House of Representatives on July 30, 2008, passed the Senate on July 31, 2008, and was signed into law on August 14, 2008. However, while some of the new requirements of this legislation are being phased in, many have also been applied retroactively to existing inventories of products.



The key issue for youth ATV's and OHM's is the new lead level requirements for products of children aged 12 and younger. Clearly, this requirement aims to reduce the lead level of products with which children would have close contact; however, critical components of these ATV's and OHM's that include higher levels of lead should not fall into this category because children do not have close contact with these necessary components.



As a father and grandfather, I recognize the important need and responsibility to safeguard the products that our children play with and enjoy. However, while I agree with the goals of the CPSIA, I believe there are a number of unintended consequences that must addressed to ensure whole inventories of safe products are not discarded to the detriment of our economy, especially in this current economic environment.



On February 27, 2009, I sent a letter to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) requesting that it grant an exclusion for these products in accordance with the discretion provided to the CPSC under the CPSIA. Rest assured that if the Commission does not take the appropriate steps to address this matter, I will support corrective and clarifying legislation to direct the Consumer Product Safety Commission to do so.



Again, thank you for sharing your concerns. If you feel that I may be of additional assistance on this, or any other matter of importance to you, please do not hesitate to contact me. I also invite you to sign up for my weekly email newsletter, or to share your ideas and opinions, by visiting my website at http://gingrey.house.gov or emailing me at gingrey.ga@mail.house.gov.

rvtec-

Now THAT's a real reply from someone -- finally!

-Mike

suzuki and kymco got cleared on friday, so the rest should not be far behind