U.S. Government ban on mini bikes?

Okay, tell me what you know about this ban on mini motorcycles less then
100cc. I've been reading lots of speculation on the internet, but I'm
looking for hard facts.

I have a 20 month old grand daughter, and a 6 month old grandson that
I'm sure one day will want to ride a motorcycle. Being I'm a fan of
Honda, the logical first bike for them would be the CRF50F, or maybe a
CRF70F? I'd like to buy them one and put it away for a year or so, then
the grand daughter could start riding, maybe spring of 2010.

All of this talk about banning mini motorcycles because of the lead used
in manufacturing has gotten out of control.

Here's what I know so far that is factual.

My wife called our local Honda dealer today just to see if it was true.
YES, it is. He said that the parts with the most lead content on a
CRF50F is the handgrips and the rubber top on the ignition key. He said
that come Feb. 9, 2009 all the bikes he has under 100cc will be loaded
up and returned to Honda America. So if I was looking to buy a small
bike, tomorrow, Saturday would be my last chance.

I can't figure this out. It would be easy and cheap to just change the
handgrips and key, then keep selling the bikes as usual. Or are the
motorcycle manufacturers just saying "Screw you" to the USA and pulling
their bikes off the market?

Will there be 2010 mini bikes for sale with the corrected parts? Or will
mini bikes be banned forever?

Please reply ASAP, and with facts, and only facts. I'm going to my
dealer tomorrow and have a talk with him. If I feel small bikes will be
no more, I just may come home with one or two. Maybe three or four still
in the crates? I could sell the extras in a few years for a major
profit?

 

You've got yourself another year, at least...

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09115.html


This is the letter that was sent to Honda dealers from American
Honda's senior vice president, Ray Blank...

Dear Honda Dealer:

On August 14, 2008, Congress enacted the Consumer Product Safety
Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA or Act). The Act was primarily in
reaction to the recent influx of lead-tainted toys that resulted in
numerous recalls and significant public outcry for more stringent
government standards.

The CPSIA requires manufacturers of “Children’s Products,” defined as
those products designed or intended primarily for children 12 years of
age or younger, to meet increasingly stringent lead paint and lead
content standards and to certify, based on third party testing, that
the products meet the Act’s requirements. Products that fail to comply
with the prescribed lead limits are considered a “banned hazardous
substance” and cannot be sold or offered for sale. Violation of the
prescribed limits (initial limits detailed below) can result in severe
civil and criminal penalties.

Ban of lead in paint over 600ppm (parts per million)

Honda’s paint contains little or no lead and easily complies with even
the most stringent requirement.

Ban of lead in substrate material over 600ppm

Honda is still in process of completing tests on all of the materials
used in our small ATV’s and motorcycles; however, some alloy materials
commonly used to manufacture motor vehicles may inherently contain
levels of lead that are (or ultimately will be) above the current, or
future more aggressive, limits set forth in the Act.

Honda and other members of the Motorcycle Industry Council and
Specialty Vehicle Institute of America, which face the same issues as
Honda, are actively working to exempt the alloy parts for small
motorcycles and ATVs from the terms of the Act. The lead embedded in
the alloys used in these products is not transferred through typical
use of these products. Our shared belief is that Congress never
intended the lead content provisions of the Act, which originally were
aimed at toys that can be mouthed by children, to be applicable to
small ATVs and motorcycles.

Even more concerning is that the Consumer Product Safety Commission
(CPSC), the agency charged with enforcing the Act, recently ruled that
Congress intended the lead content regulations to be retroactive. This
means that, regardless of its date of manufacture or the fact that it
complied with all applicable laws and regulations at the date of
manufacture, any children’s product manufactured with even a single
component part containing lead in excess of the limits will no longer
be legal for sale as of February 10, 2009. The economic impact of the
CPSC’s ruling will be substantial for both dealers and manufacturers
in an already weakened economy.

What all of this means to you is that – without Congressional or CPSC
action -- you will not be able to sell new or used TRX 90, CRF 50F,
CRF 70F, or CRF 80F models after February 10, 2009, stranding your
investment in your new and used inventory. In fact, under the terms of
the Act you cannot even display these models on your showroom floor,
distribute brochures, or advertise them on your website.

**REVIEW IMMEDIATELY**

As Honda and others continue to work towards a satisfactory resolution
to this dilemma, we urge you to support an industry effort by
contacting your Congressional delegation and Senators and urging them
to ensure that small motorcycles and ATVs are exempted from the lead-
content provisions of the Act. Copies of letters already sent by the
MIC and SVIA to various members of Congress are attached for your
reference.

We ask for your patience and understanding as we work through this
unfortunate process together. You may continue to sell these models
lawfully and with all existing Honda retail support through February
9th, 2009. We will advise you if the industry is able to obtain an
exemption from the lead content regulation. In the interim, we will
keep you posted on developments and business actions necessary from
February 10th forward to comply with this Act. With best regards,
American Honda Motor Co., Inc.



Tami-

 

I don't think he was being entirely honest here.

And here he was applying pressure to make a sale.

Stop worrying, and go and curse your idiot legislators. You might spend
your time more usefully, than posting thios sort of crap, in determining
just how many clean-living American kids have been poisoned by lead in
motorcycles.

 

Well, then I guess the AMA is gullible, too...

http://www.amadirectlink.com/news/story.asp?id=595



Tami-

 

Can't see anything there about lead in handlebar grips...

 

Mind your own business, Limey Troll.

 

*Sigh*

Back to your under-age girls, please.

 

Could be. Certainly wouldn't be the first time a respected organization has
been sucked into a scam.
An organization is, after all, just a group of people.

 

Mind your own business, Limey Troll.

 

Back to your under-age girls, please.

 

Piss off, limey tosser.

 

I spoke with two Honda dealers today. I was told that Honda, after
they figured out just exactly where lead might be on the bikes and a
ruling was reached on whether this law should be applied to small atvs
and motorcycles, would update the bikes by replacing the offending
parts.

Basically, if I want to purchase a CRF50 or CRF70 in the near future,
I need to get it on Monday. (Found 2 new CRF 50s for $950 ear, if I
wanted one.)

Jim

************************************************

***********************************************

 

Obviously you know nnothing of the subject...typical californian
leftists mentality.

 

Yep they are...WHERE is the lead?

Bending over for the government on this subject pure and simple.

 

Fine nimrod, WHERE is the lead on/in a motorcycle that a child (such
as yourself) could get at it and ingest it? By the standards of the
bill (I've read it) cars, pickups, suv's and such will be banned also
or banned from hauling children under the age of 12 anyway(isn't that
the ideal age of your girlfriends)

 

Wazzup, psychophant dude?

Is your nose so far up The Old Gasbag's ass you have to follow him
everywhere he goes?

 

I don't give a dead rat's ass where the lead in Japanese motorcycles
is at, and why should *you* care? You already ate the paint chips and
passed on your damaged DNA...

 

Sociopath...tryin to suck up to your betters again.

Actually I've been reading up on this since it came out a while back.
When you get a clue...you'll still be a clueless know nothing.

 

Obviously you aren't smart enough to figure out WHERE the problems
are. Something you have in common with the twits who wrote the
ruling...legislation and opinions.

You obviously have no ability to understand or comprhend the subject
and thus choose the tack of chasing after the object of your repressed
homosexual fantasies. Have a nice day loser.

 

Hey! Quit following me everywhere I go, Stevie!

Sending me your little "love notes" won't get you into my pants!