Stop the craziness!! Please sign this petition now!

[Tatonka]

Take a minute and check this out if you haven't already taken action somewhere else. This is a classic example of our paternalistic government's attempts to save us!

http://petitionspot.com/petitions/thumpertalk

The US Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), responding to the threats caused by lead found in children's toys (mostly from China) has implemented broad sweeping product requirements that will make it illegal to sell motorcycles & ATVs targeted to those age 12 and under.

Manufacturers, dealers and parents that ride all understand that kids just don't chew, lick or ingest parts of and/or their motorcycles and ATVs and small displacement motorcycles and ATVs are not just for kids (e.g. the Pit Bike Industry, new riders, wives, etc...)

While anything is possible, not all things are likely. So, these requirements defy common sense, will not have a measurable impact on child safety, but will unduly harm the powersports industry during turbulent economic times and will deny our kids and future enthusiasts from participating in a positive and healthy sport and family oriented activity.

This petition will be referenced in a letter written by ThumperTalk.com on behalf of its half a million monthly visitors, used as support in the case to exempt motorcycles and ATVs from these new product requirements. The letter will be submitted to the US CPSC as public testimony concerning this issue.

Sign and send to all you know. We need to show that many others feel the same way about this as we do. Your kids and future riders are depending upon your action today!

Thanks in advance for your efforts.

Sincerely,

ThumperTalk.com

Thanks for taking the time to respond!

[Tatonka]

This was pulled from the most recent Racerhead on RacerXonline.com....

Feb 6 2009 3:53PM

"Wow, the hits just keep coming... Have you heard the one about the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008? It’s no joke, unfortunately. It’s a new law on the books that prohibits the distribution or sales of children’s products that have any part with a lead content above 600ppm. The CPSIA law is supposed to make toys safer for kids aged 12-and-under by limiting their exposure to lead. It turns out that minicycles have some parts with lead in them—too much for this provision. Now the industry is in panic mode, and for good reason.

http://www.racerxonline.com/assets/stories/12847/1287/story/Lorettas08-Cudby-730.JPG
credit: Simon Cudby
Mini bikes are not Matchbox cars, but they're being treated the same

In fact, beginning on February 10, 2009—that’s Tuesday—Kawasaki is advising their dealers to clear the showroom floor of most of their minicycles and telling them not to sell or advertise any of them. This means all of three of the KXF mini-bikes—the 50, 80 and 90—plus the KX60 and KX65, the KLX110 and the KDX50. Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, KTM, Cobra—they’re all in the same boat right now.

I asked one OEM executive just what is going on here, and he responded, “What it comes down to is a law that is meant for things like Matchbox cars is having an unforeseen effect on the whole motorcycle industry. Our bikes have too many lead parts per million pieces because there’s lead in the ends of cables, lead in the alloy, lead in the cases... It’s all a big mess. There’s been a stay allowing us a year to comply, but they still aren’t saying we can sell them in the meantime.” Needless to say, the legal people and the Motorcycle Industry Council are ramping up plans to get the law changes; as it stands now, any bicycle or scooter with cables that have lead endings will be illegal for kids under 12!

A letter issued by the American Motorcyclist Association on Tuesday says, “Although the CPSC has published proposed procedures for seeking exclusion from the lead limits, there is no practical way for manufacturers and distributors of ATVs and off-highway motorcycles to seek and obtain exclusions prior to the February 10 effective date... Unless the CPSC acts immediately to grant the manufacturers and distributors of motorcycles and ATVs emergency relief and a temporary exclusion from the lead limits for certain applications, a severe and unwarranted disruption in the supply of youth-model vehicles will occur.”

Also, the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America’s (SPVIA) and the Motorcycle Industry Council’s (MIC) member companies urgently requested the Consumer Product Safety Commission and federal legislators to take a common-sense approach to implementation of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act's lead provisions.

This is the last thing the motorcycle industry and motorcycle dealers need right now. Hopefully, the ruling will be overturned or sensibly amended to exclude recreational vehicles, bicycles, scooters, go-karts, whatever—it’s clearly not what the law was meant for, but it’s having a direct effect now."

Thanks DC and Amen to getting this fixed quick!

[Tatonka]

And here's another idea.........

Pat & KTMTalk members, thanks for your effort on this! We're all in the same boat on this one, so I'm glad to see the cross board cooperation. Pat is always a class act and this once again underscores it.

I've contacted a number of other bigger community administators, industry leaders, and magazine editors, so hopefully we can deliver a wide range of solid testimony and hundreds of thousands of signatures to back it up to those with the power to exempt motorcycles and ATVs.

I'm also thinking of a rally on the capitol in each state where we load up our bikes & ATVs, dress in full gear, including the kids in and effort to be seen, not just heard. Maybe get some media coverage and public support.

I'm glad my dad got me into riding when I was a kid and that I already have 50s for my boys, but they'll need to trade up in the future and others will need that first bike. So, let's make sure all of them get this opportunity!

Bryan Bosch
ThumperTalk.com Admin. & proud KTMTalk member too.

[Walker Sky Ranch]

Dear Industry Friends,

I’m sure you have heard this news, and I apologize if you have already received this. This is very important to our industry so I URGE you to please take less than a minute to sign this petition. Below is the petition and here is the link:
http://www.tomself.com/

Please forward this to your industry contacts.!
**URGENT**

As of Tuesday, February 10th, 2009, the small powersports industry has all but been shut down. This affects not only dealers and new units but individuals all across the U.S. New and used units as well as parts availability for every used unit in the nation has been called under question. This issue is far reaching not only financially but also concerning safety. With the suspension of proper sized ATV's and motorcycles suspended, young riders will be tempted to use improperly sized and built machines which could (but Lord willing won't) lead to severe injuries.

There is a waiver now setting before the Consumer Product Safety Commission in Washington DC, but has not been acted upon as of yet. We need every available rider, Mother, Father, Grandmother, Grandfather, Aunt, Uncle and any relative, friend neighbor, business or personal contact or any person who is a legal us citizen to get involved. They need to access this website, read the sample letter, type in their name and address then click the "send a letter on my behalf" icon below it. This will generate correspondence to all the committee members in Washington that are on the committee that oversee the commission that could act upon this. The commission members as well as my office will also receive copies of the letters set so we can be the most effective voice we that we can. The sport as well as the industry is in turmoil and time is short. The future of small powersports is at risk! PLEASE ACT NOW!!

Thank You!

[Tatonka]

Les, I merged these two threads as they are for the same thing.

Sign both petitions, it can't hurt!!!

[Tatonka]

URGENT: Call to Action from MX Sports


Dear Industry Leaders, Racers, Fans and Enthusiasts,

Yesterday, a law went into effect prohibiting the sale of minicycles to children under the age of 13 as a result of the lead content in the machines (Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, Title I, Section 101). This law, which arguably applies to both motorcycles and ATVs, treats any children's product that contains more lead than the limit established by law as a banned hazardous substance.

We have already begun to experience the devastating consequences of this new legislation upon our sport, as OEMs have already pulled these machines from their showroom floors. Youth racing is the foundation of our sport. That is when most of you fell in love with motorcycles in the first place, only to grow up to bring your own kids back to the racetracks. Only now, they can't ride.

On behalf of MX Sports (Loretta Lynn's), Racer Productions (GNCC), and ATVPG (ATV Amateur Nationals), we are extremely concerned with the short- and long-range effects of this new legislation, as the first rounds in all of our various series are less than two weeks away, and all include classes for youth racers under the age of 13. But it's not just our events - WORCS, NMA, Mini Os, SETRA, etc., are all adversely impacted.

It is our opinion that the new law is inapplicable to off-highway motorsports, as neither motorcycles nor ATVs have the potential for ingestion, and lead from motorcycles is not likely to be absorbed into the bloodstream or present a health hazard. Let's face it - when was the last time someone swallowed a motorcycle? Any other interpretation would be silly. Be that as it may, the law will continue to adversely affect our industry unless and until an exemption is granted.

Presently, there is a petition for an immediate temporary exemption pending before the Consumer Product Safety Commission ("CPSC") filed by the Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) on behalf of the OEMs, distributors, and industry associations. This petition, if granted, would enable our industry to move forward this racing season while the applicability of the law to the off-highway industry is determined.

What can you do?

A form letter for submission to the CPSC in support of the petition for exemption is attached as prepared by the MIC. The letter will also be available this weekend at the Indy tradeshow. Simply print out one copy for each person in your family and submit it ASAP. In the meantime, AMA is preparing a letter for submission by its membership to the CPSC. Be on the lookout for that one as well.

Also, an electronic form letter has been prepared by State Representative Tom Self of Missouri. Please go his website at www.tomself.com. Just fill in your name and address and hit "Submit" to register your support. Please submit this letter on behalf of every member of your family - regardless of age.

What else can you do?

Contact your congressmen and senators; let them know that this legislation will have the unintended consequences of crippling an entire industry. Surely, it could not have been the spirit or intent of the new law to apply to motorcycles or bicycles (which apparently have lead in the brake cables).

Time is of the essence. The very future of our sport and of our industry depends on this. We must support the pending petition before the commencement of the national racing season.

Please give this matter your immediate attention, and forward this letter to EVERY PERSON available ASAP.

Thank you,

Carrie Coombs Russell

[mx24mom]

This letter is from Greg Robinson, Owner of Unadilla... That I found on another site

Good Afternoon...forget the good, as our country has descended into lunacy.

I have spent most of the day on two conference calls relative to the subject line above, and I must say I am rather concerned about the fate of our sport and industry. Not to mention our local communities for the further loss of jobs and $$ that our industry brings in each year. It is certainly that dire..believe me.

As of yesterday, all the OEMs had to pull for sale all new youth minicycles and atvs for those under the age of 13...this under order of the CPSC due to lead content of plastics and certain metals. As of yesterday, a dealer or private individual can no longer provide parts or service, to these affected machines, in which there is a possibility that those same parts may contain lead...no oil changes, plastic, levers, engine cases, etc, etc..goggles, helmets, clothing, knee braces..you name it. You may think that is just for new machines, but it is for everything new and used.

The CPSC also ruled that machines under 85cc are considered toxic to the health of young children.

Effective yesterday, Honda has pulled replacement parts from their service system for these machines pending lead certification...this takes 400 days. KTM, Suzuki, Kawasaki, and Yamaha are doing the same thing. If you have a 1,2,3 year old machine, you won't be able to buy most parts for it very soon.

Yamaha is sending out restrictions to its dealers saying that an 85cc bike can only be sold, and should only be operated by someone over the age of 13.

Now to the fun part for us as a race promoter.

Because the manufacturers are now issuing these guidelines, we as promoters cannot allow a youth under the age of 13 to participate for two reasons.
We are allowing someone to participate in a sanctioned activity on a vehicle that has been determined by the manufacturer and the CPSC to be unsafe for that age level.
We are allowing someone to participate in a sanctioned activity on a vehicle that the CPSC has determined is a toxic substance.
If you think I am joking, consider the following
MX Sports is considering removing youth classes from the Loretta Lynn's program, GNCC, and ATV Nationals...we run all three of these series and I can tell you that these classes make up over 1/3 of our entries and more than half of our attendance.
The AMA will be forced to ban youths under 13 from any AMA amateur or pro competition due to legal ramifications. The same will apply to local districts and sanctioning bodies, as insurance will not be available to cover this exposure.
The lifeblood of our sport are these kids..if they cannot participate, they will find something else to do, and we will not get them back. They will not race, watch, or buy products. That means Mom, Dad and older brothers/sisters won't be there either.
Unadilla would most likely not participate in any form of amateur racing..with only half or less of the entries left, it wouldn't be financially possible.
DO I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION YET!

There are two efforts going on right now to get a temporary stay granted by the CPSC for "Off Road Vehicles." The MIC (Motorcycle Industry Council) and Missouri State House Rep Mike Sense(#4 in line in the MO st govt) are both developing grass roots letter campaigns through websites to develop a ground swell of support for this stay. Keep in mind this is only temporary, and unless a Federal injunction or legislation is developed, this isn't going away.

There are several opinions floating around on this subject saying that our thinking is flawed and that only the sale of new units is affected...if that is the case, why are helmet, goggle, sneakers, sunglasses, OEM parts and accessories, and dealer service being pulled for these units???

I will leave you with this..if indeed this is overblown, and we are right that we shouldn't be affected by this, it still doesn't mean that we can't/won't be sued by someone using this logic, and worse yet, convince a jury that the above is true. If it gets that far, you will have spent nearly a million $$ in your own defense, just to prove you were right all along.

IS IT WORTH THAT TO YOU?

I will get you info on the two websites, and I encourage you to beg everyone you know that rides, owns, promotes, or attends an off road sporting event to get everyone they know in the same manner to fill out one of these letters...Every Mom Dad and Kid should individually enter their name. Then they should contact their local representatives too.

Thanks for listening, and please do not think you can't make a difference..contact your local representatives as well..explain the economic impact this will have..educate yourself on this subject as quickly as you can.

Greg Robinson
VP Marketing
Unadillla Motorsports
© 315-725-9537
greg@unadillamx.com


This is not going to be good for the sport we love. Also heart braking to our little racers. Please go to and send everyone you know to this link www.tomself.com fill out and send the letter. We all need to help fight this battle.

[Tatonka]

Just took action on this issue and thought you might find it interesting too.

Click on this URL to take action now
http://capwiz.com/amacycle/utr/2/?a=12661926&i=14404796&c=

If your email program does not recognize the URL as a link,
copy the entire URL and paste it into your Web browser.

Please take action!!

:soap:

:explode:

[Tatonka]

http://www.racerxonline.com/UserFiles/Image/LetUsRide.jpg

[Tatonka]

YouTube - AMA: Help stop the ban on youth OHV's

It's great to see the AMA getting more involved! I wish they would have a trail ride or two depicted in there also!!

[Tatonka]

YouTube - Malcolm's Protest

Malcolm is the Man!! :thumb:thumb

[Tatonka]

Federal agency staff recommends against exemption for youth ATVs/motorcycles

Powersports Business
Thursday April 2, 2009

The likelihood of a ban on certain youth ATVs and motorcycles ending quickly has taken a hit.

The Consumer Safety Product Commission (CPSC) staff recommended Wednesday that its two commissioners deny an exemption for youth-designed ATVs and motorcycles that do not meet the lead requirements specified in a new federal law, the Consumer Product Safety Improvements Act.

CPSC commissioners can either approve the staff’s recommendations or vote to reject those and provide the exemption. The latter would represent the quickest way to ending the ban on youth-designed ATVs and motorcycles that the Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) has said could cause $1 billion in lost economic value to the industry.

Historically, a vote by the commissioners occurs about five days after the staff report is made public, which was done Wednesday.
In the report, the staff said it agreed with an industry-provided evaluation that contact with lead-containing parts on a youth ATV or motorcycle “would not be extensive, but the staff also believes that such contact is not inconceivable.”

The staff report further states that because children’s use of ATVs and motorcycles “could result in intake of lead, and therefore absorption, however small the absorbed amount” the criteria for an exemption is not met as outlined in the Consumer Product Safety Improvements Act.

A separate CPSC staff report dated March 31 that was provided by the agency’s Human Factors staff notes the possible ramifications if an exemption is not given. “A bigger safety concern than lead exposure,” the report states, “is that the elimination of youth ATV sales will most likely increase the number of adult ATVs purchased to be used by younger children; therefore increasing their risk of injury and death.”

In a press release, MIC President Tim Buche said, “As a result of the CPSC staff recommendation we must intensify all efforts to get Congressional support for a regulatory or legislative fix. One way is to strongly advocate two new bills that have been introduced, S. 608 and H.R. 1587.

“We’re very pleased to see this Congressional support to end the ban and we’re working with the sponsors to ensure these bills would provide immediate and critical relief to the powersports industry.”

The MIC is urging its members, dealers and enthusiasts to contact their members of Congress and appropriate committee members via www.StopTheBanNow.com (http://www.StopTheBanNow.com)


This has truly been a fiasco.................. amazing that our government officials are this narrow sighted. Very sad to see this happen.

[Tatonka]

Read this from the AMA....

Posted April 3, 2009

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- Acting Chairman Nancy Nord of the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission has decided to hold off for a year enforcing the new lead law that has forced dealers to yank youth-model off-road motorcycles and ATVs off their showroom floors.

For the rest of the story click this link:
http://www.amadirectlink.com/news/story.asp?id=775

We need to be a lot more organized and vocal about our sport!!

[Tatonka]

http://www.cpsc.gov/pr/moore041609.pdf

:!:

[Tatonka]

The Lead Law Rally on the steps of the Colorado State Capitol Bldg went well although the attendance was a bit a light and the press coverage was week. We did get a large photo in the Denver Post with a nice caption about the issue. Hopefully TwinTurbos will post up some pics from the event.

Thanks to everyone who attended and special thanks to Bryan Bosch of ThumperTalk for his efforts in organizing the rally. Let's all stay vigilant on this issue as well as all of the other legislation that has been introduced since January aimed at shutting down our sport and our individual freedoms!

[Tatonka]

http://www.racerxonline.com/UserFiles/Image/RHBottom/Caution.jpg

:thumb

:lmao

[mx24mom]

love it! Where do I buy one???

[mommotox]

I have got to get that shirt for the kids...wish I would have had it for the protest last week!

Zach wrote up his paper. I have a copy that I need to transcribe. When I do, I'll post it up. I think he got why he was there, and what it was all about. Hopefully more beneficial for him at 9 than to have been at "Medieval Feast Day" at school!

P.S. I never saw the picture in The Denver Post. I need to go searching now!

[Tatonka]

UPDATE!

Sep 8 2009 4:53PM

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- Federal lawmakers have scheduled a hearing for Thursday, Sept. 10, to receive an update on the status of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA) that essentially banned the sale of kids' dirtbikes and ATVs, the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) reports.

The AMA is urging all concerned motorcyclists and ATVers to contact their federal lawmakers to exempt motorcycles and ATVs from the law, which took effect in February. The law stopped the sale of dirt bikes and ATVs designed for children age 12 and under, although the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) subsequently issued a stay of enforcement of the measure until May 2011.

Under the law, all youth products containing lead must now have less than 300 parts per million by weight. The CPSC has interpreted the law to apply to various components of youth-model motorcycles and ATVs, including the engine, brakes, suspension, battery and other mechanical parts. Even though the lead levels in these parts are small, they are still above the minimum threshold.

The Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection of the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce will hold Thursday's hearing, titled: "Consumer Product Safety Commission Oversight: Current Issues and a Vision for the Future." CPSC Chairwoman Inez Tenenbaum will be the only testifier.

This hearing is the first one sponsored by this subcommittee since the CPSIA passed 13 months ago. It is important that motorcyclists and ATV riders let Congress know that they are concerned about the lead-content requirements of the CPSIA, and that they want youth-model off-highway vehicles excluded from those requirements.

Riders should contact their U.S. representatives and let them know how the CPSIA has created a severe and unwarranted disruption to families who ride together responsibly, and a deleterious effect on youth amateur racing. Because the fastest way to permanently address this issue is through legislation, riders should urge their representatives to support H.R. 1587, introduced by Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-At Large-Mont.), to exempt youth-sized motorcycles and ATVs from the CPSIA.

You can find contact information for your elected officials at AmericanMotorcyclist.com. From the homepage, click on "Rights," then "Issues & Legislation," and enter your zip code in the "Find your Officials" box. Additionally, a prewritten e-mail is available for you to send to your representative immediately by following the "Take Action" option and entering your information.

ATV riders can do the same by going through the Rapid Response Center on ATVAonline.com.

It is particularly important to contact members of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection. They are U.S. Reps.:

* Bobby Rush (D-Chicago-Tinley Park, Ill.), chairman
* Jan Schakowsky (D-Chicago-Des Plaines, Ill.) vice chairwoman
* George Radanovich (R-Oakdale-Kerman, Calif.), ranking minority member
* Mary Bono Mack (R-Hemet-Blythe, Calif.)
* Doris Matsui (D-Sacramento, Calif.)
* Henry Waxman (D-Agoura Hills-Westlake Village, Calif.) (ex officio)
* Diana DeGette (D-Denver, Colo.)
* Kathy Castor (D-Tampa, Fla.)
* Cliff Stearns (R-Ocala, Fla.)
* John Barrow (D-Springfield-Crawfordville, Ga.)
* Phil Gingrey, M.D. (R-Marietta-Rome, Ga.)
* Bruce Braley (D-Cedar Falls-Dubuque, Iowa)
* Ed Whitfield (R-Fulton-Casey, Ky.)
* Steve Scalise (R-Hammond-Mandeville, La.)
* John Sarbanes, M.D. (D-Baltimore City-Annapolis, Md.)
* John Dingell (D-Detroit, Mich.) (ex officio)
* Bart Stupak (D-U.P.-Alpena, Mich.)
* Lee Terry (R-Omaha, Neb.)
* G. K. Butterfield (D-Roanoke Rapids-New Bern, N.C.)
* Sue Wilkins Myrick (R-Gastonia-Matthews, N.C.)
* Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-Plainfield-Asbury Park, N.J.)
* Anthony Weiner (D-Brooklyn-Queens, N.Y.)
* Zachary Space (D-Athens-Millersburg, Ohio)
* Betty Sutton (D-Lorain-Akron, Ohio)
* John Sullivan (R-Bartlesville-Bixby, Okla.)
* Tim Murphy (R-Pittsburgh-Greensburg, Pa.)
* Joseph R. Pitts (R-Columbia-West Chester, Pa.)
* Bart Gordon (D-Robertson-Marshall, Tenn.)
* Joe Barton (R-Ennis-Crockett, Texas) (ex officio)
* Charles Gonzalez (D-San Antonio-Kirby, Texas)
* Gene Green (D-Cloverleaf, Texas)
* Jim Matheson (D-St. George-Vernal, Utah)

About the American Motorcyclist Association
Since 1924, the AMA has protected the future of motorcycling and promoted the motorcycle lifestyle. AMA members come from all walks of life, and they navigate many different routes on their journey to the same destination: freedom on two wheels. As the world's largest motorcycling organization, the AMA advocates for motorcyclists' interests in the halls of local, state and federal government, the committees of international governing organizations, and the court of public opinion. Through member clubs, promoters and partners, the AMA sanctions more motorsports competition and motorcycle recreational events than any other organization in the world. AMA members receive money-saving discounts from dozens of well-known suppliers of motorcycle services, gear and apparel, bike rental, transport, hotel stays and more. Through its Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum, the AMA preserves the heritage of motorcycling for future generations.