Report calls for keeping ban on kids dirt bikes, quads because of lead

I was just going through my local news paper online and found this article on there .

Ban On Kids dirt bikes ect.

By SONJA BJELLAND
The Press-Enterprise

In a big hit to the local motorsports industry, federal officials recommended Wednesday against exempting children's 4-wheelers and dirt bikes from new lead restrictions.

The Inland area has some of the largest motorsports dealerships in the country and an associated industry that modifies ATVs for racing.

The two-member Consumer Products Safety Commission has five business days to vote if they will go along with the staff recommendations or not, spokesman Joe Martyak said. Both members will have to vote in favor of continuing the ban for it to apply, Martyak said.

The commission in February ordered quads and dirt bikes for children 12 and younger be pulled from showroom floors because they contain more lead than is allowed under new regulations to reduce exposure. The dirt bikes are a type of small motorcycle and the quads are four-wheeled motorized vehicles.

Industry officials requested an exemption because the auto parts that contain lead are not easily consumed in comparison to small toys.

The vehicles sometimes have higher-than-allowed levels of lead in the brake and clutch levers and the valve stems on tires, and they are accessible, Martyak said.

If such items can be encased, for example the battery, then they could be excluded, he said.

A report supplied to commissioners with their ballots contends that the risk of absorbing lead is low when children touch auto parts.

However, since the law does not allow for any absorption, the staff recommended against exempting the vehicles.

A greater concern, the report states, is that young children will instead ride adult ATVs, increasing the risk of injury or death. California leads the nation in ATV related deaths.

"We know what the injury and death numbers are, and we're very concerned about that," Martyak said.

Legislators have introduced bills in the House and Senate to exempt ATVs from the lead regulations. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., is proposing to exclude secondary sales, repair services and certain vehicles. That proposal has been referred to a committee, according to government records.

For local motorsports businesses, the ban on children's vehicles has added to economic woes.

At Chaparral Motorsports in San Bernardino, more than 200 dirt bikes and quads sit assembled in a warehouse or still in boxes. Malcolm Smith Motorsports in Riverside has pulled about 50 off the showroom floor.

The Motorcycle Industry Council, one of the groups requesting the exemption, estimated the total youth market value at $1.5 billion.

For Pro-Tec owner Mike Baker, the ban means not being able to buy some parts in an already faltering economy.

His Murrieta performance shop has seen a downturn but he's not sure yet if it is because of the ban or the economy or both.

Reach Sonja Bjelland at 951-368-9642 or sbjelland@PE.com  

dang....people are stupid....you let your son chew on valve stems right socali??
DavidS  
i take a lot of pride in what i am

___________________
ride: 02yz426
local: north east Oregon

terrain type woods with lots of roots & rocks

Nothing like a bowl of valve stems and Fava beans.  
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Even a broken clock is right twice a day.

& a side of clutch levers!
DavidS  
i take a lot of pride in what i am

___________________
ride: 02yz426
local: north east Oregon

terrain type woods with lots of roots & rocks

Yeah you know kids just love to lick dirty metal parts on dirt bikes. glad we got him a 50 when we did just wish we would have gotten the others before the ban cause its not illegal for them to ride yet just to buy them and theparts. Japan better be ready for a lot of ebay sales for parts on the bikes.  

Some, if not all, online dealers are still selling parts for kids bikes and atv's, I guess they will sell them until they get caught.  
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Even a broken clock is right twice a day.

chud your more than right! i just ordered a couple parts for my little sisters xr80. from motosport!
DavidS  
i take a lot of pride in what i am

___________________
ride: 02yz426
local: north east Oregon

terrain type woods with lots of roots & rocks

I need to sit down this weekend and write out some more letters. I need hone my writing skills anyways. This is a perfect situation to do so. Maybe I will attached some photos of my younger brother happily riding his 50.

Maybe I can help my friends, who are lazy, get some letters out there.  
- Lindsey
Southern California, The epicenter of everything MX =)

Dirt Rider Updates:

MissLovell:
I need to sit down this weekend and write out some more letters. I need hone my writing skills anyways. This is a perfect situation to do so. Maybe I will attached some photos of my younger brother happily riding his 50.

Maybe I can help my friends, who are lazy, get some letters out there.

I understand the lead issue, but use some common sense!

With all the econimic issues; don't they have anything better to do rather than ADD TO the issues???

       
.
Dave H 2006 YZ250
(2008 YZ 125 son)

my senators getting yet another email as well as senator enhough!(i think i spelled that right)
DavidS  
i take a lot of pride in what i am

___________________
ride: 02yz426
local: north east Oregon

terrain type woods with lots of roots & rocks

why cant they just start making aluminum or magnesium parts to replace those ones that have lead so we can bolt on and ***   Yeah its a little expensive but c'mon!  
My sponsorships Winners do it in the Corners!

Yeah, look at me, I chewed on fishing weights my whole life, and it has not affected me at all. :P  
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Even a broken clock is right twice a day.

and always remember if you want to know if a battery is still good. have your kid lick it! make a game out of it its shockingly good fun for the whole family!  
-Kirk 88 Honda CR250R
ride hard and crash harder

hey i remeber when i rode my 65 my favorite snack to chew on was the frame and who could resist chewing on a spoke, i mean didnt we all?  

Oh he11 know! My favorite snack is PW50 sprockets w/ a lil salsa.  
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Even a broken clock is right twice a day.