Kid's ATV's and MC's outlawed by CPSC lead ban!

[David]

This was mentioned in the motorcycle for a kid thread, but I think this issue deserves it's own thread.

It is now illegal to sell ATV's and MC's (new or used) designed for children under 12 years of age because they contain lead!

I guess the CPSC is worried kids will suck on the battery terminals.

There are trace amounts of lead in many metal alloys which means they'll probably have to outlaw go-karts and bicycles too.

http://www.cycleworld.com/article.asp?section_id=3&article_id=1069

[onewhippedpuppy]

Thanks govt, for keeping motorcycles safe for my kids to eat. How stupid are we getting as a society?

[The Gaijin]

Maybe Obama should mention this tonight? Common sense we can believe in!

[HardDrive]

Huh.

Well I think the lead argument is rubbish. But the wife works at a childrens hospital, and doubt she has anything good to say about kids ridding ATVs. Frankly, I'd rather see kids hiking or on bicycles rather than using gas powered vehicles.

[gprsh924]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

Huh.

Well I think the lead argument is rubbish. But the wife works at a childrens hospital, and doubt she has anything good to say about kids ridding ATVs. Frankly, I'd rather see kids hiking or on bicycles rather than using gas powered vehicles.

I don't totally disagree with this sentiment, but if people are going to ride, the younger you start the better because you get better with experience.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

Huh.

Well I think the lead argument is rubbish. But the wife works at a childrens hospital, and doubt she has anything good to say about kids ridding ATVs. Frankly, I'd rather see kids hiking or on bicycles rather than using gas powered vehicles.

By that argument, perhaps we should also outlaw trees?

Here's my son on his electric death machine, he was 4 at the time. Guaranteed he already understands the concept of opposite lock countersteer better than some adults, you should see him in the snow!

[nostatic]

no helmet?

[onewhippedpuppy]

It's no faster than his bike.

[gtc]

now that's funny.

[gr8fl4porsche]

I just bought my 5yr old daughter her first gas powered toy. Thanks for the tip about her eating it. Least she will be dining with a full faced helmet on.

Picked up a '97 Yamaha Badger Moto-4. She loves it but Mamma is nervous. I set the throttle adjustment screw almost all the way in so it goes just a little faster than her power wheel toys.

At age 4 she started driving the lawn tractor, should have her behind the wheel of the family car by age 9, the 911 by 14.
I am going to send her to driving schools as well.

[The Gaijin]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

Huh.

Well I think the lead argument is rubbish.

Just some stuff off the 'net:

......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.

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.

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.

[David]

I doubt there is a piece of metal alloy coming out of China that doesn't have more than 0.06% lead.

I'm not saying China's alloys are bad, it's just that only in the last 30 years has Japan started putting out metal alloys that don't have detectable trace elements like lead. And many companies have spec'd to put the trace elements back in to improve strength.

[911boost]

What a crock.

I will make sure my daughter doesn't eat the key, and lick the grips.

She wears mx gloves when she rides, so I am not really concerned about that.

How much lead could be in the rubber grips anyways? I suppose I could always just take the stock ones off on throw on some Renthals are something.

[red-beard]

You also know that this applies to used items. You cannot sell these items on Craigslist or Ebay, unless you have the items tested. This is the result of poorly written, knee-jerk legislation.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by 125shifter

I doubt there is a piece of metal alloy coming out of China that doesn't have more than 0.06% lead.

I'm not saying China's alloys are bad, it's just that only in the last 30 years has Japan started putting out metal alloys that don't have detectable trace elements like lead. And many companies have spec'd to put the trace elements back in to improve strength.

Don't you think this is the intent? It is a trade barrier. Soon, the age will be modfied, deep down in some spending bill. Of course, they won't realize that it makes the manufacturing of cars illegal, due to the lead batteries...

Palm had to discontinue the Lifedrive because of the change in allowable levels of lead in California and Europe. It killed most of the market. I expect that most of the cell phones, even just a few years old, would fail the lead tests.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by red-beard

This is the result of poorly written, knee-jerk legislation.

Is there any other kind?

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

It's no faster than his bike.

So he does not wear a helmet while on his bike either?

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

So he does not wear a helmet while on his bike either?

When he's riding on our driveway or on a walk with us, no. We don't walk on public streets, and our street is not a thru street. He's not allowed to ride on the street when we are not with him. Basically he's not going to get hit by a car, and I'm not too worried about him simply falling.

Maybe I'm a bad parent, but I can't recall any kids dying from falling off of their bike. I believe in controlling risk, but not bubble-wrapping the world either.

[red-beard]

Geez, how did all of us make it through our childhood without helmets, soft playgrounds, etc ?

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by red-beard

Geez, how did all of us make it through our childhood without helmets, soft playgrounds, etc ?

No kidding. I'm twice as worried about him when he climbs trees. If a boy doesn't get periodic scrapes and bruises, he's not being a boy.