When a government agency called for youth model dirt bikes and ATVs to be yanked from the market earlier this month, one area dealer had to take thousands of dollars in potential revenue off the showroom floor.

“You’re talking about 60 to 75 models that I can’t sell, and those are a big part of our customer base,” said Atlas Honda of Bristol, Va., manager Dwayne Leonard.

Lead content provisions of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 that became law on Feb. 10 contain strict guidelines for toys and other products marketed toward children 12 and under that have products that contain lead or lead-based materials.

According to information published in the New York Times’ blog “Wheels,” industry advocates say there is enough lead in brake parts, battery terminals and other internal components in these specific youth motorcycles and all-terrain vehicle models to warrant a withdrawal from the market under new government guidelines.

In response to the law and after failing to achieve an emergency stay filed by a group that included the Motorcycle Industry Council to delay implementation of the law on Feb. 5, major manufactures such as Honda, Kawasaki and Suzuki sent corporate directive letters to dealerships for immediate withdrawal of bikes and ATVs specially designed for youth 12 and under.

“The vehicles are stored away, and if a parent comes in to buy one, I can’t sell it. And if they’ve already bought (a youth model) and need parts for it, I can’t sell them any,” said Leonard, describing the double-whammy the dealership faces.

“These types of bikes are the kind where kids learn to ride and they can learn to develop things like hand-to-eye coordination, motor skills and balance, which can help them in their growth. For some, a parent can buy them a motorbike to teach them responsibility.

“If an adult who has been riding for years has a child that wants to start riding or has decided to teach them to ride, they don’t have anywhere to purchase them because if they’re new or they’re used, we can’t even show them what one looks like. This is going to have some serious consequences in several ways.”

One consequence Leonard mentions is part of a campaign being stressed by the Motorcycle Industry Council and Specialty Vehicle Institute of America, which says more younger children will begin riding larger ATVs and bikes not suited for their abilities, leading to a risk of needless injury.

“The thing is, this law was drawn up because of the lead scare in toys made in China and the ability of a child to put these toys in their mouth. I don’t think a child is going to put a kick-start or a battery terminal in their mouth, are they?” said Leonard.

A statement sent to dealerships by American Honda Motor Co. says: “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.”

Currently, the Atlas staff and other Tri-Cities dealers only have two Yamaha youth dirt bikes and one youth ATV that they can offer customers.  <continue at source>

Source