Late last year, a number of children's toy manufacturers were forced to hastily recall large stocks of their products from store shelves and warehouses when it was discovered that paint and other components used in their construction contained excessive amounts of lead. Lead can cause numerous long-term developmental problems in children (once absorbed into the body, lead becomes very difficult to expel), and anyone who has kids knows how often babies and toddlers constantly put toys in their mouth as part of their learning development. Because of the huge public outcry for something to be done, the "Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008" was hastily drawn up by members of Congress. Within the CPSIA's legal rigamarole is a section that bans the sale of children's products that do not meet standards for lead content.
While this was undoubtedly a serious public health issue and the intentions of lawmakers were good, unfortunately-as is often the case where bureaucracy is involved-the wording of the CPSIA is very generalized, which ends up causing the law to affect many industries and markets that were nowhere near its originally intended scope. For instance, although there are minimum standards prescribed in the one section, another portion of the law states that banned products include any that will "result in the absorption of any lead into the human body." Also, the term "children's products" encompasses a huge range of possible goods, many of which aren't in the realm of toys that could be put in a child's mouth or even exposed to a child's reach.
One crucial consequence of this vague and poorly thought-out wording? The sale of any youth-oriented motorcycle or ATV (and any parts related to them) in the USA was effectively banned in February of this year. This is due to the fact that many motorcycle components use lead alloy in their construction for a number of manufacturing reasons. Even though the amount of lead exposure from these components has been cited by outside industry experts to be less than what you'd get from drinking a glass of water or putting your hands in the dirt, they still fall within the overly-broad guidelines of the law.
What does this have to do with sportbikes, you ask? Everything...if you look at the big picture.
Youth-oriented off-road vehicles were the fastest growing segment of motorcycling a few years ago, and the family recreational value of off-roading cannot be underestimated. Both manufacturers and dealers have grown to depend on youth-oriented ORVs and their related sales for a good portion of revenue. And now with the state of the world economy in a rut, the motorcycle industry in the USA-bikes have generally been a recreational purchase here-has been especially hard-hit, with overall sales literally dropping off a cliff during the last quarter of '08 and the first quarter of '09. Cutting off any portion of the market has far-reaching consequences that affect everyone in motorcycling, and this instance goes far beyond just youth ORVs.
There is also the long-term motorcycling aspect to consider. Once that two-wheeled seed is planted at an early age, the chances are very good that it will remain long into the adult years. And that means more enthusiasts to join the ranks.
In discussions with many OEM representatives, I've learned that there are many dealerships that have either gone out of business, or are seriously considering that option. With many family-owned franchises hanging by a thread financially, it doesn't take much to topple the whole apple cart, and severing the youth market is a major blow to most dealership's bottom line. With fewer dealerships, there are fewer opportunities to buy sportbikes-meaning less competition and higher prices.
Legal and congressional representatives from the AMA, MIC, and other motorcycle and ORV industry organizations originally petitioned the Consumer Product Safety Commission-the federal agency responsible for enforcing the CPSIA-to allow an exemption for youth ORVs based on the scientific evidence showing that the possible lead exposure from these products was infinitesimal at best. Unfortunately, the CPSC denied that petition on the grounds that its hands were tied legally by the overly-generalized language of the CPSIA (such as the aforementioned "absorption of any lead into the body..." phrase).
Thus the focus has moved to changing the legislation itself, rather than the interpretation. There are two amendment bills currently circulating the Capitol; one from the House (H.R. 1587) and another from the Sentate (S. 608). Please log onto www.stopthebannow.com for updates on the amendment bills' progress, and for several ways to contact Congress and urge them to support the bills.
It's been said that children are our most precious resource. That's never been truer than right now.