Call to Action

We need to send a message to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission. There is now a law that says that anything sold for use by a child cannot contain any lead. Well, what has happened is that motorcycles and ATVs intended for use by children are banned. Now, realistically, no child is going to be putting the motorcycle's engine or other metal parts in their mouth. If you really stop to think about it, if the child is putting the engine parts in his mouth then there are are far greater problems than the lead.

Additionally, I find it offensive that this decision has been made for us. Based on previous opposition to motorcycles I have to throw up a red flag here. Has anyone ever looked into the details of who supported this? I get that Barbie should not contain lead, and even her maker (Mattel) agrees. But how in the hell did motorcycles and ATVs end up in the mix? There may be an agenda here, which is why we need to fight it. Good people are losing their jobs and businesses, and this law is not only ridiculous, but it is counter productive to the economic stimulus.

The AMA has provided a card for everyone of their members to send to the Chairwoman and Commissioner. I encourage everyone to send a letter to them and support the stance that they need to make an exception. Here is the info:

Send the letter to:

Chairwoman Nancy Nord
Commissioner Thomas Moore
US Consumer Product Safety Commission
4330 East-West HWY
Bethesda, MD 20814

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Here is what the AMA suggests we write:

Dear Chairwoman Nancy Nord and Commissioner Thomas Moore,

The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, though well-intentioned, has produced far-reaching and unintended consequences: the banning of the sale of new and used youth-sized motorcycles and ATVs (all-terrain vehicles), as well as certain replacement parts. This is devastating for the families who enjoy motorized recreation, the safety of children who are now foreced to ride bigger, more powerful machines, the thousands of small independent dealers across America that are already struggling to survive the economic recession, and the manufacturers and aftermarket suppliers who serve these customers. Please grant an exemption for youth-sized motorcycles and ATVs. Thank you.

Name __________________________________


Signature _______________________________


Address ________________________________


City __________ State _______ Zip __________


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2009 Tax Break For Buying a New Motorcycle

I just got this month's AMA Magazine and there is an article in there about the Economic Stimulus Bill. If you buy a new bike in 2009, you will be allowed to deduct the sales and excise taxes. We almost didn't get this benefit due to the writers of the bill overlooking motorcycles. Thanks to the AMA and its members, as well as others like Harley-Davidson, the motorcycling community gets a chance to benefit from the economic downfall.

U.S. Forestry Service Law Enforcement on Angeles Crest

FYI - The 2 FWY, a.k.a. Angeles Crest Highway, which is a part of the National Park System, now has Law Enforcement Rangers. We saw at least 4 different SUVs all staked out pulling people over. I guess they realized they were missing out on a lot of revenue that CHP was getting. Anyway, slow down on the crest. They will get you.