Stop the Ban! - Honda Powersports

Dear Honda Powersports Customers and Enthusiasts:

As you may know, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA) has effectively banned the sale of youth off-highway vehicles (OHVs) as of Feb. 10, 2009.

Honda and the other manufacturers are working together to obtain an exemption for these products as any lead content in these materials transferred through normal use would not present any scientifically significant risk to a user, as the CPSC's staff scientists recently concluded. We believe our vehicles are safe as designed and our efforts are focused on making changes to the law.

Honda is encouraging you to contact your Congressional delegation and Senators and request that they take the necessary action to exempt small motorcycles and ATVs from the lead content provisions of the CPSIA. Please point out to your representatives that the small motorcycle and ATV parts made with lead containing alloys are not mouthed, swallowed, or otherwise handled in such a way that would expose a child to sufficient traces of lead to cause any negative health effect. Also make your representatives aware that the CPSC's staff has concluded that the ban of small motorcycles and ATVs will increase the likelihood that children will ride adult sized ATVs and motorcycles, thereby increasing their risk of injury. In short, as enacted, the CPSIA's lead provisions increase, rather than decrease, the likelihood that children will be injured.

Please visit "Stop the Ban Now" website (www.StopTheBanNow.com) for latest news, current updates, links to resources and several options for you to contact Congress to urge support for legislation that would exempt the powersports industry from the lead ban. Please pass on this information to your friends, colleagues, employees, customers and interested others.