Stop the Ban

Motorcycling superstars Ben Spies, Kevin Schwantz and Robbie Maddison each recorded videos at the recent Dealer Expo 2010 in Indianapolis encouraging Congress to stop the ban on youth-model ATVs and motorcycles. They also called on all race fans and riders to get involved.

Concerned riders sent more than 190,000 electronic messages to Congress since the latest phase of the Stop the Ban campaign began three weeks ago.

World Superbike Champion Spies encouraged fans and riders to visit www.stopthebannow.com and learn about ways to have their voices heard by legislators. Schwantz, his mentor and fellow Texan, had even more to say.

"I really would like to see everybody in Washington get a grip on this," said Schwantz, the 1993 500cc World Road Racing Champion. "I really would like to see the ban on motorcycle sales to young kids taken away, because it's an outlet that keeps them out of lots of other trouble.. I knew if I wasn't a good kid at school, and if I didn't make good grades, I wasn't going to get to ride my motorcycle at the end of the day. Take that ban away, and let those kids ride those bikes."

Freestyle rider Robbie Maddison, who holds the Guinness World Record for the longest motorcycle jump, asked Congress to stop the ban and raised a key safety issue on his video. Youth ATV and two-wheel enthusiasts "need to be able to ride the right-sized bikes," he said.

"We're thrilled to have some of the top stars of motorcycling add their powerful voices to the cause of stopping the ban on youth ATVs and motorcycles," said Tim Buche, President of the MIC. "We want to keep building momentum and engaging all enthusiasts, and these celebrity endorsements for our efforts help a great deal."

The MIC states three key reasons why youth ATVs and motorcycles should be excluded from the CPSIA's lead content provisions:

1) The lead content poses no risk to kids. Experts estimate that the lead intake from kids' interaction with metal parts is less than the lead intake from drinking a glass of water.

2) The key to keeping youth safe is having them ride the right size vehicle. Kids are now at risk because the availability of youth ATVs and motorcycles is limited due to the lead ban.

3) The lead ban harms businesses and jeopardizes jobs for no good reason while America is striving to grow its economy. The MIC estimates that a complete ban on youth model vehicles would result in about $1 billion in lost economic value in the retail marketplace every year.

The Motorcycle Industry Council exists to preserve, protect and promote motorcycling through government relations, communications and media relations, statistics and research, aftermarket programs, development of data communications standards, and activities surrounding technical and regulatory issues. It is a not-for-profit, national industry association representing manufacturers and distributors of motorcycles, scooters, motorcycle/ATV/ROV parts and accessories, and members of allied trades such as insurance, finance and investment companies, media companies and consultants.

The MIC is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., with a government relations office adjacent to Washington, D.C. First called the MIC in 1970, the organization has been in operation since 1914.