This is no joke. Thanks to the A-holes on the US goverment they have officialy banned the sales of Youth ATVs.

Motorcycle Industry Council and Specialty Vehicle Institute of America Rally Against Youth ATV and Motorcycle Prohibition

INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 12, 2009 - The Motorcycle Industry Council and the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America are doing all they can at Dealer Expo 2009, and at their offices, to help get youth ATVs and motorcycles back on showroom floors. The U.S. Government banned sales of many of these models, beginning on Tuesday, under the lead-content provisions of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA).
"We're implementing a full court press at the Dealer Expo," said Paul Vitrano, general counsel for the MIC and SVIA. "We are rallying everyone at Indy. Pre-printed letters to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which can be signed and we'll send in, will be available throughout the show. Computers will be available in the MIC business center so that dealers and exhibitors can easily make their opinions known to members of Congress."

Everyone is encouraged to visit the Web site of Americans for Responsible Recreational Access, at www.ARRA-access.com, which features a letter generator for constituents to reach their own members of Congress. The MIC also is alerting stakeholders about a new Web site that state Rep. Tom Self of Missouri has launched in support of youth off-highway vehicles. The site, at www.tomself.com, offers e-mail templates to simplify sending messages to members of Congress with oversight of the CPSC.
For weeks, the MIC and SVIA have urged the CPSC to grant (and for members of Congress to support) petitions for temporary exclusions so that youth models could continue to be sold. The powersports industry demonstrated in the petitions, through the scientific analysis required by the CPSIA, that the lead-containing parts of youth ATVs and motorcycles pose no risk of increasing the lead levels in children aged 12 and younger.

On Feb. 5, the CPSC denied a request for an emergency stay, made by the National Association of Manufacturers CPSC Coalition, and joined by the MIC and SVIA. The CPSC stated that it did not have authority under the law to grant such a stay.
The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, however, includes provisions that enable the CPSC to grant exclusions for products on a case-by-case basis. The MIC and SVIA believe that the lead-content provisions of the act, which originally were aimed at toys that can be mouthed by children, were never intended to apply to youth ATVs and motorcycles.

On Feb. 10, the lead-content provisions of the CPSIA went into effect. Powersports companies are now prohibited from selling products that are intended primarily for youth, aged 12 and under, and having lead content in excess of the limits identified in the act.
The impact of this act is far-reaching. Applying the new lead-content regulations to youth models has resulted in many smaller models being unavailable to families, and could mean more children riding adult-only ATVs or dirt bikes that are too large for them.
Most of the components making up youth powersports products are in compliance. But some parts unavoidably contain small quantities of lead in excess of the CPSIA limits, such as the valve stems on the tires, the aluminum in some brake components and the terminals on the batteries. Lead in these components is necessary, either because small amounts of lead are needed for safety (such as machining the deep grooves on tire valves, which is needed to assure tire air retention) or functionality (such as the lead in battery terminals, which is needed to conduct electricity).

"It's critical for everyone within the business, and for all of our customers, to step up and support the petitions now in front of the CPSC," Vitrano said. "The ban is harming motorcycling and ATV riding right now. Dealernews has estimated that affected inventories could be more than $100 million. Kids don't have a chance to get on the bikes and ATVs sized for them. We need the power and voice of the industry, as well as enthusiasts, to reinforce our concerns in Washington. We're only asking for common-sense exclusions for powersports parts that simply do not present any risk to children in the real world. Kids don't lick or eat ATV and motorcycle components."

They baned the sale of anything bike or quad that was designed to be used by someone 12 or younger for posible lead paint. This covers everything (toys etc.) but for some reason the powersports folks didn't pay any attention and didn't get their stuff tested and exempted. Heck you couldn't even buy parts for the equipment you already have.

BUT... There has already been a delay in enforcement enacted to delay it for one year. Hopefully everyone will get there business taken care of and all will be right with the world.

 more information I got from my brother... the tomself and ama sites are fairly automated.  should only take a minute or two of your time...

Ive read this few nights ago and feel really sorry for the dealers. This is a stupid rule, way to go by some retard lawmaker. In the middle of freaking recession they are cutting air supply to dealers who sell these products and who need sales the most. Who is the retard that think that 12 year old will CHEW on a freaking brake pad or exhaust or plastic or whatever ? and how the !@#$ is this rule making it safer anyway ??? Simply STUPID !

Not only that but they are making it more dangerous as kids now will get on papa's 800cc ATV instead anyway.

Guys, I am certainly not agreeing with the law but it sounds like everyone knew this was coming for a while now and for some reason the powersports industry just ignored it. Heck it looks like the toymakers in China got their stuff tested but Honda, Yamaha, etc. didn't?

But everything I have read says that there has already been a delay in enforcement, putting it off for a year. So if that is correct it shouldn't affect anything right now. The manufacturers just need to get their business taken care of.

 trying going down your local dealer for parts for a youth quad....  parts are pulled from shelves...

 It looks like there may be a reprieve, the government is mentioning a 2011 date until wich all youth ATVs would be exempt, but that won't stop manufacturers from ditching the product lines.

I think the Kawasaki official site has a petition that getting some teeth, just look up a youth atv and where the image used to be a petition link is in it's place.