Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

C~SC (Cd~inued from page 2) I' out efforts will suggest a wide rangeof remedies, some of which may require yet more research_" it decision to approve or reject ATV Task Force recommendations mayor may not be made within Scanlon's suggested time £Tame, according to CPSC ATV Task Force Chairman Nick Marchica. "Hopefully, the commissioners will schedule a decision date soon, but it's not scheduled yet," Marchica said after the meeting. "The chairman requested in his opening remarks that a decision be made within the next two weeks, but the other commissioners have not agreed to that time table - that's not to say they won't. "This meeting was merely a briefing," Marchica pointed out when asked why the commission took no action and why commission members would not state their respective positions on the report. "Commissioners use a briefing session to question staff about their work. You won't really see where they're coming from until you get into a decision meeting." When that "decision meeting" is held the CPSC will have three options - they can accept report recommendations £Tom the Task Force, they can reject any or all of the recommendations, or they can modify the recommendations. "If the commissioners approve the recommendations that the Task Force has given them, we will develop the documents to implement those recommendations," said Marchica. "(If they reject the recommendations), then they will tell us what they want done, which isalways their prerogative-it wouldn't be the first time." During the briefing- sessTon, commissioners heard reports from many Task Force experts covering several Ifyou added up Holland, subject areas. The presentations included ~eports en ATV engine~ring; ATV-related injuries; human factors affecting the likelihood of accidents; medical analyses of ATV-related injuries; economic factors affecting injuries; ATVs in the marketplace; proposed ATV legislation on the state level; voluntary standards developed by the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America; and ATV trainingand education. Thecommission also heard from a CPSC attorney who accused Task Force members of not going as far as they should have. David Schmeltzer, associate executive director for complianceand adminisl'Iative litigation, suggested that the Task Force investigation should have resulted in more stringent recommendations. Schmeltzer said the Task Force placed too much emphasis on operator misbehavior; he claimed operator misbehavior was reasonable and such misuse foreseeable. He concluded that .. .we~ still need about 100 more to catch up with Hannak Schmidt and my wins... Hey Kehoe, if we get O'Mara to pitch in, we~ only need... about 50 more. In the past, Bob would ride a course and report back to the engineers. Now a computer was doing it. For Hannah, this took some getting used to. But after all was said and done, the special Suzuki team of Hannah, the engineers and the com~r created the 'frl RM125 . and 259. How good are they? So good, that these bikes and Bob Hannah persuaded Johnny "O'Show" O'Mara to join Team Suzuki. After his first ride, O'Mara looked at Hannah and said: "Great bike, . oldman:' • "Thanks, sonny." Hannah replied. . "Don't forget to gas it up." said the computer. Here's what the 'f57 RM125 and RM250 are made of in black and white: The heart of the RM125 and RM250 is an all new engine that delivers increased torque right through the rev range. The new guillotine-type exhaust valves are activated by the Automatic Exhaust Tuning.Control System for smooth, powerful performance at all RPMs. A new lighter crank and big- The computer says that was a rodzcal jump, dude? linkage that keeps the rear wheel on the ground better than ever before. Plus,~new "piggy-back" shock has a hard ger air box make for quicker revs and better engine response. A new electronic ignition with special advance and retard design ensures optimum timing throughout the power band. It's not affected by extreme heat and maintains consistent spark from start to finish. Our new cartridge style front forks help prevent airoil mixing for more consistent performanceover the toughest track conditions. Compression and rebound damping can be quickly adjusted so you can tune the bike to your riding style and different track conditions. The dramatically improved Full-Floater Rear Suspension System features an ultra-low friction If that computer could ride, we~ all be in trouble. anodized coated cylinder for reduced friction. The redesigned piston and valving provides smoother action and consistent damping. Compression and reboun can be adjusted separately. You'll feel the difference out of the turns, over the bumps and through the whoops. . The new dual piston front disc brake gives greater stopping power. Plus, this year there's a clean new color of Suzuki yellow and great new graphics. And that's not all. Suzuki's 1987 RM Contingency Program for amateurs and professionals has been increased to over $1.25 million. And there's increased support for up and coming riders through participating Suzuki dealers. See your Suzuki dealer for details. Put it together and you can see that for 'f!l, Suzuki's done it right. Righton,Suzuki the manufacturers should have taken that il1!o consideration when they designed the vehicles. The briefing session concl uded with commissioners questioning Task Force oHicials on the II major findings in the report and on the II major recommendations that could become federal policy for regulating ATVs. The most controversial of those II recommendations - and the only recommendation that was not unanimously approved by the Task Force- requests that the ATV indusLTy voluntarily cease marketing childsized ATVs intended for use by children under the age of 12. If the industry fails to follow the request, the Task Force recommends that the CPSC ban the small-sized vehicles. A great deal of discussion took place when commissioners questioned Task Force members on their recommendation to eliminate child-sized ATVs from the marketplace, but the three silting commissioners again declined LO take any kind of a stand. Marchica said the recommendation was no! unanimously approved by the Task Force because somemembe,rs feel children can safely operate the machines while some officials feel no 'one under 16 should be allowed anywhere near an all-terrain vehicle. "Certain members have seen children under 12 (successfully) operate ATVs," Marchica said. "Some members felt these children - and I clearly see them as not typical (riders) should not be deprived of riding ATVs. Others felt that if you take away thechild-sizedATVs you would have more kids riding adult-sized ATVs. Some members felt thatchildren 16 and under shouldn't be riding ArVs at all. It was the final consensus from the majority that the CPSC ask the IDanufacturers to voluntarily cease marketing child-sized ATVs for use by children under the age of 12." G' ~ c.o 00 0'> ...... ~ G(j l-< V ..0 E V U V 0 GAO to investigate CPSC By Farren Williams WASHINGTON, D.C., NOV. 20 The General Accounting Office, an investigative arm of the U.S. Congress, .will look into allegations that Consumer Product Safety C.ommission Chairman Terrence Scanlon and/or Scanlon's executive assistants "unduly influenced" the results of an ATV Task Force study by pressuring subordinates to go easy on all-terrain vehicles. The investigation was prompted by Congressman Doug Barnard (0GA), who last June spearheaded a successful committee vote in the U.S. House of Representatives which demanded both a ban and recall of three-wheeled ATVs. Barnard not only requested thatScanlon be investig-d ted, but also demanded that the GAO scrutinize the findings in the 14.,OOO-page report. Contrary to Barnard's beliefs, the report concludes that there is no factual basis for a ban or recall of either three-wheeled or four-wheeled ATVs. "Sometime in the near future I expect GAO investigators to come hear and ask us about our work," said ATV Task Force Chairman Nick Marchica. Do GAO investigators have the expertise needed to properly verify the CPSC report, a document which includes complicated engineering, medical, sociological and other technical studies? "I don't know whether they have (the experts) who can properly evaluate this material," said Marchica, "but that's what I'll tell them they'll need to do." I. 25

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