Thanks for the forum / discussion. I see a pathway for Idaho. We have been getting a lot of forest and range fires this summer. In a few a cases some of the fires were started by OHVs without working spark arresters. In Idaho, we have several large statewide OHV organizations that work with public, media, OHV dealers, government agencies, and state legislature. I will discuss with them further. Because I work in one of those government agencies, sometimes I have to walk a balance to my input or influence in standard practices.

 

Apparantly you have the mods confused with the owner of this forum.

 

I hear you loud and clear squeege, and that same complaint is one that started my journey into the whole CPSC guidelines mess. Along the way, I discovered many facts that I had wrong. The point is I think everyone including the CPSC/ASI folks know that the guidelines need updating. Last time I heard, they were working on that. (Check the blue ribbon coalition web page for details and updates) They are not perfect.. far from it.. however, considering they are the only shot we have for a comprehensive, enforcable set of rules that can be consistently interpreted I think we have to bite the bullet and support them, even if they don't fit all teh cases, or if we don't exactly feel 100 percent they are right. Something is better than nothing.
I think Muddy and the state of MI have some pretty good ideas regarding sizes versus age. And although they limit the initial machine size by age, they at least allow for a rider to move up a class if they can demonstrate a certain skill set. At least under the old rules any way. If they have gotten away from that, then it is a step backwards.
Other pretty smart people on this list like Spike99 advocate a size/fitment strategy, and although it leaves room for interpretation, it has a lot of merit.
I on the other hand am totally focused on educating the parents along with the kids. And that is the focus that I feel is missing from the cheap manufacturer's offerings.
As for you sister. I feel for you. I ran into the same deal in VA with my then 6 year old on a Yamaha Raptor 80. He will turn 12 next summer, and will finally be legal. I hate to admit it, but the quad has sat in the shed for several years waiting for him to get old enough to be legal. I also admit he was not ready emotionally to ride at that age. Other kids might be, but in his case, he just wan't there.. and I wasn't going to put him in a situation where his lack of confidence was going to put him in danger. Other parents might, but not me. And to tell you the truth, I was very un-informed in the beginning, and found it difficult to find sources of info that would have led me to some different decisions when I was making the purchase too. That is why I did the research, discovered what I did, and now try to help other parents in the same situation avoid the pitfalls I fell into. These things are too expensive to throw them away. But the danger potential is even more a threat to the kids, and is why I am so vocal now.
If you can, I'd keep what you have for down the road, and see if you can pick up a used 50 for learning... You might contact some riding clubs if you have any in the area, most generally one of the members will have one rat holed in the garage. I have even seen where a single machine is passed around between club members. It sounds like you have a good plan, and are going about it the right way...
Good luck. DB

 

No comment from DB?

Fascinating!

 

Sorry MWQ, I assumed the Mods might have some pull here... I guess what they say about assuming too much is correct. Their loss...

 

Appology accepted Dragginbutt. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

We only enforce the rules. We dont make any of them. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

I would do a few things diferently if it was my forum. But it isnt my forum.

And after being a mod for a while here, I dont want to own a forum anymore. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/img]