Strict Standards Needed on ATVs Made in China

June 18, 2007; Page A15

Your article on the Consumer Product Safety Commission's recent warning over ATVs (all-terrain vehicles) imported from China ("Chinese ATV Is Called Hazardous," Politics & Economics, June 6) aroused my interest. During a meeting of the China-U.S. Interparliamentary Conference in Washington, I urged members of the National People's Congress, led by Sheng Huaren, vice chairman of the Secretary-General Standing Committee, to establish strict safety standards for ATVs exported to the U.S. Our delegation cautioned that Congress stands ready to enact restrictions on ATV imports if such standards aren't established by the People's Republic of China.

This issue was discussed at a Senate Commerce Committee hearing last month, and I am working with Sen. Mark Pryor of Arkansas on legislation to improve safety standards for ATVs sold in the U.S. We hope to convince Congress to approve legislation directing the Consumer Product Safety Commission to address this pressing issue. Regardless of where ATVs are made, strict safety standards are necessary.

As important as it is to ensure safe ATVs, it is also essential for the Senate to approve a chairman for the commission, which can only fulfill its duty of protecting consumers from unsafe products when it is fully operational.

Sen. Ted Stevens (R., Alaska)
Washington

Letter Reference: The Wall Street Journal

I think ALL ATVs should be safety stamped, no matter where they come from. ALL manufacturers should meet certain standards - not just point at China.

I don't hink the issue with Chinese ATVs is the safety - it is the reliability and availability of parts is what needs to be addressed.

I love all theses icons here!!

How are they any more unsafe than other brands of the same size?

not all but some of the china bikes i've seen the axle flanges are so loose that the rear would wobble even with the axle nut as a tight as a breaker bar could get it, there should be a standard for all vehicles period atv, utv, gocart, etc.

Not to mention, many of them have not been around very long and do not have to do things like place safety warnings and such on their bikes like the manufacturers who have been around for a while do.

From everything I have read, much less attention to detail is placed on the manufacturing of these bikes, but they come at a much cheaper price tag which is the first thing that most uninformed buyers will look at.

Not saying they are all bad, but there is some junk out there on the market.

you get what you pay for. Yes there is a higher price for a name at times. Just look at pro ahtletes . A-Rod or A hole whatever his name is I dont follow baseball but the guy sounds like a dick, he gets paid millions for being good at a game but like most people like him hes good at his sport but shit for a human being which is what I think is a better attribute a person can have is being decent. You dont hear about the guy or girl busting their ass to put food on the table and take care of their children with the things they need or want on the news.You hear about the greedy asshole who wants to get paid $10 million more because they can throw a ball, hit aball, catch a ball .Ah hell I wouldnt give the greedy bastards a penny to touch my balls. Well anyway if you were to park a Chinese quad next to one of the name brands you would notice the difference in quality . If you were to park a celebrity next to a blue collar folk and have a drink with them you could probably pick out the better of the two pretty easily.BC for me.I apologize about the Arod jab its the only thing I could think of that goes with A hole so I really cant state an honest opinion about the fella without having any firsthand contact with him. I was just trying to make a point it seems like alot of celebs or athletes cost more for the little they actually do for society than the regular non selfabsorbed people who bust their asses and know how to treat other people and all in all contribute to society. Well thanks for letting me rant a little bit.

I have been an ATV rider for 15 years and my preference is Polaris,Which I own a Sportsman 500. Looked at the competition, I have zero complaints on this machine. I have been looking at the Chinese clones. The price sounds real good. However from the input of owners of these, I would rather not say. Just remember, you get what you pay for

I've got two of them and they served their purpose. (Got my wife interested so now I have an '07 Rancher AT) They are a lot of fun to ride, no more dangerous than any 110cc quad, especially if you put some spacers on the back wheels. Yes you get what you pay for, but nearly two years later I can walk out push the button and go ride them. They crank immediately and really are a lot of fun if you want to get real dirty. Greay for donuts, would I take it on a long trail ride? No they aren't real comfortable but for my girls to play around on in the back yard they are fun. And remember thirty short years ago the same complaints were made about Japanese bikes.

By the way anybody want to buy a couple of 110cc Chinese quads? Just taking up space in my garage now.