NEW EPA MANDATES KILLING
SMALL SHOPS "Some time ago we talked about the new EPA restrictions
and the effects that they will have on small motorcycle shops," states an article in Biker magazine. "The big players will
benefit as their smaller competition is regulated out of business."
The article in the February 2006
news section goes on to say that; Already we are hearing here in California that builders like Arlen Ness, Ron Simms and West
Coast Choppers have been fined and their motorcycles impounded right off their showrooms.
Kit Maira, who authored the Newsragazine
article, says; "My contacts here are telling me that the certification costs multi-thousands of dollars and has to be done
on each model/engine size."
Under the current regulations,
shops will be allowed to produce only 24 exempt custom bikes per year. Those bikes will be restricted to only be ridden to
shows and other events for display. The regulation limits individuals to owning only one exempt bike in their lifetime, which
cannot be sold for five years.
"The bottom line, as I see it,"
Maira continues, "is bigger firms support the regulations, because they impose higher costs on their smaller competitors.
The regulations favor mass-produced bikes over boutique builders who construct one bike at a time, imposing the same rules
on both."
Unless the rules are amended
to allow builders to build around engines that are EPA certified by the manufacturer, he predicts that we will likely see
the demise of many custom builders soon.
