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Banshee's....soon to be history
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Posted by: EXtreme-

Finally, the two-stroke line of new atv's are about to be discontinued for good. Tree huggers chalk up another victory....

New Off-Road Emissions Standards May End Two-Strokes

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- The federal government has sent a clear signal that

it wants an end to two-stroke off-highway motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles

by 2006, the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) reports.

In its recently released proposal for national emissions standards covering

off-highway motorcycles and ATVs, the Environmental Protection Agency has set

requirements only slightly less stringent than those in place in California,

which have severely restricted two-stroke off-highway machines there. Currently,

there are no national emissions standards governing off-road motorcycles and

ATVs. However, there are requirements for road motorcycles that have been in

place for 20 years, and those will be revised in November.

Under the EPA proposal, which is scheduled to be published in the Federal

Register early next month, new off-highway motorcycles and ATVs would be subject

to strict emissions requirements that would be partially phased-in in 2006 and

require 100 percent compliance in 2007. In addition, ATVs would be required to

meet even tougher standards beginning in 2009.

The requirements wouldn't affect machines built through 2005, but would

apply to machines built in 2006 and thereafter. The EPA said it expects that

manufacturers will meet these new, stringent off-highway standards by using

four-stroke engines.

The EPA has decided to allow exemptions for off-road competition-only

machines, described as vehicles lacking lights or a spark arrester, having

suspension travel of more than 10 inches, and having an engine displacement

larger than 50cc.

"Vehicles not meeting the applicable criteria?would be excluded (from the

emissions requirements) only in cases where the manufacturer has clear and

convincing evidence that the vehicles for which the exemption is being sought

will be used solely for competition," the EPA rules note.

During the initial comment period on the proposal, the AMA asked the EPA to

avoid regulations that would eliminate two-stroke machines, favored by many

off-highway riders for their light weight and power characteristics.

The AMA told the agency that it shouldn't mandate the use of fuel

injection, catalytic converters or other means to meet the new emissions

requirements. Instead, the AMA said, manufacturers should be given the

opportunity to meet performance-based standards through research and

development. The Association suggested the EPA establish separate emissions

standards for two-stroke and four-stroke motors, and then let the manufacturers

work to meet those standards.

"We'll oppose any efforts to do away with two-stroke off-road motorcycles

and ATVs," said Edward Moreland, the AMA vice president for government

relations. "Enthusiasts should be able to choose whether to use two-stroke or

four-stroke machines."

The EPA had planned to propose new emissions standards for highway

motorcycles alongside the off-highway standards, but now says the streetbike

proposal will be made separately in November.

The AMA urges motorcyclists to write to the EPA and ask that the agency

create separate emissions standards for four-stroke and two-stroke motorcycles

and ATVs. Tell the agency that officials need to consider safety, cost and

performance in creating the new standards.

The comment deadline is Dec. 19.

The easiest way to let the EPA know how you feel is by using the AMA's

Rapid Response Center at the AMA website at www.AMADirectlink.com. There, you

will find a letter that you can send with a click of the mouse.

Or write to: Margaret Borushko (Docket No. A-2000-01), U.S. Environmental

Protection Agency, Office of Transportation and Air Quality, 2000 Traverwood

Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48105.

You may also submit comments by e-mail to nranprm@epa.gov.

The EPA plans to hold public hearings on the proposed rules on Oct. 24 in

Washington, D.C., and Oct. 30 in Denver.

The off-highway emissions proposal and related developments can be read at

the EPA website at www.epa.gov/otaq.

Posted by: McgrathSucks

i know we hate banshees but what about dirtbikes...that sucks ...god i hate them tree huggers

Posted by: "BLAHH"300!!

i'm a honda man
but hell man----the BANSHEE
they can't take that away from us too that sux
honda stopped making the 2 stroke now yammaha--
i like the banshee--i lke the way it sounds--rides--runs--sitts
i love the way it sitts mn- lookslike a
--CRICKETT ON STEROIDS--
tat is a badd machine man-i wish they could keep it
it is the fastest-but--look whats been wining the
GNCC
bill balance been their for awhile--250r? right??
and the other guys leading in points--4 strokes-
banshee's not up their-- who watches thE
GNCC- what is that green kawasaki--it's not a majove
it's a 2 strock--tecat 4? maybe?- but anyway

- KEEP THE BANSHEE -

i wanna buy one in the futer maybe--and i don't want a used banshee

Posted by:

yokley rides a factory kawisaki 250, called the "super mojave", not in productions, but it should be...

Posted by: McgrathSucks

yokleys bikes like a kx 250 motoer on 250r style frame

Posted by: Lil90man!!

hey just wondering has anyone seen this on a valid web site cuz i think that is a bunch of bull!!!!

Posted by: Nausty

it was atv scene or atv source.com I don't remember, lil90man.
I think the whole thing is stupid especially for dirt bikes. I mean I can't imagine having a yz250f for my 125. The big 4 stroke motorcycles are fine but I woulnd't want a 4 stroke 125, or 80. Thats why so many people like the 125s which is the snappiness and the lightness. Then if you make it into a 4 stroke with a bigger motor which equels less snapiness and more weight. But heck maybe it could be a sweet way of making money just like 250r's buy some cr125's and cr250's and 5 years later if you leave it unused people will offer a ton of money for them. I know if the dirt bikes have to be turned into four strokes that will definatly suck. I'm beginning to hate our government more and more.

Posted by: WyoDuner

Remember that this applies to machines BUILT after 2005. There are still a lot of 2 strokes out there that can be ridden for a long time after the ban takes effect. Places that don't allow 2 strokes to ride at all would be the exception. Maybe a lot of you don't remember but back in '96 or so it was reported that the Banshee would be out of production due to the 2 stroke ban but it never happenned.

Either way, the new breed of 4 strokes are producing very good HP numbers and will probably only be better by 2006.

Posted by: Nausty

for quads it doesn't bother me but sheesh I love the snappiness and handling of 125's. I like how you can just through them around berms and whip it side ways in mid air, and how you can modify them. I love my 125s.

Posted by: crday98

quote:
Originally posted by Lil90man!!
hey just wondering has anyone seen this on a valid web site cuz i think that is a bunch of bull!!!!

dude,he has no reason to lie to us.he has his own great site for pa riding also that contains a lot of helpful info so i don't think he would go around posting bull just to stir things up.it has been known for quite some time now that the end of the 2 strokes is near.

Posted by: EXtreme-

thanks man

The thread topic was an actual email that I received directly from the AMA. It's a done deal for atv's, dirtbikes and streetbikes. The only loophole might be for "closed circuit racing" only.