THE CSC AND MINIBIKES

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THE CSC AND MINIBIKES
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THE MISSIONS OF THE CSC

• Created by the 21 July 2003 Law, in the Code of
  consumers
• 3 main missions
• Issue advisory recommendations proposing measures
  in order to improve the prevention against risks
  presented by products and services, destinded
  public authorities, professionals and consumers
• Identify the hazards and the risky situations
• Inform the consumers and develop prevention

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THE SETTING UP OF THE CSC

• 15 members appointed for 3 ans by an order of the
  minister in charge of consumers affairs
• Mandates renewable once
• Represent
• Consumers associations
• Professional federations
• Expert organisms LNE, CSTB, CNAM, INSERM,
  Conseil de lOrdre des Médecins, Conseil
  supérieur dhygiène publique
• High Bodies Court of cassation, Gouvernment
  Accounting Office

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A SIMPLE AND OPEN PROCEDURE

• Submission by any physical person or corporation
  without any formal procedure or self-submission
• Inquiries based on the principle of a
  contradictory procedure
• Hearings
• Communication of the reports
• Collection of the remarks
• Extensive powers of investigation
• Hearing by the the reporters of any person or
  organism that can help understand the
  dangerlinked to the use of the product
• Access to any document necessary for the
  reporters to accomplish their mission without any
  secret to be put forward
• The carrying of tests by registered laboratories

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RECOMMENDATION ON MOTORBIKES

• In April 2006, The CSC was informed of a fatal
  accident of 2 18 and 17 year-old men, who were
  driving two-wheel vehicles called pocket bikes
  and who crashed into each other by night and on
  the public road, with a speed of 100 km/h,
  without any light, since their vehicules were not
  equipped with it.
• Particularly difficult background
• Particularly dangerous practice (accident at
  Villiers le Bel).

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THE PRODUCTS

• 5 products identified by the CSC
• Traditional engines
• Peewees cylinder capacity 50 to 80 cm3. With
  safety devices
• Pit bikes originally, accessories for racing
  motocycles. 35 to 49 cm3.
• Recent engines

• Dirt-bikes and other ATV. Designed for
  children. No safety devices. Saddle height
  beween 50 et 60 cm, cylindrée entre 50 et 110
  cm3.
• Pocket-bikes chinese copies of racing
  pocket-bikes, but have nothing to do with them
  in terms of manufacturing quality and
  performance. 49 cm3. Saddle height entre 30 et
  40 cm
• Roadies certaines homologuées. Cyclomoteurs.
  Engins divers mini-customs, mini-choppers,
  mini-scooters, mini-side-cars.Certaines non
  homologuées, même si elles ont des pneus route,
  un éclairage, un avertisseur

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THE TESTS BY THE LNE

• 1 sample de 7 minimotos représentatives
• 1 copie de moto de cross dapprentissage pour
  enfants
• 1 pocket-bike
• 3 dirt-bikes
• 1 mini-moto custom
• 1 minimoto approved for the road
• An 8th minimoto (a pocket-bike approved for
  racine) was lent by a manufacturer as a reference
  for the pilote and for a virtual examination of
  the assembly and the finitions of the engines

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FIRST REPORTS

• Homogeneity dans la cylinder capacity (49 ou 50
  cc),
• Variations
• Saddle height between 48 and 62 cm
• Handlebar height between 52 and 68 cm
• Weight de 19 à 63 kg
• First visual examination
• Assembly defects (two front tires and the front
  and rear, improperly aligned brake callipers,
  loose nuts)
• Mechanical problems (twisted yoke broken fender)
  due to negligence before vehicle delivery or to
  the poor quality of the components ?
• Some products delivered with no tools or no
  assembly instructions
• Moving off is complicated you have to
  simultaneously
• Lift up the engine
• Maintain the gaz lever in an acceleration
  position
• Ug on the pitcher (important physical effort)

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THE CSC REPORTS

• No mini-bike compliant with the Machinery
  Directive
• Elaborated produics (for racetracks) and low cost
  (some two-wheel  lawn mowers ). Necessity of
  safety guarrantees for the information of the
  consumer
• Esxept cross mini-bikes, mini-bikes have never
  been and still must not be designed for children
• Importing and distribution systems are worrying
• Driftings, products come from Asia by containers
  quickly, thanks to the internet.
• All the partners must associate in order to limit
  the selling by the internet of those low quality
  products.

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RECOMMANDATIONS TO THE PUBLIC AUTHORITIES

• Forbid the circulation of mini-motorbikes on
  public thoroughfares
• Ensure that all the products marketed in France
  are compliant with the current Directives
• Strengthen the market control provision
  (importers and interet salers)
• Check that no mini-bike is presented a product
  intended for children, except for those used for
  learning a sport
• Make it mandatory for professionals to mount and
  tune the mini-motorbikes
• Suggest to the European authorities that they
  complete the requirements of the 2002/24/CE
  (homologation) Directive with provisions
  technically preventing the type-approval of
  mini-bikes as roadworthy under the Highway Code
  our empêcher la réception des mini-motos au titre
  du code de la route (saddle and handlebar
  height,lighting)

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RECOMMANDATIONS TO THE AUTHORITIES IN CHARGE OF
STANDARDISATION

• 2 european standards
• Safety requirements special to motorcross
  learning bikes for children
• Adult vehicles
• Minimum age requirements for use
• Maximum speed
• Manufacturing recommendations
• To Limit mechanical hazards (cutting parts)
• To ensure vehicle control (starter devices,
  braking efficiency)
• To limit burn and fire hazards (exhaust pipe,
  fuel systel)
• Use recommendations
• PPE
• Conditions for vehicle use (driving terain)
• Méthod to asses the user physical and motor
  abilities
• All the required information for vehicle tuning
  and maintenance

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RECOMMANDATIONS TO MANUFACTURERS AND RETAILERS

• Clearly indicate in the instructions that
  mini-motorbikes that are not type-approvedn can
  only be used on private land
• Completely cease presenting them as psroducts
  taht can be used by children, with the strict
  exeption of those intended for learning a sport,
  preferatly in supervised facilities
• Without waiting for the publication of standards
  and in compliance with the applicable directives,
  designe engines with the following
  characteristics
• Quality of the materials unbreakable plastic,
  godd quality fastenings for a suitable assembly
• Brake-control levers equipped with protective
  knobs to preceznt lesions or perforations
• Safe chain mounted either with toal protectiv
  cover or with partial protective cover similar to
  the one on racing motorbikes
• Side kickstand that should not, once its up,
  touch the ground especially when the vehicle goes
  around curves
• Folding footrests equipped with retraction
  springs so they return to initial position
• Engine cut-out switch on the handlebars,
  preferably on the left side
• Tires suited to intended use, plain tread tires
  should be exclusively for racetrack driving
• Delivered vehicle is mounted and tuned
• Before purchase, provide consumers precisely and
  exhaustively with all the required information
  for vehicle use and maintenance

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A FRENCH PROPOSED BILL

• Representatives worked on a law with 7 points
• The sellers duties of information (retailers
  must give a large information on the dangers of
  mini-motorbikes)
• Registered identity of the buyer
• Minimum age to buy
• Mandatory sport licence
• Compulsary seizure in case of use on public
  thoroughfares
• Reinforce the european standards and controls
• A better control of the internet

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• THANK YOU