All CFMOTO ATVs to be fitted with OPDs by October

Mojo Motorcycles is fitting Queensland Quadbar manufacturer David Robertson Flexibar to all CFMOTO quad bikes.

OPD compliant: CFMOTO will have fitted the Flexibar operator protection devices to all its new quad bikes by October this year.

ALL CFMOTO quad bikes sold in Australia will be pre-fitted with roll-bars by October this year, more than 15 months ahead of a Federal Government deadline on adopting the new safety measure.

Customised Quadbars are already being fitted to CFMOTO’s CFORCE 400 quad bikes, which are being rolled out to 80 dealers across the nation this month.

CFMOTO’s importer and distributor, MOJO Motorcycles, plans to have the full quad bike range, from the 400 to 1000cc, fitted with Queensland Quadbar manufacturer David Robertson Flexibar within four months.

“We want to reassure Aussie farmers that CFMOTO quad bikes are here to stay,” Mojo Motorcycles director Michael Poynton said.

The move comes as CFMOTO’s rivals – Polaris, Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki – have declared they will withdraw from the Australian market, rather than meet the new federal safety requirements, which demand all utility quad bikes sold in Australia must be fitted with stability (tip point) warnings from October this year and OPDs by October 2021.

All four companies have disputed the value of fitting OPDs to quad bikes to improve rider safety.

Mr Poynton said that after conducting their own assessment of the new safety standards MOJO made the decision to remain in the Australian market with CFMOTO quad bikes.

“The decision to release an updated model range one year in advance of the mandatory regulation is to help execute a smoother transition for CFMOTO customers and dealers,” he said.

Meanwhile 15,000 Australian have singed Dalby motorcycle dealer Craig Hartley’s Save the Quad bike in Australia petition, which calls on the Government to reverse its decision.

In calling on people to sign Mr Hartley stated “farmers were never asked before this legislation was passed, so this means higher operating expenses for all farming businesses”.

“Many rural motorcycle businesses, which support the ag industry throughout Australia, may have to close the doors as quad bikes are in many cases at least 40 per cent, if not more, of their turnover.”

The ACCC recently responded to Mr Hartley’s concerns by suggesting quad bike dealers may opt to parallel import major brands such as Honda and Yamaha or to collectively negotiate with these companies to comply with the OPD safety standard.

“Israel have regulated OPDs since the 1990s and during our investigation we heard that the major brands are still being supplied through parallel import arrangements,” the ACCC stated in its response.

MORE

FARMERS, COMMUNITY GROUPS WANT ATV OPDS MANDATORY

ATV MANUFACTURERS DISTORT QUAD BIKE DEATHS