CFMoto has met the government’s challenge head-on, announcing it will affix operator protection devices on all new ATVs sold from October this year amid the release of a new model.
It’s got 30 horsepower, a 400cc single cylinder engine, CVTech transmission, electronic power steering, a 70kg rear carrier rack capacity and a tow capacity of 350kg.
But arguably the most important feature of the new C Force 400 EPS ATV, or all-terrain vehicle (ATV), is its operator protection device (OPD) – set to come as standard on all CFMoto ATVs sold in Australia after October this year.
The move comes after ATV manufacturers Polaris, Yamaha, Honda and Suzuki all announced plans to withdraw ATVs from sale in Australia from October 11 2021 if not sooner, saying they were unwilling to meet new Australian safety standards.
Check out our story on the introduction of the safety standards here
The standard requires that after that date, all new ATVs must be sold with an operator protection device (OPD) or rollover bar either fitted or integrated into the design.
CFMoto’s Australian distributor is Mojo Motorcycles, and company director Michael Poynton says CFMoto will work closely with its dealer network to meet those requirements by October this year – one year early.
“Following our own assessment of the Consumer Goods (quad bikes) Safety Standard in 2019, we made the decision to remain in the Australian market with CFMoto quad bikes,” he says.
“Introducing a new quad bike range that complies with stage 2 of the Consumer Goods Quad Bike Safety Standard requirements by October 2020, one year ahead of the mandatory timeline, shows our commitment to remain in the Australian market.”
Poynton says Mojo had worked with Quadbar on creating a tailored OPD solution to be installed by the company’s dealer network during the pre-delivery process.
“Quadbar was one of two OPD manufacturers listed in the Government standard,” he says.
“Being an Australian made product with 13 years of research and development invested in their design, we viewed them as a good partner to work with for the supply of OPDs to meet the requirements of stage 2 under the standard.”
The company also engaged Sydney research facility Crashlab to conduct tilt angle testing and ensure the ATVs met the standard’s new minimum stability requirements.
The new CForce 400 model has a 32.6 degree lateral pitch and 44.6 degree rearward pitch, well in excess of the minimum of 28.81 degrees and 38.65 degrees respectively.
The new CForce 400 EPS is available now from your local Dealer for the ride away price of $7,990.