Photo: James Dean Lentz
As of January 1st 2013, wheelies and tall apehangers are illegal in Illinois. The Illinois Senate Bill 3452, passed in July last year has become effective, so if you're planning to do some stunt riding on public roads, you'd better think twice.
Commonly associated with reckless or dangerous driving, pulling a wheelie while speeding has become a offense and will result in $100 fine for the first time, up to $1,500 fine and six months in jail, and $2,500 fine and one year in the slammer for the third time. One-wheel riding is an offense no matter whether you're on a motorcycle or moped, so there's really no more tolerance for public road stunts.
At the same time, the bill holds illegal to ride a motorcycle whose grips are above the head level of the operator. This means radical apehangers are literally banned and riding with them will end up with a fine, if not worse, for repeated offenses.
At the same time, the bill demands that riders be in contact with the seat at all times: this could cause some problems with those who are standing on the pegs while going over a bump... and most of those riding adventure, dual-sport and similar bikes would do so.
Getting a fine for riding standing for 2 seconds and getting spotted by an over-zealous cop is not funny at all, by the way. And what about the touring guys, who would ride standing for 1 mile or so every 30 miles (~50 km) stretching their feet and backs, just because they don't want to stop that often?
We believe this bill will cause some nasty lawsuits in case things are not made clearer. And we're so looking forward to see stunt riding making it among the FIM officially-sanctioned sports. Things will definitely be interesting, to say the least...
At the same time, the bill holds illegal to ride a motorcycle whose grips are above the head level of the operator. This means radical apehangers are literally banned and riding with them will end up with a fine, if not worse, for repeated offenses.
At the same time, the bill demands that riders be in contact with the seat at all times: this could cause some problems with those who are standing on the pegs while going over a bump... and most of those riding adventure, dual-sport and similar bikes would do so.
Getting a fine for riding standing for 2 seconds and getting spotted by an over-zealous cop is not funny at all, by the way. And what about the touring guys, who would ride standing for 1 mile or so every 30 miles (~50 km) stretching their feet and backs, just because they don't want to stop that often?
We believe this bill will cause some nasty lawsuits in case things are not made clearer. And we're so looking forward to see stunt riding making it among the FIM officially-sanctioned sports. Things will definitely be interesting, to say the least...
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