Warner
Member
Warner,
I was wondering if you have any new news regaurding your motorbike and Illinois state law. I live in Oak Lawn and so far have not have a a problem with the cops. When I see a cop I usually kill the engine and pedal until they pass and then just start er back up. I also wanted to make sure that everythign I am doing is legal since I put quit a bit of work and a decent amount of money into the bike. Before I went through the massive headache of haveing redirected everywhere I wanted to know if you have found any closure on the situation. If you know anything let me know, otherwise I'm going to start the process of trying to find an answer this weekend. Take care.
J DuB
Okay...here's my take on the whole thing. From everything that I was able to find out, they are illegal. Having said that, if you are driving sanely and obey all the traffic laws, you probably won't have an issue. I have the exact same approach that you do....if I see a cop I kill it and pedal. Also, if I'm cruising down a long stretch of road with it wide open (about 35 mph), I ghost pedal it. I drive about 8 miles down 72 (higgins road) from Elgin to Schaumburg. I have seen cops; they've seen me. Sometimes they see me before I see them.....I'm sure they sometimes see me and I don't even SEE them. I've never been pulled over or hassled. Keep in mind though, my engine is very well hidden...party by design and partly because that's just the way my build worked out. I can't tell you that you'll never get pulled over. You might. I might. We might get our bikes impounded and get fined. Who can say? We're not PROTECTED by any laws...that much I can tell you for sure. I'm going to keep riding mine until someone specifically tells me that I can't. I drove it last night to Home Depot and back (about 6 miles round trip) in the dark....with my headlight and planet bike super blinky tail light. Then later (about 10:30pm) I was riding through Elgin side streets to bring my kid's cell phone charger to him at his friend's house....and drove right past a cop going the other way. I don't think he even looked at me. My headlight makes the bike LOOK like a motorcycle it's so bright. I worried and worried and worried last year about riding it, but never got hassled. I drove it to work (40 miles round trip) about 10 times last year, and drove it all over Elgin to stores and such...never had a problem. I'm not going to sweat it until it's warranted. So, no comforting or consoling words from me other than that.
Hope this helps!
Warner