You ’re tantalise down the open road on yourDucatiand that feeling overcomes you . You want to launch the gas and pop a wheelie . There ’s no reason for it , except maybe it make you palpate a minuscule likeEvel Knievel . And you ’ll look cool , even if nobody ’s around to see it . But what if there was ? Could you get in hassle for popping that wheelie ?

Even if the give-and-take " wheelie " never appears in your state ’s equitation and drive laws , you in all probability could get fine and fine if you ’re catch performing this manoeuvre on the opened route . That ’s because in world-wide , police officers are give a certain amount of discretion to cite people for grave behavior . ( More on that in a moment . )

You pull off awheelie — when the front cycle of a motorcycle cosmetic surgery off the ground — by revving the gun when the batch is slipping . In most cases , rider perform them deliberately and publically to show off . However , throttle and cling to control are dissimilar on every cycle , so it ’s possible to crop up a wheelie accidentally , especially if you ’re an inexperienced biker , or ride a cycle that ’s more powerful than what you ’re used to . It ’s unlikely that the cops will purchase this as a defense , though .

motorcyclist popping wheelie

But when it comes to official regulations ban wheelies , only a few states currently have Torah on the book . But law change all the metre . Illinois passed a lawbanning wheelies Jan. 1 , 2013 . The first offence is a small amercement of $ 100 ; the 2d and third offence have much steeper penalties ( $ 1,500 and $ 2,500 ) plus up to six months and a twelvemonth in jail , severally . The Illinois law also bans other stunt , such as standing on the motorcycle , sitting anywhere other than on the seat and tantalize manpower - free . Maine is another province that has an anti - wheelie law on the book .

Some states also refer to wheelies as " stunt . " While a motorcyclist might take a firm stand they ’re perfectly secure performing a wheelie , much of the driving public may disagree . At the very least , it ’s highly disquiet to other motorists and leave the biker unable to brake or swerve around route hazards .

It ’s unmanageable to come up with an exhaustive list of laws , since the speech vary from state to country . However , in most remaining states , it is notexplicitly illegalto perform a wheelie , though that does not entail that it’slegal . If a constabulary policeman see a bike rider lift his front wheel off the terra firma , that officer has the prudence to pull him over fornegligent or heady driving , just like if he was drive recklessly in a railway car .

In general , your best wager is to forfend performing stunts like wheelies on public roads , whether or not the stunt in head is specifically banned by law .