is it legal to ride standing up?

[icenian]

Allegedly, riding standing up is illegal in Italy (it's lumped in with riding without a helmet and other fairly serious stuff) and they can confiscate your bike. This may be BS.

But it set me wondering - what is the law in the UK? Even on the road it can be handy - for one thing there are "roads" in Edinburgh that are rougher than the farm track outside my house It's also handy to manouver thorugh little gaops in (stationary) traffic. Or for seeing over the tops of Transits. And definitely for speed bumps

I wouldn't expect to get pulled over (with the possible exception of using it as a means of surfing speed bumps without slowing down at all) but maybe I'm being optimistic. There may be a country where safe drivers who maintain good control of their vehicles are not subject to prosecution, but it certainly isn't the UK

[Maverick]

AFAIK it is not legal as they could nick you for not being in control They can also fine you for riding with only one hand on the bars if you managed to run into a nice copper that got up from the wrong side off town

[YEN_POWELL]

I've seen Police motorcyclists riding standing up on the pegs on television and personally in Epping Forest. As long as you can use all the controls I don't see what they can do. Tell some of the Dakar riders that they are not in full contol and must sit down at speed whilst they roar across the rough stuff at 80mph plus.

I'm not going to lower the tone by mentioning some elderly riders who have to ride over speed humps and who suffer the 'farmer's' affliction.

[mattpope]

So it's illegal - I'm lucky still to be on the road then. I guess you guys are talking about the footpegs......

Would the rozzers really bother with this? What happens if you just have a stretch?

One thing I'm confused about. Is it illegal then to ride standing on the saddle cos I sure as hell cannot see over the top of a transit van? I'm bored right now so apologise for the facetious reply.

I guess that other stunts are out like pillions doing acrobatics. This is truly a nanny state then.

[Wee Jack]

I am led to believe (although I believe I am oftem misled !!) that standing up on the pegs is not illegal.

I understand the law states that -

1) you must be astride the motorcycle
2) you must be facing forwards
3) you should keep you hands on the controls - unless making a signal

No mention of standing up

But all this is with the Wee Jack standard disclaimer ......... unless anyone wishes to correct me !!!!

[Hagrid]

FWIW... I've ridden by the Rozzers on many occasion standing on my Pegs... (Usually on Motorways when I'm getting a bit stiff... But also when you wanna take a look see way ahead), and never been pulled for it...

[Whealie]

Depends what day of the week it is, and what side of bed the peeler got out of.
You can do all the things Wee Jack says the law insists upon and still be hassled. And car drivers seem to be able to drive with one brake light and on their mobile phone with a fag in the other and ride with impunity.

[Rubberchicken]

I've had some bottomfeeder with a lasergun jump up from his hiding place frantically waving at me when I was up on the pegs for a couple of hundred meters trying to catch some more air on a very hot day... Didn't get a ticket or anything, though.

[chronyx]

It's lovely on a hot day. Have done it on various stretches of motorway with no problems.






Sometimes the pillion complains though.

[alpslapper]

It's lovely on a hot day. Have done it on various stretches of motorway with no problems.

If I stood up on the bike at motorway speeds I'd get blown off it