WORKING ON QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES

May 17, 2001

Chicago Sun Times

Lake Shore motorcycle clocked at 160 mph

Main, Frank

A computer technician took a ride on the wild side early Wednesday, roaring along Lake Shore Drive at 160 mph on a motorcycle, police said.

Daemond Rogan may have broken a Chicago speeding record before he was arrested at about 2 a.m. on North Michigan Avenue on a 1999 Honda CBR 600 F4, Traffic Cmdr. David Dougherty said.

"We have officers who've been doing radar 21 years, and that's the highest speed they can recall," said Dougherty.

Rogan, 32, of Calumet City, was ticketed for speeding in a 40 mph zone-which carries a $300 to $500 fine-and was cited for running a red light and weaving.

Officer Maurice Burks had been checking speeds with a radar gun on northbound Lake Shore Drive near Grand Avenue

When Burks saw the motorcycle, he turned on his flashing lights and siren, but realized the danger of trying to catch Rogan as they approached the Oak Street curve. So he pulled back.

"He was almost parallel to the ground when he went through the turn," Dougherty said of Rogan.

Burks kept the bike in sight, and after Rogan turned south onto Inner Lake Shore Drive, he willingly pulled over at 336 N. Michigan, Dougherty said.

Although Rogan was riding at breakneck speed, he was at least dressed safely, Dougherty said. He was wearing a helmet, leather jacket and riding gloves.

Police said Rogan did not make any statements about why he was driving so fast. But Dean Rogan II of Calumet City said his brother has been a motorcycle enthusiast ever since their father showed them how to ride a Honda CB 360 T in the late 1970s.

"He's had an affinity for motorcycles for years," Dean Rogan said of his brother, whom he described as a free-spirited, free-lance computer technician and repairman.

Dean Rogan said he was not surprised his brother was stopped for speeding, saying he has been ticketed on his motorcycle before.

Records show Daemond Rogan has received three speeding tickets in the last three years, but still holds a valid Illinois

But Dean Rogan added that their father stressed motorcycle safety when they were younger. "I've never seen my brother ride without a helmet," he said.

Dougherty said a police technician checked the radar equipment after Burks clocked Rogan at 160 mph and it was fine. He also called a Honda dealership, which confirmed the bike could reach such speeds.

"It's basically a race bike with turn signals," said Bob Beamish, sales manager of Otto Brothers Honda/Suzuki in Lyons. "The bike has state-of-the-art handling capabilities."

The motorcycle would have sold for about $7,900 in 1999 and is capable of reaching speeds above 155 mph, depending on road conditions and whether modifications have been made to the bike, Beamish said.

Rogan was stopped in a special crackdown on motorcycle speeders that began about two weeks ago on Lake Shore Drive

Ald. Helen Shiller (46th) requested the enforcement program after receiving complaints about reckless bikers, he said.

Dougherty pointed to a Chicago Sun-Times story earlier this month showing the number of motorcyclists dying on Illinois

"They can be a hazard to the motoring public and to themselves," Dougherty said.

Daemond Rogan was pulled over Wednesday after police radar clocked him at 160 mph on his 1999 Honda CBR 600 F4.

Copyright Chicago Sun Times May 17, 2001 when Rogan whizzed past, police said. driver's license. and will continue through the summer, Dougherty said. roads has risen by almost 50 percent since 1977.