True Wheelie Confession

[R100Pilot]

Okay, we all know one of the S3's claims to fame is the ease with which one can, uh... "get it up." We've seen some fantastic shots of a few of our own (trained professionals, on closed courses, naturally, so kids don't try this at home) carrying the front end proudly aloft.

But dang it, I ain't learnt that trick yet an' it's vexin' me.

I've had the front end lift off the ground. It does that pretty easily, usually when coming out of a tight corner and coming on the throttle. This does not scare me much (though maybe it should).

However, since I was always taught that when going fast, it was best to keep both wheels on the ground, I generally try to moderate that sort of behavior, on accounta I keep having this flashback to a GP race last year where some dude crosses the finish line, tries to wheelie in celebration, and promptly loops it. I figure if the pros can f$ck it up that easily, so can I. Hence I err on the side of caution and settle for riding around as fast as I can on two wheels as much as possible, rather than one.

But I've seen the stunt guys doin' 'em, from 100 mph wheelies to slow parking lot wheelies.

So, wheelie wizards - how'd ya learn that neat trick? So what's the secret? I mean, I understand the diff between a clutch and a power wheelie, but how do you hang that thing up there and keep it there without going over?

Did you start out on dirt bikes? Smaller street bikes? Did you just keep looping your GSXR 1000 until you got it right? Did ya go to school for it?

Yeah, there really is a school. Apparently Keith Code started it when customers asked, and he admitted that while he held several racing championships, when it came to the long and high stunt wheelie thing, he didn't know how either.

Okay, now I feel much better.

[ This message was edited by: R100Pilot on 2006-07-11 13:43 ]

[gr8shandini]

I know how you feel, man. Everyone says to just whack the throttle open at around 25 mph, but I just don't have it in me. I always roll on quickly and just accelerate like a bat out of hell.

Instead of a school, I've actually contemplated finding a $500 UJM to practice on for a couple weekends with no fear of dumping it. Hopefully it'd be worth at least $400 when you're done.

[cheapbastard]

:lgh: Ha, R100, caught red-handed talk'n about wanting to do wheelies! :lgh: I know exactly how you feel! That's how I felt about 6 years ago when I decided to go learn on my own! Of course, I had a easy wheelie bike(99 R1) to learn on then, so I just taught myself! I figured all that hype about these R1's, and if I can't lift the frigg'n front wheel off the ground more than 6 inches, I'll be the laughing stock of all my riding buddies! I had tried a few times on my CBR 900rr that I had previously, but really sucked at it. My buddy would always ride killer wheelies on my bikes and then say, man, you really got a wheelie bike. :hammer:


Alright, so how I actually learned, I started off with just getting used to 1st gear power wheelies, which is easy on the triple! As gr8shandi said, you really do have to give the throttle a whack for it to come up, or else you'll just accelarate rather quickly. Once I got used to the feeling of it coming up, I just tried to ride it on out some. Then I couldn't never figure out the clutch'n it up in 2nd, until that one day, I hit it just right, and then it was on!!! After that, I've just taught myself to take it higher and higher, as long as you're still picking up speed, there's a very slim chance you're gonna flip her.

I've finally reached the point(again, had to re-learn because I was chicken for a while after a crash 5 yrs ago) to where I don't pick up any speed, but I have to be going up a hill, and I can't nail it everytime. Now this, I don't know how to explain(physics junk), but it seems like your balance point is lower when going up a hill. After you've mananged to nail that down, then ya gotta learn how to keep from drift'n side to side, which I still haven't nailed. But anyway, nuff of me rambl'n on, if ya wanna learn it, just determine that ya will, and it will happen.

It's ironic that you just started a post on this, because a friend of mine has just gone to Cali to visit family, and while he's out there, he's taking the On One Wheel school!!! Now this will tell all, if this guy can learn how to wheelie, believe me, anyone can!!! So I'll update ya when he gets back in a few days and see what he has to say. It might just be the best $500 you've ever spent! I know Kajota took the wheelie class, ask him what he thinks! :-D

[Andhedrew]

Hey R100 I know what you mean. I just don't get in when it comes to wheelies. Not that I don't want to know how!

I've ridden dirt bikes all my life and am a jumpin fool. But when it comes to wheelies I just don't seem to have it in me. I've never been able to keep one long on a dirt bike and was wondering whether I should even try on the triple. I mean, if they have schools to teach that stuff then it probably isn't as easy as people make it out to be, right?

[gstar]

I have the same issue.. constantly behind my favourite riding budy who is pulling some serious "through the box mingers" at all times.. gets boring nodding and admitting to him how good his wheelie is... I just don't have the confidence...

[cheapbastard]

On 2006-07-11 15:17, Andhedrew wrote:
I mean, if they have schools to teach that stuff then it probably isn't as easy as people make it out to be, right?

I think it depends on who you are Andhedrew. Me, I prolly would've been better off taking a wheelie school, but didn't know they had it then, if they did. But some people do just have a natural feel and talent for it. But I honestly, I doubt there the one's asking much about it too. :wink: You can learn on your own, and it's not that hard, I'm proof that if you're not a natural, you can still do it! But if it were me learning from the start now... I think I'd try out the wheelie school! :-D

and btw, the speed triple is the bike to have when it comes to learning wheelies, that's one thing that the school does teach you! :wink: Check it out...

On One Wheel

[ This message was edited by: cheapbastard on 2006-07-11 15:42 ]

[kuhlka]

Easy way to learn how to wheelie safely;

1-Cover the rear brake as a safety measure before attempting.

2-DO NOT grab a handful of throttle at 25mph in 1st gear unless you want to loop the bike, go wiggly and wreck, or freak out and slam the front end down damaging both your forks and 'pride'.

3-Get rolling about 35mph in 1st, roll off the throttle a bit then 'crack' the throttle gently. You should be at about 5,000 RPM at first. The powerband is nice and smooth there and by letting off the throttle, you'll compress the front end a bit (loading the springs). When you crack the throttle, the springs will assist your upward jump a small amount. Crack the throttle a bit more each time until you feel the front end come off the ground.

-WORK INCREMENTALLY. Don't go big right away and grab a handful of throttle or else see #2.

-When you've gotten used to riding out small wheelies and aren't totally freaked out by the feeling of the front end coming up, you're ready to try clutching it up.


Clutching it up;

-Get rolling at a comfortable speed where the motor isn't lugging (25-35 in first is good).

-Pull in the clutch lever just to where the clutch disengages and give it a bit of gas before slipping the clutch back out. (this is tricky and takes some getting used to. Again, do NOT grab a handful of gas when clutching it up in first when starting out because the front end will come up FAST and you might loop it. Do it incrementally until you're comfortable)

-Pulling back on the bars a bit will help the front end jump up, but only do that if you're comfortable with it. I lean forward then pull on the bars when I'm doing 2nd gear clutch-ups just to bring it up faster and it makes me tend to flick my body into the right balance position for riding out sit-downs.


I'm no wheelie master yet, but I'm working on it. I'm happy to say I haven't wrecked or had any squirrelly wobbles yet and have only had a few minor nutslappers on the tank pulling wheelies. One of which was on dad's Rocket III. Holy ***** is that thing powerful...

IMHO the Speed Triple is a beautifully balanced and comfortable bike for wheelies. I don't even bother to lower my tire pressures for stability it wheelies so well.

[jackelmatador]

I can tell I am not very good at wheelies and I know why.

The first time on a bike (a two stoke 250cc dirt bike) My buddy says to me this is not like the video games don't just grab a handul of throttle and off you go, you will flip over backwards. So what do I do grab a big handful of throttle get a huge wheelie, and manage to fall over sideways (luckily it was sand so no pain). Get back on the bike, again to much throttle but this time good wheelie. I had a good time. So when I got my first street bike I think just a little throttle. Do that for the first few days. Then at a stop sign on a hill, needing to turn left with the sun just rising in the east, I give it to much throttle again, almost dump the bike but manage to save it. So ever since that day I have been careful about "whacking" the throttle. No matter how much I think just whack the throttle self preservation kicks in. I can do wheelies just not all too consistently or huge ones.

[bluesjeans]

If you want more help then Google: wheelie how-to
Tons of information online..!

[jackelmatador]

If I had a two mile runway to practice on I would be a master too HAHAHAHA