Techniques for wheelies!

[M.V.]

So, I love wheelies. A lot.

There, I said it.

My current techniques is to just launch pretty quickly, get the clutch all the way out, then close/whack the throttle fully open (while covering the rear brake of course!), then when the power runs out, the front comes back down. Pretty crude, but very fun!

I used to clutch it up, but then I did my valves & discovered a lot more power, so I don;t need to any more

My next will be getting it into second with the front in the air, that's gunna take some practice.

How do you do wheelies? (Any tips for changing gears?)

[trixi]

I used to just gas it up from the lights or wherever with some clutch slip then try to get the clutch out, throttle wide open at the right point in the rev range. If i got it right the front would hoist up in a slow and controlled way through 1st gear. I have a dodgy 2nd gear as it is and although i have on occasion manage to cog it up into 2nd with the front up it's never stayed there. When it didn't work out right i would just get wheel spin or a well quick pull away. Wheelies are all technique. I have a friend who can just ride along on his gixxer1000 with the front end up in the air at up to around 130mph. After that point he says its not the keeping it up that's hard it's the landing with a stopped front wheel that makes it tricky as the wheel has to speed up from 0 to 130 mph on contact with the road. "It gets a bit skittish" he used to say!! he could also wheelie any bike you cared to mention generally at least 1 gear higher than any one else you could find.

[phuk72]

Correct - doing a proper wheelie is all technique (which I don't have ) and nothing to do with power.

If you just want to get the front wheel up in the air, the most effective method is to roll along slowly in first, pin it for about 10 metres, shut off and then hard throttle straight back on again. The rebound of the forks pushing the front wheel into the air. Be aware though, this can (and does) cause the front wheel to come up fast.

Other methods include initiating the wheelie with a stamp on the back brake / tug on bars etc.

Only problem with doing in first gear is that it is very difficult to keep the wheel up in the air as you change gear as you have to crunch through neutral. So most people prefer to clutch up in second.

Once the wheel is up in the air, do not keep the throttle pinned. Keeping the front wheel up in the air requires you to feather the throttle to keep the bike balanced.

Unless you have a very proficient mate to teach you and lots of space to pratice, I'd recommend a wheelie school

[dandywarhol]

My lightly tuned 900 TDM (lower 1st gear than the TRX) picks up almost too easily off the throttle
The Power Commander map and Akras means it makes 68 BHP at the wheel at only 5000 rpm - makes for a lot of torque at mid range revs for wheelying fun - although I'm maybe getting a bit too old for that malarky

[M.V.]

Only problem with doing in first gear is that it is very difficult to keep the wheel up in the air as you change gear as you have to crunch through neutral. So most people prefer to clutch up in second.

I've tried clutching it up in second, but either my clutch slips or the rear spins... Any tips on that one?

although I'm maybe getting a bit too old for that malarky

Never!

[phuk72]

My lightly tuned 900 TDM (lower 1st gear than the TRX) picks up almost too easily off the throttle
The Power Commander map and Akras means it makes 69 BHP at the wheel at only 5000 rpm - makes for a lot of torque at mid range revs for wheelying fun - although I'm maybe getting a bit too old for that malarky

also has a lot to do with riding position and CoG

i spent the weekend hooning around (until I broke a rib ) on a full enduro spec wr250 which only makes about 30rwbhp and it was the easiest bike to wheelie I have ever ridden

[phuk72]

I've tried clutching it up in second, but either my clutch slips or the rear spins... Any tips on that one?
!

Yep - let it out very quickly but in a controlled manner if that makes sense. You don't just dump the clutch

[trixynut]

I went on one of those Wheelie schools many years ago. They used 1200 bandits.

The method they used was (as Phuk sez) to bimble along at a steady throttle about 3,000 rpm and then 'cough' the throttle i.e shut then open quick.

This can be supplemented by dragging the back brake, then letting it off at the same time to give a 'surge' forward.

I have never been able to wheelie a TRX off the throttle, even with clutch slip, but thats cos I'm a lilley-livered chicken

Like most things, its practice. Spend a day messing around somewhere quiet and I'd probably master it..... or wreck it.

[dandywarhol]

I'd say a stock TRX would have a hard job lifting off the throttle with it's high 1st gear

[Mincehead]

I normally find the front getting light while gassing it in second and even third if I`m trying hard.
Stuart (Y.P.E) managed to hoist it skywards in third after a dyno run and him taking her for a test ride.Mind he is an animal on anything two wheeled

[M.V.]

I'd say a stock TRX would have a hard job lifting off the throttle with it's high 1st gear

I'm running 17/42 gearing, very fun!

I normally find the front getting light while gassing it in second and even third if I`m trying hard.
Stuart (Y.P.E) managed to hoist it skywards in third after a dyno run and him taking her for a test ride.Mind he is an animal on anything two wheeled

I can get the front off the ground under hard acceleration in second, but it's not what I'd call a "wheelie" per se.

I'll have a practice with my clutch technique & see what I can do.

Won't be today though, I had to ride the mrs ZZ-R250 today cos someone wants to buy it, hopefully. It's a very different machine to the TRX!

[Quan-Time]

ive done the "brake to get the nose to dive, crack open throttle and pull back" in 2nd gear much to my surprise. Im not much of a wheelie man and i honestly wasnt expecting it. A car cut me off, and then i smashed the throttle on to get myself out of danger with the car behind me.. Was quite funny blasting past the car that cut me off on one wheel.

Not much of a wheelie man, never practiced them. But as many mention, a good rider can wheelie anything.. Hell, ive seen triumph rocket 3's with the front wheel up for prolonged period's, and goldwings too. And those things are HUGE..

[M.V.]

I've seen those Rocket 3 wheelies, bloody scary if you ask me!

What gearing are you running Quan-Time?

[Mincehead]

Yep, Kev Carmichael gives a good account of himself on them:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rla9KU0m808

They actually lift the wheel quite easily, huge torque!
Mind the toy you really want is a near 500 BHP Busa:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbSqhyJKET0

[Quan-Time]

@ MV

17-43