faking a wheelie..

[bugjuice]

was going over in me nuggin what it's like when I try to do a wheelie, and 2 things come to mind - first up is how much gas to give it. It's not really something anyone can tell you specifically, it's something that you have to learn yourself.. Anyone can give it a fist full, you gotta make it work. So that bit, I'm working on.

The one thing that I really really wouldn't mind knowing, is how high up is the front wheel really? That's something that isn't to do with the physics of the engine, weight and distribution, that's just gravity. Well ya can fake that.

How hard could it be (and does anyone have any ideas) to hoist the front of the bike up, and sit on it? Find out how it feels to have the front wheel high up, so that while rolling, I know that when it's 'this high', I know for sure, it's not at the balance point.. I know it's not totally acurate, cos there's varibles like throttle, wind, road conditions etc, but you take that into account at the time. One thing that won't change, is the angle of a half decent wheelie..
At the moment, I feel like it's getting up there, but seeing some pics and vid footage of what I can, I don't think it's half of what I'm really achieving at the moment.

just a thought of how to improve riding techniques.

Also thought the same about cornering too. To lean the bike one side or the other, and again, lean off it. This is harder tho, cos gravity helps your butt to stay on the bike, but again, it's about feeling how far things go before they go..

ideas, thought, suggestion etc etc..? :niceone:

[NC]

Kinda like faking a.......:whistle:

[saiko]

Kinda like faking a.......:whistle:


Please let on how it's done oh guru one...

[NC]

Please let on how it's done oh guru one...
Never needed to :killingme

[Riff Raff]

Why don't you get someone with a digital camera to film you doing wheelies, and you can play it back after each one so you can see how high it was while the feeling is fresh in your memory?

[saiko]

Never needed to :killingme


Virgin! Catholic girl?

[NC]

Virgin! Catholic girl?
Yeah both... Oh my secret shame

[StoneChucker]

back to the question...

I have exactly the same "problem" as you. When I get the front wheel up, I scare myself shitless and it feels like "fwoaaaar, any further and I would have flipped!". But, in reality, it's only like a quarter, or even a fifth of where I assume the balance point is (from pics I have seen of me doing monos).

Regarding the cornering, my question is howcome the pics of me cornering look like I could lean double the angle over, but I have almost no "chicken strip" left (literally 2mm). Any further, and the tire would be too far over right?

Obviously one thing to consider is the people taking pics aren't there just for you (at this past track day for example), so they don't catch you at your highest wheelie point, or greatest lean angle. So, might pay get someone to take pics of you where you know you'll lean the furthest over and be the highest up (on one wheel) before you try to go further based on pics from random people.

Either way, I'm keen to "master" a sustained wheelie. Since powering them up is proving erratic, I might trying clutching them up as suggested by the wise Swanman until I get the feel for the angle, and go back to powered ones.

PS: NC30, neither have I :killingme

[Quasievil]

Well Kit you had it up yesterday, not far to be honest with you but about a foot on average, I saw a pic of one decent height one tho.

I though (just an observation cause I suck at wheelies) that yesterday your revs and speed were to high.

I got mine up tonight on the way home (cause Im secretly practicing) and I find the best way (for me) is to get up to about 7ooo rpms in first throttel right off then punch the gas on with a pull on the bars. with this i get about a foot high.

Im figuring out (like you are) the hows and dos and donts .

just thought I would share my thoughts with you, you know one 636 rider to another ( we got to stick together)

Later

[NC]

Hahaha Dave!!! :killingme

[Two Smoker]

When doing wheelies, it feels like you are almost vertical, when your close to or on the balance point... before you reach it, you may feel like the front wheel is REALY high, but it is only 0.75-1.0metre high... But yeah, just go out with someone else, get a camera, and see how high your getting it...

[MOTOXXX]

i think the main thing is not to rush trying to learn them. Take your time and practice bringing it up smooth and down smooth.

sparky bills hasnt been doing wheelies for long but thats the way he learnt and is getting better all the time.

sometimes it helps dropin a tooth off the front which is what im going to do :ride:

[Wenier]

Yea i am the same. Some seem really high and others ya no arent but im sure it can be much higher. I find that clutching it in 2nd and taking off from there is the easiest way. Jus have to time it right otherwise it dont come up much at all.

[XTC]

Keep your foot over that rear brake...then no problems.

[Sensei]

Wheelie are something that takes time . Best practiced on dirt bikes to start with as they cost shit loads cheaper to fix when you Flip them & have a better balace point . Road bike take great skill to get them right & because of their weight can hamper balance point . Hp bike as 1000cc just need to be opened up in 1st or 2nd gear & use power to get into the BP {Balance point }
Smaller bikes may need alittle clutch action with some rev's as well to do this . Cover back brake all ways when learning it could save you from going 12oclock .As above try out a dirt bike for finding the balance point feel .Once you know what it is then you can judge how high you are going from there .

SENSEI

[Fart]

Kinda like faking a.......:whistle:


Have do done a multiple wheelie? :banana:

[bugjuice]

Well Kit you had it up yesterday, not far to be honest with you but about a foot on average, I saw a pic of one decent height one tho.

I though (just an observation cause I suck at wheelies) that yesterday your revs and speed were to high.

I got mine up tonight on the way home (cause Im secretly practicing) and I find the best way (for me) is to get up to about 7ooo rpms in first throttel right off then punch the gas on with a pull on the bars. with this i get about a foot high.

Im figuring out (like you are) the hows and dos and donts .

just thought I would share my thoughts with you, you know one 636 rider to another ( we got to stick together)

Later
yeah, I was (still kinda) doin it in shhhhh, but I just wanted to vent some ideas... I've not had too many bad wheelies so far, so it is just practise, but I just want to do some Matrix type stuff and actually stand back and study it while, just to get the idea of how high.

So far, the best way I've found working so far and has scared me a few times is; in first gear, rolling from anywhere up to 50kph, then accelerate and blip the clutch. The more gas, the higher is goes, and not a hard/big blip either.
In second gear, somewhere between 70-80kph, and the same thing. Works a treat as long as my balls are engaged. When the front hits the floor, it's been up to 120kph! I've also got biddy ones around 80-90+ in third.
The revs are high and it sounds like I'm about to kill it, but it's around 7 grand, like you said. I think we should get together one weekend and find a quiet spot..



As for the other comments, I have seen a bit of footage, but really do need more, and same for pics too. Just can't get over how high it feels as apposed to how lame it actually is. I'm not wanting to rush this by any means (you seen my bike?!?!), if anything, I see it as helping to understand it really, and adjust the comfort zone. Do need more footage tho. At the "emergency braking" session at the track (the only "emergency braking" that happened resulted in an over-sized stoppie that went wrong!!), I managed to get a 2 or 3 good ones that I felt were quite good (length, and height), but my camera assistant kept mistaking Death for me. Then when she saw it was going on way too long, then she realised there's no chance it was me :(

Anyway, quiet spot and practice with some footage of some kind..

oh, and NC, no holding back, ay? you just tell us how it is, yeah?

[bugjuice]

Have do done a multiple wheelie? :banana:
lamo.. :killingme
i have..

[StoneChucker]

My problem is that, using the powered up option, first gear wheelies are REALLY dangerous and come up quickly. Second gear wheelies are easiest to lift up at 120km/h, so touch down at a whole lot more! It's all rather scary!

[BNZ]

Never needed to :killingme

Get me drunk and im sure i could help you out there :drinknsin :buggerd: :doh: :o :beer:

[Two Smoker]

My problem is that, using the powered up option, first gear wheelies are REALLY dangerous and come up quickly. Second gear wheelies are easiest to lift up at 120km/h, so touch down at a whole lot more! It's all rather scary!

bringing it up under power in 1st on a 600 is fine, nice and smooth... in first gear, dont blip the clutch, just snap the throttle on and off when it is near the power band... also works for second gear...

[saiko]

Hmmmm how about on a litre bike? How quick could it get away from you?

[StoneChucker]

bringing it up under power in 1st on a 600 is fine, nice and smooth... in first gear, dont blip the clutch, just snap the throttle on and off when it is near the power band... also works for second gear...
I don't have a 600... But I get what you're saying, power it up and back off when it gets to the powerband? I guess when I get the back off timed right, I'll be able to hold it up!

[bugjuice]

bringing it up under power in 1st on a 600 is fine, nice and smooth... in first gear, dont blip the clutch, just snap the throttle on and off when it is near the power band... also works for second gear...
doing that by leaning straight on the arms and shifting yer butt back, and a tug?
See, that's another issue. Tugging the handlebars, while twisting the throttle, and keeping the tugging even on both sides.. need practice and new arms sockets last time I was trying that. With the clutch way for now, it makes it a bit easier to get the front up without having to pull it up.

The other thing, like sc said, under power, i'd be way over paranoid about flipping it. It all happens so quick that you almost have to predict what's going to happen and be ready for it.. guess that's why your foot is over the back brake, even that I can't get right. Glad my throttle has a repsonsive return cable and I can't get high yet!

something else I was told, is that my bike (not sure about other 600s) has to be encouraged to come up and making it come up under power alone is a fair bit harder, cos the bike is kinda 'pitched' forward..

[StoneChucker]

Hmmmm how about on a litre bike? How quick could it get away from you?
My problem/thoughts exactly ;) In first, I find, veryyyy quickly :drinknsin

[madboy]

I nearly shat myself on the test ride of my thing when I opened it in first, stood it up, panicked, shut it off, banged my nuts against the tank, then had a brain fade wondering why the bike was making a funny noise (turned out to be a rev limiter - duh!) Amazing how a test ride can turn a half-average rider into a complete bloody amateur.

Only other time I've had it up was while I was, umm, making a quick departure from some guy in a commo with a funny paint job - but that was 2nd gear over a bump mid-intersection friggin goin for it no holds barred. Wouldn't have the confidence to try that again without the added incentive I had that day.

When you guys figure out how to perfectly wheelie the 636s, let me know :niceone:

[loosebruce]

Hey Bugjuice, if ya keen i'll come out with ya for a "ride" (wheelie practice session), i don't have a camera, got a video camera though and on board bullet camera too. It's all just practice mate, but pics etc can help for sure, i ain't no pro but i can do a semi alright wheelie and know enough to help people learning, mainly cause i'm still learning as well and i just tell what i do.

Alot of it is a confidence thing and the not being scared if you fuck ya bike (unlikely that will happen so don't worry). It's good as i'm in the fantastic position of owning a bike i don't really give a shit about, as much as i love my TL, i ain't gonna be crying if i biff it again, the only bad thing is the missus will leave me :killingme .

Flick me a PM if ya wanna go out sometime, i work mostly nights, makes for good practice sessions down the motorway in the early morning um thats practicing sitting on 100kph that is (on one wheel :whistle: ).

[Slingshot]

I nearly shat myself on the test ride of my thing when I opened it in first, stood it up, panicked, shut it off, banged my nuts against the tank, then had a brain fade wondering why the bike was making a funny noise (turned out to be a rev limiter - duh!) Amazing how a test ride can turn a half-average rider into a complete bloody amateur.

I did the same while test riding a TL1000R, took off from the lights...front comes straight up, I shit myself and the front slams down, a combo of the rebound and me accidentally giving it another squirt and it was up again...ended up bouncing the front across the intersection. I was splitting at the time too!:thud:

[GNR]

for those people postin completly off toppic stuff in this thread, can u stop please, there is about 10 posts in this thread with no revelvence to the orginal question,

Im sure others agree its irritating,

[Slingshot]

for those people postin completly off toppic stuff in this thread, can u stop please, there is about 10 posts in this thread with no revelvence to the orginal question,

Im sure others agree its irritating,

Calm down...that's what tends to happen on this site...threads go off-topic...it happens.

Anyway, did someone mention beer?

[bugjuice]

When you guys figure out how to perfectly wheelie the 636s, let me know :niceone:
will do :2thumbsup

my bike has taken my nuts so many times, I question which bathroom to walk into. They toughen up..

[bugjuice]

Hey Bugjuice, if ya keen i'll come out with ya for a "ride" (wheelie practice session), i don't have a camera, got a video camera though and on board bullet camera too. It's all just practice mate, but pics etc can help for sure, i ain't no pro but i can do a semi alright wheelie and know enough to help people learning, mainly cause i'm still learning as well and i just tell what i do.

Alot of it is a confidence thing and the not being scared if you fuck ya bike (unlikely that will happen so don't worry). It's good as i'm in the fantastic position of owning a bike i don't really give a shit about, as much as i love my TL, i ain't gonna be crying if i biff it again, the only bad thing is the missus will leave me :killingme .

Flick me a PM if ya wanna go out sometime, i work mostly nights, makes for good practice sessions down the motorway in the early morning um thats practicing sitting on 100kph that is (on one wheel :whistle: ).
cheers bruce, might just take you up on that offer. Make it a weekend tho, bit easier in the light! I'll figure something out then either post a little something, or may be pm a few for some sort of session. Posting something too big has been known to attract attention lately..

[bugjuice]

for those people postin completly off toppic stuff in this thread, can u stop please, there is about 10 posts in this thread with no revelvence to the orginal question,

Im sure others agree its irritating,
happens all the time. In fact, if it doesn't, you think that your thread is no good, cos people aren't reading it and posting stuff like that.. can be a range of things too

so what beer do you drink? :drinknsin

[Madmax]

Shit i figured out wheeles out on a beach
(f@#ked up a bit as well) worst off was putting the front wheel
down crossed up!!@## spat me into the surf big time.
on the ZX10R i dont bother! it is such a handfull (it will try to ground loop)
get any good dirt bike and just go for it, bloody good way
to have a good weekend at the beach :mellow:

[Riff Raff]

so what beer do you drink? :drinknsin
I don't drink beer - but I'm rather partial to Jim Beam at the moment!

[bugjuice]

I don't drink beer - but I'm rather partial to Jim Beam at the moment!
nice.. with coke?

[Riff Raff]

nice.. with coke?
Ginger ale!! Mmmmm

[Wenier]

something else I was told, is that my bike (not sure about other 600s) has to be encouraged to come up and making it come up under power alone is a fair bit harder, cos the bike is kinda 'pitched' forward..

Well so far i have found i can give the bike a hand at gettin up by tugging if i feel like it, BUT if i time everything right she has more than enough power to get up on her own and stay up there. So the pitch forward thing dont really matter, Still i have to get perfect timing otherwise wit out a tug its jus a lame wheelie.



Ginger ale!! Mmmmm

Not ginger ale, comon mate coke should be far nicer wit jimmy.

[loosebruce]

but I'm rather partial to Jim

Ya don't say huh, wouldn't of guessed it.

[loosebruce]

cheers bruce, might just take you up on that offer. Make it a weekend tho, bit easier in the light! I'll figure something out then either post a little something, or may be pm a few for some sort of session. Posting something too big has been known to attract attention lately..

It does pay to keep things like that to sort out via PM, I'm not one for unwanted attention, if ya know what i mean, keeping it small would be a good idea too. Weekends all good by me :Punk:

[XP@]

I want to wheelie too!
Please can i wheelie!

Na, on the F650 it is possible I have had it (the bike) up a few times, but not too reliable.
Stoppies are a bit easier, but I am trying to not do too many, they are eating my front tyre (did a cool one on the m/way this morning when a bus changed lanes on me, unfortunatly was behind and out of site of the CBR in front... mental note chill on the way in otherwise wont be able to do the way home).

Why am I writing this post..??
Oh yeh... try www.stuntlife.com (http://www.stuntlife.com) some really great help and instructions on there... best I have seen. Unfortunatly the site appears to be down this morning... probably catching

[flyin]

i ain't no pro but i can do a semi alright wheelie and know enough to help people learning, mainly cause i'm still learning as well and i just tell what i do.

, as much as i love my TL, i ain't gonna be crying if i biff it again, the only bad thing is the missus will leave me :killingme .

practicing sitting on 100kph that is (on one wheel :whistle: ).

Hmmm semi alright wheelies....... before i got a bike i heard a few stories bout you doin wheelies thru the hutt, roundabouts and all one 1 wheel...........Dave H still shudders when he remembers the bruise u had after a biff :niceone:

I agree about dropping bikes a, i love mine but if I drop it the insurance company will pay for new shiny bits and I'll hopefully learn something in the process..........