Wheelie crashes - who has/hasn't?

[bert_is_evil]

I'm interested to hear about peoples experiences with learning to wheelie and whether/how often/how seriously you have crashed doing so, how much damage was incurred to bike and self etc ("wheelie bins" if you like...).

[-df-]

I'm a try hard wheelie person, love the feeling of it but can't "get it up" for long.

Never bind a bike yet trying.

[vifferman]

I've only flipped a bike offroad.
Never been high enough on the road to lose it.

[onearmedbandit]

Not binned yet and I can hold a pretty decent wheelie. Don't always hit the balance point but it sure does feel great when you do. Felt like I've come close a few times (going over backwards) but shutting the throttle and if you're quick enough applying the rear brake saves that. Also had a few wobbles on the back wheel at decent (ie 180km/h+) out at the track, each time I've either just held it out or backed off gently and brought her back down.

The biggest aid I've found in improving your wheelies is to get someone to video you. Only then will you realise how much further you can go, despite it 'feeling' like you're right up there.

Some would say you're not trying hard enough if you haven't looped a bike. Fuck that, I've seen enough footage on the net of even slower speed loops destroying bikes, high speed you can forget about rolling your bike away, you'll need a wheel barrow. So for me, I'm happy with my occassional bp wheelie, I don't want to biff my pride and joy down the road.

[Toaster]

Could wheelie the GSXR's I've owned. Haven't tried on the M109R - I might get squished.

[Pwalo]

Never intentionally tried to on the road (honestly).

It's always seemed to be a bit of a party piece really, and my Daddy always taught me never to show off and make a twat of yourself.

[Karma]

I'm a try hard wheelie person, love the feeling of it but can't "get it up" for long.

Never bind a bike yet trying.

+1


(10 chars)

[James Deuce]

All my wheelies are unintentional, since I flipped a PE250 and got put off for life. There was the DT100 cartwheeling backwards down a hill, knocking the wind out of me as it smacked me into the ground with each rotation too. That put me off a bit.

[ManDownUnder]

Never tried - not seriously. If anyone has an engine hoist or chain block they could help... the RF's not too light in the front

[judecatmad]

After yesterday, one might say I can wheelie but have never binned. However, I don't think an unintentional 'oh shit....what the fuck was that...' followed by a 'maaan, that was fun' as I took off at the lights really counts!

Could never do it again and don't think I would want to (not on the ginny anyway)!!!

[Deviant Esq]

Clutch isn't really up to it on the NZ250... have only really half heartedly tried though... only got the front end feeling light and skittish, but it didn't come off the ground.

[riffer]

I can wheelie, but I'm lousy at it, so I ticked "I can't wheelie, but have binned trying". Can't hold one up for shit.

I've looped an IT400, a GP125 and an XR250.

I've wheelied the RF900 about a dozen times but I chicken out before the balance point every time.

[PZR]

I got a dirt bike just so I can practice. Ive fallen off, but no damage so far (to the bike or me)Better than practicing on a 10-2000.00 dollar bike and wrecking it

[phoenixgtr]

I've had a little wheelie session on the FXR but it's a prick to wheelie. You basically have to redline it then drop the clutch. Very violent. I didn't crash, thankfully, but I had a few decent ones.

[kiwifruit]

I can't wheelie, never really tried tho

[skelstar]

Accidentally wheelied once (in 2nd gear maybe?), apparently it was pretty good but didn't know I was doing it until the front started drifting sideways and I dropped it down more in confusion than anything else.

I think I'd like to do wheelies. I think my bike wold be pretty easy to wheelie, but would be worried about dropping it and excessive tyre wear.

[Motu]

I'm not a wheel standing type on the road....if the front comes up in my normal course of riding I handle it,but I don't do it on purpose.I guess I must of crashed at some stage farting around,but not a wheelie as you must be thinking.

Off road of course having the front wheel in the air is par for the course,and I've lost plenty of bikes that got seriously out of shape on me.With a trials bike lofting the front wheel at will is part of the technique for clearing obsticals and turning....but having a bike that is made to get the front wheel up so easy also means there are plenty of times you have to fight to keep it down.The most violent dumping I gave a bike was when we were practicing in Waikumete Cemetry,I was on my TY175 with a brand new set of Renthal bars,having bent the last ones at a trial the week before.We were trying to get up a very steep hill and I looped the TY,I just stepped off the back and to the side.The bike looped and came down directly on the bars upside down - it didn't even fall over! Just like an upsidedown pushbike.It bent the Renthal bars,and it takes a serious hit to do that.

[Smorg]

Ive put the front up a couple of times on the old CBR with mates watching, felt like I was at least a metre and a half off the ground but when I ask them......"na man like 10cm" it was a piece of shit for wheelies though. Dont wanna try on the gix until ive got sliders and insurance.

[Chaosmage]

I've wheelied the RF900 about a dozen times but I chicken out before the balance point every time.
Riffer I had heard the RF would pull up in first under power at about 9000rev's. I tried this but even with a few variations on it, nothing. However talking with someone last night it might be because of soft rear suspension.

What do you think or did you use the clutch to bring the RF up?

[V4ME]

My Road experience - started off as an unintentional wheelie dicing a mate on my SV650 - Loved the feeling so have been doing it more often.
Used to do it a lot on offroad bikes - easy of course - mind you I binned it on an unintentional front wheelie (came down from a regular wheelie straight onto a hidden rock in the grass to perform a front wheelie and over the handlebars - not so pretty)

:shit: :shit:

[N4CR]

crashed a million times on the pushie, and gone over the front stoppying it a million times hence why when i crash i never hit my head... motorbikes wise i have looped something can't remember what mighta been drunk? lol mighta been a minibike.
almost looped nickstas fxr150 once (whoops) and texmos old scooter almost. the zx10 almost looped heaps clutching it too hard, gone backwards a few times on that thing at 150+ but managed to save it, usually 2nd clutching it up i stuff up.

can now hold em for a while but i want to get better and use rear brake etc to keep em indefinately.

[Buster]

Its a great feeling when it goes right. Ive never crashed (touch wood), but have had the front come down pretty hard a few times. The SV does nice off throttle ones in first but it needs a prod in second. You know it was a good one when the front wheel chirps and lets out a nice puff of smoke on touchdown.

[riffer]

Riffer I had heard the RF would pull up in first under power at about 9000rev's. I tried this but even with a few variations on it, nothing. However talking with someone last night it might be because of soft rear suspension.

What do you think or did you use the clutch to bring the RF up?

Mine will pull up the front (just) under hard acceleration in 1st. Especially if you sit back a bit and wind the throttle back as fast as you can. My rear shock (and front as well) are stiff as hell.

The easiest way to get the front up on an RF is to get to 7 grand, close the throttle, then give it WOT just as the front is nearly down as far as it will go. It comes up quickly then.

But as others have said, a foot high in the air feels bloody high if you're not used to it. I've never had the RF sit happily at the balance point. It feels just too damn heavy for me when its up in the air, and I'm scare it will smash the fork seals out when it lands.

But then, I'm crap at wheelies.

[roogazza]

I always start my weekend rides with a wheelie, usually the third corner from home. Strangely , the first ones are usually the best ones ( before the fear sets in !) Gaz.

[2much]

what kinda muppet would bin while doing a wheelie?

[BarBender]

what kinda muppet would bin while doing a wheelie?

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Have got my old 12 up under power a few times. Dont know if Id call them wheelies though.

The one time I clutched it up was at about 110k and kept it up at balance point for 3 or so secs before dropping the front down at about 150.

Did I shit my pants?...........Yah!
Did I know what I did?........Nah!
Would I do it again?...........Fark Nah!!

Hats off to those of us who play with the power.

[desmo dave]

just hooked 4th gear on an xr200a on the back wheel going up a motor way over bridge and over it came .i'm left skating down the road and the bike goes into a fence. bent forks that i made unbent with the aid of a block of wood and the back of an axe. damage my knee that still gives me shit 25 years later. my wheelies were never the same after that. i can do them just on the throtle on my duke but i wouldnt say that its 100% under control. but bloody good fun though.

[cowboyz]

I power wheelie which is the pussy way to do it. Havent binned doing it and it is realitively easy compared to clutching. Bit scared of the clutch on the 9. Little bit aggressive.

[MyGSXF]

I inadvertently pulled one a couple of weekends ago.. :innocent: pulling out of the pits on the mighty Blade :love: that I am lucky enough to be given to strop around Ruapuna on.. :shutup:

Would seriously love to learn how to do them properly though!!! :Punk:

[boomer]

I can't wheelie, never really tried tho

DONT FIB!


what kinda muppet would bin while doing a wheelie?

BWAHAHAHAHHAAHAhahahhahahahahahah:wacko: :crazy: :blink: :rofl: :spudwave:

[Vagabond]

Started riding offroad so have flipped an old Suzuki TS50, could wheelie my Yamaha IT 200 from 2nd gear right through to top and have also flipped my mates Suzuki PE 250! I then progressed onto road bikes and hav only flipped an old 1981 Kwaka Z1000 that was a painfull and expensive lesson. I now cover the rear brake just incase!

[James Deuce]

have also flipped my mates Suzuki PE 250!

Oh good, its not just me.

[Vagabond]

I think I'd like to do wheelies. I think my bike wold be pretty easy to wheelie, but would be worried about dropping it and excessive tyre wear.

Those Hornets are wheelie machines!

Give it heaps!

[Vagabond]

Oh good, its not just me.

Yeah they had a wicked powerband on them!:yes:

[gixermike]

did a not so graceful exit off the back of a honda C90 scooter off road at about 13 years old. the joys of trying to wheelie a semi automatic..

the SP1 just carries the front as you hit about 70kph in first...and then stays there till I chicken out in second...
did it last weekend when I pulled out onto a straightish bit of road from a side turning, carried the front in first and 2nd, dropped it back down, round the corner..and there's 3 HP cars in a garage talking to some muppets who've crashed into each other in the entrance....then can't have not heard me...I just got a nasty stare..

[Damon]

The old VTR used to do it nicely, I never had the balls to try any big ones, mainly due to some hard landings on my first couple of tries :sick: but used to love it when it would pop up out of corners or from intersections, i'm far to scared of the blade to try on purpose yet, my cousin tells me i need to open the throttle faster but all i see is me landing on my ass and the bike bouncing down the road loosing parts

[S&S]

Best place to learn wheelies is on the beach with motox, nice soft landing when all goes wrong.
I stick to power stands on the buell, a lot safer than clutching with just a twist of the grip in most gears.

[Deviant Esq]

i'm far to scared of the blade to try on purpose yet, my cousin tells me i need to open the throttle faster but all i see is me landing on my ass and the bike bouncing down the road loosing parts

From what I've gathered it's a lot easier to control a roll on wheelie than clutching it up... the front comes up more slowly whereas clutching it the front tends to leap in the air and give you the shits if you're not used to it. Trying to wheelie the CBR with a roll on in 1st or 2nd shouldn't be too much of an issue if you're covering the rear brake (dabbing it lightly with throttle still on will dip the front wheel). But then, I'm no expert!

For anyone wanting to know the basics, how to get started and learn how to wheelie a bike properly, there's a lot of information in the stunt riding forum. I posted this thread about it (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=39633) not long ago - it's an instructional video on the basics of wheelie-ing, and includes footage of a 2 mile wheelie. Worth a look! :cool:

[Guitana]

Put the old Gixxer on it's rear wheel overtaking a couple of cars looked really cool but I shit myself got a bit carried away and was'nt focusing!!!!

[SpinFx]

Unfortunately popping a wheelie is something I have to try not to do....... The only time I wiped out was when a sat down to quick once and flipped her right over.....( not this bike fortunately ) an old gs 400. My dad flipped it also when trying to do a burn out against the house and rode up the wall....that was f'n funny to see.

[Pathos]

Dropping the clutch on the fxr works ... but is not recommended. First two times it didn't come up and on the third it went too far.

Too much stress on the clutch, engine, gearbox, chain etc for my liking.

[EZAS]

I'm no stunter although I was definitely getting that way on my GPX 250. Jumped off the back jumped back during a 12 then jumped back on and then the front slammed down hard. Don't want to try it on the 9 as its alot heavier.

[redhed]

Yip been there, done that, but only binned a mates bike. Lucky it was only a yamaha, right over the back. I knew it was over when the number plate made this god awful grinding noise, then I knew it was gona hurt. Tee shirt & jandals, no helmet. I've grown up since then, although some would argue.!
Anyone managed to get onto an airport runway at nite & have a fang. That's me the entire length on the back wheel on an old CB750. I'm not so noughty now... & of cause that's debatable too.!

[Drew]

I can wheelie, and am getting better, I can sit on the tank and do 'em, give people the finger, stand up, sod off for three k's with it up there, or hold it at the balance point for a little while at 100k's, and I still managed to fuck it up last week.

I'm not bragging here, I'm trying to warn people. If you do them, accept that it could happen. There are few people that I ride with, that can hop on almost any bike, and wheelie it, I can, and still got it wrong. I was exceptionally lucky to walk away, let alone ride, (albeit with one foot peg and a very bent bar).


Please please PLEASE wear the right gear if you insist on trying, and always have someone with you. I know I'd rather have someone to call an ambulance if I got badly hurt. (Only special cases like me have one behind them to make sure I'm breathing when I bin).

Rant over, :rockon:

[skelstar]

I ride along with my ankles resting on top of my crash-bungs. Its pretty cool. They look like highway pegs. I did 195km/h past KS19 the other day (closed road) in this configuration and the road was super bumpy and I struggled to stay on. Tonight I hopped up and sat on my tank in highway peg mode. That was a bit scary (jeans). Now I just have to try this on one wheel.

[Drew]

That looks real cool on one wheel too bro. A guy called Mouse was doin it on Whitetrashes first SRAD at the Meremere stunt day. Choice stuff.

And shit could he sink a lot of Tui. Only guy who has every bottle top question memorised that I know. You only get to say the first three words of the question, and the bloody piss head rattles off the answer.

[skelstar]

...bloody piss head know-it-alls. I've seen you do a high-chair from a set of reasonably local traffic lights...I was doing the apologies to the cars for ya ;)

[festus]

I can wheelie. Binned me first TL after getting too cocky. Used to off/on in 2nd and change gears thru to 4th, got 5th once but too f#ckin fast and dangerous. Don't bother with first gear. Any TL owner should be able to power it up in 1st. Now I just off/on in 2nd and quickly change into 3rd and I'm away..........keep the balance and no need to change ya gears!....

[jade]

I wheelie everytime im in first pretty much...
just accelerate in first and when I hit 6-7 thou just dab the clutch with 2 fingers... right on the powerband
Only doing about 50 when I go up and normally flick her into 2nd and hit bowt 100... plenty of friends on 600's who can do wheelies as long as they please... gotta love the stand up ones..
havent binned doing one yet but my mate has on his nsr, takapuna.. 2nd gear - 120k and went to far back...
when I get my next bike (prob a k6 750) ill be pushing 200 on the back wheel/./

[DEATH_INC.]

I do ok wheelies, I've only really crashed doing 'em once, that was landing it....but not learning.

[dodgy matt]

2nd gear wheeles are my favourate type the hang around in the air for some time and you can usually cary them past your mates too for a little lughter love them it is what riding bikes is all about (the odd shangagens ) but yes it went all horribly wrong one day 2nd gear over a nice shaped bridge in papakura when i brought it down before i put the front wheel through the back window of the car in front !! a slight wiggle of the bars (that is normal ) and i was tarmac surfing BUGGER i blame the vtr,s front end HA HA

[Mr. Peanut]

I've just about looped the NSR (legs came off managed to save it though), love the feeling.

[Mr. Peanut]

I wheelie everytime im in first pretty much...
just accelerate in first and when I hit 6-7 thou just dab the clutch with 2 fingers... right on the powerband
Only doing about 50 when I go up and normally flick her into 2nd and hit bowt 100... /./

+1 or I just roll off the throttle at high rpm in first then wack it on again.

[slopster]

I'm trying to get my wheelies sussed but I've got a terrible habbit. I do a fair bit of mountainbiking and I can wheelie all day on one of those. Unfortuately on the gsxr when I it comes up too fast I instinctivly grab a bit of clutch cos thats where the back brake would have been. It gets the front back down but a bit more abrupty than I like! I reckon I'd be sweet if I had a left hand brake control - Until then I'll just have to practice.

[Drew]

I'm trying to get my wheelies sussed but I've got a terrible habbit. I do a fair bit of mountainbiking and I can wheelie all day on one of those. Unfortuately on the gsxr when I it comes up too fast I instinctivly grab a bit of clutch cos thats where the back brake would have been. It gets the front back down but a bit more abrupty than I like! I reckon I'd be sweet if I had a left hand brake control - Until then I'll just have to practice.
I did the same thing when I got back from my last trip to WTs pad. I'd been pissing about on his kids quad, which has a left hand operated rear brake, I was hammering them them trying to wheelie it to a stop, then the first time I got a bit high on the gixxer, that's what I grabbed for. Lukily came to my senses and let 'em go again. Interesting times:gob:

[Denniso]

I can't wheelie but some of my bikes seem to enjoy it , GSXR only does em in front of cops bastard bike , SV likes to do em in the rain (bloody show off bike) , have yet to figure how to keep the goddammed RMZ on two wheels :crazy:

[Drew]

I do ok wheelies, I've only really crashed doing 'em once, that was landing it....but not learning.

Didn't have the front wash out did ya?

At Manfield the weekend just gone, showing off during the drag session, I did a pretty crap stand up, and the front went all pear shaped on touch down! Fuck slicks are a bitch when they're cold, at least that's what I'm guessing was the problem, it's only ever happened a couple times on the road, and they were real high speed jobs.
Happened to a lesser degree on the next go, but since we had to do a full lap to come back for another go, the tyre must have warmed up, cos it didn't happen again.

Did my longest ever spreader while I was there too, fuckin pearler, right down the front straight:first:

[JayRacer37]

Crah push bike wheelies all the time..good practice. I like doing them on the 600's...pick it up off the throttle in 2nd, hook thru to 4th real nice and quick, and do what ya want. Climb on the tank, stand up, feet off, feet to one side, stand on back of seat...and if youv'e got them nice and balanced, all the back break you need is in the throttle overrun, and plenty of power to keep em' up...the lenth of the straight at puke isn't a worry on a good day. I love wheelies!!!

[Pixie]

I'm interested to hear about peoples experiences with learning to wheelie and whether/how often/how seriously you have crashed doing so, how much damage was incurred to bike and self etc ("wheelie bins" if you like...).

Trashman: Where's yer bin?
Aboriginee: I've bin on holiday,boss.
Trashman: No.Where's yer wheelie bin?
Aboriginee: (looks ashamed) I've wheelie bin in jail,boss.
perteesh.

[Drew]

Trashman: Where's yer bin?
Aboriginee: I've bin on holiday,boss.
Trashman: No.Where's yer wheelie bin?
Aboriginee: (looks ashamed) I've wheelie bin in jail,boss.
perteesh.

I thought the last line was, "Ok, I wheelie bin out the back 'avin a wank"