Wheelies, wheelstands, monos etc

Yamahamaman · 7th November 2004, 20:48

Originally Posted by swanman

You mean yesterday, not me.

Yep, it wan't you the R1 was a 'L' model. My error, I didn't read your bike description, just saw the photo in your avatar and jumped to a conclusion.

**jrandom** · 7th November 2004, 20:50

Wheelieing an R1, eh? Hmmm. Oooh, err.

(sucks teeth)

Well, guv, what you want, right, is the clutch in, a nice big handful of throttle, first gear, flick the left hand out again and enjoy the ride. Guaranteed to break the ice at parties!

...

On a more serious note, advice about practising on a less powerful, less expensive road bike (like, say... mine) or a dirtbike is spot on the money. Get used to that feeling of being up on the back wheel, and it'll all fall into place when you get back on the R1.

**Two Smoker** · 7th November 2004, 20:57

Originally Posted by WINJA

doing a stand up wheelie , try standing on the pegs rolling in second gear and yank on the bars and pull the bike up under power, do not use the clutch, i find standups easier than normal wheelies as you can see where your going and its easier to balance just my opinion, supose some dick here will have a negative comment

nah mate

its better coming from someone experienced.... Death gave me the same advice to me when i was trying to hold the wheelie on a CT110 for over 25 metres..... Are you John????? (sorry trying to work it out

)

**WINJA** · 7th November 2004, 21:19

what is meant by nah mate, this is someone who will be unnamed practising, its my experience that standups are easy on big bikes, i think it works for me it may not work for every one. the photos blurry as its getting close to 200kmh. as you can see it gives a clear view ahead for a shorty and the wind preasure on your body working against the motor gives better throttle control and stability.

**aff-man** · 7th November 2004, 22:18

Man you bigger bike guys have it easy. I gotta use the old dump clutch method and i get some decent ones lately. A few tips .

1: if dumping clutch don't do it on cold tyres cause the back jest lets go and you get the rolling burnout and and interesting wobble.

2: if you've reved a bit much and she comes up hard don't throttle off immediatly cause she'll come down harder.

It would be cool to ask some more experienced guy on the how cause i never really have.

p.s. i the above mentioned practicing is ,although written in first peron, hypothetical and i have in no way partaken in any illegal activities

**Two Smoker** · 8th November 2004, 06:36

Originally Posted by WINJA

what is meant by nah mate, this is someone who will be unnamed practising, its my experience that standups are easy on big bikes, i think it works for me it may not work for every one. the photos blurry as its getting close to 200kmh. as you can see it gives a clear view ahead for a shorty and the wind preasure on your body working against the motor gives better throttle control and stability.

I meant "nah mate" by the "some dick will have a negative comment"

When standing up, do you find that you just control the height and balance point with the throttle, or do you still use a bit of rear brake?????

**White trash** · 8th November 2004, 06:47

Originally Posted by swanman

God this is driving me mad I have been biking for 19 years and I still can't do a wheelie!

I have owned all sorts of bikes from 2 strokers to full on big sport bikes, and I still cannot do one. It comes from lack of balls, fear of dropping it and ultimatley lack of knowledge.

I recently bought an '04 R1 shit this is a fast bike, in fact I even managed a couple of impromptu power wheelies (wheel a foot off the ground) at Puke couple of weeks ago. At full thrust the front skips along the road all the way until your are doing well over 200kmh. So this bike should be a piece of piss to wheelie on.

So how do I do it? In a safe controlled manner and preferably at sensible speeds i.e. less than 100kmh? Really I think I need someone to show me, on a quiet straight bit of road. I really need to crack this one.

Don' sweat it too much. My dad's been riding bikes for a lot longer than you and he can't wheelie my bikes either.

I learnt to do proper wheelies on a '98 GSXR750 so there isn't a problem learning on grunty bikes.

My advice is this. Ride along in 2nd at about 70kph, begin accelerating fairly quickly (about half throttle) and as the speed sweeps through, say, 100, give it a quick dip of the clutch as you dial in more throttle. I mean a real quick dip of the clutch. About 1/2 lever travel.

The front wheel will rise fairly slowly as the bike gets towards its peak power. You should then be able to control the rate of climb with the throttle.

Long uphill stretches are easier to do it on too. It's not the sort of thing you'll get overnight and there are a hell of a lot of people who still can't wheelie properly.

When I grow up, I wanna be just like Death or Lance Lowe.

I've seen Lance wheelie a complete lap of Pukekohe on his Street Magic. Hairpin and all.

**StoneChucker** · 8th November 2004, 11:28

I know EXACTLY how you feel. I also have the 04 R1, and I also can't wheelie, reliably. I do it occasionally, by accident when accelerating quickly. My main reasons are identical to yours, not enough balls, fear of dropping, etc...

But I'm going to try that second gear, and tug back on the bars, sounds like it might work. I don't like the clutch method, sounds hard on the ol clutch. Also, don't try in first gear, it's waaay too wild. And as they've said, keep your foot on the rear brake, and if it doesn't feel right, hit it

And keep the front wheel straight

Let me know how, and WHAT you do, since I also want to get it sorted...

**White trash** · 8th November 2004, 11:54

Originally Posted by StoneChucker

And keep the front wheel straight

Turning the front wheel is how you steer the bike. Trying to hold it straight will have you veering wherever the wind or road camber take you. Not nice!

**Motu** · 8th November 2004, 12:04

Get a trials bike - you can't help but wheelie.Don't do it like I did yesterday - the bike started to loop,so I stepped off the back and brought it around in a 180 turn downhill again - but the bike landed heavily on it's side...things are a bit bent at the front now.I can pop a wheelie anytime I like,but I can't control one...

**StoneChucker** · 8th November 2004, 14:19

How does the front wheel steer the bike when it's off the ground? Does it have something to do with air pressure / weight shifting? And from a previous thread of yours, I'll remember to indicate if I plan on changing lanes after I master a sustained wheelie. (Just so people know the drift is intentional

)

**aff-man** · 8th November 2004, 14:45

Originally Posted by StoneChucker

I know EXACTLY how you feel. I also have the 04 R1, and I also can't wheelie, reliably. I do it occasionally, by accident when accelerating quickly. My main reasons are identical to yours, not enough balls, fear of dropping, etc...

But I'm going to try that second gear, and tug back on the bars, sounds like it might work. I don't like the clutch method, sounds hard on the ol clutch. Also, don't try in first gear, it's waaay too wild. And as they've said, keep your foot on the rear brake, and if it doesn't feel right, hit it

And keep the front wheel straight

Let me know how, and WHAT you do, since I also want to get it sorted...

Do what i did start small i.e. 5 cm off the ground hell that happens when you accelerate in any of your first 3 gears anyway. And then when you are comfortable go higher and higher. IF you keep practicing you will get better but you will also increase your chance of fucking up. But it's the same with putting your bike on the race track, if you want to take the risk it's up to you.

p.s. hmmmm i wonder if anyone will let me try on a bigger bike

the whole clutching it up is getting old

**jrandom** · 8th November 2004, 15:57

Originally Posted by StoneChucker

How does the front wheel steer the bike when it's off the ground? Does it have something to do with air pressure / weight shifting? And from a previous thread of yours, I'll remember to indicate if I plan on changing lanes after I master a sustained wheelie. (Just so people know the drift is intentional

)

Gyroscopic precession, grasshopper. Which is why high-speed wheelies are more steerable - the front wheel comes up spinning, you see. If you experiment enough, one day you'll note that if you grab the front brake when the front's still up and spinning, waggling the bars will suddenly fail to steer you around like it did before...

**White trash** · 8th November 2004, 16:01

Originally Posted by StoneChucker

How does the front wheel steer the bike when it's off the ground? Does it have something to do with air pressure / weight shifting? And from a previous thread of yours, I'll remember to indicate if I plan on changing lanes after I master a sustained wheelie. (Just so people know the drift is intentional

)

I think it's just the rotational force of the wheel. Turn the bars to the right, bike turns left. Turn bars left, bike goes right. Magic! I can wheelie through "S" bends now with only a little practice.

I never cover the rear brake during a wheelie either. Everyone reckons I'm mad but I've got two fingers constantly covering the front brake lever. Give that a quick dab mid wheelie and watch out for ya nuts!

**White trash** · 8th November 2004, 16:02

Originally Posted by jrandom

one day you'll note that if you grab the front brake when the front's still up and spinning, waggling the bars will suddenly fail to steer you around like it did before...

No it wont. It'll slam your "boys" into the back of the tank.