zxr250 wheelies

[Brett]

You need to talk to Brett (thats his KB name)

He used to wheelie his ZXR250C's... you'll probably want to get a new clutch FIRST, but make sure you 'run it in' before doing wheeles. He could do pretty good wheelies on his 250, arguably better than I could on my 600 at the time so that says something.

Just so you know the power on a ZXR doesn't really start to build until 10,000rpm+, but it's best between 12k-16k. Also it's gonna happen real fast, and you'll probably end up screwing your steering head bearings among other things.

If you really want to wheelie i'd also suggest getting a rear sprocket with a 'few' more teeth. At least 3, maybe 6 more than standard if possible - how often do you use the 180kmh top speed anyway?

Cheers mate.

The ZXR CAN be wheelied. Mine was a 250C so it was lighter than your earlier model ZXR is. However, I would imagine it can be done. And yes, yo do need a decent clutch! A lot of 250's, especially the older ones, have tired old clutches that slip too much. Assuming your clutch is reasonable, here is how I used to do them...from memory which was 2 years ago, so bear with me. Also, when the clutch is decent, it is not too hard on the clutch either. no worse than a fast gear change when riding fairly hard. I had a new clutch at 20,000kms and at 45000kms it was still going perfectly and I would wheelie pretty much everyday a few times.

So...I found that it is easier to get into 1st gear and accelerate moderately untill the bike is revving about 9,000rpm - 10,000rpm, ie it is already heading into the torque range. (this is why the wear and tear is quite low). Then, quickly pull in the clutch and rev to about 14,000rpm - 16,000 rpm. and dump. This action takes place over about 1 second. Front will lift.
Depending on your bike, gearing etc. you will get the hang of it and exactly how much throttle to give, at what RPM and to rev how high before dumping. Then it is just a matter of learning the bike to work out how long you can ride it. Just bear in mind that they are a small engine and when the wheel is high in the air, the engine is not really strong enough to bring the front down too slowly. This can be hard on fork seals, however you can learn to land them softly.

Here is a vid where I am wheeling (note I am just finishing the wheelie in the background, I am not the object of attention in the foreground.

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

Good luck!

[wbks]

Cheers mate.

The ZXR CAN be wheelied. Mine was a 250C so it was lighter than your earlier model ZXR is. However, I would imagine it can be done. And yes, yo do need a decent clutch! A lot of 250's, especially the older ones, have tired old clutches that slip too much. Assuming your clutch is reasonable, here is how I used to do them...from memory which was 2 years ago, so bear with me. Also, when the clutch is decent, it is not too hard on the clutch either. no worse than a fast gear change when riding fairly hard. I had a new clutch at 20,000kms and at 45000kms it was still going perfectly and I would wheelie pretty much everyday a few times.

So...I found that it is easier to get into 1st gear and accelerate moderately untill the bike is revving about 9,000rpm - 10,000rpm, ie it is already heading into the torque range. (this is why the wear and tear is quite low). Then, quickly pull in the clutch and rev to about 14,000rpm - 16,000 rpm. and dump. This action takes place over about 1 second. Front will lift.
Depending on your bike, gearing etc. you will get the hang of it and exactly how much throttle to give, at what RPM and to rev how high before dumping. Then it is just a matter of learning the bike to work out how long you can ride it. Just bear in mind that they are a small engine and when the wheel is high in the air, the engine is not really strong enough to bring the front down too slowly. This can be hard on fork seals, however you can learn to land them softly.

Here is a vid where I am wheeling (note I am just finishing the wheelie in the background, I am not the object of attention in the foreground.

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

Good luck!

This would explain why I can't do them! I was riding to like 5grand and slipping the clutch. Is it possible to ride into second gear or a bit underpowered?

[Brett]

This would explain why I can't do them! I was riding to like 5grand and slipping the clutch. Is it possible to ride into second gear or a bit underpowered?

It is doable, but you would need to be close to balance point because power alone is not nearly enough to control the wheel in the air from coming down. I tried quite a few times to do this, and did not achieve it.

[skidMark]

roll along to 4k rpm in first....clutch it rev it to 13k rpm....dont slip clutch....drop it hard......

she will come up, if not your clutch is slipping, make sure tyres are hot and sticky.....

if you want to know how to upgrade your clutch for better wheelies email me brngiton@hotmail.com .

[El Santos]

anyone can wheelie like this??
http://nz.youtube.com/watch?v=YHWBL-JmBxg

wat abt this
http://nz.youtube.com/watch?v=i7x6LWP1FKE

[racefactory]

no one mentioned pushing down on the forks?

Chrislost wheelied my NC30 and this thing has a rediculously tall gear for a 400cc with over 110kph in first gear... it also has lovely V4 which is very compact, far forward, and low down.... All the things you don't want for wheelies.

It can be done alright.

[Brett]

no one mentioned pushing down on the forks?

Chrislost wheelied my NC30 and this thing has a rediculously tall gear for a 400cc with over 110kph in first gear... it also has lovely V4 which is very compact, far forward, and low down.... All the things you don't want for wheelies.

It can be done alright.

Being a 250, weight transfer is not really a huge part of it. You are already trying to control the clutching motion (which comes up pretty quickly) and throwing a bounce on the front shocks woul dbe a bit too much for the average punter to grapple. That said, you do want your weight on the back of the bike....

I know with the 600, it lifts easily in 2nd with a slight bounce on forks and blip of throttle.

[archie-no2]

i can get the wheel off the ground on a gn250 about 5 inch for bout 1-2 seconds but that is fast walking speed and 6 thousand revs and drop the clutch. dont wont to go more and come off the back.

[Brett]

i can get the wheel off the ground on a gn250 about 5 inch for bout 1-2 seconds but that is fast walking speed and 6 thousand revs and drop the clutch. dont wont to go more and come off the back.

trying putting as much weight as possible backwards. it would be hard work to get a decent wheelie going...but not impossible.

[archie-no2]

thanks i just took it for a ride its a 2005 bike with 9000 on the clock and it started backfiring so will have to stop riding it for a while and take a look at the problem so wont tackle that wheelie for a while or even untill i get a bigger bike.

[racefactory]

How much does a ZXR do in first gear?

[wbks]

Not sure. Never really taken it over 16000 in anything less than 5th along a strait...Just going from memory though (so maybe a bit off) I think 70? I would check now but I'm trying to keep my bike in good condition for jan 17th
btw I havent noticed my clutch slipping while riding it hard but when I try to wheelstand from 5k slipping it from nearly redline it just pops up a little then down and when I roll higher in the revs it doenst come up at all. Ohwell. Leave the m for when I get a 600

[NOMIS]

Not sure. Never really taken it over 16000 in anything less than 5th along a strait...Just going from memory though (so maybe a bit off) I think 70? I would check now but I'm trying to keep my bike in good condition for jan 17th
btw I havent noticed my clutch slipping while riding it hard but when I try to wheelstand from 5k slipping it from nearly redline it just pops up a little then down and when I roll higher in the revs it doenst come up at all. Ohwell. Leave the m for when I get a 600

Try just dumping the clutch ful throttel at around 14grand from 4grand
works on the hornet
I get to balance point and shit my self everytime though , given up looking like a idiot now lol havnt tried for last month

[wbks]

Thats pretty much what I'm doing.