Wheelies...

[redfern]

I know this has been done to death but the form is a little different

So I'll swallow my ego and say I aint a wheelie god, Im in the I can get it up but cant keep it up stage, and sometimes getting it up is hit and miss cos I always think I shouldnt rev it to hard.

So I thought for most people who arent that good it would be great to hear from those people who have recently learnt how to do a good one.

I know there are some awesome skills out there but like most things in life if you perfect something its hard to remember just how shit you once were.

So could those who have just worked it out give some tips on what bump or isssue you over came or never realised to achieve a decent wheelie.

Thanks all.

[xanthian]

Im in the I can get it up but cant keep it up stage, and sometimes getting it up is hit and miss cos I always think I shouldnt rev it to hard.

Needs blue pill imo.

[redfern]

hahahah nice one I was asking for it. I wish there was some sort of killer wheelie pill. invent it xanth.

[thro]

The theory is easy.

The big requirement is balls and an inclination to practice and learn gradually.


They're on my list once i'm happy with stoppies and dragging knee

[Davey]

learn to use your rear brake to bring them down, and to crontroll the height.

once you learn that, you will not fear the accellerator whilst wheelying.

[CT90]

Check you tube.

[Bendito]

Originally Posted by Bendito

I'd just like to add, you won't nail wheelies your first day out - if you do, you're probably pushing too hard, and wouldn't be far from going ass up.

^ That's what it was like for me... The fear you should have of the front coming up is a healthy fear. You will eventually become more comfortable with it, it does take time.

There is a wealth of information online, both here and elsewhere to get you started.

Many of these things are what the more experienced wheelie-ers would tell you on the day, so if you are serious, check out some of the stuff below (or google "how to wheelie"), and start practicing a little on your own. Start small and build on it

Keep in mind, a lot of this advice is aimed at bikes 600cc or bigger, so try adapt it to your ride

PSB - The World Famous Phuzzy's Guide To Wheelies

PSB - Preferred way to START learning one-wheeled wickedness

PSB - how to do wheelie?

[gravy]

I remember when I first started to try wheelies on my old ZX9, I'm not into clutching, don't think you have to, so I just blip the throttle a couple of times, this gets a slight rocking motion happening on the bike, then give her some throttle and pull up as u accelerate. First time front went up about 30cm's, but after perservering for a few weeks, finally got her up at that point where you start to get the feel for them. Just keep practicing...

[Klink]

Ive only got one thing to say...

Wheelies are baaaad m'kay?

[Captain Starfish]

I've got no idea, coz I don't do 'em, coz they're bad.

That said?

Simple physics.




To get your front wheel to stay at a height, you have to counteract the force acting due to gravity, labelled F in the diagram.

The only way you can do that is by putting enough angular force (ie torque) labelled T from the frame's centre of gravity (COG) to the wheel. As the orthogonal distance L shortens, the moment required to apply F at COG drops proportionally.

To the point where, when the COG is directly above the contact patch of wheel to ground, zero force is required.
Ie L=0 ==> T=0

The only way you can apply that torque is by accelerating.

So low wheelies (need lots of torque) will require high acceleration and will collapse as soon as you hit the limiter.

High wheelies - at balance point - require a little more to get the bike up to BP. But then they require no acceleration at all to maintain.

Past balance point? You need to ride the back brake to provide angular force THE OTHER WAY to stop the bike from looping.

Downside is, at BP, everything gets real floaty. So it's very easy to loop the bike or lose control.

So - what do you do? Work gradually on improving your control and getting them higher.

At some point, start to really snap the bike up then catch it with the rear brake - this means you don't gain a lot of speed getting the front up and so have much more RPM to play with once you're there.

Get a bike you don't mind smashing. (cheap bunky FTW)

Don't do this shit on your own - you need someone around to call the ambos and to remove your bike from the scene if/when it goes runny.

@ gravy, no need for clutch on a bus, they bounce happily in 3rd. And clutching can lead to 2nd getting munched. Apparently...

[redfern]

Yeah this is the thing, I know the theory I have done a few I would consider decent but none have been kept up balance wise.

And I know all you guys are killer but there are just little things along the way, for example I used to always get to a certain speed clutch rev and then dump but I realised its easier to blip the clutch whilst begining to accelerate hard.

I mean that could be wrong also, but generally great wheelies people may forget the little things once they become real good and hence their lessons are a bit irrelevant.

So I was asking for those who had only recently started achieving good ones.

But I really appreciate all those great wheeliers who have had a say. thanks

[Viper]

7000 in first back it off and slam open the throttle

oh wait what bike are you on?

EDIT: oh you wanted opinions from someone who is good ... that counts me out

[kwakas]

Originally Posted by Viper

7000 in first back it off and slam open the throttle

oh wait what bike are you on?

EDIT: oh you wanted opinions from someone who is good ... that counts me out

+1 works quite well on the ZX6's.. don't even need to slam the throttle re-open.

by slamming back on I'm assuming you mean roll off teh throttle, then roll it back on yeah?

[Desmogod]

Originally Posted by Viper

7000 in first back it off and slam open the throttle

Perfect way to ruin your driveline.

[redfern]

Well Im cuurently in between bikes but 05 r1 is what I was on before and probably what I will be getting again very soon.

[redfern]

I agree With desmo on that one about slaming things Id prefer to ruin a cluch than anything engine related.

The thing is yeah i can power up its not hard im not a major rooky and I can clucth up in second I was really just keen for some more minor advice to maintaining wheelies.

I realise balls is the key, but some more presice advice would be cool.

Maybe if people post how long they have been doing them for.

[Captain Starfish]

jesus.

R1?

Just wind the fucking throttle on @ about 5-6000rpm.

Not high enough?

Wind it on faster.

Remember to catch it with the back brake though.

edit: ahhhh, duration. Okay.

Duration = height.

There's only very few reasons you have to drop a wheelie:
1. it's steering you off the road or there's a bend
2. you've run out of revs
3. you get a wobble up
4. something pulls out in front of you.

3 and 4 you can't do shit about, get the front down and ride out the wobble/stop before you hit something.

1 - learn to steer, but before that you need to be able to hold a wheelie long enough to be able to think things through and experiment with body positioning etc.

2 - choice. You can keep doing what you're doing and learn to shortshift into 3rd, 4th and so on which will have you doing 30cm wheelies that you're landing at 250+km/h.
Or you can GET MORE HEIGHT.

To get more height? Hit the throttle harder. It's as simple as that.

[Desmogod]

Originally Posted by redfern

I agree With desmo on that one about slaming things Id prefer to ruin a cluch than anything engine related.

If you clutch it up properly, it shouldn't really wear the clutch any more than launching hard from the lights.

[Fastgirl]

pfft. stop bein a bunch of pussies an wind the bloody throttle on hard...cover the rear break and pray like fuck you A. dont 12 '0 clock it...or B. slam your nuts into the tank upon landing. If you manage to avoid doing that in your frist few attempts....keep pushing your luck....you'll soon find your limit.

*this has beena community announcement by Fast-wheeliequeen-girl*

[redfern]

yeah but 150 km an hour wheelies aint a great way to learn