wheelies

[ZethT]

Does anyone know how to do really good wheelies if so is there any way you can learn them without killing yourself.I can pull it up for about 5 feet , thats it, I cant ride it.

[hotwheelsgt]

its not realy something that you can explain and do you do stand up wheelies or sit down? are you riding a 4 stroke or 2? how big is the motor in it?

[ZethT]

well i stand, 2 stroke, 1977 175, which is like a 90cc bike, but i am going to get a 250cc newer model.

[MagicRat]

Wheelies is just about balance, coordination and a sense of knowing what to do. It's like learning how to ride a bicycle; you can't quite explain HOW you balance and steer, you just do it.
Practice and learning you to coordinate the throttle and the rear brake is key.

[TEXAS-HOTROD]

MagicRat hit it on the head. It takes practice (and more practice) and finesse. Your only limitation is an underpowered bike.
When I was younger (and a 100cc Honda) I could bounce the wheel up off a bump but I couldn't hold it up. When I graduated up to an XL500 it was as effortless as twisting the throttle. Shifting through the gears and holding the wheel up is easiest on a thumper anyway. I learned real fast to keep a foot on the rear brake when I mastered it on my CR250.
My XL600 has a short swing arm and therefore has a thin edge to balance on. It balances out comfortably at a higher speed in 4th gear. If I stand on the rear pegs I can pull it up easily in 3rd and ride it like that. My CR250 was really stable at low r.p.m.s in 3rd gear, just kind of blubbering along and slipping the clutch if needed. My CR450 whould wheelie in any gear/any speed. It was really unpredictable and sometimes scary. Each bike can be different.
Doing wheelies up hill is the best way to practice. My best one is almost 3miles, most of that was uphill, some of it was down hill. It is hard to describe, but with enough practice you can feel the bike sort-of teeter back (and feel light) when it balances out. When you are able to angle the bike back past vertical and actually slow down, or maintain the same speed while going down hill, you have pretty much mastered the art. Untill then take it slow and one step at a time. Get a bike that has lots of torque (maybe change to a smaller front sprocket) and always keep your toes on the rear brake. Oh yeah, always wear protective gear.
My next challenge is to master stoppies.

Keep a post on your progress.
---TEX---

[ZethT]

ok thanx

[VTISC007]

I use to do wheelies or try to do wheelies on anything I could get to do a wheelie since I was a kid. I always found a way to wheelie something, even my lawn mower engine powered "Briggs & Stratton" Mini-Bike. I moved on to scooters, sport bikes, then dirt bikes. I never had problems pulling a wheelie and riding while shifting gears on my Yamaha R1. And then......................My dirt bike, Yamaha WR 400; I decided to practice my wheelies in the sand, in case I flipped it (no big deal, right). Next thing I knew, I flipped it while doing a stand up wheelie, so naturally I let go and jumped off. To make the story a little shorter I ended up with a "Tibial Plateau Fracture" or a broken knee. I still get out there and ride both street and dirt, but for some reason I don't wheelie as much as I use to. It's only been a year since it happened and about ten months since I got my cast off. The cast was from my balls to my toes. I'm just saying that in the course of practicing, accidents may happen, and in my career of motorcycle riding (25 years) that's been the worst one. Never give up, just lick your wounds, learn your lesson and move on. It's all about balance.

[TEXAS-HOTROD]

Sorry to hear about that, VTISC007. I guess the old saying is true, $#it happens. Too bad it happened to you.

I too could wheelie most anything. Started out on my bicycle and later on my 10-speed bike. 3 and 4 wheelers are so easy they really don't count. My Ninja was a learning experience and my brother's CBX was so heavy in the front that I finally gave up on that one.
I find myself having second thoughts on all this stuff and really second-guessing what I do. It seems like when I'm on the bike, something else takes over and it's back to my old habits. I'm still cautious, but accidents can still happen.
Hearing your story really makes me think about the big "what if".

Get well,
TEX

[RoostRider]

Practice in a reasonable gear so youre not hauling ass when you crash (not 'if' you crash).

On my KDX200 I can hop off the bike backwards and keep up with the bike while running in 2nd gear. (my gearing is lowered, start with 1st)

The slower you are going the harder it is to keep the balance, but too fast lands you in the hospital. Get decent slow and you'll be amazed how good you are going faster.

[VTISC007]

Originally Posted by RoostRider

Practice in a reasonable gear so youre not hauling ass when you crash (not 'if' you crash).

You're Gaw Damn right about that! It's not if you crash, it's when you crash.

There are those will fall (crash), those who have fallen (crashed), and those who will fall again (keep on crashing).