How do I wheelie?

Author
Discussion

Prof Prolapse

Original Poster:

16,160 posts

189 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
quotequote all
I tried to wheelie in my CBR 600F a year or two ago. I returned home on a trailer, and spend £100 the following day on a new clutch. So I don't think I was doing it properly.

I now have GXSR-750 (+/- "Gixxer"), and I wonder how would I go about trying to wheelie it?




lindrup119

1,228 posts

142 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
quotequote all
First you have to take all of your safety gear off apart from your helmet. Apparently the reduced weight makes it much much easier.

Then, once you're in full squid mode you just pull the clutch in in second, bang it off the limiter, and then dump the clutch back out. Also, don't worry about covering the rear brake it's total bullst.


Fleegle

16,688 posts

175 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
quotequote all
sit as far back in the seat as you can, hold the revs at 12000 and dump the clutch

MotorsportTom

3,318 posts

160 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
quotequote all
Find some crests.

That's how I started learning. Find a crest that you can approach in 3rd/4th and just roll over it with some speed. Slowly build up til you feel the front getting light, the either add more speed or tug the bars (while covering the rear brake)

Once you get used to it then roll along in 2nd, give it half throttle and clutch it to become an ultimate hero with panties dropping all around you (may or may not be true)

I'm starting to get used to 2nd gear clutched wheelies now... they are fun but harder to get right that a nice crest.

Prof Prolapse

Original Poster:

16,160 posts

189 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
quotequote all
lindrup119 said:
First you have to take all of your safety gear off apart from your helmet. Apparently the reduced weight makes it much much easier.

Then, once you're in full squid mode you just pull the clutch in in second, bang it off the limiter, and then dump the clutch back out. Also, don't worry about covering the rear brake it's total bullst.
I trust what you say because it's clear you have my best interests at heart.

Modified car enthusiast

45 posts

92 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
quotequote all
Ignore all the ignorant piss taking replies from people who can't wheelie.

You need to find a big open car park and get used to the clutch and throttle motion at the same time. Sit back in the seat and just aim to get the wheel a little bit off the ground.

You need to get used to opening the throttle and releasing the clutch at the same time. Aim for a quick but smooth clutch release.

I am always surprised when I see these threads pop up on forums with the proliferation of Google and Youtube.

Check out Nick Apex and Ernie Vigil's youtube videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HKpXBHIXkk

A lot of it is getting used to the feeling of your specific bike, the biting point, power band and balance point. Wheelies from a stand still come up easier but are harder to control, if you have a powerful bike get rolling rolling about 15 mph and use second gear.


cebica

69 posts

201 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
quotequote all
1st gear - first practice accelerating hard from walking pace so you can get a feel for the throttle. Then practice accelerating to half throttle. Try moving your body position back to see how this influences the weight transfer when you accelerate. Once you are comfortable with where half throttle is and the speed you are at (20mph??) pull the clutch in and release it quickly. We are talking moonbeams here, not pulling it back to the bar. It should be just disengaging a bit, allowing the revs to flair, and should be enough to raise the front wheel. Cover the back brake so you can bring it back down. More clutch (revs being equal)- wheel comes higher. Try not to chop the throttle as it will bring the front wheel down hard, you want to keep the throttle the same and then roll gently off to be kind to your head bearings, forks etc...

I'm sure there are videos on youtube.

Think its best to practice at lower speeds rather than on crests/open roads where speed/risks are higher....

my friend and I did a wheelie day here:

http://www.stuntasylum.com/

It was great fun but I am still crap at them.

sc0tt

18,032 posts

200 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
quotequote all
Modified car enthusiast said:
Ignore all the ignorant piss taking replies from people who can't wheelie.
oooOOOooo

You must be new here

neelyp

1,690 posts

210 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
quotequote all
sc0tt said:
Modified car enthusiast said:
Ignore all the ignorant piss taking replies from people who can't wheelie.
oooOOOooo

You must be new here
He might have a bike though.

The Beaver King

6,095 posts

194 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
quotequote all
neelyp said:
sc0tt said:
Modified car enthusiast said:
Ignore all the ignorant piss taking replies from people who can't wheelie.
oooOOOooo

You must be new here
He might have a bike though.
REALLY?!!!!

Lets make him our King!!!


Harry H

3,379 posts

155 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
quotequote all
I've never been good at "clutching it up". Never seems to come out how I intended. It's either just fast acceleration or another f**k me moment where I panic shut off too sharp and my balls get smashed into the tank.

For me the easiest way is "off the throttle". 1st gear, 20mph, roll off the throttle and then wack it open. On my bike it rarely gets anywhere near past the balance point so it all feels nice and safe scooting along with the front around a foot in the air. It's a big enough wheelie for me.

scorcher

3,982 posts

233 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
quotequote all
Wheelie School. Practice on someone elses bike first.

bogie

16,342 posts

271 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
quotequote all
Im with Harry above, ive got no wheelie staying power, but getting it up is easy enough smile

A GSXR750 has more than enough poke. You could practice doing wheelies by weight transfer and save the clutching up method until later.

In 1st gear, find a bit of space, like straight quiet country road or unused airfield. Accelerate hard to say 30mph, snap throttle shut so weight goes forward and then immediately twist it open (blip it) say 20%, the front wheel should come up easy enough. Cover rear brake just in case it comes up a bit too high.

If it doesnt come up enough, try more throttle when you snap it open, a little at a time, get used to it coming up a few inches at first then get a feel for how much throttle you need to get it up further. The quicker/further you snap open the faster it will come up; do it a bit too quick and it might wack you in the chest. Panic and hit the rear brake hard and it will come down hard, smooth on the brake and it will come down more controlled.

Get used to the feel of the front in the air and controlling it coming up first and you should be pretty safe/in control

NAS

2,543 posts

230 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
quotequote all
scorcher said:
Wheelie School. Practice on someone elses bike first.
Indeed. I did a 2 day course. Great fun smile

Modified car enthusiast

45 posts

92 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
quotequote all
scorcher said:
Wheelie School. Practice on someone elses bike first.
You don't have to go to a "school" to learn to wheelie. All you need is a wide open area and trial and error.

Harry H said:
I've never been good at "clutching it up". Never seems to come out how I intended. It's either just fast acceleration or another f**k me moment where I panic shut off too sharp and my balls get smashed into the tank.

For me the easiest way is "off the throttle". 1st gear, 20mph, roll off the throttle and then wack it open. On my bike it rarely gets anywhere near past the balance point so it all feels nice and safe scooting along with the front around a foot in the air. It's a big enough wheelie for me.
Fair enough but clutching up is a nice technique to learn and once you have got used to it a very nice way to do a wheelie.

Steve Bass

10,186 posts

232 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
quotequote all
1. Did you REALLY expect a serious answer?? biggrin

2. Off the clutch is the correct method.

3. Not at 12k sitting right back biggrin

The Beaver King said:
neelyp said:
sc0tt said:
Modified car enthusiast said:
Ignore all the ignorant piss taking replies from people who can't wheelie.
oooOOOooo

You must be new here
He might have a bike though.
REALLY?!!!!

Lets make him our King!!!.
Finally!!! Someone wth a real bike !!

Edited by Steve Bass on Wednesday 27th July 15:20

black-k1

11,889 posts

228 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
quotequote all
Modified car enthusiast said:
scorcher said:
Wheelie School. Practice on someone elses bike first.
You don't have to go to a "school" to learn to wheelie. All you need is a wide open area and trial and error.
That last bit can be:

1. Painful
2. Expensive
3. Embarrassing

Just make sure someone is videoing it for YouTube. ;-)

I'd suggest starting clutchless. Easier to control when (not if) things don't go to plan.

rev-erend

21,404 posts

283 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
quotequote all
Here you go..

http://iwanttowheelie.co.uk/

It's a bit like wanting to get your knee down .. pretty stupid and juvenile on the road.

I always found the easiest way was in second gear .. mild speed say 30 mph and pull in the clutch, rev to say 6K and dump the clutch (do not ride the clutch).. if it does not wheelie try 7K and repeat.

Some bikes like the early R1's will wheelie off the throttle in second without the clutch and others like the BMW HP4 have anti wheelie.

Modified car enthusiast

45 posts

92 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
quotequote all
black-k1 said:
That last bit can be:

1. Painful
2. Expensive
3. Embarrassing

Just make sure someone is videoing it for YouTube. ;-)

I'd suggest starting clutchless. Easier to control when (not if) things don't go to plan.
Yes, if you want to wheelie you will likely come off unless you have a very good sense of balance. I have come off multiple times all at slow speed and never hurt myself. I have a supermoto bike so it is all plastic anyway.

If it is in an empty carpark it isn't really embarrassing, if someone watching is too stupid to realise that anyone who can do anything has had to practice it and fail sometimes in the process that is their problem.

I think you might as well learn the clutch technique from the onset. Doing a clutchless wheelie is more dangerous because you might fall off at 40+ rather than 15 from a clutch wheelie. All my spills have been at low speeds but high wheelies.

rev-erend said:
Here you go..

http://iwanttowheelie.co.uk/

It's a bit like wanting to get your knee down .. pretty stupid and juvenile on the road.

I always found the easiest way was in second gear .. mild speed say 30 mph and pull in the clutch, rev to say 6K and dump the clutch (do not ride the clutch).. if it does not wheelie try 7K and repeat.

Some bikes like the early R1's will wheelie off the throttle in second without the clutch and others like the BMW HP4 have anti wheelie.
I have already warned against this. It really is a pathetic way of learning to wheelie. The bikes are specifically setup to make them easy to wheelie. You need to learn your own bike.

How do you think people learnt to wheelie before the advent of wheelie "schools" rolleyes

black-k1

11,889 posts

228 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
quotequote all
Modified car enthusiast said:
black-k1 said:
That last bit can be:

1. Painful
2. Expensive
3. Embarrassing

Just make sure someone is videoing it for YouTube. ;-)

I'd suggest starting clutchless. Easier to control when (not if) things don't go to plan.
Yes, if you want to wheelie you will likely come off unless you have a very good sense of balance. I have come off multiple times all at slow speed and never hurt myself. I have a supermoto bike so it is all plastic anyway.

If it is in an empty carpark it isn't really embarrassing, if someone watching is too stupid to realise that anyone who can do anything has had to practice it and fail sometimes in the process that is their problem.

I think you might as well learn the clutch technique from the onset. Doing a clutchless wheelie is more dangerous because you might fall off at 40+ rather than 15 from a clutch wheelie. All my spills have been at low speeds but high wheelies.

rev-erend said:
Here you go..

http://iwanttowheelie.co.uk/

It's a bit like wanting to get your knee down .. pretty stupid and juvenile on the road.

I always found the easiest way was in second gear .. mild speed say 30 mph and pull in the clutch, rev to say 6K and dump the clutch (do not ride the clutch).. if it does not wheelie try 7K and repeat.

Some bikes like the early R1's will wheelie off the throttle in second without the clutch and others like the BMW HP4 have anti wheelie.
I have already warned against this. It really is a pathetic way of learning to wheelie. The bikes are specifically setup to make them easy to wheelie. You need to learn your own bike.

How do you think people learnt to wheelie before the advent of wheelie "schools" rolleyes
Err ...

Prof Prolapse said:
I now have GXSR-750 (+/- "Gixxer"), and I wonder how would I go about trying to wheelie it?
I would suggest that different approaches may suit different bikes!!