Wheelie......

[Fullbore4]

There's not need to instruct Brent on the fine art of wheelies. He's a little banged up right now. Maybe two wheels on the ground is the best way to go?

I partly disagree. We all know the front wheel will come up frequently after about 3 days of riding and learning how to handle a bike. A wr450 is not a toy. Heck it even happens when one learns to ride a bicycle. One needs to learn how to react when it happens.

Its kinda like driving in snow......if you never deliberately spin your tires or hit the brakes and feel the effect you won't know how to react when it does happen.

Just as you guys say, he should have hit the gas when seeing the drop-off. This may seem contrary to what a new rider thinks but it works.

Anyway I hope you heal up fast Brent and get back in the saddle soon.

[Rip Wheeler]

Mine will come up with ease in 1-3rd gear, 4th with a small tug. Havent tried 5th gear wheelies.

[MountainMax]

I can get mine up in 4'th without tugging, with my mods done (not stock) but 5'th is impossible by puling up, only way is to hit a roll or big bump, but's its not easy....

[tshe1]

you mean that 1-3rd gear you whieelie by power wheelie (roll) or hitting the gas? or just using the clutch?

[MountainMax]

no clutch needed, ever, just roll the throttle slow to full, as she accelerates she will wheelie in 1-3, or up to 4th by just rolling the throttle fast, up she comes, but not at any speed, you have to get the feel where she's torquey enough to do it, if you overrev she is harder to come up, i find a nice low rpm is good.

[tshe1]

no clutch needed, ever, just roll the throttle slow to full, as she accelerates she will wheelie in 1-3, or up to 4th by just rolling the throttle fast, up she comes, but not at any speed, you have to get the feel where she's torquey enough to do it, if you overrev she is harder to come up, i find a nice low rpm is good.

I am looking for determing how much is "slow" or "fast"?

my problem is that 1st and 2nd gear is short and you get high rev very fast.

[MountainMax]

true, i get good distance in third of fourth, but best is to pop her up in 2nd and change in the air right up to 5'th where mine drops back down

[imj75]

no clutch needed, ever, j

I agree with MountainMAx.

Started practising wheelies yesterday. Found a empty lot with short grass (not someone's lawn!) and started experimenting.

I weigh about 75kg (165 pounds) and ride a 426 with a GYTR pipe. In 1st, 2nd and third she comes up without wheelspin or clutch.

I kept to 2nd to minimize pain should I fall, and found that gunning her does induce wheelspin, thus sacrificing grip and loosing lift.

Smoother accell proved successful, and I found by standing, and leaning back it was very easy to lift and control once the front is up.

I got to the point where she lifts just beyond idle, and stays up into the overrev.

Still too chicken to goto 3rd while wheely-ing.

After that went for a ride on a dirt road with the same cropped grass growing to the sides and middle.

I timed opening up in 4th with bumps, and she'd come up fast and high. Nearly soiled myself 3 or 4 times...

I would hear a noise immediately after and realise its me yelling

Endless fun!!!

I would recommend practise on a soft grippy surface wearing all gear.

[MountainMax]

Awesome imj75, I LOVE wheelieing (however you spell it) i did similar, practised in second, didn't like wheelies in first, too dam touchy and it revs out too fast, Love wheeling in second and third, and fourth when im on very good traction with smooth surface like a road, cause by then youre moving, up to 117km/h on one wheel when revved out in 4th is scary when you get bad traction.

[Brent McCabe]

When you say it "rev'd" out, what does that mean?

[Fullbore4]

When a bike "revs out" the motor is rapped out and it has reached its limit of going faster and hence will not wheelie any longer. However a controlled wheelie does not ever have the bike reved out. I used to shift a bike from 1st through 5th in the air and end up going 40-50 mph down the road (paved no less) with the front wheel up. In my older age, it gives me the willys to think about the crap I did when younger, but it was fun at the time. Like imj75 said a lot with short grass is ideal cause it hurts less if you crash.

[Majesticman]

In my older age, it gives me the willys to think about the crap I did when younger, but it was fun at the time. Like imj75 said a lot with short grass is ideal cause it hurts less if you crash.

I know how you feel.

[MountainMax]

so how can you controll a wheelie so that you don't accelerate anymore or rev out? i try to keep my bike at the balance point but she always wants to fall backwards, whats the secret?

[ddialogue]

...the WR is not a wheelie machine.

The WR is an AWESOME wheelie machine!

[Fullbore4]

so how can you controll a wheelie so that you don't accelerate anymore or rev out? i try to keep my bike at the balance point but she always wants to fall backwards, whats the secret?

I used to do it on a YZ250 for over 1/2 mile (1st-5th) around curves in the highway and all. So I would think a WR450 would be easier yet. Just go at a constant rate of speed with the bike not overrapped but not lugged either. One has to find when the best time to shift in the air also so that the front doesn't come down or you don't go over backward.... Again a 450 has more forgiveness for this aspect than a 250. Once you get it dialed in, its just like going down the road on 2 wheels, that is if there's no head wind to catch your skid plate

[MountainMax]

but how do you keep her up without accelerating much.........

[Fullbore4]

but how do you keep her up without accelerating much.........

I would practice in second on a soft field and get where you can wheelie without accelerating. I realize it feels "safer" to be accelerating and pulling up on the bars but you have to find the point where you have to actually let off the throttle and coast while working the throttle on and off a tad. Hopefully that threshold won't lead to a crash but don't yell at me if you bend up the bars doing it.........good luck and please wear at least a helmet, gloves, arm protection and boots.

[MountainMax]

I have all the protective geat, and always use it, what about when she feels like she's coming back over? do i have to tap the brake (as it's hard from that angle with boots on) or can i just let off the throttle and will the engine compression/braking be enough to bring me back down again? and say at second gear when im practicing, what speed/power level should i be at doing so? just off idle, or mid range rpm's or does it matter?

[Fullbore4]

Just let off the throttle when she's at the "high point". It may seem ideal to tap the back brake and if you can do it effectively......more power to yah but I never thought quick enough to hit the back brake (I wouldn't have matching scars on my forearms had I done so:eek: ). I would keep it in a low rpm.

Its just a matter of getting it dialed in by practicing. When you hit that point, it will all of a sudden seem easy and natural to yah.

[MountainMax]

thanks fullbore, Next year when i can ride again i will try that, with full gear on expecting to falll,