76 replies to this topic

[Redbeard 530 TT Member]

I getting back into riding after 17 years without a bike. My new bike (KTM 530) is geared to tall for my comfort zone, I like slow wheelies. I just got my new gearing, so I have to put them on and get out there and start riding wheelies again.

Any how, my advice to wheelies for the faint of heart: My success was practicing on a slope or uphill. The physics of riding up a hill is great for learning. If you almost flip it, because your going up hill when you let off gas it will usually go down because of the uphill resistance. Requires power to go uphill, cut the power front end drops. If you miss the rear brake and let off gas, front end will drop. If you flip it, it's easier to chase a bike uphill instead of on flat ground. Baby steps, start with 1st gear and learn your balance point. Just do slow controlled wheelies. Graduate to starting in 2nd gear. When your comfortable with that start in 1st and shift to 2nd. You will be building your fundamentals of riding wheelies and having a blast doing it. I'm 44 now, I have no intention of doing flat land wheelies anymore, I'm content with slow controlled uphill calculated risk wheelies instead of the I can't make it to work because I lost it at 40 mph on the flats.

Hope this helps some of you. I used to be really good at these slow wheelies. If we were riding near a hill, I could normally conquer it and my buddies were always impressed. You can even learn to make sharp turns.

[rx1m5 TT Newbie]

Just like everyone I've wanted to get consistent on wheelies so this post helps. Usually when I pile it I go out the front door (bruises are healing up nicely from last week) so going out the back door might be a pleasant change.LOL

Rx1M5

[spinner38 TT Bronze Member]

i plan on starting to practice this some more. i can pull  short 2nd or 3rd gear standing wheelies over bumps and stuff on the trail, can pull sitting wheelies from a start in 1st, but anything else scares the crap out of me! I like the go slow and cover the brake technique, i think throttle control is key also, i find standing and too much throttle and the front comes up really quick! i feel safer sitting, but i think standing wheelies are more usefull to learn.......

[Chillwabbitt TT Silver Member]

cheeseclip said:

on a mountain bike i can pull a wheelie at like walking pace for about 50 to 100 metres. i can do a few bike trials moves like balancing on the back wheel and hopping round on it and jumping onto stuff. im not too bad at bike trials but i wouldnt be able to pull a 20 power wheelie on my yzf450 to save my life. should some of my balance on my mountain bike help a bit?

I suppose it should as the feeling is similar, but then again I keep flipping a MTN bike when I wheelie it, it's all practice.

[2 stokes for life TT Gold Member]

Well last weekend I was ridding my friends RM250 because my Gasgas is currently in the rebuild stages.

So I was in 2nd fairly low in the power and I decided to try a wheelie. Now I was terrible last year because of fear. So I clutched up into it (first time ever doing that) while seated and coering the rear brake. I found the balance point, so I let off and grabbed 3rd and it went well. Got to the top of 3rd and said when it roam, and grabbed 4th. Finished all of 4th and set her down because I was running out of road.

All my friends were amazed. They thought I was practicing it or something. I even out did my wheelie friend on his YZ250. So I was pumped and now cant wait to try it on my own bike.

Its all because of the info here. THANKS!!!

[noodle TT Bronze Member]

Something worth mentioning. It is a lot easier to do wheelstands at speed. Because the bike doesn't react as quick so it is easier to hold it in the balance point. Obviously if you loop out in 5 th its not going to end well.
But you will loop out more often trying to wheestand slowly.

[spinner38 TT Bronze Member]

i found as a beginner, riding in first and paracticing wheelies over small whoops and ditches, then try in second, then third. this gives me a feeling for the powerband of each gear and how the bike will react. i was doing this standing, but i would like to try slower sit down wheelies next

[wyobohunter TT Bronze Member]

Noticed that all of your wheelies were in the sitting position. What about short wheelies (lofting front tire) for obstacles off road instead of stunt man wheelies?

[Chillwabbitt TT Silver Member]

at speed, slow paced or both? I can make an amended "chapter " if you like on "clearing obstacles on the rear wheel".

[wyobohunter TT Bronze Member]

i.e. clearing logs etc. on the trail, thanks a bunch.

[Chillwabbitt TT Silver Member]

I have started work on this tonight give me a day or two to make sure I get everything in

[wyobohunter TT Bronze Member]

much appreciated.

[Chillwabbitt TT Silver Member]

Apologies for the delay, I've been working my butt off the last week but without further ado...
Right here we go if something is not clear let me know, I'll try explain it in a different way.

Crossing obstacles on the rear wheel

Whoops
When crossing a whoop section, you want to carry the bike in at speed and be 1 gear higher so that the bike is not at it's rev limit and still making good power so it can drive you through the section.

On approach make sure you are in the attack position, as the front wheel leaves the face of the first whoop open the throttle to make the front wheel “float”; at the same time you do not want the wheel to come up to high because if it does the rear wheel will slam into the next whoop and bring your front wheel down in between the next – this can be quite scary; however if this does happen to you do not tap off open the throttle more to get the bike back up on top of the whoops.

Open holes/ditches
This is probably the easiest obstacle to cross however can play horrible mind games with you; if you coming in at speed apply both brakes evenly while moving your body(weight) backwards off the front wheel, this will give you better control – however you do not want to scrub all you speed as this momentum will be what gets you across the ditch.

Once you have yourself at a “safe” speed come back into a neutral position; in the correct gear for the task push down on the foot-pegs with both feet; as the forks rebound snap the throttle a bit to bring the front wheel up fairly high; this way when the rear wheel hits the opposite side of the ditch your front wheel will come down automatically but remember to keep a steady throttle as this will help the suspension not to become unsettled or feel harsh.

If the ditch is quite wide the bike will come to 12  o clock in some situation even go past that do not panic and let go as soon as the rear wheel comes into contact with the other side the front wheel will come down – if this does happen to you; you will need to accelerate a little more otherwise the front wheel will slam into the ground feeling pretty harsh. When the rear wheel hits you will also need to move you body weight forward a little so when the rear shock rebounds it does not catapult you over the bars.

Logs
In the beginning always try to cross a log head on not at an angle; if you cross at an angle the bike's rear wheel will want to slide along the face of the log to straighten out – this is the point where most people get hurt. To cross a log depending on it's size slow to a reasonable speed, lets assume you are in second gear facing the log head-on; you will be aiming to get the front wheel to kiss the log about ¾ of the way up – keep a steady throttle at this point as the front wheel hits you want to be leaning backward a little so your forearms can absorb the impact this will force the rear wheel to follow since it is attached to the rest of the bike – do not wick the throttle but accelerate slightly to keep forward momentum, now move your body forward so the seat does not wack you in the arse but keep standing do not sit down.

If you have carried to much speed the rear will want to catapult you over the bars when it hits to avoid this drag the rear brake a bit.

This technique can be used on rocks as well.

Water
Right the first thing to remember about water is that it acts like a brake, when you hit it at speed. Coming in you will want to be standing depending on the speed you are traveling at, you have two choices one is to clutch it up the other to do the foot-peg bounce and wick the throttle. Either way you do not want to bring the wheel to the balance point instead you want to do a “power wheelie” and chase the front wheel – this way you can stay hard of the gas and not risk flipping out.

Enjoy and stay safe, please don't go out there and try these suggestions in 5th pin as none of them will work and you will end up in hospital. - hope this helps
Later Chilli

[Chillwabbitt TT Silver Member]

Do yourself a favor go to Shane Watts's website http://www.shanewatts.com/ he is good at explaining stuff and  the visuals sure help - he has DVDs on just about every situation or technique needed. also his a waaaaaay better rider than I am, with waaaaaaaay more racing experience.

Also I'm sure he could use the support to fund his "habit" - riding habit that is.

What you looking for is Volumes #2, #3 & #4
Braking & cornering, hills, gullies & off cambers, logs, rock & wheelies

[spinner38 TT Bronze Member]

awesome, I have trouble doing slow wheelies on my yz250f, it is gear a little tall, so you have to be kind of up in the power band in first, then the gear is too short, second is a little fast for me. using the clutch would help, but i would prefer not to beat up the clutch......

[wyobohunter TT Bronze Member]

Thanks much, I think I'll have to pick one topic and practice it until it comes naturally, then move on to the next.

[Chillwabbitt TT Silver Member]

No worries, if you can start with water not to deep (if the bike lays on it's side it should not cover it) with a nice sandy surface free of obstacles, this way you can start by getting the feeling of the front coming up at speed without fear of getting seriously hurt.

[Chillwabbitt TT Silver Member]

Now this is what I've been talking about well done.

[kennythump666 TT Newbie]

my suggestion...this is how i did it).  practice on a mountain bike first. at low/medium speed, compress forks then pull up, lean back and pedal.  use your body weight and the rear brake to keep you from going over but if you do, you can jump off and land on your feet.  do this until you find the balance point and are able to CONTROL it.  once you have it MASTERED on the mountain bike, take what you have learned and apply it to the dirtbike and you will be a wheeliing freak of nature, lol!  have fun!

[YZ450 Desert Rat TT Bronze Member]

I dont have any issues popping my front wheel over obstacles at speed, but I am scared to death to try a wheelie from 1st gear

wierd