I must say that I have read alot of threads on riding wheelies. Well today was my very first attempt at it and all I can say is WOW!!!!!!!!! This bike just keeps me on it more and more. Only did a hand full of times the only cop in town knows the sound and looks of the bike all to well. So thanks for all who posted threads on how to wheelie.
Just curious, what method did you use to wheelie? I like the fact that wheelies on my 12 have to be purposeful, compared to metric bikes I have ridden -- I like a bike that wants to stay on the ground.
Maybe its just me, but I can not get the wheel up in any gear but first, without rev'in and popping the clutch anyhow. I dont really care to do that either. I've got about every performance parts you can think of to get power and still nothing. Tons of torque with the wheel on the ground. Im not complaining by any means, I prefer that. But I'd like to get the front wheel up at 50 mph at times. Maybe I need to loose some weight...a strict lettuce diet.lol Does anybody else have this problem? I just dont see it being possible to get a monster torque wheelie out of this bike in anything but first gear.
I did it only once in second at around 5000rpm had to clutch it up. It was the only time I really tried though. It came up about a foot then I let it down since im not used to this bike yet, but I had to try it...lol
i went searching for your wheelie posts and I cant find them, can you tell me where you searched? I would like to learn how to SAFELY pull it up. The last time that I tried I almost put the tail light on the ground, that scared me enough to not try it again until I can find a better way to do it. It is a weird sensation to go from looking down the road, to going vertical looking at clear blue in less than a blink of an eye! To think I was 1/8 of a block from a police station, that would have been a good story for them. A scratch on my baby would kill me!
Literally 20 minutes ago, I just pulled my first power wheelie in first gear on my way home from work on my XB12S, it was exhilarating! I'm 190 so I don't have too much faith in being able to do it in second gear. I totally wish I didn't do it, cause I know I am going to want to do it more now.
The method I used was to just try in first, went to country (I live next to the middle of nowhere) got the bike rolling and throttled to about 2000 rpm and let off and got back on to about the same. Went up about foot or so and tried to roll gas slightly more. 3rd attempt same thing, but grabbed 2nd w/ a little more throttle. Took a couple nothing like great, just couldn't let the ZX14 in town be the only one to wheelie. BTW only 3 sport bikes in the whole town. Don't know if helps, but my rider weight is 140 lbs.
First gear should come right up on either the 9 or the 12 with power or the clutch.
In 2nd you'll want to be between 20-30 mph, bring up the rpms and let out the clutch. You should be able to do wheelies in 2nd on either bike sitting down with no problem.
In 3rd you'll want to be between 40-55 mph with one foot on the left passenger peg, your right foot over the rear brake (very important to cover the rear brake by the way), pull in the clutch, bring up the rpms and give the suspension a bounce as you let the clutch out. It will take you a while to get the timing right and to feel comfortable doing it.
In 4th I was able to get the front off the ground, but never quite to the balance point before I ran out of gear. I'm pretty sure it can be done, but I never quite had the balls to get it accomplished.
Don't take this the wrong way, but my problem in 4th with not having the testicular fortitude to get the bike all the way to the balance point is the only thing holding anyone back from doing long controlled wheelies on their Buells. Start small, and work your way up. Here is a video of Duff on his "moped" aka 12r.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUeiIMWwv0c
Don't let anyone tell you that your bike won't do it...
MAn... he does a good job...Does he use the clutch and the brake while hes going down the highway to control the bike...Seems his hand is slipping the clucth alot as well to keep control as well as that brake light coming off and on..???
how to wheelie a.) start bike roll throttle all the way hang on b.) powershift into second again roll throttle and hang on c.) remove shyt from drawers
I wheelie constantly on my 9s. I usually go in 2nd about 3,000rpms small bounce and clutch it right up. You want to try and hit the balance point fast as you can and just controle it other wise you will run out of gear. I go with my left foot on the rear passenger peg becuase its more stable and always cover my rear break. 3rd gear It takes a big bounce around 50-60 and it will come right up. The trick is to know where the balance point is and just hold it. I can stay consistant in 2nd at 40 for a good while. Sit down wheelies will eventually bite you because the balance point is much higher than a stand up wheelie.
He has a hand brake set up on at leats one of his bikes Hogs, so that is why it looks like he is slipping the clutch. He only uses the clutch to bring the bike up initially and then it is all throttle and brake to control the wheelie. Duff and I used to ride a lot before I sold my bike, and it is an act of God that neither of us ended up in jail for riding like that all the time.
I have rode wheelies for over 1 mile at 70mph and never starved the motor. When I tore it down at 28k it had almost no wear on the cylinders or piston skirts, mild wear on the cams and rockers.
So I took my XB9S out for some one-wheel action. I have a nice secluded place to play. It's a subdivision with no houses, but the streets are all paved. I've actually found two different places like that and they're both far enough away from everybody so as not disturb anyone or alert authorities. Thank you housing market. It's like having my own little race track.
Anyway, I only managed a whole bunch of low short-lived wheelies and one big one that was probably close to the balance point. It's hard to get myself to just drop the clutch and not ease it out. And when I do get it up I don't have the confidence to keep it up. I also got the back tire in the air a couple of times. It startled me at first. I didn't have any idea it was actually up until I felt it slam back down.