Why are wheelies so...

[Fawbish]

...invigorating?


Im learning at the moment, and my god theyre just...ace.

As soon as it started getting the odd dry day again coming out of winter, Ive been slowly building up the confidence to pop the front, learning where the best point to chuck the clutch out is, how much revs will bring me up how quickly, what I need to do to hold it, my body positioning etc

Its just class. I feel like theres something about learning to do it, thats akin with say, learning your trade (if its something you love, obviously), just learning how to be technically good at something that impresses you so much.

A couple of weeks back I held my first "extended" (or what id call extended anyway ) wheelie. Bare in mind this wasnt specifically practising, and we were just on a longish stretch of quiet road and on the way home from a ride.

My mate who's fairly proficient at stand up wheelies on his bandit, reckons I hoiked it to about 40/45 degrees and held it for about 30/40 yards. I remember not much of this, cos to me, massive adrenaline rush, probably made even worse that my bike is my main form of transport, as well as my fun tool.

Today, I got asked by work if I could go pick up a laptop from our other site (bout ten miles away) and jumped at the chance, dry roads and sunshine. Today, pulled about a 50 yarder with what I feel was just below the balance point, when it suddenly pushed past the balance point, I backed off the throttle a bit early and reckon I might have done slight damage to my headbearings *shrugs* All part of the fun!


I dunno why I felt the need to share it, but I'd love to hear peoples opinions and views, how they felt when they were learning, what they learnt on, many people that have become proficient without fucking up at all?

Any videos of themselves learning? I plan on making some soon, just to document it. *shrugs*


Im rather sad and geeky I know but you never know, might be a fellow weirdo out there that finds the topic of experiencing learning something like this interesting!
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"Oh....it looks like Average Joe's is forfeiting the match!" - "Yeah, its a risky strategy but lets see if it pays off for 'em Cotton."

[T1z3R]

ive never tried it...always been to scared id stack the bike and/or hurt myself.

one day though...
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duck my sick!

[NSR Mick]

I gave up with them after stacking my GSXR big time.
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If you dont like the way that I ride.......Stop trying to keep up!!!

[Fawbish]

Oh its not looking good is it





I cant help it though. Once Id had the front end up and experienced what it felt like...they feel kind of addictive. I never do anything too mad though, always in small progressions. *nods sage-like*



How "big-time" was the stack mick?

T1z3R, do it, its a right good feeling
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"Oh....it looks like Average Joe's is forfeiting the match!" - "Yeah, its a risky strategy but lets see if it pays off for 'em Cotton."

[NSR Mick]

https://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a50/micklivesey/gsxr/MVC-004F.jpg
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If you dont like the way that I ride.......Stop trying to keep up!!!

[Barry_M2]

[Fawbish]

and and for doing that Mick, fookin hell man.



I take it that resulted from a little too much throttle, that is one big bastard oops!


barry, Im sure I will, but while I feel comfortable looking a tit and enjoying the wheelies, why not
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"Oh....it looks like Average Joe's is forfeiting the match!" - "Yeah, its a risky strategy but lets see if it pays off for 'em Cotton."

[Barry_M2]

I used to think the same, until I pulled the perfect wheelie right infront of an unmarked plod car (back in 1992).

I thought it was quite impressive at the time, unfortunatly the copper didn't! Luckily I just got a bit of a bollocking for it and sent on my way. Since that day, I've never really been a wheelie person, I prefer keeping both wheels firmly planted, you get round corners quicker!
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ZXR750R (M2) - For the road.
CBR1000 RR4 - For the track.
https://www.bikechatforums.com/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=4332

[Barry_M2]

Jesus christ Mick, you've destroyed that rear wheel!!!!


____________________
ZXR750R (M2) - For the road.
CBR1000 RR4 - For the track.
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[Fawbish]

thats fair enough mate


but if I took that view, Id feel I wouldnt be able to ride a bike about how I like to ride it!

I do like cornering, cant wait for trackdays this year, not many awesome corners/roads near me
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"Oh....it looks like Average Joe's is forfeiting the match!" - "Yeah, its a risky strategy but lets see if it pays off for 'em Cotton."

[NSR Mick]

[Syx]

I must admit I don't see the attraction!

[Fawbish]

Try it, you might see the attraction


You wont know unless you try *shrugs*
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"Oh....it looks like Average Joe's is forfeiting the match!" - "Yeah, its a risky strategy but lets see if it pays off for 'em Cotton."

[Syx]

Well that's what I mean - I have tried and whilst a mate of mine continues to do them I just don't bother anymore.

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

I was starting to learn on my Hornet, just wasn't THAT fussed about it.

Don't fancy trying it on the mille though, don't think it'll take the punishment quite so well.

Once it's de-restricted, I know I'm a restricted n00b.
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My Flickr

[TUG]

[Keir]

I like the odd wheelie. My K4 just loves every minute of it, so balanced and precise.

shame i cant say the same for the naked SV....

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v383/keir_compact/29122007118.jpg

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Current : '08 Yamaha FZ1s
Previous: '99 Honda CBR 600FX, 03 ZX636 B1H, 99 Fazer 600 (red), 02 GSX-R 600 K2, 00 SV650s (red), 2008 ZX10R, 97 Bandit 1200N, 04 ZX6RR K1H, 04 GSX-R 1000, 98 Fazer 600 (gold), 05 Madness 110 Pit bike, 04 CR125R, 00 SV650s (black), 06 KTM 625 SMC, 99 SRAD 600 track bike, 03 SV650, 98 Bandit 1200N, Bandit 600SY, 03 GSX-R 600 K3, 01 GSX-R 600, 01 Fazer 600 (black), VFR 400 NC30 x3, 78 Honda Dream, 00 Speedfight 50

[Jack_Cheese]

for mick lol

I'm really tempted to get a high-powered bike and attempt some low-speed stuff this summer. While stupidly fast, stupidly long wheelies sound interesting, i think i'd prefer to stick to sub-30mph stuff. It takes a lot of skill, and looks even more impressive!

I had my 125 come up fast on me once, and it scared me fooking shitless. The horizon was rapidly replaced by a speedo and a set of handlebars, but i agree with you - what a rush!

Jack
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Quacker_boy: "Jack, you really are a dick!"

[Kal]

[veeeffarr]

I started to practice how to do them, could do some shitty ones (Like my avatar) and then did a few bigger ones and decided it wasn't really worth it, felt like a bit of an attention seeking tit tbh.

[TUG]

[veeeffarr]

[Jack_Cheese]

[TUG]

no no no thats not what i mean... i just meant that biking is a way of grabbing attention i didnt mean your an atention whore per say, most people get rather interested when you tell them you own a bike.
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Haz ER-5, innit!

[TheDonUK]

I always tell myself i should go out and get good at wheelieing,

I have brought the front up on my bandit and now a bit on the hornet, but i can never get away from that niggling voice in my head saying "there goes more money on parts+labour", that has stopped me actually going out specifically to wheelie my bikes.

I would love to have a stunt bike for a day, or just an old banger with crash bungs, or failing that theres nothing quite like knackering a rental bike that includes free parts+labour servicing any time.

I thought about those wheelie schools you hear about but 170+ quid... fuck that, ile go skydiving again for that money