Wheelies Made Easy
Okay, kids...I run a sportbike site and I get this all the time...a guy buys a new F4i (600 cc entry-level bike) and runs with the pack, then sees all the other guys wheelie-ing for blocks, and he pulls his back out trying to 'jerk' his bike up. I ride a YZ426 in the dirt, so I'm kind of biased about how easy dirt bikes wheelie...but the truth is..they DO wheelie easy. There is a professional stuntbike rider named Gary Rothwell who made a page dedicated to teaching people how to wheelie streetbikes. Most of his info can be transferred to you guys who are wheelie-deficient.
First, make sure that you're NOT trying to wheelie on a motorcycle that has NO chance of wheelie-ing. Although an 82 RM125 that hasn't had a top end put in it for 5 years probably COULD be wheelied by someone who's comfortable with it...it's not the best bike to learn on. Depending on your weight, most modern 250 dirtbikes will wheelie an average adult (or I haven't seen one that wont)...or if you have a Gas-Gas, or a trails bike, you just need a decent power-to-weight ratio bike.
Some guys wheelie using the clutch. It's unnecessary for 1st gear wheelies, and it's damaging to your clutch hub and plates. All motorcycles have a 'powerband'. Even 4 stroke streetbikes have an RPM where they have a decent rise in power. 2-strokes OBVIOUSLY have a pronounced powerband...right at the base of your bikes powerband is where you need to start the wheelie. What you want is to be going fast enough in first gear to be right at the brink of where the bike makes it's peak power, but not so fast that you're going to over-rev the bike before the front end gets high enough to ride.
Move your center of gravity over the back wheel. Don't move back so far that you cannot adjust your body position during the wheelie (don't just stick your butt back as far as you can...just sit back on the seat a bit...your knees should still have a slight bend, your arms should be straightened, but comfortable...possibly a slight bend).
In 1st gear, bring the bike up to speed at an RPM that is just below or right where the bike makes it's transition into the powerband. On 4 strokes, this is about 3/4 through the RPM range.
Be prepared to close the throttle if the front end gets too high...this will bring the front end down as fast as hitting the rear brake, and it's the easiest way to maintain and control front end height.
To bring the front end up, Chop the throttle. By chop, I mean from whereever you have the throttle positioned now, in one, quick motion, go to full closed, then to full open throttle. What should have happened is that you were riding in first gear, with the front suspension settled (not rebounding or compressing more than just for normal small bumps...you aren't jerking up and down on the front end). Then you closed the throttle, which will throw the motorcycles weight forward, compressing the forks. Then you opened the throttle, using the fork's rebound and the rear wheel's spin to bring the front end up in the air. If your center of gravity was back far enough, your bodyweight would have helped keep the wheel from spinning, and kept unnecessary weight off of the front end.
Don't try to shut the throttle off for a second to let the forks compress, then try to jam the throttle back on when you think they would be rebounding...trust me, just chop it. OFF-ON from whereever you are holding the throttle. If you are still having problems, or the bike just doesn't seem to be coming up far enough, when you are chopping the throttle back ON...jerk on the bars, just pull them back towards you. Hopefully this will get you started...
Once you get the front end up, remember that the easiest way to shut a wheelie down is to shut down the throttle, the engine braking will cause the rear wheel to slow, which will force the front end down...it's rough, but it's easier than trying to find your rear brake or clutch during a 'clincher'. After you get the front end up in the air, maintain it using the throttle. Obviously if the front end just barely comes up, try starting the throttle chop at a higher RPM and going to the full ON throttle stop instead of just giving it half throttle.
If it starts to come up real quick, then suddenly revs out, but the front end drops, your rear wheel is spinning...try starting the OFF-ON chop at a lower RPM, or move your center of gravity back furthur.
I read that someone was trying to use a small dip in the yard as a primer to get the front end up...you don't need it. Just chop the throttle. If all else fails, break down and spend $20 on a minus-one-tooth front sprocket. Hopefully this helps...good luck, and wear a helmet when you try this.
The Grasshopper