Wheelies over waterholes.

RedRyder · Oct 8, 2001

Does everybody do this? While watching the Sparta, KY GNCC on FoxSports, I noticed that no one got the front end up in the big mudholes or the creek crossings. Aside from seeming faster, it's also a lot less messy and wet than letting the front tire part the waters. Watts and everyone else just slowed way down and plodded through it on both tires. Wheelie men! Wheelie!

YoTRacer158 · Oct 8, 2001

going through water crossings, etc can be dangerous at high speeds...you cant see rocks or deep spots in the water. if you charge through you could hit something and go down. also wheeling through can be bad if the back tire hits something, it'll throw your front wheel down and could cause you to go down as well.

Camstyn · Oct 8, 2001

Plus, riding in soaked boots/gloves/clothes gets awfully uncomfortable in a long XC race. Plodding through is the best method for deep crossings.

snaggleXR4 · Oct 8, 2001

Hey,
I agree, big water/mud holes, that you are not familiar with, it is better to be careful and go kinda slow. Hidden stumps and rocks have nearly ruined my day several times. However, in many situations, getting the front end light will save your butt. Whether you are crossing a small ditch, hole, downed tree etc. get on the throttle and let the rear take the hit. With proper technique and timing, you can climb/jump some very nasty obstacles with relative ease and comfort.

Camstyn · Oct 9, 2001

Most definitely.. When I'm play riding, I hit water with speed and the front end in the air, if it's familiar terrain and not too wide/deep that the front is in danger of dropping under (at high speed).. I wouldn't be foolish enough to do it if I were in a 3 hour race though :eek: Better safe than sorry.

roostinbe · Oct 9, 2001

this isn't really recommended, but i always hit them wheeling. i hit everything wheeling!( the old ladie crossing the street included) just kidding. i have practiced wheeling a lot, and i can do the walking pace thing, and all that, so i am a little lower risk. but i have never even come close to loosing it when i wheelie stuff.

Camstyn · Oct 9, 2001

Knock on wood! :scream:

RedRyder · Oct 10, 2001

I'm not talking about flying through the mudholes. 2nd and 3rd gear on a XR200 isn't exactly over anyone's head. But still, I'm pretty confident it's faster, easier, (and if done right, drier) than crawling through. And if there are hidden rocks, better to have the front wheel over it instead of hitting it dead on, right? That's what I would do on dry land if I couldn't dodge it. And I've had to foot dab many a time while going slow through rutted, slick waterholes, resulting in an acute case of the wetfoot. And if I must go down in the wet stuff, I'm going big. A spectacular wheelie-into-superman-into the water would make any spectator's day. And if my speed was up enough, I might land on the opposite side instead of in the middle.;)

roostinbe · Oct 13, 2001

yeah, cam, i agree. the only explanation i have is that if i aim the front end where i want to go, if i have good enough balance, sooner or later the back end is gonna have to follow. but a lot of the time, i ride in the ruts, when im on trails, so they give me some extra stability.

Camstyn · Oct 13, 2001

Yeah, exactly. The problem with hitting a deep crossing (not necessarily wide) at speed with the front end up is if you hit that big hidden rock with the back wheel, you're going to lose your momentum and the front end will drop in.. An ugly endo waiting to happen.
I'd only pull water stunts if I know the terrain.

rames90 · Oct 23, 2001

When I hit water that I can't see the bottom of, the front wheel is always in the air a bit. If the hole turns ot to be two feet deep or have a log in it I would rather not hit the log or opposite bank with my front tire! That would be a sure way to end up over the handle bars. The back tire will go over a lot more unseen obstacles than the front with out spilling you off. (We,re not talking having the bike vertical here, just the front tire a foot or so off the ground) Just my $0.02.

The problem with hitting a deep crossing (not necessarily wide) at speed with the front end up is if you hit that big hidden rock with the back wheel, you're going to lose your momentum and the front end will drop in. An ugly endo waiting to happen.

If when hitting the rear tire the rock is big enough to cause the front end to drop hard enough to endo you over the bars, imagine what would happen hitting it dead on with the front wheel! Bent rim, groin injury on triple clamp, broken wrists....

Camstyn · Oct 24, 2001

Originally posted by rames90
If when hitting the rear tire the rock is big enough to cause the front end to drop hard enough to endo you over the bars, imagine what would happen hitting it dead on with the front wheel! Bent rim, groin injury on triple clamp, broken wrists.... [/B]

If you're plowing through water fast enough to do any of this, your front end had better be up or you're going to get drenched.:scream:
My whole point was to take it safe through stuff like that and poke through it, not a WFO attack into the unknown.

RedRyder · Oct 30, 2001

This is what I'm talking about:

http://www.motoworld.com/ts/or_01102401.jhtml#

Notice the front wheel is just skimming the top of the water. Notice he won the race? Yes, I take partial credit for Wattsy's victory. The orange mohawk wasn't my idea, though. Still, it may let air circulate in the helmet better, thus reducing lens fogging...

I'm curious. I've always been told to let bikes/4 wheelers cool off before washing them, so you won't crack your cases due to the cold water. Is this true? Has this happened to off-road racers when they have to plow through deep water?

cweingartz · Oct 30, 2001

It should not crack if the engine is running because the engine is still creating heat and terefore it should not cool so fast that it cracks.

roostinbe · Nov 1, 2001

cam, i have actually had that happen a number of times. (the rear end hitting a rock, log or other submerged obstacle... it takes a lot of self control to not leave a little chili in your pants!):) I just don't really learn my lessons very easy, I have never fallen wheeling water, but i suppose one could argue that i am just testing fate. I choose to believe that it is from spending hours upon hours on my bike, learning its reaction to various situations. (I am 15 years old, so I have more time than the average working class hero, on a bike) Now that I think about it, if I can see the bottom of the crossing, I will just cruise across it. If I am at speed though... I wheelie. If you just lean back, I think that your back wheel tends to follow the contour of the ground, while the front end, (light from the weight shift) will tend to skim across the water.

Wheelies over waterholes.

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