Wheelies period

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Micahdawg

Member
Feb 2, 2001
503
0
Since the subject came up...does anyone have tips on pulling wheelies? I've always been able to hold wheelies through one gear (usually 2nd), but I've never really shifted while doing them. Any tips

I was getting pretty comfortable on my 97 RM 250, but one day I was on the edge while riding one out in 3rd gear and went backward (Major Ouch). Since then I've been kinda phobic about doing wheelies period.

I'm wondering if having a 52 tooth sprocket on back is making it more difficult for me? (49 tooth stock) With the gearing being shorter it's probably making the throttle touchier. Seems like it's either up or down...no comfortable place to ride it out.

Micah
 
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gibbs_6

Member
Jul 5, 2001
657
0
You'll get over the fear of crashing once you do it a few times mostly it ain't that bad as long as you aren't on pavement, rocks, or terrain or with lots of sticks.:scream: I can get them from 1st to 5th, but chicken out.I am working on the whole one gear thing.I also just shift.Can do them with the clutch well once, but I don't use it on wheelies.:eek: Good luck.
 

Jaybird

Apprentice Goon
LIFETIME SPONSOR
Mar 16, 2001
6,449
0
Charlestown, IN
Can't say I've ever really tried to shift whilst in a wheelie. When I do em, I like to be in 2nd and standing...compress the front end and ride it up when it rebounds. A good rider can do this in about any gear. I don't like to wheelie much sitting since I feel like I have less control. (shrug)

Another tip...if you are dong wheelies, try not to wear pink tutu's...it draws mucho attention and everybody will see if you loop out! :p
 
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Micahdawg

Member
Feb 2, 2001
503
0
Problem for me...I'm taller than the average rider at 6'8". So standing is a bit awkward for me. The rest of the riding aspect is perfectly fine though...riding, jumping, etc... It's just that I make a 250 look like an 80 :)

Micah
 
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cr125_king

Member
Apr 2, 2001
343
0
First off, a 52 rear sroket isn't your problem because i got 13/52 gearing. I can wheelie form 1st to 5th, but it has tooken me many days, weeks, and years to get to where i'am now. I've went over backwards a few times this year, but luckily i was only in 2nd gear. I always have my right foot right by the brake. I also use the brake to control the wheelie sometimes. I find it much harder to learn wheelies in the lower gears. Try like 3rd gear. As for shifting while wheeling, i cant help you much there , because i just do it, and i dont know how to describe how to do it the way i do.:)
 
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Aust 520exc

Member
Jun 19, 2001
37
0
The foot over the back brake is pretty hard to remember to do, but it really saves you sliding on your a$$.

I find that it is easy to shift up gears in a sitting wheelie, but gets really tricky in a stand-up, probably because you have to grip with your knees??

To shift in a sitting wheelie pop the bike up to the balance point - try this in 1st for starters - then right before you shift up, blip the throttle a tiny bit (really tiny - remember the sliding on you a$$ thing) back it off and grab the next gear without the clutch, roll the throttle on to maintain the balance point and you are laughing. All this happens really quick & it is easy to make a mistake so going slower helps.

I also found that a nice smooth incline 10-15 deg slope was good to practice this on for starters.

Once you get this figured out blasting past you mates on a fire trail on the back wheel becomes second nature :cool: The next trick is to wheelie around corners without taking a soil sample:eek:
 
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roostinbe

Member
Mar 22, 2001
141
0
well, i used to think i was a wheely master, then i looped on the highway doing a 5th gear pinned wheely... it lasted like 30 seconds before i looped though!(i think that counts for something):think although i started thinking that after my shattered tail bone healed.:scream: so then i went back to the drawing boards, and learned to have proper riding posture, and use the clutch and brake to controll it, now i can ride walking pace wheelies!:cool:
As for shifting while you wheely, just get it up to the balance point, and don't use the clutch. (now i think i am a wheely master again):p
 
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cr125_king

Member
Apr 2, 2001
343
0
It may take a few times of going over backwards to remember the back brake thing:) . It did for me
 
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Boozer

Member
Oct 5, 2001
351
0
i always use the clutch when shifting during wheelies. If you are at balance point, (true balance point) then it shouldn't be a problem. I recently spent $600 fixing the damage after i flipped my bike not long ago. I went from a 4th gear seat mono to standing on the pegs. Bit tricky for me, but had done it a few times before. I now practice using my back brake while i wheelie. its almost second nature, and i don't do any wheelies without my foot over the back brake. If you are just starting out, keep your foot over the brake! and learn how to use it when you need it. I had my foot over the brake when i flipped, but didn't use it! it wont happen again.
 
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cr125freak

Member
Jul 11, 2005
216
0
Dont be afraid of wrecking... i flipped my 125 the day i bought it and snapped the rear fender ,.... just remember ABORT TO FETAL POSITION
 
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yz250f_thumper#9

Member
Aug 7, 2005
3
0
yo, i used to be exactly tha same about riding wheelies when i had an xr 100 i would put it in 3rd and ride it tacked out and i would go a long way. Now iv got a yz250f and i figured out the secret to changing gears and riding the sickest wheelies ever! What you do is put it in 1st and get the motor reved pretty high and gear up quickly into 2nd making the front wheel pop up, then get the bike at a balance point (not to high and not to low) and you dont want the engine to get too high before you shift, but just have your left index finger and thumb on the grip and every other finger on the clutch and just practice it, it will come to you soon enough.
 
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Dirtbike'n man

Member
Feb 20, 2004
241
0
 

High Lord Gomer

Poked with Sticks
Sep 26, 1999
11,788
35
yz250f_thumper#9 said:
...have your left index finger and thumb on the grip and every other finger on the clutch...
Click to expand...
I've never seen anyone ride that way. Most people hold on with their thumb, ring, and pinky while using their middle and index finger (or just one of those) for the clutch.
 
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yz250f_thumper#9

Member
Aug 7, 2005
3
0
:aj:
High Lord Gomer said:
I've never seen anyone ride that way. Most people hold on with their thumb, ring, and pinky while using their middle and index finger (or just one of those) for the clutch.
Click to expand...
:aj:
well i started doing my shifting like that cuz you can pull the clutch all the way in and it doesnt touch any of your fingers if you have the clutch perch scooted out, also you can shift more efortlessly and quicker.
 

High Lord Gomer

Poked with Sticks
Sep 26, 1999
11,788
35
A nice thing about using your index and/or middle finger for the clutch is that you have much better fine motor control with those and can do a better job of modulating the clutch to feed the power to the transmission. With a properly working and adjusted clutch you shouldn't need to pull the lever all the way to the bars.
 
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bhd112

Member
Aug 11, 2005
1
0
Hey I have a Honda XR80R Dirt Bike I can't do wheelies. I need help! Does it matter if it is a 4 Stroke engine?
 

High Lord Gomer

Poked with Sticks
Sep 26, 1999
11,788
35
While it may not bring the front end up as quickly, 4 strokes (even yours) are easier to control while on the back wheel because the power delivery is smoother and merely letting off the gas is like hitting the brake to bring the front down when it gets too high.

I would try hitting a bump, accelerating hard, and pulling back on the bars. You should be able to get the front up. Keeping it up (without going over) is the tough part!
 
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TomMcT

Member
Aug 4, 2005
17
0
sorry to revive a old thread but I must ask why I can't get the front wheel up on my RM 125 I pin it in first or second and the thing just bogs down... is there a different technique to doin a wheelie?
 
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DirtyDrew

Member
Jul 8, 2005
27
0
If you cant get it up in first, it might be time for a new top end. Even on a 125 it should get up in first if you just twist the throttle hard ( although if your in first theres a good chance you could loop it)
 
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