Tank-wheelies

Ok, I have seen those stuntriders that are sitting on the tank with their legs over the windscreen while doing a wheelie. So it is possible. But one thing I do not understand is how to controll the balance; when you are down in the saddle you could alvays use the backbreake to controll the bike from flipping over, but that seems impossible for those tankwheelie-guys. How do they controll the bike from flipping over?

they are good enough that poor throttle control is no longer a real issue.

I have never used the back break to stop from flipping over. It is just not something I ever learned. On an R1 you have 1000cc of nearly 12:1 compression, so if you let off the gas it will come back down so long as you have not done anything truly stupid. When I do a tank wheelie, either feet out or over the screen I do them in 2nd gear at about 40-50mph. I just fan the clutch to get it up and then play with the throttle to keep it up. I cannot balance a tank wheelie where I am not speeding up, although I can do a good 1/8-1/4 mile tank wheelie.

Hey JAYSTENSEC4CYL What was going in your mind the first time you tried it..? And how does it feel like, for me it doesn't look that safe.... Is it steady?

man, mad props to those people with the skills to do tank wheelies. i was just learning how to wheelie last year and i flipped my 01 R1. there's a LOT more to this story (was a very close flirt with life). i remember rounding 12 o'clock (and past) and reaching for that rear brake lever. i never was able to reach it - my feet were getting dragged behind the bike. :eek:

Originally posted by tjenahejsan Hey JAYSTENSEC4CYL What was going in your mind the first time you tried it..? And how does it feel like, for me it doesn't look that safe.... Is it steady? I first saw a feet over the screen wheelie (high-chair to me) on a video. I was thinking at the time "I bet I could do that". I was worried before I tried it that when I clutched it to bring it up it might try to slide me off the back of the tank. Once I tried it it was no big deal. It is an odd feeling to be sure, but not anything that makes you rich or makes chicks love you...lol I do them from about 40-50mph in 2nd gear. The more talented the person the slower they will be able to start it from. It is pretty steady, no feeling that it will go right or left. As I said i cannot "balance" a tank wheelie and ride it for miles, I have to keep chasing it with the throttle. My sig pic is of a high-chair. I did it at a Wheelie contest at the local drag strip. It was the longest tank wheelie I had done up to that time. I went about 1/8 mile. I was competing against Patric Smith. I should say riding with him as he is so much better than me it was like we were in two different class's. That day I did a longer tank wheelie than he did :) I was stoked. Patric is a way cool guy, and was more than happy to show me different ways to do tricks. He has no scerets. I think Patric is on a web site like SPORTBIKEHYPE.com or something like that. He does forever long stand up's, and one handed standup's like most people drink Coke. No big deal.

JAYSTENSEC4CYL, Did you go to World SRC in Tulsa? Didn't know if I seen you there. It was definately cool. :rock Just curious....Later

JAYSTENSEC4CYL - Doing that would scare the hell out of me.. which means that someday I have to try it.. some day :) Respect to you and all others doing that insane stunt..!

Hey JAYSTENSEC4CYL what mods have you done to your bike? Dampener ect.?

Jay from what I remember has re-worked his engine several times.... this due to the stunting.. ? I gotta remove those mirrors before I attempt something like that. What worries me the most is if I would attempt a high-chair wheelie and I get too much air beneath my feets and that pulls ME (not the bike) over and make me flip while the bike continues "like normal".. I've seen a video of a guy sitting on the tank and as he accelerate he gets air under his feets and he literally flies / is pushed off the bike by the wind while the bikes continues down the road. Regarding tankwheelies. What worries me there is that I might hit the handle bar with my leg. In both cases, the landing worries be. That if I get a hard landing I might brake something or get a slapper that will for sure toss me around.. maybe not off the bike. But still ...

Originally posted by BallsR-Not4Sale JAYSTENSEC4CYL, Did you go to World SRC in Tulsa? Didn't know if I seen you there. It was definately cool. :rock Just curious....Later I didn't go. If I had went I would have wanted to be in the show not watching it, and I am no where near as talented as the guys out there. I had to stay at the house and work on some bikes:( My roomate and a few friends went. I heard Patric won the stoppie contest, and my buddy Joey Barta placed second. I wish I could have been there to cheer them on.

Originally posted by brianb Hey JAYSTENSEC4CYL what mods have you done to your bike? Dampener ect.? I am pretty broke most of the time I am awake so I do not have a bunch of super trick parts on my bike. The main things I have are IVAN's jet kit ( I cannot say enough good things about it), a full Akrapovic (way over priced, but works very well), one tooth smaller front sprocket. I have no dampner, I want one but have no money for one. I have bone stock suspention. I think it works pretty well I have it set up to my liking. The motor is stone stock, only thing I have done is add CR9EK spark plugs, a new clutch, and oil changes. Thats it. I am still using the stock rear sprocket and chain, I have 16,800 miles on the bike. Best drag strip pass so far has been a 10.24 @ 138. I have a bunch of little trick stuff thats makes it look good, but dosen't do anything for the performance. I have painted the wheels, chain gaurd, tank bottoms,and engine covers blue. I have polished the frame and swingarm. Relocated the front turnsignals into the headlight housing. Have LED rear turnsignals (that came off of a police car's roof mounted LED light bar). I shaved the stock mudflap, sanded the hell out of it and painted it blue. I have the fuel tank and seat quick release pins. Have a bunch of blue fastners on it. I have the light covers ( one eye and one that says "THE MAN"). I have the blue and silver second look seat covers (look great). I just got one of Roberts Tach faces. And maybe a few more little things I have forgotton. OW I have Frame, Clutch, Bar, and Swingarm sliders...lol:thumbup

Originally posted by Swedie Jay from what I remember has re-worked his engine several times.... this due to the stunting.. ? I gotta remove those mirrors before I attempt something like that. What worries me the most is if I would attempt a high-chair wheelie and I get too much air beneath my feets and that pulls ME (not the bike) over and make me flip while the bike continues "like normal".. I've seen a video of a guy sitting on the tank and as he accelerate he gets air under his feets and he literally flies / is pushed off the bike by the wind while the bikes continues down the road. Regarding tankwheelies. What worries me there is that I might hit the handle bar with my leg. In both cases, the landing worries be. That if I get a hard landing I might brake something or get a slapper that will for sure toss me around.. maybe not off the bike. But still ... I have never rebiult my motor. I just had the stock motor shit the #4 rod bearing. I am going to rebuilt it, and make it more powerful as money allows me to do so. For now I have just bought a used motor off of EBAY that i will be putting in as soon as time allows. I have my mirrors in place. I like it better when they are on the bike. It makes it slightly more difficult to get your legs over it, but gives my legs something to bump into before I accidently bump my handlebars. I have never had a problem with air getting under me. Once you get the bike up the air will be hitting the bottom of the upper fairing anyway. Hell I have sat on the Tank with my feet over the windscreen and done 130mph before. Just screwing off. Not wheeling, but just screwing with my roomate who was trying to race me at the time...lol I have not gotton a tank slapper on a tank wheelie landing yet. I am sure it is possible, but I would thnk less likely than doing a standup. I have broken the windscreen bolts before. They are plastic, and thankfully break away before the upper fairing breaks. I have replaced them with some blue metal fastners. I now pull my heels into the headlights when I am landing. It helps to keep me from getting jarred, and also keeps me from letting the weight of my legs land down on the windscreen.

that is some seriously sick shit! can't wait to perfect regular wheelies, then maybe can grow th balls to try the tankers! one problem am waiting to heal my broken back, and wrist from stupid snow boarding accident. oh well shit happens. live life in the fast lane right!

Alrighty! Also a bit "afraid" of scratching the tank with my bum :D I wanna move to the states.. I think I got a better future there...