Stoppies

Seems like there are a lot of wheelie questions but no stoppie questions, so here we go. I'm curious how fast (or really how slow) you guys are going when you do a ROLLING stoppie/endo whatever you want to call them. I'd like to hear about some techniques too. I think maybe I just have the balls for these. For some reason I'll do 100 mph + wheelies, but I can't get my brain to do these. I think when I see the videos where the guys' front wheel starts wobbling real bad and he wrecks freaks me out.

Here is my advice, dont do them ! I was rolling them out good 10 - 20 yard stoppies going about 40 mph and "gently" squeezing the front brake untill I could feel the rear pick its self up. After doing this for about half a summer I got real brave. Started hitting the brakes at about 60 mph, and rollin them till I stopped. One time I rolled it out at 12:00 up and down. Time stood still... I actually saw my R1 fall on me ! I went right over the front of the bike... stoppies require a lot of skill and I would say is 10X harder to do than wheelies... so there ya go... dont try it untill you have gained the utmost respect for your ride.

Get to know your R1 better.. get to know the brakes. Do more riding before you attempt any stunts. I'm already on my 2nd front tire after 1600 miles. My rear tires won't last much longer either.

Originally posted by throttle-cntrl ... 40 mph and "gently" squeezing the front brake untill I could feel the rear pick its self up. Make sure you do it progressively or it will be an expensive mistake! I used to think I knew the R1 well after about 15,000 miles, including track days and Level 1 & 2 of the California Superbike School. It did not bother me if the back end went light under hard braking and skipped side to side. Then one day an emergency situation occured at low speed (30mph) on the road and while I quickly assessed which of 3 options to go for, my subconscious for once did a 2 finger brake lever grab commiting me to the brake hard and hope option. I was instantly launched over the bars and slammed shoulder first into the road with the bike following me over. :eek: At least I did not hit head first and at least the bike did not hit me too hard except on the leg where the front wheel had me pinned down. It was a very expensive mistake because the bike cost £1500 to rebuild, and I paid a personal price in 2 broken fingers (trapped by the brake lever?) and a broken collar bone. Those brakes are even more awesome than I thought :thumbup

When I first bought my R1 I did a lot of stoppies. I am really bad at wheelies, but stoppies were simple. I could do them from +100mph down to a stop. One day a friend of mine got a mtb and I asked to ride it around the neighborhood. Of course it was stoppie-fest 2001. I was lifting the rear and pivoting on the front. I thought I was pretty cool. Finally one went bad. By the time it did not feel like the million stoppies I had done before I was launched. I am very glad it was not a 400lb $10K R1 landing on me. The point is that if a wheelie starts to go bad you have the opportunity to save it. If a stoppie starts to go bad it is usually too late. Stoppies are deceptively difficult. Words of wisdom: Make sure your front tire is heated up.

kneedragonr1- Where are you at in DC? I live in Waldorf. Where do you go to ride? Let me know if you want to hook up and ride some time.

I live on 17th and Massachusetts Ave. It is in NW about 5 blocks from the White House. I usually ride everywhere I can. Sometimes we ride 211 to Sperryville in VA. That is the BEST road in the entire area that I know of. This Saturday I am going to Skyline. It will be more of a sporting ride than a balls out, kneedown assault on the mountain. If you can make it out let me know, but it is a bit far from Waldorf. Erik S.