I can't keep it up!

My wheelies that is. I can get up at any time but it seems like I am alway going up or down. I think I am letting off the gas too much when I get it up instead of just enough to stop acending. I know I need some more practice. Any tips?:)

hey man.. join the club bro... I can pop it up anytime on first but as soon as it gets up I get freaked out and let of the gas... Do YOU have any tips?? LOL

Guys before I learned I used to be the same way on my R6. Finally one day a friend just took me out to a 1 mile striaght and started teaching me. It took a lot of hard landings and near misses, but I finally got it. On the R6 I just sped up to about 45 mph, clutched it up to about 7000 RPM's in second, dumped the clutch and nursed the throttle until I found that elusive balance point. The R1 is obviously much quicker to come up. Go the same speed, about 45 or 50, pull in the clutch, give it about 5000-6000 RPM's, dump the clutch and play with the throttle to get it steady. On the R1 you have to be just a little more careful on the throttle control once you have it up because it is so precise and touchy. Good luck, and just dedicate an afternoon to it. Tell yourself "I'm not going home until I learn how to do this" I used to watch other guys and be so envious. I finally decided I was going to quit "sitting the bench" and get in the game. Mind over matter, my friends!

i have been working on my 1st gear wheelie..i can power it up all the time, but i chicken out when it gets about 2 feet offf the ground...once you get close to the balance point, or you start to feel, that light feeling....is it really that sensitive, or close to looping?....or is it just a newbie feeling...a few times i have felt the bike get ...how do you say this...hmmm well, if you just power it up, you feel the bike pulling hard as the wheel comes up. but, if you allow the front to get higher, the bike doesnt have to pull that hard any more...but then i feel like im going to have too much power and loop it, so i chicken out...and instead of letting off the throttle easy, or just keepnoig the throttle where it is and letting the bike down gently, i get off the throttle....and slam the bike down..Horrible i know, i have done it about 5 times now, and i know its hard on the bike..been working hard to stop doing that... are 2nd gear wheelies alittle more forgiving? I am afraid to pop the clutch like that, always afraid of looping the bike...but i was out downtown the other night, watching some guys doing standups, and I heard them poppin the clutch in 2nd to get it up, (never had a bike that you had to be soooo careful with the throttle on) I have read just about all of the Wheelie help in here, but it comes down to needing some on the bike practice time....well, talk to yahs later...

okay ... this is more of a comment than advice. I have a friend that rides a 900RR, who can wheelie through 3 gears. I never see him popping the clutch in 2nd to do it. he always starts in 1st gear and shifts through to 3rd. okay, sometimes the road or traffic doesn't allow him to get to 3rd, but he can. I don't know that it helps you any to know that, but why would you want to start in 2nd gear anyway? :confused:

Originally posted by Devlish I don't know that it helps you any to know that, but why would you want to start in 2nd gear anyway? I'm not putting you down or flaming, but 2nd gear wheelies is where it's at. I'm working on getting up in 3rd. There's just something about crusing along the highway, dropping a gear, bouncing the pegs, and riding a nice one out for a 1/2 mile or so. I do most all my wheelies out on the highway, so 1st gear is not an option.

DEVLISH: It is really bad on your transmission/gearbox to shift from first to second. The way the gears are set up you will wear out 2nd gear a lot faster doing this. I believe it is because of the gap from downshifting for 1st, upshifting for 2nd thing. The shift from 2nd to 3rd to 4th etc is much easier on the gears. I can ride first gear wheelies no problem, but I won't shift them to second. Listen to the gears shift when someone does this. You will hear a lot more of a "clunk" from 1st to second. DRAGGIN: First gear wheelies are simply a throttle play. I usually only do them when I want to show off, be squidly, impress the ladies, or whatever you want to call it. I don't think there really is a balance point in first. You just have to nurse the throttle just right. Once you get it up just play with the throttle a little bit and you will figure it out. Just get on it hard and it should come up pretty quick. IMO, second gear wheelies are much easier. There is more control to them. Before I learned them I used to try 1st gear all the time, and the problem with it is that it is so unpredictable. There is just so much power immediately available. I was shifting from 2nd to 3rd on my R6, but on the R1 sometimes I can and sometimes I can't. When I do shift to 3rd it is usually at about 100-105 mph, and 3rd gear has so much power still you have to be careful not to loop it. On the R6 I could shift to 3rd and just lay down the throttle to keep it up. If you do that on the R1 then :hellobye . I'd start trying some second gears if I were you, just start out small and work your way up. Start out just with enough trottle & clutch dump to get your tire off the ground, then work your way up. Good luck.

I find it easiest to do wheelies in 2nd with the clutch. I can get it up as slow as 20 mph and it doesn't have to come down til about 120 mph. I can do them without the clutch too but it isn't as predictable. When I dump the clutch in 2nd I bring it straight to the ballance point and just hold it there. I find it is harder to get it just right without the clutch. As for first gear wheelies on the 02 R1 I think that they are harder to control then 2nd gear because it is just to damn touchy but now that I am used to it if I have to do a slow wheelie (under 10mph) I just clutch it up in first. Some people ask me why I have to use the clutch to do a wheelie on that bike. I tell them I don't have to use the clutch I just choose to because I feel it gives me much more control. Hope this helps. Just do like the other guy says and go to a nice straight away and beat that thing loud. Just make sure you have frame sliders, a damper, and full coverage.

none of you have reached the balance point because you aint got no balls :D

Actually I am trying to save what is next to them for future use.:) :boobies

R1ZOOM: Thanks for the info on shifting from 1st to 2nd. I had no idea, and was planning on trying that soon. maybe i'll just try straight 2nd gear wheelies instead.

Yeah, think I will try the 2nd gear clutch method today. I need a damper but got to save some $ for my move next month.

Sure thing guys, and good luck with your attempts. Just remember to start off small, then work your way up. Don't try to ride a 1/2 mile wheelie the first time up! Get a feel for them by starting small. SWEDIE: If you get you a new bike and make it over to the states I'll ride in a wheelie contest against you anyday! I'm not scared!

damm all this wheelie talk has me worked up! I feel that I'm in the same boat as alot of riders in here, I can ride first gear until I come up on the revs... and I'm kinda skeptical about that 1st-2nd shifting with the front end three feet off the ground. SO I told myself nomore 1st gear wheelies until I can get them up in 2nd on a regular basis. On my way to work last night while the R's were coming up in 2nd (about 6500) I just pulled it wide open and with alittle tug on the bars I had the front wheel just below the balance point.....I rode it out for awhile and sat it down...the whole time just amazed how much more control I had over it compared to the 1st gear wheelies. I think most of us need to do what R1 zoom did, take a full day and just practice!!!

Hey, Viagra comes in 25,50,or 100mg tablets or your can wait until Eli Lilly & Co.'s competition drug comes down the pipeline. :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol Quite jovial, huh? Seriously, I just recently began to learn adequate throttle control when wheeling. Your going to have to untrain yourself and lean back a little. I know it's hard, but it's the only way to keep it afloat. AND NO, I can't get you any viagra! Gotta go, Dr. A

Originally posted by R1ZOOM SWEDIE: If you get you a new bike and make it over to the states I'll ride in a wheelie contest against you anyday! I'm not scared! Sounds good with me :cool: Prepare yourself to loose :D how long is your longest wheelie.. if that is what we're talking about.

Ey swedie he should take a look at Tommys wheelie video, dont you agree??

SWEDIE: If you get you a new bike and make it over to the states I'll ride in a wheelie contest against you anyday! I'm not scared! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sounds good with me Prepare yourself to loose how long is your longest wheelie.. if that is what we're talking about.: I ride with R1zoom and he is pretty good I'd say minimun of a mile. But he can't out wheelie me because the silver ones are faster, more balanced, and alot more manly.

GO TO YOUR DOC AND TELL HIM YOU CAN'T KEEP IT UP HE WILL GIVE YOU SOMTHING ....THEN NEXT TIME YOU GO TO GET GAS POUR IT IN TO THE TANK AND YOU CAN KEEP IT UP ALL DAY LONG........:p JUST KIDDING GO INTO THE FOURMS THERE IS ALL SORTS OF TIPS IN THERE AND MOST OF ALL IT JUST TAKES PRATICE

MrGooFy.. I know.. i've seen him.. ****ed up guy.. he showed off when I met him earlier this year.. :lol R1ZOOM... :finger j/k Would be fun meeting up with ya.

Originally posted by brianb Yeah, think I will try the 2nd gear clutch method today. I need a damper but got to save some $ for my move next month. Brian... try them out man.. I just started to learn them on 2nd gear and it is sooo much better... after seeing what it feels like on 2nd gear clutched up, you won't even think about 1st gear wheelies again... just make sure you give it some gas and as soon as the front comes up, just keep giving it some more gas to keep it up.... I did it yesterday and I was all stoked hehehehe Let us know how it goes...