How do you pull wheelies at higher speeds?

[joenationwide]

Ive seen guys start a wheelie while doing 75-80mph on the highway next to me. I've only been able to pull them up from 15-50 mph, and i always clutch em up.

Does this just take practice? Is it a combination of riding in 2nd gear, bounce and clutch it at the same time? Would a more aggressive sprocket setup make this any easier?

I just switched from a cbr600f4 to a cbr929rr, and was hoping to learn to pull it up at higher speeds. any advice?

thanks

scott

[snigg]

put it in 2nd gear and bring it up at 55mph. balance it. you dont need to ride wheelies at 85mph

[falco]

At high speeds different angles drastically affect wind resistance. Far far less room for error I would not suggest it if you like your arse and your bike.

[J0HNK]

You shouldn't be clutching most ANY bike up in 1st gear anyway... almost all sportbikes you can power-up in that low of a gear..... usually "high-speed" wheelies are done in either 2nd or 3rd, the RPM's have to be high enough, but yes you use the clutch... I've never had to compress the front forks when in 2nd or 3rd using the clutch and on average I stand my bike up somewhere around 50-60mph and depending on how long you can ride one, end-up putting it down somewhere around 110-120mph.... it's mostly about the powerband and the balance point.

GOOD LUCK....

ps - if you can clutch your bike up in 1st [which it sounds like that's what you're comfortable doing], clutching it up in 2nd or 3rd at higher speeds is going to seem 100x easier for you..... practice makes perfect.... far less twitchy at higher gears and speeds for that matter.

[TemtnF8]

Originally Posted by J0HNK

You shouldn't be clutching most ANY bike up in 1st gear anyway... almost all sportbikes you can power-up in that low of a gear..... usually "high-speed" wheelies are done in either 2nd or 3rd, the RPM's have to be high enough, but yes you use the clutch... I've never had to compress the front forks when in 2nd or 3rd using the clutch and on average I stand my bike up somewhere around 50-60mph and depending on how long you can ride one, end-up putting it down somewhere around 110-120mph.... it's mostly about the powerband and the balance point.

GOOD LUCK....

ps - if you can clutch your bike up in 1st [which it sounds like that's what you're comfortable doing], clutching it up in 2nd or 3rd at higher speeds is going to seem 100x easier for you..... practice makes perfect.... far less twitchy at higher gears and speeds for that matter.

doesn't sound like you're so good at wheelies if you have to continually increase your speed to keep them up. Snigg over there can balance one for days at 55 and never have to speed up.

Shouldn't you also be clutching up at all speeds as clutching is more controllable than powering up?

[Quik]

inexperience riders shouldnt be using the clutch. clutch takes some practice to get used ot it.

i agree with sniggles no need for high speeds but it can be done. even on the f4

[snigg]

Originally Posted by J0HNK

You shouldn't be clutching most ANY bike up in 1st gear anyway... almost all sportbikes you can power-up in that low of a gear..... usually "high-speed" wheelies are done in either 2nd or 3rd, the RPM's have to be high enough, but yes you use the clutch... I've never had to compress the front forks when in 2nd or 3rd using the clutch and on average I stand my bike up somewhere around 50-60mph and depending on how long you can ride one, end-up putting it down somewhere around 110-120mph.... it's mostly about the powerband and the balance point.

sounds like you dont know too much about the balance point. I CLUTCH up my bike in 1st gear all day, and it has plenty of power to just power it up.

[GixxerJRG]

A more aggresive sprocket set up will bring it up easier but its not gonna neccesarily make it easier to balance. And I wouldnt recommend a 120 mph wheelie to anybody inlcuding myself becuase if something happens and you need to bring it down quickly the front wheel may not agree with you and goodbye bike. But im not here to tell anybody else how to ride. Just keep practicing and be safe.

[Quik]

also if you cant balance a wheelie different gears will shorten your distance you ride them out with. also with gearing it makes it more twitchy. i say learn stock if yourbike has the power ot do it.

[J0HNK]

Hmmmmmm..... I NEVER said that I HAVE to continually increase my speed to maintain a wheelie... I NEVER said that I can't balance one at lower speeds either.... ???

The natural tendency for the bike, if you are on the "right" side of the balance point, is to return to ground via gravity... so the bike will "want" to go faster.... if you have a clue as to what you are doing you don't necessarily HAVE to keep speeding-up.... JUST A DIFFERENT WAY, JUST A DIFFERENT STYLE. No two riders are the same, but until someone that doesn't know how to do one, learns, there is the safer / better way vs the lesser..... that being said....

what you are referring to, maintaining the bike at a constant speed AND in the vertical position, REQUIRES the rider [new or experienced] to have the bike at a higher angle.... INEXPERIENCED riders at a higher angle have a HIGHER degree of probability PASSING that fucking point and ending-up on their ass in the middle of a highway..... so, I apologize if my description didn't encompass the COMPLETE range of wheelie instruction, style, types, kinds, etc.

And, NO, from my LIMITED experience ACTUAL clutching is not more controllable than powering-up... if anything it's more explosive and far more unpredictable [this will ALSO depend on the riders' ability and style].

Originally Posted by TemtnF8

doesn't sound like you're so good at wheelies if you have to continually increase your speed to keep them up. Snigg over there can balance one for days at 55 and never have to speed up.

Shouldn't you also be clutching up at all speeds as clutching is more controllable than powering up?

[J0HNK]

So what's the point of using the clutch if your bike can power the front-end up in 1st???

I guess the next thing you guys are going to tell me is that it's impossible to shift when the bike is vertical.....

Originally Posted by snigg

sounds like you dont know too much about the balance point. I CLUTCH up my bike in 1st gear all day, and it has plenty of power to just power it up.

[J0HNK]

+1
Falco is definitely right about wind at different angles.... obviously, the higher you go the greater the effect.

Originally Posted by falco

At high speeds different angles drastically affect wind resistance. Far far less room for error I would not suggest it if you like your arse and your bike.

[TemtnF8]

Originally Posted by J0HNK

And, NO, from my LIMITED experience ACTUAL clutching is not more controllable than powering-up... if anything it's more explosive and far more unpredictable [this will ALSO depend on the riders' ability and style].

When clutched properly (Not just dumping the clutch, which obviously is stupid) it is far more reliable and easier to control. When I say properly I mean 'fanning' the clutch, not just releasing it. Fast in/out movement of the clutch to control the power delivery to the rear wheel.

Originally Posted by J0HNK

So what's the point of using the clutch if your bike can power the front-end up in 1st???

the point is to be able to do it while moving at slower speeds and in a more controlable manner. How do you think people who stunt all the time are able to pull them up at <10mph (other than re-gearing)?

[snigg]

Originally Posted by J0HNK

So what's the point of using the clutch if your bike can power the front-end up in 1st???

I guess the next thing you guys are going to tell me is that it's impossible to shift when the bike is vertical.....

why would i power up first gear, when i can clutch it up nice and smooth? you gotta get up into the rpm's a bit to power em up, thus making you have to bring it up at a faster speed and not ride it out as far. i can clutch my bike up at 5-10mph in first, and ride it high(staring at the tank) for pretty long. you on the other hand, have to bring your bike up at 30mph and cant ride it out as far. and im not gonna tell you its impossible to shift, i can shift in a wheelie just fine. i tend not too because id rather balance my wheelies rather than shift and chase the front wheel down the highway. believe me, its a lot more fun holding your wheelie right next to that car full of girls, rather than blow by them doing 120mph in a wheelie.

[J0HNK]

This is the part about the internet that is the best.... mis-interpretation of everything by everyone... [me included]... the hardest part about having discussion like this are the assumptions that are made by everyone....

FOR INEXPERIENCED RIDERS, I think assuming they understand "fanning" or "feathering" is a leap..... their [and when I was at that stage] thought is more associated to dumping the clutch I would guess.

You are correct about clutching at low speeds, under a controlled manner.... but, clutching in 1st and trying to ride wheelies at high speed [which was how this thread began], I think everyone would agree, is a no-no.....

To each their own.

Originally Posted by TemtnF8

When clutched properly (Not just dumping the clutch, which obviously is stupid) it is far more reliable and easier to control. When I say properly I mean 'fanning' the clutch, not just releasing it. Fast in/out movement of the clutch to control the power delivery to the rear wheel.



the point is to be able to do it while moving at slower speeds and in a more controlable manner. How do you think people who stunt all the time are able to pull them up at <10mph (other than re-gearing)?