Wheelie popping tips and hints

[SweetT]

Let's just say that hypothetically my, er friend, was wanting to pop some wheelies on a K1200RS. But not on public roads of course. That would be most unsafe and BMW riders cannot be unsafe. I've talked to my buddies with the Japanese sport bikes and they all say "twist the throttle really hard and hold on." But the K1200RS is a 600 lb motorcycle for touring, not some lithe sportbike. Do I, I mean my friend, need to be doing something with the clutch too? Any suggestions as to gear selection, etc?

[screwtop]

Here's a hint: Popping wheelies is hard on your equipment and can ultimatley be hard on you.

The K-Bike is pretty long and heavy, and I doubt you can get the front end up without dumping the clutch pretty hard. I don't think it's worth the potential damage to the bike. But hey, it's a free country, and it's your bike. If you decide to give it a go, let us know how it turns out.

[Belquar]

Dump the clutch and your up but I wouldn't recommend doing it.

Doing a tank slapper or trashing your final drive can get pretty costly. Learn how to do it on a dirt bike or something.

[Visian]

http://www.ononewheel.com/

[The_Veg]

I've tried a couple of times, and it scares me ****less. Of course BMW is the only bike I've ever owned so that makes it all the more tricky.

The BatBike could get the front wheel up but only about 1-2", and only if 1) the carbs were leaned about to the point of destruction, and 2) I had a LOT of room to wick it up.

At the Lima rally I accidentally wheelied a GS in the demo-fleet. It really was an acciednt; I was the last rider in the group (no BMW rep riding clean-up) and had to wait a while at a stop sign. I goosed it hard to catchup, and the next thing I knew the front wheel was a good way up. The front-end did a slight wobble in the air, but smoothed out instantly upon touchdown and I soon caught up to the group.
I have not been able to get my own GS more than maybe an inch up without scaring myself and potentially running out of road. Not that it's any kind of priority though, just sort of a curiosity.

[monkeywork]

I think you've, ahem your friend, paid to much for bike to drop it and waste the clutch.

get a cheap dirtbike and drop that a few times.

[henzilla]

:doh I agree on not tearing up drivelines, and play on a cheaper bike, but that said all my bikes will come off the ground without clutching by rolling on throttle at lower speed, then unweighting front end by rolling off throttle to compress front end...then rolling on hard...has happened in second gear by surprise going up a slight incline:bolt, but anytime in first. The RT did it the first week I had it...only once!
I used to do it on my Honda 90 until I fell off the back and it went in the bay:laugh :laugh :laugh :doh

I have seen a new style K1200RS's in the air a few times...the guy has lot's of$$$$$$$$$$$$

[Bigrider]

Ah it's easy, jsut do it the way I did it. Put your wife on the back and let the clutch out a little too quickly when the light turns green. It helps if you put on some rig cage armor, those nails bite deeply. :) Ohh, and tell her you ment to do it and that it was not due to the extra weight on the back. Bad JuJu.

Dave H
San Antonio, TX

[Motor31]

I had an opportunity to see stupidity in action this afternoon. There were 3 bikes going the other direction that passed around some cars then 2 of them popped wheelies while still in traffic. They made several friends for motorcyclists in general by doing that in traffic.

If someone decides to do wheelies with their bike on the road I won't feel a bit of sympathy for them if they trash their bike or themselves.

[Jamming]

On my R1200ST in first or second, go to 4 grand let go a little, then smoothly roll on the throttle. Comes right up, smooooottthhh no clutching it at all. Tap the rear let off a little, comes softly down.

I NEVER do this in traffic and have only intentionally wheelied a couple of times in a parking lot. Usually the HD dealership when I go with a friend:whistle

I wheelie on the dirt bike all day...for fun!!!!!

[GeoffMiller]

I can wheelie my RS. It's those dang antilock brakes keeping me from a stoppie!:p

[Hodag]

practice

find an empty parking lot

watch out for da man

[henzilla]

I had an opportunity to see stupidity in action this afternoon. There were 3 bikes going the other direction that passed around some cars then 2 of them popped wheelies while still in traffic. They made several friends for motorcyclists in general by doing that in traffic.

If someone decides to do wheelies with their bike on the road I won't feel a bit of sympathy for them if they trash their bike or themselves.

We were in the parking area of the MO Falling Leaf Rally a few months back when a t-shirted helmetless squiddo passed the entrance while picking the nose up all the way past the rally,shifting gears...anybody driving by would think he was on a BMW and part of the rally crowd by association...Dumbass for doing it in such crowded conditions, dumbass for being a squiddo.

Hey Mr Mike...where you parked this week? Warm I hope:thumb

[Motor31]

Still in Tucson right now. We plan on heading to the Bandera Texas area on the 24th for about a week then to Louisiana I guess we'll be there for about 2 months, depending on weather.

[DSBMW1]

I tell you this because you are going to do it anyway. Whether anyone else likes it or not. Be warned this is NOT! a great idea. But it is your bike, your risk. Just stay off the roads. Get into a parking lot or somthing. There are two ways to do wheelies.

The first and easiest way to learn, not to mention the best for the bike. The rolling wheelie. The K12RS might not like this. Or not do this.
Get the bike in 1st and drive. Run the bike to 4k. Then whap the throttle past 6k. Once the wheel is up slightly roll off the throttle, as to not flip over. Be smooth. This should lift the front end. I recomend this over dropping the clutch(easier on the bike). The front wheel will get a little squirly once up. It will be like this untill you get the correct mussle control. And really learn what you, and your bike will do. Remember if you let off the throttle too fast you will certainly bottom out the front forks(not fun, I know).

After you get this down and you really want to drop the clutch to pop the wheel up, do it. It is your bike. I have only done that on my airhead. It scares me on the big bikes. I get rolling 10-20 mph in 1st pull the clutch get a constant 5k and snap off the clutch.

Be warned!!!!!

The front end is going to snap up like a rocket. Much! much! much! faster than a rolling wheelie. Like I said, it is your bike. You will once again need to slightly roll off the throttle to keep the bike from flipping. This will scare the crap out of you. It did me.

Be safe. Stay off the roads. Wear your gear. All of it!!! Have fun.

[SweetT]

I"m not sure when I'll get the nerve up to try it. All the other times I've done it, its always been by accident. However, when the time comes when I do get a hankerin for some wheelies, I know of a large parking lot in front of a vacant strip mall I'm going to head to. Thanks for the advice guys! And the words of discouragemnt! :nono I usually need a good dose of common sense everyonce and a while.

[PacWestGS]

I tell you this because you are going to do it anyway. Whether anyone else likes it or not. Be warned this is NOT! a great idea. But it is your bike, your risk. Just stay off the roads. Get into a parking lot or somthing. There are two ways to do wheelies.

The first and easiest way to learn, not to mention the best for the bike. The rolling wheelie. The K12RS might not like this. Or not do this.
Get the bike in 1st and drive. Run the bike to 4k. Then whap the throttle past 6k. Once the wheel is up slightly roll off the throttle, as to not flip over. Be smooth. This should lift the front end. I recomend this over dropping the clutch(easier on the bike). The front wheel will get a little squirly once up. It will be like this untill you get the correct mussle control. And really learn what you, and your bike will do. Remember if you let off the throttle too fast you will certainly bottom out the front forks(not fun, I know).

After you get this down and you really want to drop the clutch to pop the wheel up, do it. It is your bike. I have only done that on my airhead. It scares me on the big bikes. I get rolling 10-20 mph in 1st pull the clutch get a constant 5k and snap off the clutch.

Be warned!!!!!

The front end is going to snap up like a rocket. Much! much! much! faster than a rolling wheelie. Like I said, it is your bike. You will once again need to slightly roll off the throttle to keep the bike from flipping. This will scare the crap out of you. It did me.

Be safe. Stay off the roads. Wear your gear. All of it!!! Have fun.

There is still yet an easier and less damaging way... (read no clutch use)

First or second gear... roll up the throttle enough to unload the front suspension (think short distance) chop the throttle and compress the front suspension then wack it wide open - the front will come up. Lean forward into the tank and keep your right foot over the rear brake to control lift.

As mentioned above do not let the bike slam down - even if scared and you chop the throttle to recover... goose it before the front tire hits to lessen the impact.

I would also recommend practicing this with less fuel in the tank.

Have fun :D

[lenrt1200st]

On my R1200ST in first or second, go to 4 grand let go a little, then smoothly roll on the throttle. Comes right up, smooooottthhh no clutching it at all. Tap the rear let off a little, comes softly down.

I NEVER do this in traffic and have only intentionally wheelied a couple of times in a parking lot. Usually the HD dealership when I go with a friend:whistle

I wheelie on the dirt bike all day...for fun!!!!!

I had a similar experience during break-in w/ my 2006 ST. I was following a few hot shoes riding 600 to 1000cc Japanese bikes around town. They all took of from a right hand stop, and i was left to wait yielding to traffic how had the right-of-way.

As soon all was clear I motored on out into the street. I was coming up-right from my right hand lean, in second gear, and as I shifted into third I grabbed an extra bit of throttle. Up she came!

No drama, easy as pie i set the front wheel back down and was on my way. I only remember doing this inadvertantly, my first ride on a friends 900Z.:bolt But, that was a long time ago.:gerg

Len

[DARRYL CAINEY]

Back in my wilder younger days I was known for doing power wheelies on my 1979 Honda CBX. I found once you are rolling in first gear and you can bring the front wheel up with ease and keep it there. If you have the nerve that is, you can shift through the gears without loosing any height of the front wheel.
I was able to carry the CBX at a 45 degree angle through 3 gears and I was told that nothing compared to seeing six pipes up in the air.

Now that I am somewhat older and wiser I would never try this on a main road like I once did but in a empty parking lot.

Darryl

[Oldhway]

I had a Suzuki GS850 I could wheelie a city block back in the mid 80's. All clutch and throttle. Replaced the steering head bearings twice. Wrong thing on the wrong bike.

Don't do it on your K bike and don't do anywhere nead other vehicles if you do get a bike that will wheelie competently.

[BubbaZanetti]

i have never had luck with my R1100S. aside from some minor 1-6" lift, i've never found this bike wants to do anything except stay on two wheels. roll on or dumping the clutch, neither seems to do much. maybe i'm just not using my weight to an advantage??

wheelie popping tip: get a triumph speed triple. i had a hard time keeping the front wheel down on one :D

[bricciphoto]

Put your wife on the back and let the clutch out a little too quickly when the light turns green...Ohh, and tell her you ment to do it and that it was not due to the extra weight on the back. Bad JuJu.

Dave H
San Antonio, TX

:D Been there.