Figured out wheelies!

[OB_mbuehler]

Swapped bikes with a friend of mine (ZX-6
all race prepped with alot of $$ in the motor. VERY sweet bike!) on Saturday. While heading down the on ramp he pulled two rather nice wheelies with the Busa, something I'd yet to figure out. We found a street to practice on, and I can finally do it right! Take it up to 6000-7000 in first gear, roll off then roll back on hard. Front end pops right up! Very cool. Made a few passes up and down the street doing little wheelies while my friend would take his up to 50 deg or better and ride it for a while. The evening ended when he gassed it to hard and went over backwards. He walked away but the bike took very heavy damage.

So, learned how to wheelie, and reasons not to push it I love this bike!

 

[OB_Factory]

Man - this is exactly why I've never gotten good at wheelies!! I only carry liability and I'm too worried about the bike going right over the top - just like your friend did with his bike.

OUCH!

 

[OB_c.dolan]

Rear brake can bring bike back, from past balance point. Ideal balance point, handlebar at eye level, rider body now straight up, lightly "feather" throttle. 2nd gear good for 100+ mph, per reading at track. Can get some air in 3rd, but track officials ( at Carlsbad 1/4 mi.) get kind of cranky. Good luck.

 

[OB_Big Ed]

Mbuehler,
I feel your pain. I have had the same experience with the busa that you have (without going all the way over). It’s a tricky bike for wheelies. I can do them all day long on my Buell but the busa is so violently powerful it just feels like it wants to throw me. Between the long wheel base and the lightening quick throttle response it scares the *** out of me every time I put it up. Even so it’s just too hard to resist doing them. I’m glad you got away without getting hurt.

 

[OB_Factory]

An add to my previous post...

I started riding dirt bikes a year and a half ago b/c I wanted to be a better street rider. I've gotten to be a pretty good dirt rider (hair scramble stuff)and it really has made me a better street rider.

Coincidentally enough, I was out practicing my wheelies on my dirt bike yesterday while I was waiting for my buds to catch up! (I gotta remember to keep my foot on/above the break!!)

Good luck with your wheelies mbuehler!!

 

[OB_Martinm2]

I with you on the dirt bike wheelies, done it for years now.

Wheelie Botch:

Dirt bike = Rear fender,$20, pair grips $20, ...$40 and good laugh.

Busa = $$$$$$$$$$$$$, ouch, ouch, ouch.............

I'm sticking with the dirt bike wheelies..

 

[OB_mbuehler]

Big Ed,

Luckily it wasn't me that went over (well, lucky for me anyway). This weekend we'll find out the effect of reving a motor to the redline, then slamming it down it down the asphalt at 40 mph. It sounded awful when he tried to turn it over. Kinda depressing given all the work he's put into that bike and it consistently placed top three around here. I hope he's up and running by next season.

Factory,

What kind of dirt bike do you have? I was looking to get one bofore getting layed off, and now that I'm back working again I'm shopping around. There's a group that races pre 1977 dirt bikes around here that I'm thinking of joining. I've heard that it really improves your street racing skills and want to give it a try.

Mastering the 2 foot wheelie

Mbuehler

 

[OB_GoBig]

http://www.labusas.org/pages/maxa.html

you should not worry about going over. the only reason for going over is PANIC!!!!!

I roll them on all day long! My favorites are on the white lines between cars (true)

 

[OB_Dirty Pete]

GoBig you speak the truth. A lot of guys F up because when they're nose up they forget to roll off the throttle a bit or most often guys cut the throttle as soon as they're nose is up and crash down on their forks.

Bikes don't go over backwards that easy.

I had a friend say it at lunch today very well: "Punch through the fear factor and you're OK."

 

[OB_turbo1300]

Alot of guys get the bike off the front wheel and do not remember to hold on tight with there legs and hands and then they start to slide back and that makes them pull the throttle back and that is when they start to panic. That is how most guys flip over, or unless they have over 200 hp on a stock frame showing off like it has a stock motor. That has just been my experiences.

 

[OB_GoBig]

this is golden!!!!

Punch through the fear factor and you're OK

That will help everyone!

 

[Guest]

Can anyone confirm this, you know you are going to far vertical when you feel the back wheel slip a little ? Had this happen on the weekend and it was not a pleasant feeling, glad I had that back brake covered ! 45-60 degrees ok, 90 on a busa - I'll leave that to others !

[This message has been edited by dazee (edited 21 December 1999).]

 

[OB_GoBig]

Man I must go up about 4 times a day and never have i had that! However if you get it just right you can spin your rear wheel and pill the front end up while the burnout pulls you to the left!
Fun, Fun, Fun, till the boys in blue take your bike away : )

 

[OB_Factory]

mbuehler - I ride a KX-250 now. I've had if for exactly a year. However, I started riding on a KDX-200 a year and a half ago.

If you've never riden a dirt bike, a KDX is a great way to go. They are fairly inexpensive used, and they won't bite you while you learn.

The first time I went riding with some buds, I borrowed a buds bike. I was hooked. On the way home, we stopped for a few brews, I bought the Dallas Morning News and bought my own bike on the way home!!! Kick A$$!!

 

[OB_Big Ed]

I’ve had the same thing happen as GoBig. Rear wheel spinning while the bikes going up. One other thing that I’ve had happen is if the tier is still cold the bike won’t go up. I’ll punch it while I’m moving 30-40 don’t really know how fast, but the bike will just lay a big greasy one instead of coming up. Lots of fun!