Damn CBO This hurts
I still power wheelies on every stunt. I wish I learned on the clutch from what everyone seems to say. But to this day I still power my wheelies, I feel more in control with them and know were it's gonna stop. I am 1 down and 3 up and ready to go for 1 down 10 up. Every stunt I do is on power or bounce(standup 12's, Highchairs etc...) I have been playin' with the clutch wheelies for sit down 12's recently and still don't have it down. Once I get the clutch wheelies down then I will give my best opinion I personally think it all depends on what you get use to. Some may disagree but I feel I can power/bounce my wheelies right were I want them.

 

My brother swears by powering it up, but I started with the clutch. I always fealt that snapping it up, then rolling on/off the throttle to adjust how high up it comes was better than getting the wheel off the ground at about 40, then trying to learn about the physics of a bike on one wheel at about 90.....I also like that at slower speeds, you can clutch it up, and if you almost loop, just close the throttle completely to get it to come down pretty fast, and you can roll back on the throttle as it drops to get it to not slam down hard enough to headbut the tank or windscreen. Of course, I agree with Laura that people learn differently, and you should do whatever feels the best to you.

 

I just started messin with wheelies a couple weeks ago. I havnt tried clutchn it yet, i power it up. besides the accidental 12' i got a pretty good feel for it, but I dont like only being able to do it one way. Im gettin on the ball, or the clutch rather, tomarrow and im gona start workin on both.

 

???? im still learnen but i can bounce it up in 2nd at about 50 and bounce it up in 3rd at about 75 with a stock 2001 929 with 15,000 hard miles on it

 

If I am learning wheelies should i learn to power them up or clutch them up and in what gear? should i start in second? or learn how to roll on first? also should what rpms should i be with my bike and do i just let the clutch go or do it in a controlled manner? there is a few questions for the wheelie king to answer.

 

I AGREE, THE RPMS CLIMB WAY TO FAST WITH A POWER WHEELIE. CLUTCH= CONSISTANCY. JUST MY 2 CENTS.

 

Clutching is way to go, BUT you can easily power up in 2nd on the ole 929....Roll hard on it at about 52MPH (about 6 grand) she'll pull up slow and easy.....Still say clutch it to get it up quick, but you can power it in 2nd on your 929....my

 

As I said...I'm a ***** and still learning. It's good to know the bike has the potential, though.


It's good to know that **** happens to others. I keep mine strapped to the floor.

I know there's always a possibility of stunts going wrong, but it never hurts to learn from other's experiences.

 

You're most likely to loop when you had that last beer you shouldn't have.

Watch out for the beer muscles. There a bitch.

 

It's far easier to learn how to do power wheelies first. There's less to think about, just throttle control. My 1000 will power up in 1st barely cracking the throttle, so that "3/4 throttle" crap is just that: crap. If I whacked it 3/4 open in 1st, I'd be on my azz in a heartbeat! Same thing with the 929 I had last year. Any modern sportbike will power up no problem in 1st, and with a little more skill & technique, 2nd and 3rd.

Clutching has definite advantages, and is pretty much a must for 12s or any kind of real low speed stuff. But it's a more advanced technique, as you have to modulate the clutch and throttle, and timing on both.

Clutching's biggest advantage is also why it would be easier to loop for the inexperienced: it comes up all at once. That's a good thing if you know what you're doing, as you don't waste a lot of RPM getting it up as you might powering it up. But there's also a LOT less margin for error for the newbie, who I guarantee is gonna think about the back brake about the time he's on his azz with his bike in his lap.

Get used to wheelies powering them up. When you're comfortable with that, learn how to clutch. My $.02

 

if your tires are comming off the ground you cant be a ***** the best guy here didnt wake up and sudenly know every thing at once!!!

 

For what it's worth, I looped a 75mph sit-down, which began as a power-wheelie, as I was reaching for the front brake. We were taping, and I wanted to stop the front tire from spinning so that I would get that nice puff of smoke off of the front tire. I begin my power wheelies in 2nd at around 45 mph, so there isn't a big enough variation in wheel to ground speed to get that big puff of smoke. I reached for the brake lever to stop the wheel from spinning as I was up near the balance point, and when I released my index and middle finger, my wrist just rotated back and pinned the throttle.

Next time, I'll just clutch it up at a slower speed and not worry about the front brake.

 

hmmmmmm, this is a VERY interesting thread to start. See, I tried to learn at the school of power-wheelie, but failed first grade several times. After watching all at stuntlife clutch up countless one wheel spectacles, I decided that, yes, indeed, the clutch up was the way to go, because it seemed to afford High, slow wheelies at a reasonable speed. And It just looks cool to see a sportbike go from a standstill to a near vertical position in the slip of a clutch. So that being said, I tried to get the hang of it. Most of the time, the bike (900 RR, RIP) would snap up from a start, then I would freak, and it would slam back to earth. Until, The Accident. Yes, I was messin around, and I actually got it up at about 5 mph or so sitting down, and proceeded to ride it out. Well, As I began to ride it out, the bike began to rise. And rise. And rise some more. The next few seconds were a faint memory, as I was pitched backward on the seat, and from what I reconstruct, I probably grabbed the throttle from fallin backward. All I could think was "why wasn't I taping???" Well, Mr Asphalt and I became very good aquaintances courtesy of the tail end of my motorcycle. Thankfully, I was in full gear, and got up no prob. MY bike.....well.....Of course only later did I think about the back brake. Yeah. It's a good thing

 

I was able to power it up in second tonight by bouncing it at about 45mph. I do feel more in control when I clutch it up in first and, as I said, my closest calls have been powering it up in first. I'd like to get away from first gear wheelies all together and just clutch up in second, but I really need to work on timing.

Do those of you who clutch it up in second (and third, fourth, etc) bounce at the same time, or is the clutch enough and you just keep adding rpm?

How long did it take to get the timing down?

Does everyone master sit downs before trying standups?


Thanks for all the responses!

 

If the gearing is right on the bike then there is no problem with powering. but when i was first learning the only way to go was the clutch of corse then they were only like 30 yard wheelies, but hey everyone has to learn on way or another. now i power wheelie in second and third hit the point of balance and dont look back.

 

I'm currently running stock gearing.

Does gearing it down make a big difference in 2nd, 3rd gear wheelies?

 

I read alot and don't post much butI have to say that I looped while clutching back in '96 and while powering up in '01. Both times stupid crap ent through my mind and I panicked. Don't think so much about looping, yes fear it but don't be obsessed wih it. Just think about how sweet it all looks whe you don't loop.

Thanks for playin...on Deez.

 

gearing it down makes a big difference in all the gears