I havent had a sportbike for two years now after looping my gsxr and totalling it. I just got a 954 three weeks ago and Ive been trying to get back into the game but I feel like Im somewhat scared but maybe just smarter. Either way I am a little timid when trying to get back on one wheel. For some reason everything just isnt flowing so well. It is like I am learning all over again. My wheelies are getting better but not all that close to balance point. I used to be able to manipulate all my bikes and get them to do what I wanted them to do, and they would wheelie when I wanted them to within a certain rpm range and speed range. (I used to have a 05gsxr600,04gsxr750,and 97gsxr750) I was expecting this 954 to be able to do all the things those bikes did and then some, but it seems like it won't bring it up at all in high rpm range or anything above 55 mph. It feels like it has no power. All the gsxr's would come up easy around 60-65 at higher rpms. I know the 954 is known for having a lot more low end torque but I figured if the 600 could do it at 11k rpms so could the 954. The 954 wheelies nicely at about 6k rpms which in 2nd gear is about 50mph but it does seem that I really need to hammer it. I was just under the impression that if the 600 and the 97 750 could do it, this 954 shouldnt have any problem doing all of the same stuff and more. Anyone else have similiar experience or have I just been out of the game that long. I know the bike is way faster and has way more low end power than all my previous bikes but wtf?


On a side note, Id like to hear some tips on brake control. I wouldve never went down last time if I had any. Now that I am re learning I would like to learn to do them again using my back brake. My problem is that its hard to use when I am still not even riding at balance point. Any tips would help. I am also trying to practice a little bit more riding my yfz450.

 

Sounds like you are powering up your wheelies and not clutching. Just a guess, but if you aren't clutching it up, START LEARNING!!!!!!!!!!! Oh and for the rear brake deal, everytime you bring it up or do a wheelie, think about your rear brake and put you foot there and play with it a little. This is how I learned and also on a 50, but it was mainly forcing myself to think about the break everytime I did a wheelie. Learn the right way and you should never have a problem looping out again.

Peace Justin

 

No at first I was powering through first gear becuase it was really smooth but I always have and continue to clutch them.

 

give yourself a chance to get your confidence back mate & get used to new bike, after a year off the dirt i`ve gone back, 1st outting last week on sum real rocky **** i was crashing my brains out in the dry, i went agian yesterday in the wet this time & was goin heaps harder, with far less moments, but still shittin myself, probly thinkin how much my last offs hurt, (still black & blue).
give it sum time it will come back, best of luck.

 

Yeah, my powers cage is on the way so that might take some stress off of me know that my mint 954 will be a little more protected.

 

dude its not the bike cause that thing will power a wheelie in third no prob but the clutch is the way to go. and im in the same boat as u. My friend crashed my 954 into a truck at 120 almost 2 years ago and all ive had for a bike is a hunk of aluminum that i call a 954 just got a f4i and put all the stunt parts on it and i m back to the basics cant do no more than bp staggered.its gona b a long summer but this time i can avoid all the bad habbits i had last time so it could b a good thing

 

I looped my first bike and then learned brake control on a trx 450
4-wheeler, its way easier to learn on one couse all you have to worry about is back and forward .and the cage is a good thing to have.

 

I LOOPED MY 06, GOT IT FIXED AND WAS A ***** WITH WHEELIES AFTER THAT. I DID SOME HERE AND THERE ON THE 06, BUT NOTHING LIKE I USED TO. I WANTED TO LEARN AN KEEP DOING WHEELIES, BUT I DIDN'T WANT TO **** THAT BIKE UP. I FIGURED IT WOULD BE EASIER JUST TO BUY ANOTHER BIKE (MY STUNT BIKE), INSTEAD OF HAVING ONE AND WRECK IT LEARNING AND FIX IT AND NOT HAVE A BIKE. I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM IT'S LIKE LEARNING ALL OVER AGAIN

 

Hey man its well understood by all except the squids that when you lay down a bike hard that anyone is going to feel a little skittish re: anymore stunting,racing,etc. Ive laid them down at 150 mph on the track as well as while doing 12's on the freeway and believe me....never once did I just get right back up and do it all over again without first giving some serious contemplation about what my life was worth lol. Just take it slow and feel the bike and let the bike feel you and things will come back to you. **** on impressing the squids that will say" show us a wheelie,etc,etc" when their scary asses wont even ride their own bikes over 60 mph.

 

Well something is wrong with my bike then cause there is no way that my bike will power it up in second much less third without jerking it up with everything I have. When I clutch it up in second I have to use every bit of the throttle. Something doesn't feel right, but it seems to have all the power it should down low. When I am just riding it seems like everything is perfect but when it comes to clutching it up in any gear other than 1st is just doesn't seem to have all the grunt it should, except around 50-55mph it feels perfect.

 

practice using your back break get bp and youll be

 

So today I pulled my yfz 450 out of the barn got it running and Ive been wheeling for hours. After trying so much on the big bike I can seem to man handle this yfz. I am getting a much better feel of balance point and learning to slow it down and using the brake. I even started screwing off and riding some seat standers and I started moving around while in a wheelie. Like going from a sit down to a stand up and then kicking a leg out and so forth. My brake control needs a lot of work. Twice though I brought it back almost to scraping the bar and then used my rear brake to bring it back to BP. I think it was luck though because all the others I tried I get a little too much brake and it slams down.

 

 

it helped me a **** load when i put on my cage just cuz i wasnt so afraid to drop it anymore....

btw, good luck on the powers cage... dont hold your breath

 

my 954 comes up easy in 2nd around 58 mph on a stock sprocket, ive tried clutching it in 3rd but didnt quiet have enough, maybe clutch and bounce but thats just crazy. dont need to be doin 3rd gear wheelies anyway.

 

f4i's can clutch up in 3rd so I don't see the 954 being that big deal to clutch up in 3rd.