Hey all,
I know there are a couple of "Help me, I can't wheelie!!!" threads out there but I couldn't find anyone who seems to have the same problems I seem to have so here it goes...

I've been riding my Honda Hornet for about 5 years now and last year, I finally wanted to go Supermoto so I bought myself a DRZ 400 SM and of course one of the things I wanted to do with it was learn how to wheelie. I'm a pretty careful guy by nature so I planned on learning it slowly step by step because I really don't want to loop it. I started with clutch ups and learned how to bring the front up within just 2 days so no problem there. However, I can only get it up very slightly before my brain nopes out and I release the throttle - and I can not seem to get over that point no matter what I try. I always cover my rear brake but it seems like my brain does not want to accept the fact that this little thing under my right foot can actually safe me so I just release the throttle instead.

I had to take a break for a couple of months because I had an accident involving a car driver who didn't realize he had to stop at a red light and my bike got totalled. So obviously I bought myself another DRZ and just started practicing again this summer but still I'm stuck at this point. I am nowhere near balance point and I know that in theory I can bring it up to a height where I can look under the bars but as soon as I feel gravity pull me backwards when I get the front up a little, I still release the throttle because I just feel like I'm falling off the bike. I tried 1st gear and 2nd gear wheelies but it makes no difference.

I think I'm just afraid that I will not release the throttle in time if I go any higher... I don't know how else to describe it. The right way to do it is probably keeping a steady throttle with just minimal adjustments and tap the rear brake once you go too far back... and I guess my brain just doesn't like that idea.

Does this sound familiar to anyone or do you have any tips for me how to overcome this fear? I know that the key is to learn it slowly but as I said... I feel like I'm stuck at the point where I feel my own weight shifting backwards and I don't know what to do.

 

Hi, first of I think almost everybody goes through a similar stage when learning to wheelie. I did, and still do. What has helped me so far is always using the back brake, been working several lot sessions with never releasing throttle but rather tap the brake. I've done this probably 300times now. Wheelie height is getting better, and I can at least power them along for a bit. So I'll keep on adding height, and tapping it down until I'm accustomed to the feeling and angle. And then I'll work on tapping a bit less, feathering more.

After this step I'm not sure what I'll try, maybe gas it up beyond BP, break it down right below BP and repeat, just to gain confidence and control.

​​​​​​Hope you will continue, I know for sure that the fear will diminish slowly with continuous effort and experience and knowledge.

Peace

 

Sorry bro, no easy way around it.
Just do it until it doesn't scare you anymore. Try to drag the back break for the whole wheelie and adjust the pressure.
You could also try to pop smaller wheelies, but always set them down with the back brake just to get used to using it.
That's how I learned at least.
Took me about two months just to hit balance point (not ride it) with about 30/40 mins practice every day.

 

Would you like to know why you cant wheelie? because you are not genetically designed to wheelie in the same fashion I am not genetically designed to jump in the ring with Mike Tyson. Its in your blood or its not. End of story. People like you end up seriously injured. Accept it, and find a new hobby.