Wheelie riding can be fun, but you need to make sure you do it safely. Most experts recommend learning the basic way to do a wheelie first, that is, the power wheelie. The power wheel does not require using the clutch or gears, so you should focus on learning how to ride the rear wheel of the bike comfortably. Remember that you need a lot of practice and you must be prepared to suffer some falls.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Practice on a Bike
Step 1. Wear protective gear
You won't need the same protection if you ride a bike, but it's always good to do it safely. Make sure to wear a helmet, at a minimum, and knee and elbow pads if you want to be a lot more cautious. While wheeling around a bike may seem totally harmless, you could still fall and get hurt anyway.
Step 2. Practice going uphill
It starts with a simple change. It's probably best to put second or third, so you don't have to pedal too much. The hill shouldn't be too steep, but learning on a not-so-steep incline can help you keep your balance and the front wheel in the air. When you want to learn how to do a wheelie, your pedaling can become spastic, causing you to fall. The resistance of pedaling uphill will counteract those forces. This way, when you practice on flat ground, you will maintain a straighter path of motion.
It is not mandatory, but it is easier to practice on a mountain bike, rather than a BMX. Its rear wheels are much more stable and its front part will raise more easily. The longer wheelbase will also make you feel more powerful
Step 3. Maintain a comfortable speed on flat ground
This speed can vary depending on the situation, but the ideal is to stay between 8 and 16 km / h (5 to 10 mph). Moving too fast can cause you to lose control when riding on one wheel. However, if you are slowing down, you may not have the momentum to properly lift the front of the bike into the air.
Step 4. Raise the front wheel
You will need some brute force from your upper body, as well as very strong pedaling. Squat on the front handlebar and prepare to pull up; don't forget to look ahead. Once you have the handlebars in the air, lean your weight back and keep pedaling. You may lose your balance or you may not be able to stay that way for a long time, but little by little you will feel that you manage to do the wheelie for longer.
Step 5. Keep moving on the wheelie
Once you've managed to raise the front wheel a couple of times, you'll need to start holding the wheelie longer. When you're in the air, grip the handlebars loosely and extend your arms. You should also use the rear brake to adjust the lever that you do while doing the wheelie. Some people press the rear brake while holding the wheelie; others simply adjust the grip when they feel the front wheel is getting too high. The harder you press the brake, the harder you will have to pedal to keep the front tire in the air.
Method 2 of 3: Staying Safe
Step 1. Wear protective clothing
You should not get on a motorcycle without the proper equipment. This includes a thick motorcycle helmet, leather gloves, jeans or leather pants, and a sturdy leather jacket. You should also wear sturdy boots, preferably leather, with a good grip. It is not a bad idea to wear elbow pads, anklets or knee pads the first time, as you will surely suffer several falls.
Step 2. Find a quiet street or track
Remember that learning will take a long time and you will likely suffer a couple of very painful falls. You don't want to hurt pedestrians around you or crash into a car, whether it's moving or parked. Your constant attempts will also make a lot of noise and the last thing you want to do is disturb those around you.
Technically, it's illegal to wheelie on a dirt bike, so finding a secluded spot to practice will also help you avoid trouble with the law
Step 3. Learn on a motorcycle with enough power
If you want to learn how to power wheelie on a sports bike, it's best to use a 500cc minimum. You're only going to lift the front wheel through acceleration, so you want to make sure the bike has enough power to do this.
You can also learn how to do the power wheelie on an all-terrain motorcycle. If you have access to one or want something a little more comfortable, it might be a good idea. A 100 or 150cc bike should have enough power to practice this trick
Step 4. Check the rear tire for damage
You will have to spend a fair amount of time on this tire if you ride wheelies, so you need to make sure it is in good condition. You don't want it to wobble. It is also ideal to put the tire pressure a little lower than normal, since that will make you have more stability when doing the wheelie.
Step 5. If your motorcycle has a rollover sensor, remove it
This can cause it to turn off if you lean back too far. You will have to lean back and because you are a beginner you may lean even more than is comfortable for you. Delete it to make sure the bike doesn't stall in the middle of the maneuver.
The rear exhaust could also hit the ground, depending on where it is, so make sure it doesn't touch the ground while on one of the wheels. If it does, you could drag yourself on the road and fall off the bike
Method 3 of 3: Learn to Do the Power Wheelie
Step 1. Put first
You can practice on any change you like, but first is generally easier for beginners. If you ever master clutch wheelies, you'll need to know how to shift while wheeling. Since the power wheels only use acceleration to pull the front of the bike up, you won't have to worry about shifting.
The rear brake, like the parking brake, will help you if you ever lean too far back. Although motorcyclists often don't use the rear brake, it comes in handy when you're just learning to wheelie. If you feel like you are moving backwards, you can put a little power to the rear brake and thus stop the rear wheel. This will bring the front wheel down quickly. However, you must be careful when descending, as you will feel a little pressure at the moment of impact
Step 2. Accelerate enough
It is recommended to start at a speed between 10 and 20 km / h. If you go too fast, you may lose a bit of control, causing the exhaust to rotate unsafe. However, if you practice too slowly, you won't be able to pull the front wheel up with enough force.
Step 3. Release the exhaust while maintaining speed
Ideally, you should not slow down too much, but it will be useful to reduce it just before accelerating to do the wheelie. It will feel like a kick when you touch the gas exhaust and this extra power will make the front wheel roll up more smoothly.
Step 4. Twist the exhaust to accelerate and bring the front wheel up
Once you've slowed down a bit, hit the gas pedal hard. When you do, you will be pulling the front of the bike, as if you were wheeling a bicycle. At first these lifts will feel very light, almost like bunny hopping. However, as you become more comfortable lifting the front end, you will be able to hold the maneuver longer and longer.
If you lift the bike off the ground and get off too early, the front tire will jerk from the impact. If you don't go straight down, the bike will roll forward, which is also known as "highside." This can occur when you are a beginner, so make sure you lower the wheelie as straight as possible to avoid it
Step 5. Balance on the wheelie
When you find your balance point, lean back at the rear of the bike, making sure that the center of gravity of your system (you and the bike) is resting there. This will help you keep rocking for a longer period of time. Any forward or backward tilt will ruin the center of your system, causing you to tip over.
At first, beginners might try hugging the tank with their knees, which helps them hold on when the front wheel of the bike is raised. This will prevent you from sliding back against the seat. If you stay hugging the tank, while the bike is going backwards, then the gravity of the system will not be in balance
Step 6. Slow down when you reach a comfortable balance
When you feel more comfortable balancing, you can slow down, just a little, so you don't lose control when you keep it moving. However, if you reduce it too much, you will cause your motorcycle to lose all its momentum.
Step 7. Step on the rear brake to guide yourself down
When you want to finish the wheelie, you will have to use the rear brake to lower the front of the bike again. However, if you do this maneuver too hard, the front end will likely drop too fast and you could end up wobbling or falling. To remedy this, you can accelerate while the front end lowers, thus balancing the movement.
Advice
- Rocking horses. Putting both feet on the additional rear stirrups, or just your left foot on the additional rear stirrups, will make balancing a wheelie much easier.
- After mastering the power wheel, you'll be able to seamlessly transition to learning the clutch wheel.
Warnings
- You should always wear protective gear.
- You are wrong if you think that wheelie can be learned in one day. You may need to practice every day for at least a couple of weeks to get comfortable. The professionals you have seen in videos have been doing these maneuvers for many years.
- You could get in trouble with the police if you get caught wheeling around on public roads, and you could even lose your license. Make sure to practice wheelies in an isolated area.