Bikes rock. I love them. Hyper sports bikes in particular but all bikes are bliss. From the moment you first ride a bike you become as addicted to them as a heroin addict is to heroin.
Besides experiencing the Millennium Falcon on the road, never suffering traffic, and enjoying the true harmony of man and machine as you grind your knee going round corners feathering the throttle so as not to lose the back end while trying to keep maximum speed, there's the enjoyment of tricks.
Smoking your rear tyre at traffic lights being a favourite.
Being able to pull a wheelie is an accomplishment that earns you respect from fellow bikers as it displays your commitment to mastering and being at one with motorcycles similar to being a black belt in a marshall art.
I'm not talking about getting the front wheel off the ground for an instant I mean wheeling for a great distance - yeah man.
There's two types of wheelie. One using the throttle and one using the throttle and clutch.
Obviously different bikes have different characteristics. Clutch and throttle work on every bike. Throttle only, comes down to power to weight ratio.
To start off get to know your bike like the back of your hand. Every difference in engine power through the rev range for each gear. Feel and know the balance of your bike through acceleration, breaking, leaning, flicking from side to side.
When your bike is a true extension of your own body, when manoeuvring it is like a signal from your brain to clasp a glass in your hand, when riding your bike is subconscious no longer requiring thought then you have the foundation of confidence necessary to go above and beyond normal riding.
Whether through purpose or accident you have probably lifted the front wheel off the ground at some point. Maybe even flipped the bike over backwards or simply slid of the seat. This gives you fear and that fear is ovecome through the confidence that comes from being at one with your machine.
To make my point watch Max Biaggi's legendary wheelie from 1998 where his front wheel goes way past 12:00 o'clock only for him to save it.
My below advice is for a four stroke sports bike.
So find yourself a nice long straight with no cops or road furniture such as parked cars or kids playing in the street.
Throttle only:
- Take off in first gear then into second sitting with your crotch touching the tank,with medium acceleration just as the power band starts to come in around 6000 revs throttle off and full on in one swift action slightly tugging the bars upwards at the same time.
Aaaaagh the fronts coming up quickly and fear makes you throttle off and slam the front down bursting your fork seals.
RESIST the fear Luke, don't throttle off. Remember to pull a long wheelie the wheel needs to be off the ground!
As the front comes up let it continue past your fear. At 8:00 o'clock it already feels high but we need to go to around 10:30.
Freaking out? Touch the back break and you'll be flat again.
- After being able to get to 10:30 confidently next comes the balancing point.
Now you need to get to 1030 and hold it there. In second gear you're running out of revs. Well stop accelerating. Once you're up you don't need full throttle power any more. Ease off the gas and snick into third gear without using the clutch. You're now at the start of the engine power band in third going pretty quick and already covering a bit of distance.
With the third gear power band use it to maintain your position and find the balance point.
Like riding a unicycle finding the balance point is of utter importance. When you find it you'll say "Oh my God this feels bizzare". When you've reached the balance point you can throttle down or keep clutchlessly snicking up gears and throttling on. It's the same as being flat to the ground on two wheels.
With the balance point comes understanding and massive confidence.
With practice comes the art of being able to pull a long wheelie as and when you want every time.
Clutch and throttle
Bikes with a tamer power band and more weight need a little help to get the front up.
All the other basics remain the same.
Again get to second gear as first is usually far too short and violent. Hold the throttle steady up to 6000 revs.
This time at the beginning of the power band pull the clutch in and let it snap out at the same time rolling on full throttle plus a little jerk on the bars. She'll come up without a doubt.
Good luck my fellow bikers.