Hey,
Im kind of a newbie...my first bike was a katana 600, which I drove for about 3 months, and now I have a GSX-R 600, which Ive been on for about a month now.

I want to learn how to do wheelies.
Anyone have any tips or pointers for a beginner?
Ive never done them before.

A friend of mine said that the easiest way is to take off in 1st gear and get it up to about 9k RPMs and release the throttle...then the bike should slightly dip forward, once it does that, hit full throttle and the front should come up.

Good advice?

Any input would be greatly apprietiated.

Mike.

 

Well, the best thing you can do is learn to do everything in moderation and dont get ahead of yourself by trying to show off or do something you havent mastered yet.

Anyway...I would go in first and just roll on the throttle, it might pull it up. Alot depends on how much you weight and how you sit on the bike. It probably wont wheelie from rolling on the throttle, so I would do a little snapping of the throttle at lower rpm's. Once you get some good practice in lower rpm's bring her up higher, and do what your friend said...about 8-9k and close the throttle then snap it open ( the front forks will compress and on there way up it will help you ). With a new 600 it should wheelie like that no problem, but you really cant ride those long, just to redline in 1st. If you cant pull it up in 1st with the on-off throttle method you can try sliding back a little in the seat.

Once you get better you will want to get in 2nd gear and bring her up to around 5-6k and slightly dip the clutch in ( just so the clutch is disengaged ) while giving it a small amount of gas....then release the clutch smoothly. Clutch wheelies are easy to mess up on ( never do them in 1st gear when learning ), just dont rev it to high and be easy with the clutch.

If you do get it up high, just a simple release of the gas will bring the front end down quick. You probably wont be getting it to high yet( but when you do you want to land as smooth as possible ). You can also cover the back brake, but be careful with that.

Also make sure you wear all the gear you have, and you are in a safe place. Dont rush yourself it will come in time and by practicing the little blipps in first is the best way to learn.

Good Luck and let us know how it goes

 

thats a good way to learn but theres no waiting in between as soon as you let off get right back on it
i have an 01 GSXR 600 and i can do it at around 5rpm if i pull back on it

another good way is to get it around 5 and tap the clutch
or stand up and and get it around 5 then goose it (let off the gas then get back on it) and bounce the bike at the same time
but just be carefull no matter how you do it its touchy in first gear

good luck and be safe

 

tip #1: dont do them in front of cops.

 

Thanks for the great tips guys.
Yeah...I guess I am alittle nervous about doing them.
Im not worried about getting hurt, I just dont want to scratch my baby.

I think I will be safe and get alittle more used to my bike first.

Its hard to not want to do them though...especially when Im cruisin on the highway when a pack of bikers rolls up on me doing wheelies at 90+. :o

BTW, that post of the article on how to ride a sports bike that ryujin posted was really good. When Im "one with my bike" Ill try doing tricks and shit.