...popped an accidental wheelie today...

[AnonRider]

Don't know how, but all of a sudden my front wheel raised what felt like two feet in the air. Landed and I felt a pain in my nuts.

itt: how to avoid accidental wheelies for a newbie and general wheelie/accidental stories.

[Paulcet]

Keep the launch rpm under 6-7K and you will probably be fine.  If your bike is running right, you should be able to get going at under 4k rpm.  I can get rolling from idle. 

[adidasguy]

Wear a cup. 

[radodrill]

With the stock gearing and jetting the GS is quite tame.  With upgraded jetting, I have had the front lift a little bit off the road while doing a hard launch.

The best advice is to smoothly release the clutch, you'd be more prone to do a bunny hop when you dump the clutch.

Wear a cup. 

ROFL 

[robfriedenberger]

I agree with every one else, the GS500 is not a wheelie machine like a 650 KTM (amazing wheelie machine),  my gs500 is %100 stock and yes it can do a wheelie and hold it up but its not going to happen on accident unless your goofing off. I've noticed that on bike that need a chain adjustment that it is easier to pop the front wheel up.

I don't recommended wheeling the GS so much either since you have to do clutch up wheelies its though on the motor, clutch chain, and wimpy front suspension. Now on a KTM 650 you can do them all day in 2nd gear just by giving it gas. Get some good gear and a different bike for wheelies

[Watevaman]

 All I got from trying to wheelie was a crotch full of gas from a leaking gas cap. Not sure I'd want to wheelie the GS anyway. Gears are so short it'd be a pain to keep it up.

[AnonRider]

I have no idea how it happened, i believe i was in 2nd gear- dumped the clutch on accident. I bought the bike second hand, I'm not sure if the previous owner had any mods done to it. Scary as shaZam!!-

[BockinBboy]

Reason number 1,159 for why the GS500 is an excellent starter bike vs something like an f4i...

- Bboy

[Paulcet]

I have no idea how it happened, i believe i was in 2nd gear- dumped the clutch on accident. I bought the bike second hand, I'm not sure if the previous owner had any mods done to it. Scary as shaZam!!-

2nd?!    So, how many teeth on the sprockets?

[robfriedenberger]

Check you chain adjustment, and sprocket sizes. Only on the rear pegs can it get the front wheel up in second and it's tough.


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[AnonRider]

In all honesty, I shouldn't be riding the bike in its current condition, the chain is rusted to shaZam!, the front and rear sprockets need replacing BADLY. I'm trying to do this today but I bought a cheap impact socket set (pittsburgh pro) and the socket gave out before the nut did. Going to Lowes now to buy a kobalt branded set. :idk: hopefully it's better.

[robfriedenberger]

Get craftsman,snap-on or Mac in that order


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[AnonRider]

Get craftsman,snap-on or Mac in that order


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they don't sell any of those brands in the lowes by me  i went ahead and picked up the kobolt set, got it off quickly. Tomorrow i'll be bringing the old rim and tire to the shop so they can put my new tire on. Going to do the chain, sprockets tire in one move.

[robfriedenberger]

Craftsman can be found - Sears, Ace, Online

Mac can be found - Tool truck, Some auto parts stores, Online

Snap-on - Tool truck, Some auto parts stores, Online

Mac and snapon are going to be what your professional mech's use, craftsman finds its way into their boxes because its usually an old starter set, or 1/3 of the price of the other stuff.

[CraigR]

I've done accidental wheelies twice off the lights, I've got a 14T front sprocket so that could explain why. Weirdly both times where going up a hill too.

[Mauricio]

I have no idea how it happened, i believe i was in 2nd gear- dumped the clutch on accident. I bought the bike second hand, I'm not sure if the previous owner had any mods done to it. Scary as shaZam!!-

Well, there you go. My first instinct as a scientist is to try and answer the question "Does it happen every time if you replicate the exact conditions?". Sounds like the kind of homework one would want to do on an April weekend.

[Janx101]

Just a viewpoint here.... But..

Accidental wheelie = oh no what's wrong with my bike? I gotta fix it! 

But riders do wheelie on purpose = Yeah Boi !! Check this sik shaZam! out!! 


... Go figure eh?! 

[rexpepper651]

i did this once! but it was 1st gear from a stop. i wanted to see what it would do if i really gave her the balls and i found out i may have wee'd a lil in my pants.
       

craftsman is the tool brand i go with. we have a sears all over in minnesota. cheaper then strap-on and mac tools. same lifetime warranty. also look for a nothern tool and equipment if you have them. those are renamed craftsman tools and most of them have a lifetime warranty.

[ron freeman]

Be careful buying Craftsman, you're not getting what you think anymore. All of their mechanical tools are now made in China.  I know this for a fact as my company builds their displays and I see the tools before anyone else does. Go with Snapon or AMPro.

[Suzuki Stevo]

Anytime a wheelie is popped on a GS500 it's no accident, you have to force them with moderate to heavy clutch abuse, although lower gears do help. Here's a video of somebody wheelieing a GS500, they succeed @1:55 by looping it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjkKr7zC-gI