This, ladies and gentleman, is why you shouldnt wheelie your GS

[HotPocket]

Back story.   I got my GS as a play bike.  My other bike (which is in storage for the winter while I do some upgrades) is a 2014 R6 that I would really rather not mess up.

I went with the GS because its a light very maneuverable bike that I just happened to get a super good deal on.  (Got mine for sub 1000$ from a friend) and because I wanted something a little more comfortable for long commutes. 

Anyways..... I was in a parking lot and decided to see how well this thing could pop a wheel.  It does okay for its size and power. You really have to dump the clutch on it.  As a result of popping the front a few good times this happened.



It was a little unexpected but luckily I already had an appointment to have a new chain and block plates put on this week. 

So to anyone thinking about riding 1 wheel on the GS just know dumping the clutch on these enough to lift the front end destroys these tensioner plates real bad. 

[qcbaker]

Note to self: do NOT convert my GS into a stunt bike 

[sledge]

Wheelies also starve the engine of oil, the level drops below the pickup 

[HPP8140]

was the axle tightened to higher end of spec?

[twocool]

My diagnosis too...axle shouldn't slip forward if tightened to spec.

The adjusters are just for adjusting..not really to hold the whole wheel back...except for the case of axle nut too loose...(to prevent complete disaster.)

From what little is visible in the photo...this bike was not well cared for...stripped nuts...rusty chain....looks like the end plates were not even centered...allowing them to buckle...

But what do you expect for $1k?

Cookie

was the axle tightened to higher end of spec?

[HotPocket]

Wheelies also starve the engine of oil, the level drops below the pickup 

Brb rotating my engine 60 degrees for maximum oil delivery during wheelies.

[HotPocket]

My diagnosis too...axle shouldn't slip forward if tightened to spec.

The adjusters are just for adjusting..not really to hold the whole wheel back...except for the case of axle nut too loose...(to prevent complete disaster.)

From what little is visible in the photo...this bike was not well cared for...stripped nuts...rusty chain....looks like the end plates were not even centered...allowing them to buckle...

But what do you expect for $1k?

Cookie

was the axle tightened to higher end of spec?

Oh trust me I knew going into this that this bike was a turd bucket.  The guy who had it before me was a prime example of a squid.  But the frame is in good shape and the motor is practically brand new.   The rest of the bike just needs some TLC and I have a soft spot for projects. 

[Watcher]

I'll echo the axle nut being too loose.


As someone who has thrown a chain, DON'T take this lightly!  There's so much thread on those adjuster studs, you can easily just make something beefier to take the place of those end plates, or a machine shop can easily duplicate them a little thicker and/or out of a stronger material.  That plus a properly torqued axle and it shouldn't be an issue anymore.


When I threw my chain it stretched, slipped off the rear, and bound in the swing-arm locking up the rear wheel solid.
Happened to me at about 20mph, already slowing to stop, so I stayed upright easily.
With the front end up?  You won't be so lucky.