so a long while ago I was browsing the site and came a cross a thread about how to prepare your GS to wheelie since it can cause damage. Anyone know the thread? I wasn't ready to test the waters then but have been thing about it now. Since its time to change the sprocket and chain I thought now would be a good time to make the necessary precautions. I searched but couldnt find it. Any other wheelie threads would be useful too.
i apologise for sounding like an ass. BUT use search. granted i came up wiht this:
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?action=search2
BUT you might vary your terms and find more relevant info . that aside. wheelies although fun at times are also HARD on teh gs internals. ( or any bieks engine internals really) so be ready to break stuff. cause eventually while learnign you wil drop it , maybe as far a s a12 o clock type drop. invest in engine case guards. maybe a wheelie bar. ( 12 oclock bar) type stuff. do these in private property locations or EMPTY parking lots etc. nehow ill get off of my soapbox now. cause although i speak out against wheelies they are strangely addictive or fun at times. YT is fill of wheelie vids. also look at gearing. a 14t in front or a larger ( +2 tooth in rear , will help hte gs with its lack of power for this. at the expense of speed) nehow the YT vids i spoke of
HAHA we got mentioned on youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuTlBvdDMbc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOz7Wveb9JQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MGelSYavwQ&feature=related
There's too many to narrow it down to the one you want, but I'll probably browse through them later..... http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?action=search2
On the other hand, it's never too soon to start another! You see that sprocket?? that's a -2/+8! My GS just tried to laugh at me when I tried to wheelie in the stock gearing.
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2582/3684041473_0b5e32e526_o.jpg)
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2421/3684041483_d196a4cc2f_o.jpg)
As far as preparing, there's not much you need to do to get your bike ready, as it's mostly after effects that are the problem. At least make sure you have the proper amount of oil in your bike, some progressive springs in the fork might help, as you can see in the first video posted above. Some of those GS engine guards aren't a bad idea. At the very least you could pull your mirrors off when you get to the parking lot because they're the easiest thing to break. I'd keep an extra set of fork seals around incase they start leaking. Of course wear your helmet, and as you can see from my pictures.... a parking lot is best, or if you live in the middle of no where I'm sure you can find a road that has less traffic than an empty parking lot anyway, although I've never gotten any kind of ticket in a parking lot since it's private property, you'll most likely hear "this is private property, you have to leave" instead of "license and registration. There was a parking lot here on the northside where some cops used to actually just come and watch.
You guys gave great advice but you left out the most important thing.. make sure your health and life insurance is in force!
hey tt four? how fast does your bike top out at now that you went down 2 in the front and up 8 in the back? I was also wondering how many links you used for your chain?
thanks
james.
Ooh, haha, it tops out at 95, but I'm ok with that. I have no real need to go on a highway, and it was a stretch to get the bike any higher than that anyway. It would just be a bit buzzy over 65-70mph or so. I don't remember how long the chain is, we just replaced it instead of adding links, want me to count? I don't mind doing it, I'm just too hungry to walk over to it now.
I remember my old job when they kept scheduling me 2 hours under the minimum requirement for the health insurance, which I know they do on purpose to save money, but it was obnoxious, riding was not the slightest bit fun then, and I eventually had to go out and buy my own.
where did you get your rear sprocket from? what is that a 52? i assume that comes up real easy?
james.
47, we found it on ebay somewhere, I think. The brand says SunStar. It was probably meant for a dirtbike but who can remember.