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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: i3randon12 on June 14, 2004, 12:55:22 PM

Title: I CANT WHEELIE!!
Post by: i3randon12 on June 14, 2004, 12:55:22 PM
I've been trying to do some wheelies so i can impress some people,  i know gs's arent the greatest to wheelie on             but i cant ven get the ffront wheel up

i put it in first gear, go about 10 mph, pull in the clutch
let it roll, rev it up to 6,000 rpms, and relase clutch      


all tht happens is a tiny gerk

if neone knows what i might be doiung wrong and want to help a newbie impress his friends and the ladies... some advice would be great!
how bad is it for the bike to wheelie>
Title: I CANT WHEELIE!!
Post by: gitarman on June 14, 2004, 01:12:42 PM
I'd say go to this site: www.uponone.com and check out their how-to's and the video they have about how to wheelie....

BUT

After reading the last few posts of people attempting to wheelie and subsequently wrecking their bikes, I'd prolly advise against it. You don't want to mess up that nice new headlight fairing do you?

Plus a very good friend of mine's co-worker decided to do a wheelie to "show-off" outside of a local tourist attraction. His front wheel came down crocked and he ended up high siding into the side of a train. He had done hundreds of wheelies before according to my friend, but this was his last.

I hate being a downer just want you to know the risks
Title: I CANT WHEELIE!!
Post by: i3randon12 on June 14, 2004, 01:21:10 PM
hey gitar man, thnx for the advice,,,, im not going to go crazy... i  only want to try it in a parking lot,,, very slow

nothing to big to hurt my self....

i know im scared hurting my bike the most...    i dont know       im reconsidering it now


thnks though
Title: I CANT WHEELIE!!
Post by: Rippa_MD on June 14, 2004, 01:36:03 PM
WARNING do the following at your own risk!! [at a parking lot with no cars whatsoever!!]

I was experiencing that slight jerk you're talking about. You're probably going too fast and not revving high enough.

Do this go about 15-20 mph on first gear, pull in clutch, revv up to 9k-9.5k, and immediately release the clutch when your in 8.5k-10k range. Make sure you hug the gas tank with your knees and hold on to the handlebars.

If you even think your gonna tip over, pull in the clutch, and tap AND hold on your rear brake DO NOT SLAM ON THEM. good luck and you might want to remove the fairings if you can because you might seriously damage your pretty fairings if things don't go right. wear your gear!!
Title: I CANT WHEELIE!!
Post by: gitarman on June 14, 2004, 02:10:07 PM
I didn't want that previous post to sound like I'm against having fun on a bike. Heck if I didn't have a new paintjob I'd prolly be testing out my wheelieing skills in an empty parking lot as well, I just don't want to see a fellow GS'r go down in a squidly manner.

I think anyone can go out and "stunt" without seriously hurting themselves if they wear protective gear and take small steps, pretty much like starting out on a motorcycle in the beginning. Proof is the 2 previous posts about guys that had "oops's" which could have ended very badly, but were protected because they didn't overdo themselves and had gear on.
Title: I CANT WHEELIE!!
Post by: passive357 on June 14, 2004, 02:50:19 PM
i wouldn't bother with a wheelie. if you want to impress people, buy a armani suit and put some 22 inch wheels on your gs500. ride around and throw out 100 dollar bills everywhere you go. just kidding , having just crashed yesterday doing a wheelie, i earned to right to some sarcasm. you gotta have some skills to stunt on a gs. no doubt. i can do rolling burnouts on mine but i bit off more than i could chew in the wheelie department. good luck
Title: I CANT WHEELIE!!
Post by: Hi-T on June 14, 2004, 04:00:09 PM
If you're really interested in doing wheelies- borrow a dirt bike...  Seriously, the first time I wheelied it was on an old honda in the grass... the first time i wrecked hard was on an old honda in the grass- so the wreck wasn't all that bad.  I Got up, dusted myself off and restarted the bike.  Big air and wheelies are is what MX is made of...

But if you're super interested in wheelies and street bikes, spend a hundred bones on a new chain and a brand new set of sprockets.  Drop to a 15 front and a 44 rear ( probably larger) .  One- wheelies are easier when you can power into them- you'll have more control over the engine and can predict better how and when the front will come up.  Two- your poor engine and clutch will stay friends with you longer.

It's sixes- but that's just my 2 cents-  we've had several riders mention how that guessed incorrectly about dropping the clutch.  It could be you too- and then the $100 and a half hour prep time wouldn't seem so bad...
Title: I CANT WHEELIE!!
Post by: i3randon12 on June 14, 2004, 06:21:12 PM
haha           i would thorw out hundreds but i want to save up for like a gsx r1        i saw one the other day          and just looking at him riding it,    he impressed me!

plus  with those u probobly dont need to use the clutch to wheelie          just flor it and the tire will raise
Title: I CANT WHEELIE!!
Post by: dorian chapman on June 14, 2004, 07:54:32 PM
I'm not going to try to wheelie, although i have done many on a dirtbike, again many wipe outs too, lots of grass stains !
BUT, when you guys try it, do you guys use all 4 fingers to pull the clutch in and pop it ? Cause i would feel as if i didn't have a good enough grip to hold on when i popped the clutch.  I feel like if i were to do that, the bike owuld lunge, and the front would come up,a nd somewhere during that process my left hand would slip off the grip throwing me off balance and off the bike.  Or do you guys use just two fingers or what ?
Title: I CANT WHEELIE!!
Post by: tt_four on June 14, 2004, 08:58:49 PM
i barely ever ever use the clutch to do wheelies, maybe like 4-5 times, but when i do, i use all 4 fingers, i just hold onto the tank with my legs, and footpegs real good,

but brandon, you're definately not gonna get it up at 6krpm, and there's a chance you're not doing it fast enough either, you might be going 15, pulling in the clutch, revving it up, and then just let it go, you can't do that, start out accelerating normal, once you get to 15-20 and are still twisting the throttle, pull in the clutch, the revs will jump, and then just let it out, all one quick motion, you shouldn't be pulling in the clutch and letting it out, about as long as you press your keyboard keys, unless you're a super fast typer, hold it in, if anymore than two letters pop up, that's way too long to be pulling your clutch in, and make sure as you're letting the clutch out you're still giving it gas, don't dump the clutch and let off the gas, like someone else said, a bigger rear sprocket will help a ton, if oyu only go up 3 in the back and down 1 in the front, you shouldn't need a bigger chain or anything,

what year is your bike? to be honest, the one i've tried on is a 91 and i can't get the front up, and i already know what i'm doing, i do think the engine is kidna bogged down though and i need to work on it some, and hopefully get a little more power out of it, the only way i cang et the front up at all is to stand on the back pegs, bounce, and hit the gas as my weight is just pushing down on the back pegs, i've got stiffer front fork springs coming, and looking in to a katana rear, so hopefully those will help it a bit, and i'll see about the engine though, but have fun, i've been on plenty of other boards where people just get pissed off when you ask for advice on wheelies, saying if you have to ask you shouldn't be trying, but who knows, they're fun, and don't push yourself too hard, cause they only look cool if you manage to set it back down on two wheels
Title: I CANT WHEELIE!!
Post by: mrslush50 on June 14, 2004, 10:50:41 PM
tt:  the gs won't pull wheelies using the method you described.  it just doesn't have that kind of power.  at least with the stock sprockets.  I don't know what droping teeth in the front will do since I haven't bothered to try it.  

extended wheelies are difficult on the gs, but if you just want to pop the front wheel up for a couple of seconds, it's very simple.  10mph, 6500rpm, pull clutch in, drop clutch.
Title: I CANT WHEELIE!!
Post by: i3randon12 on June 15, 2004, 07:00:08 AM
im going to go try it again today.... yesterday     i was doing it  and my bike died...           ran out of gas                 i felt dumb              but just fillped it to res        and went to the gas station

the place im trying it is cool, and perfect for practice...

its like a sidewalk( but not really) with grsss on eighter side              so if i fall          prob no serous damage

i took off my fairing      so it wont break
Title: I CANT WHEELIE!!
Post by: octane on June 15, 2004, 10:29:59 AM
Sort of off topic...but not really. I'm not against anyone having fun, doing wheelies, whatever, so long as  you're reasonably responsible about it, but it made me think of a local news story that happened not long ago. SOme drunk jackass on a big bore sportbike decided to do a wheelie to impress a group of girls outside a bar, lost control, and plowed into thr crowd. Lots of injuries, mostly bruises and a few broken bones, but one 26 year old girl's head ended up under the bike when if finally came down and she's got permanent brain damage. Not to mention hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills, scars, permanent pain, etc. Imagine waking up from your coma to, "Sorry 'bout that".

The guy actually really was remorseful, but he ended up being dishonorably discharged from the navy and is gonna do some time.

Not that you're gonna do that. Just made me think of the story.
Title: I CANT WHEELIE!!
Post by: Ed_in_Az on June 15, 2004, 12:40:59 PM
As it's already been said, reduce the countershaft sprocket size and maybe even go up in rear sprocket size if you want to wheelie the GS. Power wheelies are what you want, not rev the engine and drop the clutch. None of my street bikes(3) have been capable of power wheelies, and I refuse to torture a bike with the pop the clutch variety. I really enjoyed power wheelies on all my dirt bikes and quads.  With enough power they are SO EASY(and safer). The only time you get into danger is when you reach the balance point in height. If you don't let the front get that high, you can just keep accelerating riding on the rear wheel until you're ready to shift to the next gear. So, if you're concerned about your own safety(the bike's too) and that of others, either gear your GS lower until you can power wheelie it, or wait until you're ready for a more powerful bike that can do it. You'll have A LOT MORE FUN doing power wheelies anyway, and(if you care) they are way more impressive to spectators. Plus your bike's engine and clutch will last longer and save you money.
Title: I CANT WHEELIE!!
Post by: PAC on June 15, 2004, 08:43:24 PM
Quote from: passive357i wouldn't bother with a wheelie. if you want to impress people, buy a armani suit and put some 22 inch wheels on your gs500. ride around and throw out 100 dollar bills everywhere you go. just kidding , having just crashed yesterday doing a wheelie, i earned to right to some sarcasm. you gotta have some skills to stunt on a gs. no doubt. i can do rolling burnouts on mine but i bit off more than i could chew in the wheelie department. good luck

i3randon12, have you *read* passive's post?  Have you thought about it - the consequences if you crash the bike while trying to wheelie?  Is it worth it to you?

http://www.gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=9774
or
http://www.gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=9721

Bikes are fun, but I grew out of trying to impress other people long ago.  Ride for you, not for them.
Title: I CANT WHEELIE!!
Post by: PAC on June 15, 2004, 08:53:19 PM
Ok, my post sounds rude.  It's not meant to.  I appologize if I offend.  Take the others' advice and find somplace deserted to practice.  Don't practice when you're trying to impress the ladies.  Dropping the bike in front of them will leave a longer lasting impression than a 2 second wheelie.
Title: I CANT WHEELIE!!
Post by: Siegheil on May 27, 2005, 03:10:57 PM
The GS does a cute little wheely without too much effort. My bike, before it sat in the elements for a year, would pull up about a foot off the ground. Nothing super, just be careful about the road you are on, my brother did a wheely on said GS and came down on some bad asphalt. He lost some skin on that one.

Maybe your bike isn't in top shape? My carbs are giving me trouble and I haven't able to wheely lately...

Remember, rubber side down.  :lol:
Title: I CANT WHEELIE!!
Post by: weaselnoze on May 27, 2005, 03:53:54 PM
wow. thats old.  i like this blast from the past stuff thats happening lately.  it cuts down on new posts that have already been covered a billion times.  just like this one
Title: I CANT WHEELIE!!
Post by: scratch on May 27, 2005, 04:05:32 PM
Yes, for some reason it makes me think of a saying, "People buy things they can't afford, to impress people they don't like". And, I don't mean any offense saying that, I'm just saying this just reminds me of it.
Title: wheelies
Post by: gs500freak on May 27, 2005, 04:48:46 PM
hey i used to have the same problem with doing a wheelie. my friends showed me on how to clutch it since the bike doesn't have enough power to do it with out the clutch. i get rolling about 10 to 15 mph. i then rev the motor to 7k or 7.5k rpms. i figured out how to let the clutch out where i get some torque on the wheels, then once i feel the tranny moving the wheels a little i pop the clutch. it only takes time til you get it. i do it in a parking lot to be smart about it and also safe so i dont't hit anyone else. if you try you can figure it out, i now can ride them at about 11 o' clock. i am trying to do them standing up but it is a different feeling cause the bike will pick up a lot faster. i also do stoppies on the 500f. i gotta say that be prepare to fall so if u don't want to scratch your bike i wouldn't do it. i took my side fairings off to put some frame sliders i custom fitted on there. i am now worried about doing them only cause i just installed a yoshi rs-3 pipe on it. if u wanted to do it go for it but remember you are going to fall. later guys, i am going to the valley for the weekend. :cheers:
Title: I CANT WHEELIE!!
Post by: 94suzuki500 on May 27, 2005, 05:04:15 PM
If I were you I would try on a dirtbike first, cause they can take a fall alot easier than a streetbike.  Also they are lighter and are real torqey low end so you dont have to rev it like a maniac.  Its all about the balance point, if you dont get to the balance point then your bike will not stay wheelied.  Also dont pull in your clutch when you feel you have gone to far, it would make your bike free wheel and go over.  Just close the throttle and tap the rear brake.  Be ready to buy parts  cause youll most likely break somthing when trying.
Title: I CANT WHEELIE!!
Post by: stefman722 on May 27, 2005, 06:10:21 PM
Dont use ur cluth at all. I dont, i rev to about 4500rpm, let go of throttle, then quickly to 5000rpms and she goes up for me. I can keep her up for a while to. I am trying to perfect shifting into 2nd. Its very easy and fun. Never had a close call at all. The only mod i got is a 15 tooth sprocket.  :cheers:
Title: I CANT WHEELIE!!
Post by: Blueknyt on May 27, 2005, 09:47:17 PM
the second gear trick is when it rocks up and your ready to ease off the gas, have your foot pulling into second when your hand is closeing the throttle, the front starts to drop your already sliding into 2nd, and your on the throttle again but not needing quite as much and now you have more RPMs. But, it is hard on the 2nd gear (gear Dogs).  i still recomend doing this on a bike with abit more power OR more prefably a Dirtbike. KEEP YOUR FOOT OVER THE REAR BRAKE ALL THE TIME.
Title: Re: I CANT WHEELIE!!
Post by: V8Pinto on May 27, 2005, 11:42:09 PM
Quote from: i3randon12i know gs's arent the greatest to wheelie on             but i cant ven get the ffront wheel up
>

Man the GS is AWESOME to wheelie on.  The sound of it is the coolest part.  It's not the wirrr of an inline four, it just goes bWOHHHHHHHH.  

When you get it right, the front wheel will lightly touch down and 'CHIRP' right before all the people start throwing money at you.
Title: I CANT WHEELIE!!
Post by: V8Pinto on May 27, 2005, 11:43:51 PM
Just to follow up, I can get 5th gear wheelies on my 250 dirt bike and the GS is STILL more fun to wheelie...  It just has more.......  (what is the word) "ART" to it.  It's a beautiful thing!