So... I've spotted some animosity towards riders who wheelie their bikes... I'm curious to know what is that all about. Why the animosity ?
To dig even deeper.. If a wheelie creates controversy, then... some of you must hate riders who stunt their bikes?
It requires a lot of skill, dedication and balls to stunt a bike and make it look easy. I respect and enjoy watching them do it. Obviously, not on the highway or tiny streets where they endanger everyone's lives, but in a controlled environment. Some guys have total control of their bikes. How cool would that be? Total control? WOW!
I think it may be a bit of jealousy from not being able to control your bikes like that.. I may be wrong.. what do you say? [beer]
If it's done on a road or street where other traffic is around then I think it's a cheesy desparate attempt for attention. I liken it to people who inconsiderately blare their bass at stoplights, people who smoke the tires of their car, and kids who wear goth clothes. JMO
I think stunting is fine as long as you do it away from traffic. I like my bike too much to start stunting it so I don't do it. I think any riding that endangers other people is squidly and don't condone it.
Quote from: DrNo08 on July 10, 2008, 06:06:36 PM
If it's done on a road or street where other traffic is around then I think it's a cheesy desparate attempt for attention. I liken it to people who inconsiderately blare their bass at stoplights, people who smoke the tires of their car, and kids who wear goth clothes. JMO
+11ty billion
Doing it around traffic can also be dangerous. And it perpetuates the squid image. Theres a time and place for everything. To me, in traffic is neither the time nor place to wheelie.
I'm a bit jealous that I can't ride a long wheelie, but it really doesn't bother me that much.
Besides, at least for the 2V engines - wheelies != [bacon]
I forget the exact result, but oil get's out of the engine and on the back tire if you stand it up for very long. I might think that was one of my urban legends, but I saw the same thing happen to Jason Britton on a bridge crossing he did on a DS1100 HM.
No thanks - I'll keep practicing my turning and stopping.
I had been riding up in the mountains with a very good friend, who rides really well, and Bro-in-law all day and my good friend was telling me how to do a stoppie and a wheelie. Then he said, "well you've been out breaking me and leaving me for dead all day long in the dry and the wet, I guess you already know this shit , don't you?" Yea, I just don't do that shit.
LA
wheelies in private = ;D
stunting in private = [roll]
either one where it could possibly endanger anyone besides the rider = :P
because it is being done on public streets and traffic perpetuating a bad image for motorcyclist especially sport bike riders and most of the time the wheelies and stunts are poorly executed and thusly trashing the bike and themselves, which creates even more antimosity towards motorcyclists as the LEO's and EMTs scrape the aftermath off the road in front of a whole gaggle of impatient pissed off cagers.
That about sums it up I think.
Quote from: Drjones on July 10, 2008, 08:51:10 PM
because it is being done on public streets and traffic perpetuating a bad image for motorcyclist especially sport bike riders and most of the time the wheelies and stunts are poorly executed and thusly trashing the bike and themselves, which creates even more antimosity towards motorcyclists as the LEO's and EMTs scrape the aftermath off the road in front of a whole gaggle of impatient pissed off cagers.
That about sums it up I think.
I think the Doctor has the perfect reasoning. It's like people who carry guns on their hips. You don't talk about it, and you never take it out of the holster unless you have to.
It's about respect. We ride because it's fun, not because we want to show off. If others do so and make us look bad (which they always do) then that sucks for us. We NEED respect on the road because without it we'll be run over and hurt real bad. If you want to stunt in a closed parking lot or at a show, well then that's cool. Just don't do it on the street.
I don't do wheelies except when it happens naturally like pinning the throttle, but I usually realize what I've done and let of the gas.
I think it is squidly on the street . If someone wants to do it in the proper environment then that's another story. To me wheelies fall under the category of stunting and that's not something that interests me at all.
wheelies on streets are for guys with small members; kind of like the ones who drive around in pick up trucks with huge raised suspension and off-road tires, who will smash into guys doing wheelies ... well and the rest of us riders too [bacon]
I agree with Double Eagle. Sometimes my front tire will come up rather easy and I am fairly quick to set it back down.
well... this is kinda a tough one for me to comment on. Seems how I am ussually the guy writing the articles on How to Wheelie :-X . I can see where you guys are going with the squidishness, responsabiltiy, safety, small members :P , and young and stupid comments. I consider myself an above average rider in the twisties, well above on the stunting and who cares about in a straight line [roll] . Now I work out of town and away from my beautiful S4, so when I am home all I want to do ride, and ride hard. This doesnt mean hit the freeway and do some 3 mile wheelies, but rather hit the twisties. Now if I come over a hill am I going to wheelie down the other side? Damn Straight! and up the next hill if I can hold it. Am I a squid? To some of you sure... anyone over the speed limit is a squid. Am I going to change my style? I dont see why I should. I am riding within what I believe to be my limits, and we all break the law anyway. For example, all those exhaust that say "For Offroad Use Only", thats you too my fellow law breakers.
Now please dont ask me what I do for living and we should be ok ;D
Quote from: Pancake81 on July 11, 2008, 09:24:57 PM
well... this is kinda a tough one for me to comment on. Seems how I am ussually the guy writing the articles on How to Wheelie :-X . I can see where you guys are going with the squidishness, responsabiltiy, safety, small members :P , and young and stupid comments. I consider myself an above average rider in the twisties, well above on the stunting and who cares about in a straight line [roll] . Now I work out of town and away from my beautiful S4, so when I am home all I want to do ride, and ride hard. This doesnt mean hit the freeway and do some 3 mile wheelies, but rather hit the twisties. Now if I come over a hill am I going to wheelie down the other side? Damn Straight! and up the next hill if I can hold it. Am I a squid? To some of you sure... anyone over the speed limit is a squid. Am I going to change my style? I dont see why I should. I am riding within what I believe to be my limits, and we all break the law anyway. For example, all those exhaust that say "For Offroad Use Only", thats you too my fellow law breakers.
Now please dont ask me what I do for living and we should be ok ;D
So what do you do for a living?
Me, I do the odd wheelie. Never massive standups (cause in my old age I'm getting worse at them), but yes, there sometimes will be shows of exuberance from me.
Anyway, kids love a good wheelie.
It's a topic you can't beat with a stick...........it won't die.............LOL! Wheelies are fine if in controlled environments........i.e. not on busy streets, not in neighborhoods, not around other people...........unless they happen to be your buddies that are either doing the same thing or wanting to watch you do the same. I can appreciate a good stunt show, but who in the real world wants to abuse a perfectly good bike like that unless they have loads of cash to throw at it when it breaks...........to each their own, stay safe out there. [popcorn]
3 words...Wheelie For Safety ;D
/thread
Like many others, I dislike wheelies and stunting on the road. As a guy in his late 30 who rides anything other than a Harley, I get tired of the 'tude that riding sport bikes generates among the non-initiated who immediately assume that just because I ride sport bikes I ride like that kid in the shorts and flip flops that whipped around them doing 80mph in a 25 mph zone and then wheelied away from them. It creates a horrible perception for all of us and, like someone else mentioned, makes it that much harder to get treated seriously by other motorists, public safety workers, etc. And how many of us have been pissed because some idiot cager ran over us or someone we know and basically got away with it, only getting some stupid "improper movement" ticket or something equally meaningless? I have to think that our bad image plays into that to. After all, if you ride a sport bike and get into an accident the default position by non-bikers is "he was probably riding like an idiot." Now stunting isn't strictly responsible for this perception, but it sure as hell doesn't help.
Also, as a side note, my opinion of even professional stunters took a hit last year at the AMA races at VIR. I was leaving the vendor area on my 1098S, heading back to the campground, when one of Jason Britton's teammates apparently decided I was in his way. He whipped around me to the left, into oncoming traffic entering the vendor area, and then made a hard right turn toward the paddock, completely cutting me off in the process. I was on the front brakes hard enough that the back wheel was in the air to avoid T-boning him. I was NOT amused.
Quote from: Pancake81 on July 11, 2008, 09:24:57 PM
well... this is kinda a tough one for me to comment on. Seems how I am ussually the guy writing the articles on How to Wheelie :-X . I can see where you guys are going with the squidishness, responsabiltiy, safety, small members :P , and young and stupid comments. I consider myself an above average rider in the twisties, well above on the stunting and who cares about in a straight line [roll] . Now I work out of town and away from my beautiful S4, so when I am home all I want to do ride, and ride hard. This doesnt mean hit the freeway and do some 3 mile wheelies, but rather hit the twisties. Now if I come over a hill am I going to wheelie down the other side? Damn Straight! and up the next hill if I can hold it. Am I a squid? To some of you sure... anyone over the speed limit is a squid. Am I going to change my style? I dont see why I should. I am riding within what I believe to be my limits, and we all break the law anyway. For example, all those exhaust that say "For Offroad Use Only", thats you too my fellow law breakers.
Now please dont ask me what I do for living and we should be ok ;D
EGADS. I am with U on this one brother. I will even take it one step further. I still occaisionally pull the wheel down the main drag. "Trying to get attention" Ya, possibly. But usually I am egged on.
I really get a kick out of some of you riders that think. " Oh,, its ok as long as we do it in a safe enviroment" Where would that be ? ?.
I just did a 2 day trip, 1400 kms(900 mile ish) Over half was mountains roads. What a blast. But,,, to say that its ok to drive fast on these roads. Ha, more fricken blind corners, rocks on road & very slow going sight C-ers. Made for aot of adreniline rushes. Like I said "what a blast"
For anybody to buy a 100 HP motorcycle (sport motorcycle) & then ride it like a tourer,,,,,,well,, to each ther own.
I am fairly confident in my riding skills. I havent gone beyond "MY LIMITS" for many many yrs.
I know it isnt everones "Cup of tea", & I also know that there are people who actually drive the speed limit,,"All the time" (How,, I am not sure !!! :) )
Stats will show that more of us squids get into accidents... & I wont argue that. But,,, I bought all my bikes to have fun on,, & that I will do ;D
PS: No "LA",, I wasnt referring to U,,,,,tho U did say it as well. I hear alot of this. "Its ok to drive fast on open mountain rds". Well,, unless they have actually closed the road off for U guys to do your little runs on,, your still endandouring others.
Hmmm,, I may have gotton off of topic slightly,,, imagine that :) Enough said.
Quote from: CromoMann on July 10, 2008, 07:03:30 PM
I'm a bit jealous that I can't ride a long wheelie, but it really doesn't bother me that much.
Besides, at least for the 2V engines - wheelies != [bacon]
I forget the exact result, but oil get's out of the engine and on the back tire if you stand it up for very long. I might think that was one of my urban legends, but I saw the same thing happen to Jason Britton on a bridge crossing he did on a DS1100 HM.
No thanks - I'll keep practicing my turning and stopping.
Huh? The breather and the drain bolt are the only two places that come to mind as to how oil could get out of an engine (not counting the fill cap) You saw the bike puke oil onto the back tire? Is this a 12 o'clock deal?
Please tell me a little more about that bridge crossing. . .
couldnt find the vid of jason brit on a HM, i remember he only rides his GSXR600.
As far as the wheelie oil spit thing goes, its only true for bikes with the crank case breather mod.
i can honestly say, i've never done an intentional wheelie. there have, of course, been some unintentional ones. :o
Monster = No wheelies
DRZ = Wheelies all day long!
puts a smile on my face like [bacon]
Quote from: ntnunk on July 12, 2008, 05:12:08 AM
It creates a horrible perception for all of us and, like someone else mentioned, makes it that much harder to get treated seriously by other motorists, public safety workers, etc. And how many of us have been pissed because some idiot cager ran over us or someone we know and basically got away with it, only getting some stupid "improper movement" ticket or something equally meaningless? I have to think that our bad image plays into that to. After all, if you ride a sport bike and get into an accident the default position by non-bikers is "he was probably riding like an idiot."
In the accident I was just in the guy fought the citation. Mine and the stand alone witness had nearly identical stories and his was all over the place. His defense, I have a "crotch rocket" and was going 80. Me and the witness claimed 40 and she said she was a car length away and we had just come from a stop light. Her Hyundai must have had some work done under the hood. My guess is the judge didn't have too high of an opinion of anyone on a motorcycle.
My personal take on it is if you have the space go for it. Save the stunting for a lot somewhere though. I don't want to have wash someone's blood off my car and I am sure no one else does either. Kind of goes with, do you play in the snow in a full parking lot or an empty one?
Quote from: Monsterlover on July 12, 2008, 06:28:35 PM
Huh? The breather and the drain bolt are the only two places that come to mind as to how oil could get out of an engine (not counting the fill cap) You saw the bike puke oil onto the back tire? Is this a 12 o'clock deal?
Please tell me a little more about that bridge crossing. . .
Quote from: He Man on July 12, 2008, 07:03:45 PM
couldnt find the vid of jason brit on a HM, i remember he only rides his GSXR600.
As far as the wheelie oil spit thing goes, its only true for bikes with the crank case breather mod.
I want to say it was on Superbikes - eerlier in the year - without the old 'host' involved. Britton was riding a Hypermotard - could've been in Portland?? - not sure, but I recall it may have been shot there. I don't know about a 12 o'clock, but it was a pretty tall wheelie that he tried to ride the length of the bridge at a considerable speed. By the time he neared the full length - he had to shut it down.
To what I recall - it was a stock HM 1100S - but I don't think it had the breather mod. When I bought my '99, I was warned not to wheelie on this bike as it would suffer the same consequences. I don't have a breather kit on my bike and all plugs are tight.
I know they mentioned oil 'puking' on the back tire, if there isn't a plumbing design problem that allows the leak to occur - then I'm guessing it may have been the angle ridden and the lack of plumbing - or 'flow' of fluids back on to the heads. Maybe it was more catastrophic because the air cooled bike was being ridden and didn't have the oil to cool the heads. Could < 1Mile w/ no oil at ~50MPH blow up the head?
Oh, and about the exclusive riding of the GSXR - I think I recall him riding a Ducati at Deal's Gap the first year. To my understanding, including the Monster Challenge and Ducati Island at the GP, they've had a fair amount of Ducati coverage. I may be incorrect, but I think he even owns a Honda now - maybe it's just where the promo dollars are coming from.
-m
For what it's worth, I've had the oil-puking-on-rear-tire issue. Not really fun.
Here's why/how it happens: long tall wheelies drink oil up(down when in wheelie) breather into the 'oil breather tank', which usually just collects and condenses a fine haze of oil-mist, and returns it into the crankcase. But a bunch of big wheelies will flood this reservoir, allowing some residual oil to find it's way into the airbox. From there, it flows out the drainage tube that exits at the bottom of the bike. This manages to 'puke' a surprising amount of oil over the rear tire, pegs, engine case, frame, exhaust... you name it... it makes one helluva mess. Cleanup sucks.
When filling up with oil, I now leave it just a c*nthair down from absolute 'full', it seems to prevent it from happening, unless you go up past BP for prolonged periods. I try to avoid that for several reasons :p
So yea. I wheelie as often and as long as possible. I pick my time and places, and tend to keep it away from the 'public areas' as much as possible. Squidly behavior? Maybe to some. But I maintain that some of the most 'squidly' maneuvers I've ever seen, have usually been performed by guys in full leather, with both wheels on the ground.
Wheelie pics seem to sell a lot of bike mags, so I think more people like them than are lettin' on.
But, but, but I can't help it. The S4RS has so much power it just wants to wheelie everywhere, and how am I to stop it???? You crest a rise under power, and up she comes. You accelerate hard out of a corner, ditto. A kid on the sidewalk gives you the thumbs up, what are you supposed to do???? Then when I'm riding the Multistrada, well that's just kinda like a big old fluffy dirt bike and who doesn't wheelie their dirt bike everywhere? By gosh it seems to want to wheelie most anytime in the first three gears, and heaven help you if you happen to flick the clutch a bit 'cause she'll do a backflip with a full gainer in a nanosecond. Oh, um . . . no. I don't condone wheelies. Bad, bad, terrible things. Definitely not. That would be irresponsible. I bought all these lovely bikes to dotter around at absolutely the speed limit, and nothing more. Any show of speed or - heaven forbid - fun being had would completely trash the impeccable image we motorcyclists have worked so hard to maintain with the non-riding public at large. Excuse me now, it's time for my sedatives and a nap.
People who ride wheelies should be put in jail for life. It makes "cagers" and LEOs hate all of us, it scares old people, women and children and causes anti-moto legislation to be passed. We all know it's a FACT that most squids are on R1's and they like to wheelie. Damm them! Damm them all to hell!
[popcorn]
Quote from: arai_speed on September 16, 2008, 12:43:08 AM
People who ride wheelies should be put in jail for life. It makes "cagers" and LEOs hate all of us, it scares old people, women and children and causes anti-moto legislation to be passed. We all know it's a FACT that most squids are on R1's and they like to wheelie. Damm them! Damm them all to hell!
[popcorn]
Ducatis should be banned because they are overpriced poser bikes that give real motorcyclists a bad name. They can't ride, tend to drink coffee all the time, and set off car alarms, make babies cry and dogs howl due to their outrageously loud exhausts.
[bacon] + [popcorn]
Yeah, that’s what stops me from over doing them, or doing them more often is the cost of the bike. Although wheelies are the balls. I am a bit of an adrenaline junkie and wheelies do fulfill that. Most of the time I hit a real good one it was completely by accident but it felt pretty good while it was up there.
Do them where it’s safe. If you want to endanger yourself that’s one thing but the roads are full of average people and children as well. Wouldn’t you feel awful if you hurt someone because you were screwing around? I know I would.
I don't understand. :-\ What is "not to wheelie"?
[evil]
[laugh]
Quote from: Spidey on September 16, 2008, 02:04:13 PM
I don't understand. :-\ What is "not to wheelie"?
[evil]
'not to' there is none of, just 'wheelie'. </yoda>
Quote from: Dogman on September 16, 2008, 01:56:07 PM
Most of the time I hit a real good one it was completely by accident but it felt pretty good while it was up there.
I'd rather not do one accidentally. In fact the only reason i want to learn how to do/control them is so that i know how to NOT accidentally get that wheel off the asphalt.
Not something I try to do on the regular... but I can't say it's not fun when I do.
??? I don`t get it!
Let me get this right; Wheelie Bad. :( Double the speed limit in corners good. [moto]
Wheelie Bad. :( Modified exhaust without converter good. [thumbsup]
I still don`t get it! [bang]
I have to wheelie out of here and think about it for awhile.
I feel like i'm in a room full of hall monitors.
I will wheelie by all of you guys, and by your friends, even by your grandmother. I will wheelie for boobies. On the street, wherever. Texting while you're going to work is more dangerous than me wheelie-ing
Quote from: Capt baz on July 13, 2008, 06:44:29 AM
i can honestly say, i've never done an intentional wheelie. there have, of course, been some unintentional ones. :o
Perhaps I'm a loser for saying so, but me too. But in honesty, it's not that I don't want to wheelie, it's because I'm a cheap ass and don't want to pay to fix my bike if I dump it.
I reserve my wheelies for my TS185. It's a lot easier and there's not as many expensive parts at stake and if it falls in me, it's a couple hundred pounds lighter ~
JM
for some reason this thread makes me think of accountants riding tricked out harleys in daytona.
evey time you ride and your front wheel doesn't leave the ground at least a little tiny amount, god kills a kitten.
Quote from: Statler on September 17, 2008, 10:12:04 AM
evey time you ride and your front wheel doesn't leave the ground at least a little tiny amount, god kills a kitten.
I do get the occassional tiny power wheelie. Those make me ;D
JM
Quote from: Statler on September 17, 2008, 10:12:04 AM
for some reason this thread makes me think of accountants riding tricked out harleys in daytona.
evey time you ride and your front wheel doesn't leave the ground at least a little tiny amount, god kills a kitten.
I like killing kittens.
Hey, what's up Julian? I am back from England! Let's ride soon!
I don't like to see wheelies on the highway either. But IMHO a good rider can enjoy them (and show off a little) without endangering others in select areas.
However, I personally don't wheelie my street bike any more. I looped my dirt bike years ago at about 35 mph trying to hang it up for a long distance and around a tree. Having the bike loop and land right on top of me, then having to get up and pick up all the little pieces while limping, and get the bike running again and ride back to the truck 20 miles away with a bruised tail bone has kept me away from that wild side. Not to mention the physical AND mental pain for days to come. Especially the mental pain from my friends that saw the entire display.
I am WAY too old to go through that again. And I suspect it would be a worse result on the street.
Funny thing is, I felt in total control but something happened to make me loop, and I have no idea what it was. I don't mind mistakes if I can learn from them. But I couldn't walk away with any new knowledge other than for me to keep the rubber side down and the sunny side up.
SCARY!
Quote from: Statler on September 17, 2008, 10:12:04 AM
for some reason this thread makes me think of accountants riding tricked out harleys in daytona.
evey time you ride and your front wheel doesn't leave the ground at least a little tiny amount, god kills a kitten.
Well put.
As someone who just did his first wheelie last night (on a S2R800), gotta say, I'll be doing a lot more of them in the future. I woke up with a grin on my face and at first I didn't even remember why I was in such a good mood ;D
this thread is useless without pics!
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3050/2868484230_18cfa062a1_o.jpg)
Quote from: DNAspark99 on September 18, 2008, 10:41:03 AM
this thread is useless without pics!
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3050/2868484230_18cfa062a1_o.jpg)
SQUID!
[laugh] [thumbsup]