Stand-up wheelies

[Andy]

Today I did my first stand-up wheelie. They are not as easy as sit-downs.

Here is what I did. I took it up to about 60 MPH in second gear, then I pushed down on the clip-ons to compress the suspension and then pulled real hard while rolling on the throttle. I brought it up to the balance point and rode it out to about 90 MPH.

After about three or four of them my heart was pounding so hard I could hardly catch my breath. I'm not sure if it was the rush of doing stand-ups or the physical effort required to bounce it up.

One thing I noticed is that landing stand-ups causes the front wheele to skid more then a sit-down does.

I need to practice a little more before trying them on the freeway. :laughing

[Kalamari Kid]

Ummm 1K?????

[Factory Spec]

steering dampener needed. or atleast thicker oil in the stock one.

[Andy]

Originally posted by Factory Spec
steering dampener needed. or atleast thicker oil in the stock one.

Hi Ken,

The Gixxer 1K has a steering damper. Regarding the landings, I think due to more weight being more forward (standing-up vs. sit-down) requires even more throttle on the way down to minimize the front tire skid.

Front suspension is not even close to bottoming out and is not bouncing after I land it. I just have to learn to land it softer.

[Port4mance]

More than likely the tire skid is just because your front tire is not totally straight. My tire doesn't really skid anymore unless I come down crooked or something. Smoother landings, lean back, straighten your arms as the bike comes down.

[jonb]

andy, ken knows the bike has a damper, but stock its pretty worthless, he is suggesting either a) upgrade to a better one or at the very least b) use a heavier weight oil in the damper to toughen it up a bit

:thumbup

[Andy]

Thanks for everyones suggestions/help. :) Landing are smoother now after second day of practice. Now if only my arms didn't get so sore.

[magyarbetyar]

So we have 2 Hungarian Squids now Jon and Andy :cool So Andy ya gonna join BTB? :teeth

[Andy]

Only if they have a middle-aged squid chapter. :laughing

[theSteveCo]

I didn't know you were unicycling that Gixxer! Woohoo! :teeth

[Andy]

Originally posted by theSteveCo
I didn't know you were unicycling that Gixxer! Woohoo! :teeth

Hi Steve,

I'm finally getting the hang of stand-ups now. They sure are fun. I landed one today at 99 MPH. I still can't get to the point where I'm not continually increasing my speed. From what I understand if done correctly you should be able to keep it at one speed and ride it for a long time.

[nine]

:thumbup on the stand-ups.

I imagine that it's a lot of fun, but that's as close as I've gotten to doing wheelies (imaginging 'em, that is). I couldn't do a wheelie to save my life. :(

[Harpo]

Originally posted by Andy
From what I understand if done correctly you should be able to keep it at one speed and ride it for a long time. The trick is to find the balancing point. If you don't, you have to increase the throttle continuiously to keep the front end up. That get's you going dangerously fast.:wow I'm still working on the balancing point myself but you really have to get the front end up high to find the sweet spot but when you do, ........it's pretty fookin' kule!:thumbup

Oh, and watch the wheelies on the highway. The police aren't always as forgiving as they were with me;)

[Factory Spec]

yea..what StillArt said.. :teeth

[Andy]

This is an update after two more weeks of practice... :teeth

First my right elbow got real sore. It felt like tennis elbow. I was using too much bounce to get up the front end. So I didn't ride for a few days to let it heal a bit.

Today I went out knowing I can't use so much arm strength bouncing up the front end. So instead of bouncing up at 60 MPH I tried 45 MPH (still in 2nd gear). The trick is to use more throttle, like almost full throttle.

Success! After a few oh shits... I can now do 45 MPH 2nd gear wheelies without much bounce effort. I can also balance the wheelie much better now and the speed isn't going up that high. Most often I'm setting them down at 75 MPH.

One thing I noticed regarding bouncing is I use my feet just as much if not more then my arms.

Another thing happened today. I was doing a stand-up on Skyline when suddenly my front end started to wiggle at about 75 MPH (sort of a mini-tank slap). I guess the wind gust coming at a right angle started the oscillation.

[jonb]

good stuff. take it easy though bro, you shouldn't have to use wide open throttle in 2nd on a liter bike to bounce it up. not being a dick just be careful, dont want you looping it out on the hwy or anything.

on my 6 i do standups in the same 4-5grand rev range that i would a sit down, just a gear up.

keep it safe.

[Andy]

Originally posted by stillart
you shouldn't have to use wide open throttle in 2nd on a liter bike to bounce it up.

You are absolutely correct stillart. What I have noticed is that you have to use more throttle, I'm not sure how much (maybe half throttle) but more.

[magyarbetyar]

Congrats Andy :thumbup Keep it safe man :cool