Best type of bike for learning to wheelie
gcwebbyuk
Posts: 1,926
So what is the best style of bike to learn to wheelie and manual?
I struggle with my stumpjumper - can get the wheel up by pedalling but just feels difficult to balance and keep going (no more than 1-2 pedal revolutions)
As for manuals - no hope there! Can get the wheel up by about a foot and then straight back down again!
How about seat height etc? I try this at my usual riding height.
I struggle with my stumpjumper - can get the wheel up by pedalling but just feels difficult to balance and keep going (no more than 1-2 pedal revolutions)
As for manuals - no hope there! Can get the wheel up by about a foot and then straight back down again!
How about seat height etc? I try this at my usual riding height.
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well a bike with shorter chain stays puts you over the rear axel making it easier to lift the front of the bike and keep it up there.
for manuals you want your seat out of the way because youll be hovering over the back wheel instead of sitting on the seat
for wheelies its just your choice! some like it high some like it low!
hope that helped0 -
bmx0
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Something without SPDs
Shorter frames that keep you more upright. And hardtail - I've never tried to wheelie a full sus...0 -
Bike & seating position doesn't really matter, yes a shorter back end makes it a bit easier but it won't make you learn it in 5 minutes.
I have an race style xc bike with the seat high & I can wheelie it for ages, I can also manual it whilst sitting on the seat.
Also got a bmx & can manual that far a lot easier, it's harder to wheelie though but if I'm messing about I'll wheelie to manual to wheelie to manual etc.
If your dropping the front quickly then your no where near the balance point, the easiest way to learn is using the rear brake to save yourself going off the back. Keep leaning back until the front goes light, on an xc bike that's very high, you will know your near the balance point when you can stop peddling or don't have to pedal faster to keep the front up.
Just practice.0 -
Hmm think you may be right about my balance point.
I have tried to wheelie a motorbike before and chickened out way too early for fear of going over the back!
Will try and find some nice soft grass to practice on then - how dangerous can it be?0 -
Just learn on a slight slope, go at jogging pace. As long as you have a finger on the brake you really wont come off the back, I don't think I've ever looped out on my xc bike & only do it on occasions on my bmx when I'm brakeless, it's normally obvious when your about to go & you get a fraction of a second to grab brake or jump off.
The balance points quite far back, your head should be pretty much in line with the rear hub.
Look at me in this snapshot to see what I mean.
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a unicycleNot really active0
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I rode up the Chevanne road in Les Gets with a mate of mine once - I was tooling away ina low gear just to get up, he was wheelie-ing all the way - only stopped for the switchbacks as he complained he couldnt do corners while wheelie-ing.
He was one of the more naturally talented and definitely one of the fitest/powerful riders I know (rides elite class xc and road races these days).Closet jockey wheel pimp whore.0 -
paul.skibum wrote:I rode up the Chevanne road in Les Gets with a mate of mine once - I was tooling away ina low gear just to get up, he was wheelie-ing all the way - only stopped for the switchbacks as he complained he couldnt do corners while wheelie-ing.
He was one of the more naturally talented and definitely one of the fitest/powerful riders I know (rides elite class xc and road races these days).
i know a guy like that.....races in korea (where he works as a teacher)....we will all be blowing out our ar$es on a climb and he would wheely past....
:evil:Whenever I see an adult on a bicycle, I believe in the future of the human race.
H.G. Wells.0 -
slight slope+short chainstays+low gear=wheelie (for me anyway)0
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I learn't on a crappy bike when i was younger. I can wheelie my FS pretty far although I'm not as good as when I was a few years back- lack of practise really. Use to do corners too, but could never master one handed wheelies
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One of the lads i ride with has a Specialized FSR xc Pro and i've seen him wheelie 50-60metres! Did a lot of BMX when he was younger though. i didn't
He reckons going uphill slightly is way easier and a lowish saddle.
Manuals i'm finding a whole lot harder...it's just not natural :x0 -
Northwind wrote:
Well a bandit would probably be better, there excellent wheelie machines !!
I find I can actually wheely easier with one hand than using two - weird, but can I bollox do manuals !!!0 -
geordiefreerider
gsxr600 k6 slick gearbox also helps to change gear on one wheel!
a long straight road also helps 0 -
Somebody else who had a Budgie!
you could wheelie those things for miles without any problem!Visit Clacton during the School holidays - it's like a never ending freak show.
Who are you calling inbred?0 -
my record on my yzf 426 was 4.5 km on the back wheel. motocross bikes are a cinch to get up on the back wheel and keep it there.I'm not dumb. I just have a command of thoroughly useless information0
