Here's How To Pop A Wheelie - HotCars

As human beings, the first complex task that we learn is to walk. It takes time to balance yourself out and start running towards the horizon. Then comes the most fun thing to do, i.e. to ride a bicycle. We stumble, we fall, and we eventually learn to balance a suitable piece of metal on two wheels. This doesn't leave our sides as it comes into play every now and then, with the most evident being when riding motorcycles. But we humans are quite curious and try out different things atop others that we have perfected.

This is where the art of wheelieing comes in with two-wheelers, or in simple language - popping the front up! We have seen videos and wallpapers of motorcycles and even cars rolling with the front in the air, and have always been a source of entertainment, watching those instances. It sure is cool to stand by and look at it or mesmerize over how cool a superbike looks while taking flight. But popping a wheelie is more than just a party trick and it requires a lot more knowledge and control than the basics of riding a motorcycle.

We give you a simple understanding of how to pop a wheelie and perfect the skill over time. It surely is much more than just "popping the clutch", and you will love it!

Popping The Front Wheel 101

Wheelieing with a superbike
Standstill wheelie requires a lot of control and practice
Via: Youtube.com

Popping the front wheel up is what stands as the basis of wheeling. It all lies in the art of shifting the weight on a motorcycle so as to lighten the front and pop it right up. There are a lot of instances on the internet that gives you a vague insight on how to flaunt a wheelie. It is best adapted from a proper stunt guy with articles being kept as a reference.

Firstly, get the bike rolling. It is always better to do a rolling wheelie as a newbie as it reduces the reaction time required as opposed to a standing wheelie.

Then comes the tricky part. Interestingly, this will give you the same feeling as the ones you had while learning your first wheelie. So pop the clutch, and rev the bike up to about 6,000 rpm or mid-range depending upon your weapon of choice.

Now, release the clutch fast, causing the bike to surge forward which in turn will pop the front up. This will require a bit of practice, as you might stall it. But once you get the knack of it, then it's all fun!

After getting all these steps right, it's finally time to balance it out on one wheel. If you feel like it's too vertical, cling onto the rear brakes, and snap back down right away. This might take a few extra shots, but will be well worth it.

All this while body balance is a key factor as well, and it acts as an acting force in balancing out on the wheelie part.

Related: 10 Small Motorcycles That Are Surprisingly Fun To Ride

Types Of Wheelies

stunt show with wheelie being the warm up show
Wheelieing has been recogized as a skill and an art
Via: Bikebandit.com

The Power Wheelie: This the most basic and the one mentioned above. It required the rider to be rolling on power which allows for a more linear transition in popping the front up. This helps you build confidence and also learn the art of wheelieing in a much safer manner.

The Clutch Wheelie: This is all about the clutch. Once you have mastered the art of power wheelie therein comes a part in which you can actually pop a wheelie at any given time, unconsciously. In these instances, it's all in how you pop the clutch to roll out more power. So, a standstill wheelie is easily possible and is mostly used by stunt riders.

Risks Involved And Precautions To Be Taken

Wheelieing gone wrong instance
When wheelieing goes wrong
Via: Legendarymotorcycles.com

Great fun always comes with risks involved. The ones in popping a wheelie include physical accidents and the most common causes are imbalanced and overdoing the wheelie with over 180-degree inclination. To avoid all this, you can also get a well-prepped wheelie learning setup by KTM.

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Related: 10 Highest-Revving Motorcycles Ever Made

The Best Kind Of Motorcycles To Learn To Wheelie

moto gp wheelie view
Valentiono Rossi known no better way to celebrate than by popping a wheelie
Via: Bikebandit.com

Dirt bikes are the best ones to start your wheelie lessons. Why you may ask? Well, it is because of the fact that it's dirt cheap, lightweight, and made to take a lot of beatings. Moreover, its torque motor will help you pop the front quite easily as opposed to big stunt bikes. As a learner, you will surely beat your bike, and there is no cheaper option to beat around than a dirt bike. So, get your bike out, and hoon this skill out.

Sources: Cycleworld.com, Thrillist.com, Rideapart.com, Wikihow.com,Bikebandit.com, Autoblog.com

Next: 21 Pictures Of Daredevils And Their Motorcycle Stunts

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