Accidental wheelies?

[Rambler1982]

I'm still quite new to riding, and keep hearing the term "accidental wheelie."

I was just wondering what causes this, and how it can be avoided?



Thanks 

[ducpainter]

I'm still quite new to riding, and keep hearing the term "accidental wheelie."

I was just wondering what causes this, and how it can be avoided?



Thanks 

You need to pm Spidey....

every wheelie he has ever done was an accident.

[He Man]

I'm still quite new to riding, and keep hearing the term "accidental wheelie."

I was just wondering what causes this, and how it can be avoided?



Thanks 

hehe.... dont ask, just ride and whomp that throttle, one day it will happen and youll know what accidental wheelies are.

[stopintime]

I have a S2R 800 and any wheelie is a result of hard work and/or conscious effort 

Today it was cold, near freezing (engine performs better), and it happened a few times. Still not an accident, but sooner than I expected. On a more powerful bike I think it would happen more often and sometimes unexpectedly - hence the word "accidental". Not really an accident until it results in an accident? (Although it might slow you down on the track?)

[Statler]

I'm still quite new to riding, and keep hearing the term "accidental wheelie."

I was just wondering what causes this, and how it can be avoided?



Thanks 

On most bikes it'll be either bad clutch control with a handfull of gas from a stop, or during the 1st to 2nd shift when you roll back on the gas hard before fully releasing the clutch and so inadvertently clutch the front end up.   Both are easily avoidable.

On the more powerfull monsters the front may come up on its own at full throttle, but not enough to flip or anything, and just cracking off a touch brings it back down.

If you do it you will also think the wheel was significantly farther up than it likely is in reality.

[Spidey]

You need to pm Spidey....

every wheelie he has ever done was an accident.

I even have a picture of me doing an accidental wheelie.  Lemme look for it . . .

[Spidey]

Ah, there it is. 

[ducpainter]

Ah, there it is. 

3rd gear?   

[Spidey]

I'm still quite new to riding, and keep hearing the term "accidental wheelie."

I was just wondering what causes this, and how it can be avoided?

If I were you, I wouldn't be worried about accidental wheelies.  You have to try hard to "accidentally" wheelie a 696.  You can avoid "accidental" wheelies by not:

1)  Scooting your butt way back in the seat, squeezing the tank with your knees, starting off in first gear smoothly (not too fast) until you're up to about 5k or so, chopping the throttle abruptly, letting the front end settle (maybe bouncing it a bit), and them pulling back on the bars at the same time you go wide open throttle with your foot covering the rear brake; or
2)  Revving your bike up about 6k, starting to let the clutch out, and then dumping the clutch while you keep give it more and more gas; or
3)  Going really way to fast over the rise of a steep hill.

Basically, you're not going to accidentally wheelie the bike.  Start to worry about it when you're comfortable going wide open throttle from really early off the line, or if you are trying to do a super-fast  race/drap strip start.  If you're really worried and you feel comfy enough with your bike, you might even want to go out to a parking lot (preferably with a more experienced rider) and see if you can power wheelie.  You'll quickly find that you probably can't.  And if you can't do it when you're trying, you're gonna have a hard time doing it accidentally.

[Rambler1982]

My follow up question was gonna be whether a 696 is even powerful enough to have an accidental wheelie. Sounds like it isn't.  Nonetheless, I'll keep in mind the things I can do to avoid it. 

Thanks for the thoughtful responses.

[stopintime]

You WILL experience it, as have I (after all, our power is similar) - the point is that it probably won't result in an accident for us. If you accidentally dump the clutch lever on a S4R, THAT might be an exciting experience - not so much on a 80 hp Monster. Either way: you're going to have a great time on your bike 

[Capo]

If you do it you will also think the wheel was significantly farther up than it likely is in reality.

Very true. Goes with the 'The older I get the faster I was' 

[the_Journeyman]

Usually, my M750 is well behaved...  However, on really tight roads (1st & 2nd gear turns) occasionally when I'm riding hard it'll lift the front slightly (just a few inches) in a left-right transition.  In those cases, it's a combination of being hard on the throttle and pulling up to flick the bike from one side to lean th other way.

I have also had some trouble 2-up with deep-bowl type turns with a rise separating the left-right transition.  Those result in the front pushing slightly rather than actually coming off the pavement, but it's the same idea.  I'm hard on the throttle + rear weight bias from being 2-up + trying to stay with a group of solo riders ~

JM

[Slide Panda]

My follow up question was gonna be whether a 696 is even powerful enough to have an accidental wheelie. Sounds like it isn't.  Nonetheless, I'll keep in mind the things I can do to avoid it. 

Well in most cases - not as has been noted.  But there's always exceptions to the rules, a number have been noted as well.  But generally, you don't have anything to worry about

[DY]

My first wheelie was an "accident." 

I was at a stop in the left turning lane and decided that the stupid light sensor wasn't going to trigger.  So I did a head check to the right as I started moving forward at which point I noticed a car coming up in that lane rather hurriedly.  I dumped the clutch and twisted the throttle(without my feet firmly on the pegs) which resulted in a comical 'superman' pose with-my-feet-dangling wheelie through the intersection while cross traffic stared at me in shock.  [moto]