VTEC Wheelie

Never thought it would be a "problem" but this 44 year old hooligan found out the hard way that my '04 red rocket would wheelie if I was trying to squirt through a gap in 1st gear ... made it tough to turn around the parked car and the moving car I was trying to pass ... and will probably think twice next time.

Anybody else have an exciting moment with their VTEC kicking in?

With the stock gearing it was truly a rare occasion. With the -1 front sprocket, though, it's become quite a bit more common.

Mike

I've had an unintended wheelie while racing a porshe from one light to the next.  When the light turned green, I just opened it up and the bike came up to about 30 degrees and carried that the entire length of the block up to the next light.
The reason I said that it was unintended, is b/c I could never get it to wheelie if I tried - not enough cojones, I guess.

[image: View Post]Rice, on 10 April 2012 - 09:13 AM, said:

I've had an unintended wheelie while racing a porshe from one light to the next.  When the light turned green, I just opened it up and the bike came up to about 30 degrees and carried that the entire length of the block up to the next light.
The reason I said that it was unintended, is b/c I could never get it to wheelie if I tried - not enough cojones, I guess.

I thought I had cojones ... but I don't anymore

I'm not the wheel type, but last weekend riding northbound (north of Alice's) on Skyline coming around a slow uphill bend. Had to be 2nd gear, as I straighted up I twisted the throttle to climb and felt the front end start to leave the ground. I wasn't looking down but it must have been the Vtec kick. I backed off enough and smiled about the Michelin PP traction... :wheel:

(Stock gearing, PC III, Staintunes)

Huh...never once done a wheelie on any of the bikes I have owned.  I must be doing something right/wrong...   :lobby:


And I know I still have my cajones because they get sore on the longer rides or hard braking manuevers.   :goofy:

All I can do here is smile! Ride ON! Wheelies make me happy!

I wheelie the hell out of my bike even sometime into second and third, but I also am geared down considerably.


@ bayarearider, its easier to pull a wheel up when you are leaned over because you on are on the smaller circumference of the tire so it effectively lowers your gearing.

Try putting a trunk or passenger on the back, it comes up even easier.

I just can't help myself on long isolated county roads.

Rollin

Everytime I ride 2 up the front end goes up if I accelerate hard,  I wheelied across a bridge here last summer opposing rush hour traffic - definitlely had some looks.

I don't think i've ever wheelied unintentionally, it's always on purpose :tour:

[image: View Post]wera803, on 10 April 2012 - 11:08 AM, said:

Try putting a trunk or passenger on the back, it comes up even easier.

Been there done that, had loaded side cases on too. Wife wasn't very happy with me, took a week for my ribs to heal.

Unintentional. Front -1, rear +2 - crossing a road with high spot in the center and the front came up. Never really tried to wheelie. No cojones - let off the throttle and made sure it was in my NVRAM :smile:

Your -1 / +2 and you don't like wheelies?

[image: View Post]wera803, on 10 April 2012 - 11:08 AM, said:

Try putting a trunk or passenger on the back, it comes up even easier.
Trunk helps.   :fing02:

[image: View Post]NorthernVFRDave, on 10 April 2012 - 06:22 PM, said:

Been there done that, had loaded side cases on too. Wife wasn't very happy with me, took a week for my ribs to heal.

Yup, same with mine and my 5th Gen (RIP) a few years ago...she was fiancee at the time and she was still shaky when we stopped - "suddenly all I saw was sky!"...purchased a Gunfighter and Lady (with backrest) after that.

Passed A WRX at Parson Branch straight away in second gear with VTEC when the front wheel went skyward. I think I still have a video somewhere.

This is the only thing I have found powerful enough to wheelie:
[image: Posted Image]

Not sure how I'd react to an unintentional wheelie.  I hope my body would adjust to the change of position and not knock me off, but I just don't know.

[image: View Post]BigGreenValley, on 10 April 2012 - 10:10 PM, said:

Not sure how I'd react to an unintentional wheelie.  I hope my body would adjust to the change of position and not knock me off, but I just don't know.


I wouldn't worry, unintentional wheelies usually only come up a foot or so. You aren't really in danger until your headlight is pointing towards the sky.

[image: Posted Image]

[image: View Post]wera803, on 10 April 2012 - 11:08 AM, said:

Try putting a trunk or passenger on the back, it comes up even easier.

One of the only times I was able to get my K1200S to wheelie was when I had someone riding on the back. Occasionally it would slightly hover the front wheel, but never go full wheelie. When I had a pillion, I got on it hard in second gear, and the front wheel just popped right up!

The other night I was on the VFR, and I decided to go all out in 1st gear and see what it would do, and the front wheel started to rise around 8k. Very controlable though.

- Anthony

Wheelies like speeding is dangerous and should Never be done on public roads! :pissed:


:pinocchio:   I've had several unintentional wheelies from my stock 6th gen and it was Never a Full Throttle event! :huh:
It always seemed to be some special combo of partial throttle(towards full) and a certain rpm(never vtec point) that the front would just come up nice and smooth. Then I'm like that felt good and immediately try to duplicate it will full throttle and it Never repeats itself. :ph34r:

BR

[image: View Post]BigGreenValley, on 10 April 2012 - 10:10 PM, said:

Not sure how I'd react to an unintentional wheelie.  I hope my body would adjust to the change of position and not knock me off, but I just don't know.
When it happened to me the first time, the only reason I knew it happened, was because the steering got light and there was a small wobble when it touched down.

[image: View Post]Baileyrock, on 11 April 2012 - 01:20 PM, said:

Wheelies like speeding is dangerous and should Never be done on public roads! :pissed:

[image: Posted Image]

I've had a couple of unintentional wheelies. From a stop light, just a little too quick with the cluch and a little extra twitch of the right wrist. Suprised me but the landing was a complete non-event. They were both over before I could do anything about it except wait for the machine to chatch up with the throttle.  

I had stopped at the store one day and was standing in line with my gear on and helmet in hand and the little old lady in line in front me turned and said "you're not one of those crazies that passes me on the expressway going 90 on one wheel are you?"  I looked at her respectfully and said "no ma'am....one or the other but never both at the same time".

She just looked at me as she walked out.....I grinned at her and winked.

[image: View Post]fdbgt, on 13 April 2012 - 07:11 PM, said:

I had stopped at the store one day and was standing in line with my gear on and helmet in hand and the little old lady in line in front me turned and said "you're not one of those crazies that passes me on the expressway going 90 on one wheel are you?"  I looked at her respectfully and said "no ma'am....one or the other but never both at the same time".

She just looked at me as she walked out.....I grinned at her and winked.

This is hilarious!!!!'. Her look must have been priceless!
C