Bandit Alley
GENERAL MOTORCYCLE FORUMS => GENERAL MOTORCYCLE => Topic started by: mainerider on November 13, 2005, 06:49:15 PM
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I keep reading about Bandits being wheelie machines. Before getting my stock 01 B12s, I had several big, older ujm's, any of which would wheelie easily, using the clutch. From everything I read, the Bandit should wheelie without the clutch.
So- I am #190, I sit with my butt slight back from my normal forward riding position, and crack the throttle wide open in 1st gear. I have done this at various RPM's At about 5000 rpm, the front wheel lofts a little bit. It has also come off the ground a bit when hitting second hard and fast. The wheel will come up as high as I want, using the clutch.
The main reason I write, is not because I really want to do wheelies. I am a little old for that, and am pretty happy not to dent my nice shiny bike, or my old rusy self. From all I had read, i was concerned about keeping the front wheel planted. I am curious if maybe my bike is under-powered. It is by far the fastest thing I have ever been on-but if it is underperforming, I'd like to figure out why.
When people talk about roll on wheelies, are they sitting back, pulling back on the bars, or just nailing the throttle?
Mainerider
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FWIW I have a 05 bandit 1200S I weigh 130kg (about 286 lb) If I roll away from a standing start and give full throttle the front wheel lifts easily and the same in 2nd gear, I sit in the normal position on the seat and sit upright. My riding buddy has an 03 bandit, he weighs 100kg and has to sit back and then has difficulty lifting the front at all, , yet when we are on the open road in 5th he can pull away from me rapidly, I have a stock bike , he runs a yoshi pipe, I'm like you, I take too long to mend these days
Cheers Wayne
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Hmmm... strange...
Try taking off normal cruise up to about 3500-4000 rpms in 1st, then close the throttle and whack it open full immediately (no clutch). Be careful !
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Easy.... just remember this...
Hit it HARD and hit it EARLY. Thats it! :banana:
Dave (46)
:motorsmile:
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I have the same problem with wheelies. I can get the front end up some, but it normally stops there. I am in the 220lb category and about the only times I have cracked it in first and kept going was when I am low on petrol. I even added two teeth in the rear and it still doesn't stand up, but accelerates even quicker. :motorsmile:
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Do like Mike said and be careful not to brake your tail light.
:banana: :beers: :motorsmile:
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I'm 6'2" about 230lbs... with a Yosh race slip-on and jet kit.
The bike runs perfectly... nearly rips my arms out of my sockets.... but I'm kinda wheelie challenged as well. The times I try to get it to lift it doesn't want to do it. Then out of the blue it will pop the front end up, and I dump the throttle because I'm so surprised. I seriously doubt that there are many Bandits (with a slip-on and jet kit) that are as fine-tuned as mine.
I have gotten a wheelie in 2nd gear by accident, so I know the power is there.
So I think it really has just got to be just bad technique on my part. I do know that I have a subconscious fear of flipping it over which may keep me from my maximum wheelie potential.
The other possibility is that guys like me... in the 220-240lb range... just have too much weight loaded on the front end to really see the full wheelie potential. Guys who are heavier and put their weight back will probably see wheelies a lot more. Guys who are lighter than 220lbs are probably wondering WTF I'm taking about.
It's interesting that with my 120lb wife on the back... I can't even keep the front end from lifting when I am WFO from a stop. It scares the crap out of her. :wink:
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Remember also that center of gravity plays a role in whatever you ride...you are the top of a triangle with your wheels being the other two points. Move the top point anywhere forward or reverse and the center of gravity will follow, making it harder or easier for the front to overcome gravity. And as always, be careful! :motorsmile:
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Just be sure to keep your right foot on that rear brake to save yourself if you wack the throttle a little to much!!
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I have a semi-rough running(pilots need a little tweaking) brand new 2005 bandit 12 and it seems to want to wheelie too much! I don't even try to wheelie, If I just take off fast in first to pass a streetcar or something the front end gets light and I'm a couple of inches off the deck. However I'm a little lighter than you (180lbs) and I like to sit far back in the seat. So if I sat farther forward I doubt the bike would wheelie as much. A shift in weight of just a couple of inches can mean alot on the front end. I don't really like to wheelie too much as it makes you accelerate slower than if you were flat on the deck.
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center of gravity plays a role in whatever you ride...
A quoted directly from the gospel of wheelies ! LOL!!
I was 240lbs at one time, and the bike would wheelie fine.
I think the key ingredients missing here are:
You have to be comfortable with instant full power and know exactly what to expect. in other words when the front lifts it should be predictable feeling, nothing should make you say woah! didn't expect that...
And remember wheelies are fun (god knows I've been bad and played with them enough :wink:), but in reality they're really just hooligan antics aand really have no place on the legal street.
Now-empty office Parking lots on Sunday! That's a diferent story...
:lol: :lol: :lol:
(http://img113.imageshack.us/img113/952/wheelie0tt.jpg)
Plus, as you can see I'm quite forward on the seat here, it comes up instantly and smooth-no clutch..
Good luck and be careful...
It's really best to get comforatable with wheelies on a dirt bike with some power and balance, like a Motocross 250... It hurts the wallet less when the unavoidable learning mistakes happen... Not too mention dirt is softer than concrete... :grin:
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I've noticed if my tires aren't good and warm it tends to slip instead of pulling the wheel. Also, if I've been through some gravel or dust on the road, same thing. For tires, I run BT020 on a stock 2003 B12S...all other times wheelie at will!
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Hey-
I appreciate all the thoughts. I don't need to be doing wheelies any more than I need to be riding 140 mph- however, if my bike topped out at 120, I'd want to know why.
Now, if the temps just come up a little tommorow here in maine, I just might apply some of this feedback.
Mainerider
I do kinda like doing wheelies, but my wife says I'm not allowed to.
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For me it's experience...or the lack there of. I weight 140lbs (not a typo) and am getting used to my bike. It has a little more power than my ducati monster 620. I got the wheel up on that bike once off a stop, but mostly just light front end with full acceleration. I have never learned the proper technique using the clutch and have only experienced power wheelies on this bike. Second gear 40 to 60 mph siting back against the corbin seat brought it up in a hurry! (and back down when I rolled off with haste) For the most part I ride safely and at normal speeds but I think you need to know your bike and what to expect in all conditions. If anyone has any tips or warnings please chime in! :thanks:
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Hey Maine, forget the wife rules! I got rid of my wife and bought the Bandit: just as dangerous but doesn't talk back near as much! :stickpoke:
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My 97 b12 had 1 tooth smaller on the front and 3 teeth up on the rear when I got it. It was scary to hit the gas in first gear, and I weigh 275 lbs. I replaced chain and sprockets since and I didn't realoze the gear change was already made so I bought one tooth bigger than stock on the front and stock on the rear. This really tamed her alot, and now the bike is way better on the highway, but still stands up in first when I whack it. GOD I love this bike!!! :banana: :banana: :banana: :beers: :motorsmile:
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Needs more COWBELL!
:bigok:
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In first, it's no prob for me, just whack the throttle at about 3-3.5k and up it comes. In second the only way I have found is stand up wheelie (which I am way more comfortable with) I just run it up to about 4500 stand up, push down on the bars with a quick motion and whack it. It comes up nice and smooth, doesn't surprise you.
On a sidenote, a bandit is a heavy bike and finding the balance point is kind of scary. It comes up smooth but once you get to it, it's a fine line between balance and looping. Be careful :motorsmile:
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If you have troubles, it might be due to weight position, in that case, a passenger may help.
(http://www.banditmania.co.uk/Photo%20Gallery/richyfgrrstandup_100202.jpg)
Or maybe your front end is just too heavy.
(http://www.banditmania.co.uk/Photo%20Gallery/kevinstuntshow1.jpg)
How do you do a stoppie? Easy, just lift up on the grap rail.
(http://www.banditmania.co.uk/Photo%20Gallery/san_jo_grab_100202.jpg)
And always keep an eye out for possible traffic problems ahead.
(http://www.banditmania.co.uk/Photo%20Gallery/arian_standie_100202.jpg)
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In first, it's no prob for me, just whack the throttle at about 3-3.5k and up it comes. In second the only way I have found is stand up wheelie (which I am way more comfortable with) I just run it up to about 4500 stand up, push down on the bars with a quick motion and whack it. It comes up nice and smooth, doesn't surprise you.
On a sidenote, a bandit is a heavy bike and finding the balance point is kind of scary. It comes up smooth but once you get to it, it's a fine line between balance and looping. Be careful :motorsmile:
Very accurate !!! NCBANDIT hit the nail on the head with his description...
Nicely explained !! It's not just power and gas ! :beers:
Clear your line and keep your tail off the tarmac ! :thanks:
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The one time I tried to do a wheelie, I didn’t have a great experience. One morning on the way to work I had a few minutes to spare and since I drive through a big parking lot without any cars in it I thought I’d give it a try. There’s a “how-to” somewhere on the web that I had just gotten done reading and thought it sounded easy. Well… it was a little too easy. I took it to 3 or 4 grand then popped the throttle like I guess you’re supposed to. The bike came up so fast I wasn’t exactly ready for it. I knew the front wheel would come up but I didn’t think it would come up that fast… kind of caught me by surprise. After I got the wheel up I guess I wasn’t thinking that quickly b/c I let off the throttle all the way and the front wheel came all the way down… a little to fast. I didn’t have a good enough grip with my hands so when I came down my body shot forward and the only thing that kept me on the bike were my thumbs. Basically my grip let go and my thumbs got caught. :duh: Kind of hard to picture but it felt like I dislocated my thumbs… I didn’t, but it hurt bad enough for me not to try again anytime soon. At least I didn’t drop the bike. After that experience I haven’t really felt the need to try again. I’m sure I will but I’ll be a little more careful next time.
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In first, it's no prob for me, just whack the throttle at about 3-3.5k and up it comes. In second the only way I have found is stand up wheelie (which I am way more comfortable with) I just run it up to about 4500 stand up, push down on the bars with a quick motion and whack it. It comes up nice and smooth, doesn't surprise you.
On a sidenote, a bandit is a heavy bike and finding the balance point is kind of scary. It comes up smooth but once you get to it, it's a fine line between balance and looping. Be careful :motorsmile:
Very accurate !!! NCBANDIT hit the nail on the head with his description...
Nicely explained !! It's not just power and gas ! :beers:
Clear your line and keep your tail off the tarmac ! :thanks:
It is possible to get it up in third using the second gear routine with a little added, but it's hard to do and carrying way too much speed.
Disclaimer: this should never be done on public highways as I would never do such a thing. The tests from which I gathered my data were conducted on an abandoned airfield. I am full of shit, just be careful guys!
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It is possible to get it up in third using the second gear routine with a little added, but it's hard to do and carrying way too much speed.
My nemesis is shifting on one wheel 1st --> 2nd. I used to do it on my YZ250 MX'er from 2nd --> 5th, and had it down, but that's a different ballgame...
Too many mistakes have been made trying it on my nekkid B12. Missed gear pounds my head off the bars or nads off the tank. And the shift puts me right in the meat of 2nd, which is a real touchy place to be with one wheel aloft at the balance point. I've had a couple rear brake stabs that did the same thng to my head and nads....
I usually keep it to 1st gear powerups, and just try to stay smooth and take it from 3/4K to around 8K on the tach. Which is a guesstimate, since my eyes are on the horizon... Then set her down smooth and easy - keep my gal happy...
my data were conducted on an abandoned airfield.
:bs: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
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Disclaimer: this should never be done on public highways as I would never do such a thing. The tests from which I gathered my data were conducted on an abandoned airfield. I am full of shit, just be careful guys!
Uh huh. That's where we all do our wheelies. The local abandoned airfield. Uh huh. :motorsmile:
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I used to do nice wheelies on my old Kaw enduros back as a teenager (weighing 165 lbs)
Strangely enough... the 'best' wheelie I ever did on the Bandit was the first day I owned it.
My wife had driven me to the dealer to pick it up, and she was following me back home. I turned right at a stop light and gunned it a bit. The front lifted beautifully (about a foot off the ground?) for about 30 yards. Totally unintentional.
When we got home the wife said "Wow... that was a nice wheelie you did back there!"
:lol:
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I think an airplane made an emergency landing on the highway once, so then it was an airstrip. Since no planes have done it since, it MUST be an abandoned airstrip, right? I can't help it that cars are using it too!
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Disclaimer: this should never be done on public highways as I would never do such a thing. The tests from which I gathered my data were conducted on an abandoned airfield. I am full of shit, just be careful guys!
Uh huh. That's where we all do our wheelies. The local abandoned airfield. Uh huh. :motorsmile:
Look a little closer at the original post.... I almost missed it myself. :clap:
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i'm gonna have to try this! i have got the front end light, but would like to get more air under there, not a full on reach for the sky, more of a cary the front end! maybe not such a had wack on the right grip. m old xl500 did this perfect! wack her hard off idle and shift your weight forward a bit and ride it out till you have to grab 2nd gear and do it all over again!
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I have only wheelied once on a motorbike, and that was accidental during a push start.
I admit that I am scared to do one and risk the possibility of damaging a rather expensive piece of equipment. Some risks I take, some I don't. I managed a few wheelies on my stingray bicycle too many moons ago to mention.
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A good power wheelie never hurts. I reassembled my bandit last fri. night after folding the front wheel to the header 2 months ago. Saturday I fired her up, and as soon as the tires were warm I had the front in the air. Gotta make sure the throttle response is still up to par after sitting for awhile :grin:
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After I bought ( and broke-In ) my 05 bandit, I thought it was a little wheelie challenged too. I had an 01 naked bandit that seemed to be more wheelie happy. But like Mike said, you get it around 4000rpm, which is one of about two torque peaks on the B12 I believe, (the other being around 7250 rpm), you can let off the throttle then whack it open or just level off at 4K rpm then whack it open. If you are sitting upright and you are not in high elevations, you should have the front wheel come up. My kaw 9R is much more wheelie happy than my bandit, however, the 9R wheelies at 60 to 70mph whereas the Bandito does it at a slower and safer speed. But I'm like some here, I get nevous when the front comes up real quick, I don't try to walk it down the road teeter tottering on flipping backwards, but I do like to wheelie both bikes quite often. I suspect Mainriders bike is ok as long as its running smooth and idling fine :-)
Warren