Among many tricks that can be done on a dirt bike, a wheelie is one of the most popular ones. It is really amazing to watch someone doing it, then think how cool it’ll be if you can do wheelie yourself. But how do you do it on a dirt bike?
Choose a flat and open place where you can learn wheelie on your perfectly fit dirt bike. Sit slightly at the back and ride in suitable gear. After that, fire up the engine, transfer some weight at the back and release the clutch while in throttle, and you’ll find the front tire off the ground.
Here I’ll be giving some guidelines and some related information on how to do wheelie on a dirt bike so that you find some ideas on it and more. Now, let us go to the steps!
Doing wheelie on a dirt bike following 9 simple the steps
Explaining the steps of doing wheelie theoretically won’t be as effective as explaining practically. But still, I’ll be describing the process in some simple steps so that you find it easy to do a wheelie on a dirt bike.
1. Take mental preparation
Doing a wheelie means to raise the front wheel off the ground, so it’ll feel unnatural and scary. Plus, there will be a lot of crashing down and chances to get hurt more than simply learning to ride a dirt bike.
Learning this trick requires determination and courage. Being scared at first is natural, but the more you ride, the more you’ll feel the excitement and fun in it. Start with doing some bunny hops and once you’ve gained the confidence, take the first step of doing a wheelie.
2. Finding the perfect road
The first thing you need to know is to find an open, flat, and straight terrain to do a wheelie. You need to make sure that the road you are taking has no obstruction. It is better if you do not do this on a public road or an area that people often use.
Gravel roads are not actually appropriate if you want to do wheelies. A place with grass and sand is a good option as it will save you and your bike from significant damages.
3. Checking the bike’s fitness
Before getting on with doing a wheelie, make sure your ride is ready to take the pressure. Check the bike’s throttle movement and rear brake for issues. Make sure the throttle control is working freely and not persistent, and the brake works perfectly.
4. Choosing the gear
To get the right amount of RPM for doing a wheelie, make sure to maintain steady speed just before hitting the powerband. You want throttle through the gear just enough (1/2 to ¼) to begin wheelie and even less (less than ¼) to maintain it on a 2-stroke dirt bike.
You shouldn’t lift your bike entirely and hit the top RPM range. For that, riding in second gear will be perfect. You can also try in third, and if you are a beginner, start from a stop and be in first gear.
5. Rider’s position on the bike
The biker’s position is essential while doing wheelies. Sitting all the way back on the bike is actually an excellent posture to do a wheelie to start with. In the beginning, start from a stop, keep your feet on the ground and find balance. You can also try to do a wheelie by standing up and slightly bending your knees. With practice, you’ll be able to do wheelies while running.
Grab the bike with your feet and make sure that the pegs are somewhere in the middle. This way, you’ll be able to hit the rear brake anytime needed and help you balance better. After that, slightly lean backward by placing your hip’s weight and pushing the bike with your feet.
6. Releasing clutch and throttle
The amount of throttle and timing is crucial in the process of wheelie. When you are on the bike, keep one finger on the clutch and right foot on the rear brake as a backup in case of going beyond the balance point.
Fire up the engine with throttle and pull in the clutch. After that, while maintaining the throttle, release the clutch, which will make the wheels go up.
Always try to be consistent with the amount of throttle you are putting in.
7. Acceleration
It may not sound right- but you’d want to let some gas in right before you pop a wheelie. By doing this, the suspension will be pre-charged, there will be less throttle and bounce yet the you’ll easily raise your front wheels. Cool isn’t it?
8. Keeping the front wheel off the ground
Successfully raising your front wheel is the start, keeping it that way is a big challenge. You’ll have to find that balancing point to maintain speed. This might seem hard at first, but with time you’ll be able to do so easily.
9. Practice, practice, and practice
The last step of doing wheelie perfectly is to practice and improve the skill. It is the only way to get a good grip on this exciting and cool skill. Start with learning to lift the wheel, and after practicing more and more, you’ll find yourself being able to change gears and hold the wheelie at the same time.
Maybe eventually, you’ll find that sweet balancing spot where the bike will feel weightless. How amazing would that be!
Dos and don’ts of doing wheelie on a dirt bike
Here I’ll share some tips on what to do and what not to do while doing a wheelie on your dirt bike-
- Always take safety measures before and while doing a wheelie. As said before, choose a grassy and sandy, flat, and straight track to practice to lower the risk of major damage to both the bike and the rider.
- Wear good quality safety gear like helmets, gloves, boots, knee pads, and riding pants.
- Don’t start with a lot of speed. Start at a slow pace and then gradually try at increased speed.
- Work your way up to the balancing point rather than trying to hit the point on the first try. Remember, there are no shortcuts in reaching perfection.
- Sit back but not too far back. If you’re sitting too far back, you may end up on the ground. And if you are a comparatively heavier than average rider, sit slightly forward.
- Don’t get carried away with the throttle, always be in control.
- It is better to practice wheelie on a lower cc bike. More power means more chances to crash. So, if you have options, take the less-powered one to learn the trick and control.
- Always have your right foot on the brake.
2-stroke or 4-stroke: which one is better to do wheelie?
2-stroke dirt bikes are lighter and easier to control. They might require much patience, but the end result is just as satisfactory- you get a perfectly balanced and manageable wheelie. 4-stroke dirt bikes, on the other hand, have more torque and less snap, which makes it easier to lift the wheel but a little tricky to keep it that way.
So, to my suggestion, master the trick with a 2-stroke dirt bike and then try doing a wheelie on a 4-stroke one.
Just do it!
Being able to do wheelie will definitely take you to the next level and make you feel good about yourself. It is, for sure, an advanced dirt bike trick, and mastering all the basic skills is a must before you take a leap into the process.
This article is a collection of information on how to do wheelie on a dirt bike that will come in handy before you do it practically. So, gather up the courage inside and start learning this unique trick and have fun!
