and today was Wheelie School Day I managed to pick a day where the weather was really hot, and also the weekend of the British Gran Prix to go learn how to wheelie at IWantToWheelie who are located near SIlverstone. I'm sure some of you will laugh at me doing this but wheelies are something I've never really done beyond the occasional front fork lightening when pulling away from lights, and it's something I weanted to learn how to do in a controlled environment rather than on the public roads. The day started at 9am so I had to stay at a hotel the night before or face a 5am get-up. Did I mention F1 being on, the hotel prices nearest the location were astronimcal, and I refused to pay £220+ for a night in a Premier Inn / Travelodge! Luckily I found somewhere about 20 minutes away that whilst not overly cheap was at least bearable. The lessons were very simple but effective and eventually even I was popping monster wheelies, OK not a big monster but there was daylight between the front wheel and the tarmac. It wasn't something I was a natural at, probably a mix of self preservation and a lack of bo**ocks, but as the day progressed I got a lot better and was hoiking the front wheel up at most attempts. I have to admit it was an absolute hoot of a day with 4 sessions in the morning, and another 4 in the afternoon. If you are thinking about doing this I would highly recommend it, especially if you can be a nervous nelly (or as @Lozzy would undoubtable say Girly Wimp) like me. As a thread is nothing without pics here's a couple that I would say were just about acceptable from the morning sessions.
Looks great fun I'm hopeless at wheelies, I haven't a clue lol so that looks ideal. How much is the days sesh?
Yes it is anti flip. There were two poles, longest one cuts power by 50%, the shorter fully kills it.
Fair play to you. Wheelies are not something I'm good at either. The Mountain at Cadwell scares the heebie jeebies out of me. Are there any tips you can pass on?
Make the bike do the work. Way they taught is simple and you effectively use the forks to get the wheel up. Accelerate briskly, release throttle, then reapply throttle as the front dips. Definitely worth a day out to do it.
Looks awesome, I think anyone who’s got some spare money and isn’t able to wheelie should go out and try it. I’ve got some friends who’ve been and they fully recommend it
I know this is another of those 'horses for courses' issues, but I would much prefer investing such funds in Ron Haslam's Race School (or similar tuition). I guess I might just be an old fogey who prefers to gain enjoyment from two wheels place accurately on the tarmac rather than one floating in the air. Less risk of prosecution too! However, I do not deny it's a talent. To see WSB/Moto GP riders mono down the finish straight is a true spectacle!
I've been twice to wheelie .school. It's a laugh...and the way I see it it's no different to paying for a track day.iys someone else's bike and your not going to get nicked for doing it . I even paid for a mate to go as his birthday present.
I love to see them when they're done well...but it's a fine line between zero and hero in front of the evening biker meet crowds
Had the trackday tuition in the past, not Ron Haslam but someone who does it at a track very local to me. It's all about learning to do things with a bike that you won't necessarily do on the road, but help you understand it better, and have some fun As for less risk of prosecution after track schools, well that all depends on the rider. I have seen plenty of people leave tracks after a day blatting round the circuit and not adjust back to more normal riding.
I love a good wheelie my old ktm supermoto could pull from around 30mph to flat out on the back wheel! Seem run out of balls top end of 3rd on my blade tho looked at these schools a few times as I was learning, looks good fun
