Shakey landings...
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Back Marker
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 190
Shakey landings...
Hey guys, when I come out of a power wheelie in first (can't clutch wheelie yet, need more practice) My bars always shimmy a little. I am afraid it's going to turn into a tank slapper. Is this normal? and how can I prevent it?
Senior Member
SuperBike
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,548
From: MN
you are probably setting the wheel down slightly turned left or right and its righting itself as it rolls forward. pay attention to the tension your putting on the left and right bar when you are lifting the wheel, and be sure your symmetrical. If you get it crossed up too far it will cause a much bigger problem.
Junior Member
Squid
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 19
From: NC
Be careful!!! The only additional thing I could add is to make sure you're traveling completely straight when you bring it up...
When learning, I often made the mistake of bringing it up after I've made a turn (onto the backroad I lived on) and popped it up too early, before I had completely straightened up. I couldn't tell I wasn't straight until the front wheel was up, then it gets scary.
Also, be sure you're praticing all other basic riding techniques as well, not just wheelies. Good luck.
When learning, I often made the mistake of bringing it up after I've made a turn (onto the backroad I lived on) and popped it up too early, before I had completely straightened up. I couldn't tell I wasn't straight until the front wheel was up, then it gets scary.
Also, be sure you're praticing all other basic riding techniques as well, not just wheelies. Good luck.
Senior Member
Superstock
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 406
From: Trussville, Alabama
Do like me...
Don't do wheelies :-O
Most of my wheelies are little power wheelies that occur driving out of lower speed turns, when really on the gas.
The front end will shimmy when it sits back down and the reasons have alreay been explained.
A steering damper would help, but I don't do it enought to justify the expense.
FWIW, the profile and condition of the front tire might have an impact. I know it can affect head shake when both wheels are on the ground, so maybe it has an impact when the front is returning to Earth.
Don't do wheelies :-O
Most of my wheelies are little power wheelies that occur driving out of lower speed turns, when really on the gas.
The front end will shimmy when it sits back down and the reasons have alreay been explained.
A steering damper would help, but I don't do it enought to justify the expense.
FWIW, the profile and condition of the front tire might have an impact. I know it can affect head shake when both wheels are on the ground, so maybe it has an impact when the front is returning to Earth.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Back Marker
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 190
Well I'm in no rush to learn, this is my third bike, I've been riding for about 6 years and I am just learning now- very slowly! I am trying to focus on these little power wheelies because Brian's right, most of them are out of a corner low speed getting on the gas. Except a couple of times laying in to her I left a small black streak about 5 feet long on the pavement. Brand new tires, so I don't know what's up with that.
I look at it like this; It's like accident avoidance training, I need to know how to safely deal with every aspect of the bike I ride, and since the S-Hawk is a wheelie demon, I thought I better figure them out!
Is it possible that my clutch is going because I can't clutch up in second? I don't notice any clutch wear signs during normal riding.
I look at it like this; It's like accident avoidance training, I need to know how to safely deal with every aspect of the bike I ride, and since the S-Hawk is a wheelie demon, I thought I better figure them out!
Is it possible that my clutch is going because I can't clutch up in second? I don't notice any clutch wear signs during normal riding.
Senior Member
Superstock
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 470
From: titusville, fl
Mine just goes, or wheelies and goes.
What rear tire are you using? I've got a Pilot Power and it just hooks up. I've thought about using a sport/touring tire to have a little less traction. ( I like painting darkies
)
Thread Starter
Senior Member
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 190
I have Pilot Powers as wll, it might be the asphalt by my house. it's slick looking and has a sheen to it.
Fun, but scary the first couple of times it happens. Feels like the engines just revving, can't really notice a difference going straight line. Usually as I roll off the throttle it hooks up and lurches forward as I gain traction. wierd.
Fun, but scary the first couple of times it happens. Feels like the engines just revving, can't really notice a difference going straight line. Usually as I roll off the throttle it hooks up and lurches forward as I gain traction. wierd.
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MotoGP
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 9,052
From: Leander TX!!
Seņor Miembro, Ay Caramba
SuperSport
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 562
From: a little north of DC
Kickin, I don't get it.. .. .. haha, yeah, I do. All kinds of skid marks are scary!
Arctic, do you have access to a dirt bike? Even if you never got the front wheel off the ground you'd learn to flow with whatever the bike wants to do - from general balance to keeping the front wheel in front of you. Probably would be a lot safer than trying to learn to wheelie on pavement.
Arctic, do you have access to a dirt bike? Even if you never got the front wheel off the ground you'd learn to flow with whatever the bike wants to do - from general balance to keeping the front wheel in front of you. Probably would be a lot safer than trying to learn to wheelie on pavement.
