Wheelie School

Coyote · Sep 20, 2006

Following a bad morning at work last Thursday, I did a last minute sign-up for a Friday wheelie class through On One Wheel. It was held at nearby airport and was pretty much a whole day affair. It included liquids, snacks, and lunch. Each student was supposed to get between 100 to 120 passes on the bike. I didn't count, but that is probably accurate and by the end of the day, I didn't feel the need for more.

The bikes were Triumph Speed Triples equipped with safety devices to help keep you from looping the bike. The instructor set the device for each student. It had two settings. The first killed the fuel injector on the number 3 cylinder and reduced the power, bringing the bike down. If you came up so fast that the momentum bypassed the first one, the second one applied the rear brake, which brings the bike back down right now.

Despite bad actions by many of us (11 students on two bikes) there were no incidents. But a few students had sore wrists from hard landings.

Two of the top students in the class were San Jose motor cops. :yahoo: One of them is signing up for more. If you get pulled over in San Jose by a cop chasing you on one wheel .... I probably know him.

Thank goodness the instructor emphasised that no matter how far back you think you are, "Don't get off the bike". I had two runs at the end of the day where I would swear the bike was past vertical. I couldn't see the hills in front of me and had to look skyward to see the handlebars and tach. :dribble: The gadgets saved my *** on those runs.

Whats the point? I have no idea. Just wanted to beat up some machinery and have some fun.

What did I learn? I have no business doing wheelies.

mdisher · Sep 20, 2006

I saw one of those on SuperBikes.... It looked like the host of the show had a hard time at the class.

Out of curriosity, what did this cost you?

Sounds like a good legal way to burn a day and beat up someone else's bike.

dcarver · Sep 20, 2006

This simply sounds like FUN to me! Did you have any front end shakes on the landings? Top speed on one wheel was? Did they allow you to go through the gears?

Coyote · Sep 20, 2006

Renegade said:
Out of curriosity, what did this cost you?

$495

I know you can some kind of deal if you get more than one to come play.

Coyote · Sep 20, 2006

dcarver said:
This simply sounds like FUN to me! Did you have any front end shakes on the landings? Top speed on one wheel was? Did they allow you to go through the gears?

No front end shake on landing. Other than their safety add-on, the bikes are supposed to be stock. You get a whole spiel on how well the bikes hold up, but the instructor says they use Triumphs because they got them free.

No one in the class managed a shift, but if you progress that far, they say you can. The bike is supposed to top out at about 70 in first gear. I think maybe some of us touched down around 60 mph. As for me, I doubt I went beyond 50 more than a time or two, but wasn't paying much attention to the speedo. The wheelies are all from power at 3500 to 4000 rpm (no clutching it up). So you are doing about 25 at wheel up.

I can't image you could hit 3rd gear in the wheelie zone they give you. :blink: But at 70 in first, I don't know what the top of 3rd might be, but it might be as much fun as when you flat tracked your FJR.