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I tried to pull off a wheelie today on my VF700. I've heard several different versions of how to do it. First tried downshifting into second and gunning it. Got crazy high rpm, no wheelie. Next tried slowing way down, holding clutch, gunning it and dropping clutch. Resuted in gut wrenching "WHAM" noise from underneath, no wheelie. Definitely can't be good for the bike. Finally, pulling away from a stop sign, shifted up into second and gunned it again. Gave awesome acceleration, but no lift.
So, either I've been given the wrong advice, didn't do it right, or maybe it's just not possible to wheelie a cruiser .

this sad tale left me sobbing uncontrolably.

If you've got the power, all you should have to do is once moving, let off the throttle quickly then immediately throttle up and the wheel should lift right up. My bike is long and heavy but that is all it takes.

kevin

Ask vulcanman500 about cruisers and wheelies. Or ask me, I watched him do the only one I'm aware of him doing. It was no problem for the bike...the riding position is a little testy when the front is up at 45 degrees or more with forward controls. He could tell you how to do it, I can tell you it's possible.

You can wheelie a cruiser but due to your riding position it is not easy bike to learn to wheelie on.

Couple years ago, I saw a guy wheelie a Valkyrie. No lie. He just got the big lug rollin' a little, pulled in the clutch, spun up the revs and banged the clutch lever out. I remember thinking it looked a lot like the space shuttle lifting off.

So, if a big Sumo like the Valkyrie can do it...

Well, I guess I'd better offer some fatherly advice now... Wheelies are generally considered rough treatment on your drivetrain. Also, if this is something you simply cannot avoid trying, please don't do it on the street or endanger anyone else.

poppygene wrote: Also, if this is something you simply cannot avoid trying, please don't do it on the street or endanger anyone else.

Good call. I've only tried it on this one straight stretch that's hardly used, so if I end up eating it the only one who'll be in any trouble is myself.

Anyway, I've kind of thrown in the towel for now. Don't want to keep hammering my bike trying to pull off one little trick.

Thanks for the tips though everyone!

I can tell you from personal experience that "eating it" hurts like bloody hell. If you can avoid it, then don't do it.
I'm still waiting for the skin to grow back on my knees... and my fractured elbow to mend itself.
That and my bike to be fixed, warm weather *sad face*

Hehe, yeah, I still have a road rash patch on my right knee from when I hit the front brake on cinder gravel in the rain about 6 months back. I think it's permanent. Sounds like yours was worse though .

I've seen guys on cruisers pull wheelies before, for sure it's possable. This reminds me of a little wheelie story I have. Listen closely so don't make the same mistake I made.
I had a then brand new 82 gpz 750 back in Mn. We all used to go and hang out at a local lake beach in the summer. I always wore leather jacket and helmet to the beach and changed to shorts once arriving. I was with about 20 friends that day, and these guys are on the road right above the beach pulling wheelies. "Not very good ones" So my friends all started harrassing me to go up there and show them a real wheelie. I was 16 and more balls than brains"but not for long" I throw on my tennis shoes and t-shirt, no helmet jacket nothing. I'm in shorts. I get up on the road and everyone on the beach is watching all of this. At least 200 people. Now I don't want to pooch this thing so I rev. the bejesus out of the old gp and dump the clutch. Instantly all I see is blue sky, I'm in full panic mode. I jam the rear brake and the bike slams down with unbelievable force. My privates hit aluminum with the force of a teamster hitting a scab crossing a picket line. My exposed,bare knees jam into the still hot engine cooling fins. They looked like a grilled salmon. I stayed up and tried to act like I tried all of this. Back down to the beach and into the water. Two days later I was still walking like a rodeo star. That was my last wheelie I ever pulled on purpose. Anyway be careful.Lol..