Get a bicycle, or a dirtbike, and start from there.

 

If you have to ask you may not want to...

 

Agreed. LOL. But, do I need to be concerned with simply a throttle twist? It does seem to want to rise up. Or am I simply a bit paranoid?

 

Base model - no mitigation.

 

Then just jerk the throttle and it will come up


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I'm under the impression that the FTR 1200 will wheelie with just a throttle twist, and in all reality I haven't push this baby hard yet, because of that belief.

Is there safe way to learn?

I test rode one over the summer, no clutch up needed. Whack the throttle hard enough in a lower gear and it will come up. Expensive mistake if you loop it, but you should be able to get off the throttle and let it down quickly. I haven’t played with all of the electronics, but you should be able to dial it in to where it will allow the front wheel to come up briefly, then save you by cutting the power. If you really want to try, find a dry stretch of straight road or parking lot, then slowly reduce the electronic nannies that keep it from wheelying. Someone that owns one should be able to step in here. Guessing traction control and wheely mitigation?

 

I haven’t played with all of the electronics, but you should be able to dial it in to where it will allow the front wheel to come up briefly, then save you by cutting the power. If you really want to try, find a dry stretch of straight road or parking lot, then slowly reduce the electronic nannies that keep it from wheelying.

It doesn't work like that. Anti wheelie nannie is either on, or off (or in rain mode, but the throttle response is derp in rain mode anyway). There is no "slider".

 

And since you own a FTR, I’m guessing it will happen by accident at some point, short wheelbase and lots of torque make for a wheelie machine!

 

FTR short wheelbase ???

 

Okay. I rented one and played a bit. Yes it’ll wheelie up just from throttle pull. It’ll happen but you’ll be accelerating quickly. IMHO the dangerous way.

So you wanna wheelie? Hover your toes over the rear brake. Stand on the pegs. Move forward at oh 5-10 mph. Use all your weight and slam down on the bars. The front suspension will compress. On the rebound move your weight back. You can sit in the saddle or not. Up to you. Roll on the throttle. Take it easy at first. You’ll feel the front end get light and pop right up easily. The back brake will drop the front back down like a rock. So be ready to use it. Take this very slowly at first.

Once you have a wheelie it boils down to maintaining the point of balance using the throttle and rear brake. You can turn the bike by turning the handle bars normally. They’re really only changing the weight balance since they’re in the air.

Now for the not so fun part. I can’t stress this enough. The Ftr is the wrong bike to learn wheelies on.

 

Okay. I rented one and played a bit. Yes it’ll wheelie up just from throttle pull. It’ll happen but you’ll be accelerating quickly. IMHO the dangerous way.

So you wanna wheelie? Hover your toes over the rear brake. Stand on the pegs. Move forward at oh 5-10 mph. Use all your weight and slam down on the bars. The front suspension will compress. On the rebound move your weight back. You can sit in the saddle or not. Up to you. Roll on the throttle. Take it easy at first. You’ll feel the front end get light and pop right up easily. The back brake will drop the front back down like a rock. So be ready to use it. Take this very slowly at first.

Once you have a wheelie it boils down to maintaining the point of balance using the throttle and rear brake. You can turn the bike by turning the handle bars normally. They’re really only changing the weight balance since they’re in the air.

Now for the not so fun part. I can’t stress this enough. The Ftr is the wrong bike to learn wheelies on.

Point. Well. Taken. Thanks.

 

Please get someone to video it and post it up here. I have a full set of plastics for the FTR and an unused set of OEM exhausts should you need them? 'All bases covered' what could possibly go wrong?

 

I would train stoppies first.
Maybe you have a panic reaction at one of your first wheelies in front of the audience , then you have a trained back-up level to save the show.

 

I would train stoppies first.

WARNING: The FTR does not stoppie well!!! The stock tire will slide out before you can get the rear to lift off the ground. It is possible, you will need a warm tire with low pressure to get it to maintain traction. You will also need to be experienced with stoppies so you know how to engage the front brake properly to settle the front suspesion and also to move your weight forward to help left the rear. Suggestion: aftermarket tires and stoppie practice on a smaller motorcycle.

Your natural reaction at 12oclock will be to put your feet down.

This is true for everyone. Your feet instinctively want to leave your pegs (and your fail-safe rear break). Once your feet drop back you're done. So take it slow with small clutch ups and go from there. (Read my next post below)

 

I’ve seen @POE do a few with ease. For someone who knows how to do wheelies (him) it seems easy to do on the FTR, either clutching up, power wheelie, or on the rebound. For someone who doesn’t know how (me) it’s terrifying when it happens even when I expected it a little (accidental power wheelies in first/second gear).

 

I guess compared to cruisers it’s short

But it’s not nearly as short as standard sport bikes.

And here is a little clip I made for everyone on fb saying they can’t get the ftr to wheelie.

I’m in sport mode but WITH tc and abs turned on.

First two blips are in first gear, third blip is in 2nd. Never touched the clutch or bounced my weight. It’s simply just using the throttle.

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What cameroni said times a million. Believe it or not, power wheelies are more difficult and more dangerous to reach your balance point. Clutching up is by far the "safer" option, especially for a beginner.

It also cannot be overstated that keeping the rear brake covered and USING IT will likely save your beautiful ftr fairings. Your natural reaction at 12oclock will be to put your feet down. Start with small little pop and drops and get comfortable with using that rear brake!

 

What cameroni said times a million. Believe it or not, power wheelies are more difficult and more dangerous to reach your balance point. Clutching up is by far the "safer" option, especially for a beginner.

It also cannot be overstated that keeping the rear brake covered and USING IT will likely save your beautiful ftr fairings. Your natural reaction at 12oclock will be to put your feet down. Start with small little pop and drops and get comfortable with using that rear brake!

Hey man, thanks for the backup. We’re buds now.

 

I want to let all the wheelie noobs here know that 1st gear wheelies can be very dangerous on most bikes, especially the FTR. With such a low granny gear, mated to a large torquey motor, you are asking to get into trouble VERY fast if you are doing wheelies in 1st gear. If you practice wheelies on the FTR, I highly recommend 2nd gear clutch-ups for your practice. It is faster speed wheelies, but much more controllable.

 

^yup. Especially with stock twitchy fueling. 1st gear wheelies are quite violent.


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Okay, sorry, but what's a wheelie, anyways?

 

Things that make you realize that it’s time to move from a sport bike to a Roadmaster.

 

Things young whipper snappers do.


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Lol!

 

Being a new FTR 1200 owner, and new to the whole motorcycle scene (I haven't owned a bike in decades since owning an old Yamaha 750 in the 90's). How exactly does one do a wheelie? I know you can rev it and pop the clutch, but that seems rather hazardous.

I'm under the impression that the FTR 1200 will wheelie with just a throttle twist, and in all reality I haven't push this baby hard yet, because of that belief.

Is there safe way to learn?

the street isnt the place for doing that crap be smart.

 

One million times this post!

(I kept mashing on the 'Like' button but it only allows one upvote. SHEESH!!!)

 

Be smart about it. Start slow. Don't **** around in traffic. Wear your gear. #DONOTYOLO

 

Private street


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Warning: This is a joke. Do not get butt hurt.

All these anti-wheelie guys are just upset because their wheelies are garbage.

 

Warning: This is a joke. Do not get butt hurt.

All these anti-wheelie guys are just upset because their wheelie are garbage.

View attachment 613341

I think this was a recycled joke...

 

 

Ahh.. As usual.. I've got a completely different "take" on this subject. Also as usual, I'd like to start - not at the beginning - but before the beginning.

What is a wheelie ? It is any time the front wheel is off the ground - 1 inch, to coming over on top of you (whereas the bike rides you.)
What is "riding a wheelie ? It is when the front wheel is intentionally kept off the ground by actions of the rider.

Now lets introduce the concept of "Throttle discipline". We are only talking about powerful bikes here (such as my FE650E, KX500, and a unmuzzled FTR) - bikes whereby the throttle must be "respected" as nonjudicial use of the throttle will create hospital stays.
Learning to modulate the throttle, in all situations, in such a way as to remain safe, is mandatory. Once achieved, a peep will have "throttle discipline". Hopefully this is achieved without damage to man or machine.

Now, IMO, the most "fun with wheelies" with a FTR, by a "newbie" , is by simply practicing the violation of throttle discipline when leaving a stop sign/light.

The practice regime is very simple: Let out the clutch and begin a normal rollout from the stop sign. From a slow roll (at or under approx 10 mph) gently roll into the throttle to create an aggressive acceleration toward a 2nd gear shift. Now, simply practice creating ever-more aggressive accels - do this in small incremental increases in accels, over time, and at your own pace. At some point during this process, the front tire will begin to lift off the ground slightly. At this point, continuing to engage slightly more aggressive accels will cause the tire to rise higher. The tire will fall back with the shifts to second or if throttle is cut/chopped..

Very soon, you should be able to raise the tire 6-8 inches and keep it there throughout 1st gear !

KABOOM ! You're riding a "throttle only acceleration wheelie" safely and securely - giggling out loud, like the sissy you are..( or use to be )

P.S. My test ride of the FTR - even without frontal lobes, doing the above was effortless and easy for me, so I know it will work for anyone..

 

Ahh.. As usual.. I've got a completely different "take" on this subject. Also as usual, I'd like to start - not at the beginning - but before the beginning.

What is a wheelie ? It is any time the front wheel is off the ground - 1 inch, to coming over on top of you (whereas the bike rides you.)
What is "riding a wheelie ? It is when the front wheel is intentionally kept off the ground by actions of the rider.

Now lets introduce the concept of "Throttle discipline". We are only talking about powerful bikes here (such as my FE650E, KX500, and a unmuzzled FTR) - bikes whereby the throttle must be "respected" as nonjudicial use of the throttle will create hospital stays.
Learning to modulate the throttle, in all situations, in such a way as to remain safe, is mandatory. Once achieved, a peep will have "throttle discipline". Hopefully this is achieved without damage to man or machine.

Now, IMO, the most "fun with wheelies" with a FTR, by a "newbie" , is by simply practicing the violation of throttle discipline when leaving a stop sign/light.

The practice regime is very simple: Let out the clutch and begin a normal rollout from the stop sign. From a slow roll (at or under approx 10 mph) gently roll into the throttle to create an aggressive acceleration toward a 2nd gear shift. Now, simply practice creating ever-more aggressive accels - do this in small incremental increases in accels, over time, and at your own pace. At some point during this process, the front tire will begin to lift off the ground slightly. At this point, continuing to engage slightly more aggressive accels will cause the tire to rise higher. The tire will fall back with the shifts to second or if throttle is cut/chopped..

Very soon, you should be able to raise the tire 6-8 inches and keep it there throughout 1st gear !

KABOOM ! You're riding a "throttle only acceleration wheelie" safely and securely !!!

P.S. My test ride of the FTR - even without frontal lobes, doing the above was effortless and easy for me, so I know it will work for anyone..

I like to think of them being stupid on crowded streets and yes i did a few way back, till i figured how to accelerate hard on my 84 Honda Magna, i just leaned a little more forward. It lifted without any effort at all, if you weren't paying attention.

 

Has anyone had the dealer pull the wheelie counter count during a service?
Wheelie Counter
I asked my dealer when I was buying oil but they didn't want to do it without a service appointment. Or is it possible to read it with PV3?

 

Has anyone had the dealer pull the wheelie counter count during a service?
Wheelie Counter
I asked my dealer when I was buying oil but they didn't want to do it without a service appointment. Or is it possible to read it with PV3?

Wheelie counter? Just hope your insurance company can't get that info or be in for a big shock.

 

Why? The base doesn’t have wheelie control. Very easy to accidentally wheelie


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December wheelies


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December wheelies


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I see this photo and that Steppenwolf song comes to mind...