Just an observation

[Ivan]

I don't see any harley guys pulling the front wheel up, even a little. Only Harley I have seen do that was my uncle's chopper, and it had an 11 foot set of forks IIRC. A bit outlandish but was pretty awesome to see. I think it was a Knuckle Head, and I don't know the harley lingo. Anyway, none of the modern harleys I see ever have the front lift. What gives? Real answers here, no harley hate. Well, maybe a few jokes. I'd be pissed if I spent 12 grand on a bike that couldn't lift the front.

[fredintoon]

Hi Ivan,
if a bike lifts when you gas it it's built wrong. Instead of lifting the front tire it should accelerate. Every inch your font wheel lifts off the ground is a fraction of a G that you ain't getting. OK, it can smoke the back tire while accelerating.

[Montreux_Blue]

I couldn't keep the front wheel on the ground on the Buell XB9S that I had. Just twist the throttle and it would come up off the ground by itself. I also popped wheelies on my Kawasaki 305 LTD I had too. I just think they figure that they look cool enough without a helmet and don't want to mess up all their Harley clothes.

[oseaghdha]

Here's one

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBAUlZdTXx0

Wheelies are a product of torque.
Hawgs have lots of torque.

[oseaghdha]

Here's another one

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6AjrVqyU5s

I made camshafts for this bike.

[mitch]

Full Dresser

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DG0f-EPlx30
Any bike can wheelie but all riders cant .Some of the new Harleys might just beat an XS11 in top end. I dont think i would run one for pinks.

[randy]

I did beat one of my friends in a straight line who had a V-rod ONCE. but that was because he had just got it and hadn't learned what it's capabilities were. I never tried it again, though!

[Ivan]

Fred, if you are smoking the rear tire, you'd be loosing more than if you lifted, right? Isn't about 10% slip loss ideal?

I can't, or haven't done a clutch wheelie with the wheel way up in the air, but when everything hooks up right, I would guess my front wheel comes up 3-4 inches. I also agree that too far in the air is loosing acceleration. I use the excuse that it reduces the rolling drag of the other wheel.

Mitch and Randy, I haven't paired off with the Vrods or new stuff yet. I think they are all babying their multi thousand dollar rides. I did smoke a kid with a hotrod Camaro last night, which was way cool, but probably not that big of a feat. Other thing I did was paired off with some guy on a sport bike, and took a street corner really hard, while he soiled his britches when his bike started to lean more than about 45º.

All told I have about $1200 in my XS11, and I don't think I could have any more fun on a $15,000 bike than I do on the XS. I could be wrong though, but no one has offered me to ride their V Rod or Busa yet.

[mitch]

Xs

Nope your right Ivan they are great bikes for what they are . Im thinking i might just buy another one to fix up . This time im staying away from th XJs as they have way too many electrical problems. Mechanical i dont mind but i suck at the electrical .
Doug

[Bigfoot]

I accidentally lifted the front wheel off the ground a few inches yesterday. I had taken SWMBO on her first real ride. Took off at a light and felt the front start to lift. I eased off on the throttle and luckily she didn't notice. I was trying to take it easy all day so as not to make her first ride her last.

[madmax-im]

I dont think it has anything to do with what brand or make of bike but rather the skillset or lack thereof on the riders part.I know I could get all of my bikes to pop a wheelie...but I dont do it cause I choose not to.I havent popped a wheelie in many years...I like my wheels firmly planted...both of 'em YMMV as usual

[latexeses]

If I remember the story right I believe a film crew filming Michael Jordan asked if they could get a shot of him spinning a basketball on his finger. They were stunned when he said that he didn't know how. He replied-"It doesn't have anything to do with basketball".
I've never even tried to pull the wheel off the ground. On the dirt bike or the Virago. All I could think about was how long it would take to get over a bad case of road rash..
I applaud those with the nerve to learn.