Roll on wheelies?

[Poprock]

OK. Here's what really happened. Fired it up, backed out of the garage. Rolled across the driveway. Smooth, asphalt surface. I'm running a 850 FD. Going 3-4 mph, hit a full roll-on, bike took off way strong. Let loose the throttle, felt a thump when the front wheel hit the ground. Wasn't a high wheelie, but it did lift off the ground.
I don't do it on purpose, but if I wanted to, I'm certain it would get lift in at least 2 gears whenever. Never had this kind of low-end torque before the valve change in 30,000 miles of riding.

[Rasputin]

When my 79SF was in stock trim (I bought it brand new) I could not get it to come off the ground no way no how. The back end just jacked me up and away I went. I have since put on progressive 418 rear shocks. With the damper set up right the front wheel will come off the ground on a roll on throttle situation. It is not much maybe an inch or two but it is most certainly off the ground. I prefer to set the damper one notch less as it is a more comfortable ride. My 78E will come off the ground with vetter and all from a roll, but that does require a bit of clutch trickery I have new clutch frictions that arrived today so once those are in I may be able to do it on the 78 as well..

[perurider]

Mine must need some work, I am pretty certain its bone stock, and i took it to the red or pretty close while racing a kaw 636 and not once did I feel the wheel up.

[yamtom]

both of mine have

Hi,
Both my stock 79 and the current MNS have done roll on wheelies. Both required the roll off before the roll on , as specified by TopCat, but both have done it. The 79, almost went too high one time, prolly 20 inches or so, scary.

[dentat2]

My 80 special would do it no problem but with the hardtail it usually just wants to cook the tire so i gave up on wheelies and went straight for smokey burnouts. lol

[Rasputin]

New clutch frictions in place now on 78E. The only performance type mod to it is the Jardine 4 into 1 header. It also has a full vetter/lowers setup on it.
If I hold steady 4500rpm's in first gear and twist full on throttle the front wheel will come off the ground a few inches. This is not a roll off roll on thing, just striaght acceleration. My 79SF will do it as well. Both bikes will lift the front wheel just off the ground on a first/second shift as well. I love the way these two bikes are running right now and hope I can get the 81LH to do it as well when it is finished. The 81LH does have a 79SF motor in it so chances are good.

[T99Ford]

Mine will come up in 3 gears. Way to scared to pop the clutch!
Of course that is on dry concrete, would not want to try it on asphault.

No offense, but this I would have to see. I have a 400# sportbike with 30 more horse than my good running 11, and THREE gears is still a trick on that. I've looked at the above referenced bike, and again, no offense, but with the "mod" list that describes it, I have a hard time believing it. Not saying that is hasn't happened, but I am saying I would have to see it in person before I would tell anyone else it happened...

IMO, too much weight, not enough power= wimpy wheelies

[motoman]

Would'nt second guess that if I were you T99. Lots of difference riding one of these scoots at the elevation where you or I live than at 2000ft. and down to sea level! Even where I lived and rode my Venturer when new, ex and I got fairly good at riding out most of first gear doing a rolling clutch getting it up. Mind you that is with a factory dresser(Venturer) and at 6512ft.elev. Maybe all the years motoX racing helped with the balance part as does using the rear brake combined with throttle. That same XS11 will still do it today I'm sure as it will easily still come off the ground just popping the throttle in first and comes off the ground surprisingly well with a redline first to second shift. Sure noticed at the CalyRally these things get snarly at sea level as that was the first time ever riding my XS and the year before the ST at sea level. At sea level, the XS kinda mimicked riding....say a V-65Magna at the 6500 where I lived and maybe a bit more. In our cases, we both loose at least 1/3 of its potential horsepower, and here in G.Junction still at 4700ft. So, first three gears front coming off the ground........easily done at sea level up to 2000ft elev.

[T99Ford]

You have a point there for sure!

I am just using my own dyno numbers (for 5500' altitude), where I have 80ish hp at the wheel on the XS, and closing in on 110 on the VTR ("ish" as I have not yet tested my latest mods on each). The VTR power wheelies easily enough through three gears, I just can't imagine the ol' heavy XS doing the same thing. I could see two, but I just think three might be a bit of a stretch. It takes a pretty good rider to get a wheelie in three shifts on a 650#, less than 100 hp bike...

Not sayin it wasn't done or can't be, just that I would like to see it before I banked on it Hope nobody takes that the wrong way.

[81xsproject]

You have a point there for sure!

I am just using my own dyno numbers (for 5500' altitude), where I have 80ish hp at the wheel on the XS, and closing in on 110 on the VTR ("ish" as I have not yet tested my latest mods on each). The VTR power wheelies easily enough through three gears, I just can't imagine the ol' heavy XS doing the same thing. I could see two, but I just think three might be a bit of a stretch. It takes a pretty good rider to get a wheelie in three shifts on a 650#, less than 100 hp bike...

Not sayin it wasn't done or can't be, just that I would like to see it before I banked on it Hope nobody takes that the wrong way.

Yeah, I too, have serious doubts about this claim. Sounds like a fish-tale to me.

[IndianaKong]

you guys peaked my interest with this one. I habe a 82 Kz550 that will run wheelies if you juggle the throttle.(rev let go then rev again). A 92 VT1100 (shadow) that can get up if you drop the clutch in first, but as I learned the drive shaft will then snap. Which actually led me to pick up this 80 Xs1100 standard. Well after seeing godzilla do it I had to try and sure enough without a lot of effort that wheel comes up (not high) but it comes up. I'm sure someone better than me could get that wheelie to ride out. Mine is completly stock except for some aftermarket 4 into 2 turnout exhaust. IMO if I ca get that wheel up, someone who was experience with wheelies could keep it up.
.

[cywelchjr]

I have both brought up the front wheel a little just twisting the throttle in first on my full dress 80G, and have the front wheel hop a little on the first second shift. Mine is pretty stock, and the bringing the front end up was when it was more stock, and the reason I haven't done it since is frankly it scared me a bit and I keep away from that much throttle in first. After first, I would have to say not likely, on the 1st through 3rd, but then John's bike IS a naked MNS, and I think with the right clutch work is just might come up in all three. Mind you he IS in Texas and you know that everything is bigger, hairier and badder down there, as well as having that dense sea level air (oh wait, that what we have here too ).

Frankly I don't hot rod mine much, as every time I do is scares me and I have to use a prybar to separate me from the seat ).

[cywelchjr]

Even though I was the last to post in this thread. I though I would mention that the other day I got reminded why you gotta be careful with these things. I was leaving work and exiting the parking lot, and just as I got onto the level out of the lot, I was in a bit of a hurry to I twisted hard with my right hand, and lo and behold, the front wheel came up into the air. I'd estimate about 18", but it felt like a lot more (I'm allowing for the pucker factor increase in height thing here).

I wasn't quite a full throttle (probably 80 to 85% though) and it wasn't right off idle, but rather as it hit about 3500 in first gear, and with a quick shift it dropped right down and hopped (probably just barely off the ground) on the 1st-2nd shift.

I'm a big guy too, around 350lbs and the bike has a full vetter touring rig, and the tank was full (about 6 miles on the tank), so if their running right, these things WILL scare you out of a few years growth (or age you a few extra years).

[natemoen]

Glad ya kept her under control Cy!

[TECHLINETOM]

The only way mine comes up is with a floor jack!