Wheelie Help
Pull clutch in. Twist throttle and let go of clutch. Cover the rear brake and go straight. That's how I do it. Look up Harley wheelies on YouTube. Stock nightster has plenty of power to pull the front wheel up.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 4,904
Likes: 9
From: Streetsboro, Oh
Take it from someone that has been riding all kinds of bikes for 29 years. I know how to wheelie and use to on, dirt bikes, qauds, sport bikes and even Honda CRF50's, but I will not do it on my Sporty. Sure my bike will pull it up, but I don't want to kill it. The front end of the sporties are not near as good as sport bike front ends and landing wheelies wrong kills the fork seal in them-the sporty forks don't have a prayer. Riding wheelies take some skill and to try to learn it on a nice bike is not a good idea IMO. I say just leave the stunts to the sport bike guys and enjoy your HD on 2 wheels.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 3,782
Likes: 1,202
From: river
Take it from someone that has been riding all kinds of bikes for 29 years. I know how to wheelie and use to on, dirt bikes, qauds, sport bikes and even Honda CRF50's, but I will not do it on my Sporty. Sure my bike will pull it up, but I don't want to kill it. The front end of the sporties are not near as good as sport bike front ends and landing wheelies wrong kills the fork seal in them-the sporty forks don't have a prayer. Riding wheelies take some skill and to try to learn it on a nice bike is not a good idea IMO. I say just leave the stunts to the sport bike guys and enjoy your HD on 2 wheels.
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,948
Likes: 4
From: Ottawa, Ontario
That's a whole lot of wrong information. The 883 can get the front wheel up no problem.
It would help if you had a tach. Guys who've felt their way through it without a tach will disagree, but I think it'd be easier to pick it up quickly and more accurately. That being said, start off on a slow roll, 5-7mph, hold in the clutch and roll a quarter throttle and pop the clutch, DON'T forget to hang on with that left hand, can't say how many times I've seen a guy pop the clutch but forget to grip with that left hand and things ended badly for that bike. If 1/4 throttle doesn't do it, inch up a 1/8th more each hit til you get it. Keep your back/body straight. Don't put your foot down if you go to 1 side, just lean hard the other way and hang on. Could break your foot if you come down trying to catch yourself with it.
Main thing to keep from destroying your front shocks, *********, and any thing else of importance, roll back into the throttle as the front tire comes down. That keeps your front end from slamming down.
It's MUCH easier on a sportbike/practical. I've wheelied a lot back when I had a sport bike, but have yet to really give it a go on my 09 nightster. I don't think it's a smart idea or good idea to try it on a Nightster, but if you're determined on doing it anyway good luck, wear protection, and as someone else said, have a video camera running...
Main thing to keep from destroying your front shocks, *********, and any thing else of importance, roll back into the throttle as the front tire comes down. That keeps your front end from slamming down.
It's MUCH easier on a sportbike/practical. I've wheelied a lot back when I had a sport bike, but have yet to really give it a go on my 09 nightster. I don't think it's a smart idea or good idea to try it on a Nightster, but if you're determined on doing it anyway good luck, wear protection, and as someone else said, have a video camera running...
Last edited by brillo1200N; Aug 12, 2013 at 02:08 PM.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 3,782
Likes: 1,202
From: river
It would help if you had a tach. Guys who've felt their way through it without a tach will disagree, but I think it'd be easier to pick it up quickly and more accurately. That being said, start off on a slow roll, 5-7mph, hold in the clutch and roll a quarter throttle and pop the clutch, DON'T forget to hang on with that left hand, can't say how many times I've seen a guy pop the clutch but forget to grip with that left hand and things ended badly for that bike. If 1/4 throttle doesn't do it, inch up a 1/8th more each hit til you get it. Keep your back/body straight. Don't put your foot down if you go to 1 side, just lean hard the other way and hang on. Could break your foot if you come down trying to catch yourself with it.
Main thing to keep from destroying your front shocks, *********, and any thing else of importance, roll back into the throttle as the front tire comes down. That keeps your front end from slamming down.
It's MUCH easier on a sportbike/practical. I've wheelied a lot back when I had a sport bike, but have yet to really give it a go on my 09 nightster. I don't think it's a smart idea or good idea to try it on a Nightster, but if you're determined on doing it anyway good luck, wear protection, and as someone else said, have a video camera running...
Main thing to keep from destroying your front shocks, *********, and any thing else of importance, roll back into the throttle as the front tire comes down. That keeps your front end from slamming down.
It's MUCH easier on a sportbike/practical. I've wheelied a lot back when I had a sport bike, but have yet to really give it a go on my 09 nightster. I don't think it's a smart idea or good idea to try it on a Nightster, but if you're determined on doing it anyway good luck, wear protection, and as someone else said, have a video camera running...
great all around advise.
just to add.....sometimes you can control them better in second gear....as far as riding them out. the faster you go the better. good luck
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 3,782
Likes: 1,202
From: river
i used to be into wheelies hard core....not as much as i used to....here are some pics for ya....its a rush. good luck and be safe....put on a helmet.
this pic i was riding them for long distances in second gear...bike has to be really straight up and down.
this one is not on purpose
this pic i was riding them for long distances in second gear...bike has to be really straight up and down.
this one is not on purpose
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 3,782
Likes: 1,202
From: river
i dont have any vids of long wheelies that i used to do....here are a couple of power wheelies on using throttle, not clutch...they are not real far.....was just bumping the front wheel on the first one then hit second. on the second video just powered it up in 2nd gear and hung it there feathering the throttle.
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 130
Likes: 0
From: Long Beach, CA
i used to be into wheelies hard core....not as much as i used to....here are some pics for ya....its a rush. good luck and be safe....put on a helmet.
this pic i was riding them for long distances in second gear...bike has to be really straight up and down.
this one is not on purpose
this pic i was riding them for long distances in second gear...bike has to be really straight up and down.
this one is not on purpose
I also know that you dont always die when you eat it, sometimes you just get hurt real bad.
But for you young guys that have had the good fortune to ride from an early age, my hat is off to you!