RE: [ST] Wheelies

["James Goldston" <jgoldston@xxxxxxxx>]

I couldn't seem to get the wheelie thing either, and even asked the
dealership guys whether it would.  They ALL had a good laugh.  Seems
everyone but me know, so I laughed like it was a good joke, then said
"Really!?  So how do ya do it?"  So they told me.  They didn't tell me how
to ride it a quarter of a mile.  Since my roots are standing on the pegs
while dirt riding, it is still uncomfortable doing it while sitting, but I'm
learning.

First time it happened (in 1st gear) to me was a complete surprise.   I was
sitting at the only light between my house and work (7.5 miles from here to
there :), crossing a 4-lane road that had a crown in the middle.  From a
standing stop I got it rolling, ran the rpms up a very little, closed the
throttle, then "whacked" it open right at the crown and it rose a foot.
Oooh, big surprise.  Boy howdie!  Since then, I do it at least once every
day and usually many times.  It's just part of my riding.  I don't whack it
so much now, as I've learned how to twist the throttle hard without the
total whack.

I never use the clutch, because I don't need to.  Plus, I've already bought
one clutch learning how to do burnouts on a tire gone bad.  What an idiot.
Everyone knows how to do burnouts, right?  Anyhoo, going the opposite way
across the little ridge on the road, I've hit it so hard the tank racked me
up and my rear end briefly touched down.  Well, it did rack me up and I was
fearful for my life, but my rear end didn't touch the ground.

First time I lofted the wheel in a corner was at the same light going home,
but taking a right-hand.  Light was green, double-check for cages, lean it
over, no, don't whack it yet, hook up the tire for traction, then whack it.
Yikes!  Just like something on the magazine covers, but only about 6" off
the ground.  I'm a lot more careful where I do that now.

I've only got a little wheelie in 2nd every now and then and it's always a
surprise.  Thought about dropping a front tooth, because I ride too fast,
but the dealer didn't get it ordered when I was fixing the clutch so I
didn't put it on.

Maybe a good thing as I'm not sure which receives more attention from the
LEOs, wheelies or fast.  One may tick off the cop, while the other certainly
will.  One will get you a ticket, the other can land you in jail just like
in Alice's Restaurant, plus some of the LEOs take it personally, esp if done
recklessly (yes, I believe one can speed without being reckless, at least to
other people).  (Since we probably have some LEOs here I want to say I'm not
disrespecting them.  I've had a LEO friend ask me to autograph his book so
he can make me stop and get in good graces with my wife.  LEOs know what
it's like to scrape up body parts so they have a right to get royally
ticked.)

I usually hit a little wheelie every day somewhere, all of them power
wheelies.  A day without a wheelie is like a day without riding.  A few
rules of thumbs I've discovered:

 - Can't power wheelie with a cold motor.
 - Can't PW with cold tires, they just slip (currently BT 020s, and it's
cold in Knoxville, TN).
 - Easier to PW if you sit back, but I never bother.  Sometimes I am almost
laying on the tank.
 - ... I'm sure there's more but gotta hit the sack.

Sorry to go on so.  I'm partly ruminating, since I am in the process of
selling my ST. :(  Why?  It goes too fast.  Serious.  I didn't get a sport
bike because I figured it would only get me thrown in jail or dead.  But
it's happening with the Sprint.  Have absolutely loved putting 13,500 miles
on if from Jan 8, 03 to Jan 8, 04.  But I just can't seem to stop going
fast.  I try to be very responsible and run fast only when it's safe.  Um,
yeah.  Probably get a cough, cough, hack, hack, a cruiser, cough, cough,
hack, hack.  Yep, you heard me right.  I've really tried, but the bike just
won't control itself (yeah and people don't kill, guns do), plus I am
dealing with some medical issues and this would relieve much stress from my
sweet wife.  My days are numbered I fear.  So, I'm talking to the dealer
about the Rocket III.  Big grin.  Faster than a Hayabusa from 0-60, but it's
a cruiser and cruisers don't look like they're going fast.  Really, the
whole world of cruising is taking life at a slower speed.  I had a most
wonderful summer of 2003 riding fast and riding the twisties all over, esp
the Dragon and the Cherohala!  Wish I had a movie.  The Sprint loves to be
ridden at speed and feels like an F1 to me.  But what a smooth, most
pleasurable ride it is at any speed, even slow!

You all have a wonderful evening and ride safe,
James


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