Does your bike wheelie?

[DeLewis]

I've read comments here and there on this site from other inmates re their TRs pulling wheelies quite easily at least in 1st gear. I'm not particularly interested in pulling wheelies around town but as a basic comparison I've tried opening the throttle right up from a standing start to get a measure of its low end torque. At most, the front wheel will lift about an inch, no more. That's with an Accelerater Module. Without the spoofer there's even less torque. I guess the other key bit of info is I'm relatively average weight ~70kgs.

Is this similar to torque/power characteristics that others experience with their TRs? As mentioned above, the real purpose of the "test" was to gauge the torque - not to try to wheelie (although there's nothing wrong with that either . Hence, I'm not referring to tapping the clutch to launch the front wheel.

I realise that this engine is biased towards strong output at high RPM (and it certainly has that).

 

[spiderman]

Try running in 1st gear at about 3k rpm. Shut down the throttle completely and when it drops to about 1200rpm or so snap the throttle open again. And hold on.

 

[Clete]

I beleive most of those comments about their TR pulling (power)wheelies have come from those that have went to a 15T CS sprocket, or a spoofer....

 

[msmith345]

My Strada doesn't get it up, but then again, I never tried to do it...

I don't try to do it on my 250/300/360 either, it just does what it wants ;-)

 

[Ogre_fl]

My Terra does not wheelie off the bottom like my past 650 singles have.
The TR is pretty dead on the bottom stock.
A bit better with a spoofer and running the 17" strada rear wheel & 150/70 tires (lowers the gearing similar to a 15T with the 18"), but still less than other 650's I have had.

 

[Moff69]

I have had no problems lifting the front wheel for a controlled mono, can keep it up through to third gear, when she will not maintain it. On hard acceleration, the back end will spin and lift the front about a foot of the road. This is on a strada, stock, unrestricted, l am an Aussie. Yesterday l changed the tires and c.s over to a 15 for a bit better slow speed stuff on dirt tracks, they didn't have any terra's left when l got mine. I haven't had a chance to test it as the new tires are still a bit waxy and the roads around Cairns are a bit wet atm, but did have the bike going down the road side ways, controlled, in third!. The 15 on the front has really livened the Strada up with acceleration improved heaps all across the board. With the 16 on, l could leave my mates KTM 640 Adventure in my wake easily, can't wait to give him a run now

 

[Baddrapp]

I haven't experienced a wheelie per say, but offroad I have lofted the front wheel over rough sections or washouts. I am running a 15 counter and a wukka while using our premium fuel.

 

[PaulC]

With standard Terra gearing, no probs pulling power wheelies in first especially when the fuel light comes on! Now running without the spoofer I'm enjoying regaining the bikes top end rush. Just point and shoot. Spoofers improve the tractability and behaviour at the bottom end but IMHO are detrimental to the top end power. They need to disengage above 4g's

 

[drzcharlie]

My bike wheelies easily. Lots of grunt with the 15 tooth counter sprocket. I've gone back (temporarily) to a 16 tooth for my upcoming trip to enhance the fuel economy a bit.

 

[Moff69]

I can't wait to get the TR out on some dry roads now that lhave the 15 on

 

[SpittingCobra]

There seems to be a huge difference between these bikes ito power. My klx400 lifts so easy and the Strada is impossible without a ramp to launch it and then it drops immediately. I thought it was perhaps a heavy flywheel to make the TR so smooth but reading other comments, obviously not. It would be interesting to dyno Moff69s bike and another to see if there is a difference. The Strada certainly gets going ok but it does so gracefully. I have always thought the TR sounds over muffled and would love to try a performance exhaust. I'm tempted to pull my Yoshimura exhaust off the KLX and try it on the TR, the size looks about right...... Standard gearing, power commander, 70Kg.

 

[Huskynoobee]

Just took my Dad's Strada for a rip. With the GPR exhaust, stock gearing, and spoofer. It's a willing wheelie machine! No ramps, clutch slip or other tricks required. Just get it good and warm, twist the wrist, and brraaaap the wheel to the sky. If I spent more than the fifteen minutes in the saddle and it was mine, I feel confident I could do all sorts of stupid shit on it.

If I didn't already have my 449, I'd seriously consider a Terra/Strada. You guys should really appreciate this bike for all its fun, easy to ride traits.

 

[Jesper]

1.st gear wheelies is easy on my strada. Just a blip on the throttle and it keeps the front wheel high untill i hit the limiter. 2.nd gear wheelies need the clutch an some more talent.
Only mod done to mine, is the eruption. But befordre that it what still easy to wheelie in 1.st

 

[DeLewis]

Thanks for all the feedback. Seems there is a fair bit of variation of torque/power characteristics between stock (or near stock) TRs. I think shifting down to a 15t counter sprocket would make sense given the majority of my riding is low speed (60kmh / 40mph) commuting.

 

[run-it]

Yes it will lift - stock gearing, 170 lb rider, partial fuel, first gear, no clutch, second gear using the clutch.

For me there is some technique involved, in first gear I start from an rpm where there is less HP but good predictable torque, I also jerk back on the bars pretty good while opening the throttle, but not full open, from closed position.

I know you're not asking but To actually do a wheelie from first gear you will be going a little slower than what's optimal, usually you'd like to have the front wheel spinning faster for a longer lasting gyro effect plus the bike is less stable laterally on one wheel until you pick up a little more speed.

For whatever reason I found my bike has difficulty shifting into second on one wheel if the rpms are allowed to climb, the shift is consistent & smooth if it's short shifted, ie done at a lower rpm which works out to be before the front wheel reaches the balancing point, then finish bringing the front wheel up.

The rest is standard, hold it up as high as you dare to keep forward speed down & shift through the gears as you pick up speed. I've always just shifted normally using a clutch & try to keep the rpms in check so I'm working with a smooth docile engine.

I have about 20-30 minutes into a couple practice sessions, it took that long to figure out the technique, was running into 4th gear by the end but pulled a muscle in my shoulder so the sessions went on hiatus. All better now & will need more practice to be smooth & consistent. There is potential for head shake coming back down, the front wheel is stopped or nearly stopped but nothing extreme so far. Be nice to your bike, gas it & get your ass way back when coming down.

Don't want anyone to get the wrong impression - get proficient on a dirt bike first & dress for the crash. An observation, guys doing wheelies on small bikes like a CRF50 at 20 - 30 mph have more skill than running through the gears on my (now gone) CR500 at 70. Their short wheelbase & jerky clutch/tranny are too much for me.