Wheelie Good

[HTB]

Spent the afternoon putting the first 47 cold miles on the bike through Dorking and up past Newlands corner. Nodded at a couple of GSs but laughed my visor shut at whoever it was on a GS heading out of Dorking towards Box Hill who wheelied it off the lights as they passed me.

Clearly it's a very naughty thing to do, but it looked bloody great, which I guess is the point . It also demonstrates great throttle control....

 

[G.C.]

Good innit. I was off-roading in the Dales last weekend, got to the top of a tricky section and Forry lifted the front wheel on his 1150, he didn’t do it to show off or impress anyone, he was just having fun.
Cheers
G C

 

[Deleted account 210609001]

HTB, early days yet, but how did you find it? Live up to expectations?

Even I can do little wheelies on my 1200GS - handful of throttle in first. Did it in stages:

1. Too scared to open throttle far enough
2. Open it then panic, shut it, crash down
3. Open it, back off a touch and feel I'm just beginning to hold it there for longer.

(To put this in context, sometimes I think my front wheel is as much a 6 inches from the road. How sad am I, eh?)

If ever I get to stage 4, there'll be no stopping me.

More fun is giving it a handful in second over the camber changes exiting some roundabouts.

Inthe summer, there are some riders on R1's, Blades etc who pull very long, very fast wheelies outside Kent Motorcycles on a Wednesday night. As it's the A2 and generally has some other traffic going to and from Dover, I'm not entirely sure it's the best place to do it, but despite myself I still find it impressive.

 

[STUBBS]

HTB, early days yet, but how did you find it? Live up to expectations?

Even I can do little wheelies on my 1200GS - handful of throttle in first. Did it in stages:

(To put this in context, sometimes I think my front wheel is as much a 6 inches from the road. How sad am I, eh?)

6 inches thats what you tell all the ladies

 

[HTB]

well, it was flippin' cold and although I've explored some of the rev range, haven't quite got to the wheelie stage yet

Ooohh... it's so different from the 999 (no really, it is!), and the thing that stands out for me is the steering geometry which will take a bit of getting used to. The 99 dropped into corners, but the GS feels like it wants to go straight on . I've been riding dukes for so long that I just need to adjust my attitude slightly and I know I'll be having a great laugh

Was a struck by the induction roar (well, airbox growl) on the GS. Was impressed by the un-fussed acceleration - before you know it you've been past the national limit (on a private road, obviously), even though you don't really realise you're there as it's so much more relaxed. Screen is appalling, so I've got some Tobinators on the way.

I actually went on a Wheelie School last year with a few mates - rode the school's 1200 Bandits for the day down an old airstrip. Excellent fun - I can feel that the GS should be a great wheelie tool, should the need arise, but I don't fancy lobbing it down the road!