Thanks for that. First video I’ve seen explaining the left/right bit. Thank you. I can do the odd longish wheelie but it’s more luck than skill. I have reoccurring wheelie dreams, probably about 4 or 5 times a month on average 😂 I’m really good in the dreams- I can stop at traffic lights just balancing on the back wheel until the light goes green and off I go. Feels really real. 😂 Gonna master it one of these days. Been practicing on and off for 40 years.
Can't believe you typed this, it's a verbatim copy of my story! Been trying to learn wheelies for the past 40 years (I'm 59 now), no problems with balancing up/down but it's the left/right balance that's my Achilles heel. And yes, I'm so happy Duncan finally covered this! Mind you I kind of discovered what he says, together with moving my bum left/right, but I guess I'll just have to accept I'm not as talented as many others. And I do dream I wheelie like a champ! Both Motorcycles and MTB's
I have dreams like that, too, Patrick. In my dreams I can manual at will down entire trails. In my dreams I have no fear of the float point. I just balance perfectly. I’m also better looking in these dreams and have a python in my riding shorts…which likely explains the superb balance. Sometimes I cry a little when I wake up.
I really like your videos Duncan and I’d like you to address the finesse involved in “modulated” braking for wheelies and other bicycle moves stoppies etc…many instructional videos talk about the importance of brake modulation but I don’t see any videos made specifically to help understand the theory behind brake modulation…thanks
Hey Walter, Good question. It is indeed very important but the real reason probably is that given the fine margins involved makes it quite hard to explain in a broken down manner but I will try. First off, I would always recommend you use only one finger on the brake lever (front and rear) and try and be as delicate as you can and really explore pulling to different extents (from very light pulls, to hard ones) and you will be amazed at how you will develop a bit of a sixth sense for it.
Just finished watching the 'Manual' video as well, and to my inexperienced/untrained eye, they both seem very similar. Which one of the 2 would you recommend learning first?
Nice tips! Question about bike size, I have a San Quentin 3 on the way and the only one I could get was a large. Being 6’2” I know that’s pushing it and an XL would be better but you know.. it’s 2021 and it’s slim pickings. Any tips for checking for fit when the bike shop gets it in?
I'm only struggling with the side to side movement, sometimes 50m sometimes only 5... :/ isn't more to the side balance than just the knees? turning the steering or turning the bike with the handle bar around the vertical axis, so that the back tire changes slightly its direction
Hey Tom, Good question. The side to side movement can be the hardest to deal with as the most subtle imbalances can make a big difference. Try just looking the opposite way that you are drifting and sometimes that can make all the difference.
Great video, but I still can't stop being afraid of falling backwards and when I feel that it is going to happen they put me tense and the bike gets out of control falling abruptly sideways along with me, and when I can do a wheelie I have to pedal very fast to hold it alone 1m aprox before he goes sideways and falls ... It is very frustrating, I have been practicing 4 hours at week for 7 months and I do not see any progress, I saw tons of videos of how to do a wheelie and I don't know which level of transmission is better to make it smooth or heavy, my transmission is a 12 gears with a single plate and my attempts are made with the sixth gear selected, any suggestion or tip to help me progress I would greatly appreciate it
Stick with it. These videos are great, but in reality, it sometimes takes a long time to get the wheelie right. For me, it took two or three seasons of consistent practice, and I'm still not perfect at it. Having your bike in a lower gear makes it easier to get the front wheel up, but it makes it hard to maintain the wheelie, as you soon have to pedal too fast to keep the front wheel up. Try doing practicing it in a harder gear. I had to exaggerate putting my knees out at first to keep my wheelie straight. I found that if I got my wheel up too high, my bike would go off to the side, and the wheelie was hard to hold. A little lower and I could hold it longer, although I felt like I had to pedal faster to keep the wheel up. Eventually I learned the balance between speed and how high to keep the wheel up. I struggled and struggled, and then one day I had a bit of a breakthrough, and felt I had it pretty good. The next day, I was back to struggling :( but I stuck with it, and now I can wheelie very consistently. Now manuals, that's a different story :( Good luck on your wheelie journey, and if you get too stuck or frustrated, maybe try some coaching from Ryan Leech.
It's taking me a long time as well but now that I am dedicated to practicing about 20 minutes six days a week I am making progress and it feels so good when you have a good day in between some of the not so good days.
Practise going off the back and landing on your feet. When you can do this reliably, you will not be scared and can ride on the balance point more relaxed.
