TeapotOne goes Back to School – WHEELIE SCHOOL!

I know it’s not big, I know it’s not clever, but God is it a lot of fun!! After watching people pop up the front of their bikes all over Europe, I was starting to feel a little left out and even a tad less of a proper biker. Here I was, owner of a gixxer 1000, probably one of the easiest bikes around to wheelie, and the only time I’d ever even come close was purely by accident (and I needed to change my undies after!)

I needed to know how to do this awesome wee trick in a bikers arsenal. I’d watched the vids on YouTube, I’d read blogs on it and listened to people tell me to, “just whack open the throttle and hold on!” I even had one of my best mates offer to show me how, but Jimbo also taught himself how to do 'stand-up' wheelies when he was bored commuting to work on the M25, so I thought I'd leave him to it!

After watching an episode of 'Bike World' (Sky channel 413 or Virgin 545) I was introduced to 'Learn2Wheelie' who are based at Dunsfold Park, the home of Top Gear. I'd made an enquiry with them before so when I got an email last Friday saying they had places left for the Saturday, I thought I'd go for it.

The weather God's were kind and Saturday was met with glorious sunshine from the off. Excitedly I headed through the South East of England, destination Dunsfold Park, the home of 'Top Gear'. After checking in with our instructors for the day – Nick and Tim, I had some time to meet the other lads who'd also be popping their wheelie cherries. We came from every background, every riding style, every age, but all wanted the one same thing. Wheelie glory!

'Learn2Wheelie' teach the clutch technique of wheelying, instead of just whacking open the throttle and powering the front up. They say this is a safer option and is kinder on the bike, as well as requiring slightly more finesse. You also start on their quads rather than jumping straight onto a bike. With the quads you can concentrate on the proper technique and not have to worry about flipping them over or falling to the side. I can tell you right now, it's a great way to learn and in no time we were all banging the front wheels up into the air.

The clutch technique is simple enough in theory. With the bike iddling along in 1st, twist the throttle to roughly half-revs, then a short time later you simply 'pop' the clutch, allowing the revs to rapidly build before engaging the engine and causing the front to suddenly rise up to the heavens. The skill comes in learning how long to leave it between twisting the throttle and 'popping' the clutch. You then need to learn how to maintain the front altitude and also how to lower it under control. All this requires a very deft feel and touch with the throttle in order to pull off the iconic wheelie we all want so dearly. That's where 'Learn2Wheelie' comes in as their instructors are second to none in recognising where you're going wrong and how to fix it.

Once happy with the quads we moved onto the Fazer 600's which have a quirky wee attachment fitted at the back. A couple of wires act like a 'Sissy bar' and reduce the power output of the engine if you go too far over during the wheelie. These required a slightly different technique to raise the front wheel, but it wasn't long before we were all hooning it down the runway, each of us beaming like fat kids at an open tuck shop!

After a wee break for some lunch, I decided it was time to chance it on the beast. I knew I'd try it on her so thought it best to at least try the first few in the relative safety of the closed circuit under proper instruction. Nick did a quick 'test' to see what changes I'd need to make to the technique and then he handed her over. I've got to admit, I was mighty nervous as I sat on the start line with everyone watching, waiting for me to flip it over!! This first one on the gixxer 1000 took me by surprise at how easy she was to wheelie. The power is simply stunning and I felt like the front was pointing straight to the sky, immediately shutting off the throttle and sending her back to the ground. With the cherry popped, it was back to run after run down the runway experimenting with the effect changing the throttle and delay in popping the clutch had on the bike.

So, £200 for a day of riding some bikes down a runway, is it worth it?

100% in my opinion. The instruction you get from Nick and the lads at 'Learn2Wheelie' is first class. They get the info across in a relaxed and informative manner, the kit is perfect for the job, and the setting is perfect. If you're the type of character who wants to wheelie their bike then surely it's far safer to learn on a closed road under expert tuition? Some folk say that it's dangerous and that you're not in control of your bike if your wheelie-ing down the road. I admit that there is definitiely a time and a place for it, but argue that the fact you can wheelie shows you have a deft of control with the throttle and clutch that many do not possess?

Irrespective of all that, if you don't smile when you first intentionally pop the front wheel up, I'd pop down your local A&E as you're more than likely lacking a pulse!

Get out there and ride peoples, live it, love it.

All the best for now, Bruce