Wheelie, Emergency Braking, Launch practice

**toxictv** · 08-03-2009, 10:18 PM

Found an absolutely dead stretch of road (about 1/4 mile) behind an industrial park on the edge of town and proceeded to try for my first wheelie, as well as trying to figure out how to do a quick launch from a stop, and work on my emergency braking.

After four or so attempts, I just cruised up to about 4k rpm in first, then cracked the throttle and it came right up. No luck with clutching yet..the front end jumping so damn quick scares the shit out of me!

Once I'd had enough with the n00b wheelies I practiced some emergency braking, to get used to coming to a rapid stop from 35 to 55 mph. Helped me get a feel for the rear tire's shenanigans, and just how much it takes to stand the bike up on its nose..I had to pull the front brake pretty hard to get it to even act like the ass end would rise up. I'm also forcing myself to get into the habit of downshifting rapidly while under hard braking, so that if I have to shit and get after avoiding the 'obstacle' the gearing will be right. Found that dumping the clutch toward the end of the braking skid helped a lot, if it was in first, due to the engine braking.

Intermittently I tried to practice taking off quickly from a stop. I failed at this. Maybe I'm too much of a wuss, but I was afraid of the front end touching my back end. I revved up to 2k, dumped the clutch and throttle at the same time..clank. Dead. 3k..same thing. 4k..died, but the front end lurched forward/up pretty good. I would greatly appreciate any tips for taking off a little faster. I'm getting tired of baby-rolling from a stop...I'd like to be able to get up and go when I need to (e.g. looks like the car behind me isn't going to stop, drug deal goes bad, etc..)

All in all, great practice session, learned a lot =) Any feedback/input is welcome!

**toxictv** · 08-03-2009, 10:20 PM

I really wish there were a few people around central Arkansas that I could learn from, but alas, this region seems to be R6Central dead =(

**Hellraiser** · 08-04-2009, 12:07 AM

Never dump the clutch when taking off from a stop, your bike doesn't have enough torque none do unless you are rediculously high in the RPM range, let the clutch out until it catches and only leave it there for a second till you can get moving then really get on it

**CephasGT** · 08-04-2009, 02:03 AM

^ Plus Juan. You can't dump the clutch on a bike the way you could in a car, because there isn't enough rotating mass in the engine to keep it going. Practice slipping the clutch while keeping the RPMs steady at a given RPM, say, 4-5000 for your starts. Once you've got that, you'll just slip the clutch further into the friction zone in order to launch harder.

**danj1111** · 08-04-2009, 10:55 AM

Originally Posted by toxictv

Found an absolutely dead stretch of road (about 1/4 mile) behind an industrial park on the edge of town and proceeded to try for my first wheelie, as well as trying to figure out how to do a quick launch from a stop, and work on my emergency braking.

After four or so attempts, I just cruised up to about 4k rpm in first, then cracked the throttle and it came right up. No luck with clutching yet..the front end jumping so damn quick scares the shit out of me!

Once I'd had enough with the n00b wheelies I practiced some emergency braking, to get used to coming to a rapid stop from 35 to 55 mph. Helped me get a feel for the rear tire's shenanigans, and just how much it takes to stand the bike up on its nose..I had to pull the front brake pretty hard to get it to even act like the ass end would rise up. I'm also forcing myself to get into the habit of downshifting rapidly while under hard braking, so that if I have to shit and get after avoiding the 'obstacle' the gearing will be right. Found that dumping the clutch toward the end of the braking skid helped a lot, if it was in first, due to the engine braking.

Intermittently I tried to practice taking off quickly from a stop. I failed at this. Maybe I'm too much of a wuss, but I was afraid of the front end touching my back end. I revved up to 2k, dumped the clutch and throttle at the same time..clank. Dead. 3k..same thing. 4k..died, but the front end lurched forward/up pretty good. I would greatly appreciate any tips for taking off a little faster. I'm getting tired of baby-rolling from a stop...I'd like to be able to get up and go when I need to (e.g. looks like the car behind me isn't going to stop, drug deal goes bad, etc..)

All in all, great practice session, learned a lot =) Any feedback/input is welcome!

What bike, what year. Looks like a 2nd gen R6 but I can't quite tell from the small avatar. Reason I ask is because I'm jealous. I can't get my 03 R6 to pop up at 4k in 1st without cutting throttle first to get the nose to dive.

This reminds me of my start... always going out practicing the basics... take off, heavy braking, quick swerves, release brake - swerve- brake again, etc..
I need to go out and do that some more... just to refresh my memory. 103 degree temps has pretty much grounded me for now though.

@ "drug deal goes bad, etc."

**toxictv** · 08-04-2009, 11:21 AM

Thanks, I'll try the slip thing this evening and let y'all know how it goes.

It's an 05..I think it has a dynojet jet kit in it. At least, there's a dynojet sticker on the side of it...so I figure that's good for at least 10 hp!

Anyone have more tips for launches? Maybe other things I should practice? Chime in and let me know! Thanks

**Nas19320** · 08-04-2009, 11:36 AM

Jet kits are for carbs, but Dynojet does make the powercommander which is for your EFI bike.

**CephasGT** · 08-04-2009, 12:23 PM

I think max braking practice is possibly the most important technique to learn for the street, so master that. Outside of that, practice weaving/swerving and other evasive maneuvers.

**misti** · 08-10-2009, 09:38 PM

Originally Posted by CephasGT

I think max braking practice is possibly the most important technique to learn for the street, so master that. Outside of that, practice weaving/swerving and other evasive maneuvers.

I agree that emergency braking is really important and it is good that you are taking the initiative to practice it. A lot of riders never practice braking and then don't have any idea how their bikes are going to react when they do have to grab a fistfull. One thing that worries me is that you were talking about how much the bike is skidding and how you are using the rear brake a lot. On most sportbikes you can achieve max braking with just the front brake and a lot of riders have better stopping distances when they use only the front. Also, the goal in emergency braking should be to stop the bike as fast as possible by getting it just to the point of locking up but not actually skidding any of the tires....

Misti

**RJG79** · 08-14-2009, 10:07 AM

Originally Posted by misti

I agree that emergency braking is really important and it is good that you are taking the initiative to practice it. A lot of riders never practice braking and then don't have any idea how their bikes are going to react when they do have to grab a fistfull. One thing that worries me is that you were talking about how much the bike is skidding and how you are using the rear brake a lot. On most sportbikes you can achieve max braking with just the front brake and a lot of riders have better stopping distances when they use only the front. Also, the goal in emergency braking should be to stop the bike as fast as possible by getting it just to the point of locking up but not actually skidding any of the tires....

Misti

To go along with this, make sure you are not leaning on the bars when doing this.. Keep a good grip on the tank with your legs, this will transfer your body weight through the frame into the suspension rather than from your arms to the bars to the suspension..