Lifting the front wheel can be fun, but you will always need to make sure that you do it safely. Most motorcycle experts recommend that you start by learning the more basic form of front wheel lifting, the power of front wheel lifting, to proceed. The power of lifting the front wheels doesn't require you to use the clutch or change gears, so you'll focus on learning how to ride your vehicle comfortably on the rear wheels. Remember that this takes a lot of practice and preparation to ride some of the rides.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Practice on a Bike
Step 1. Put on your protective gear
You won't need the same level of protection when training on a bicycle, but it's better to train safely. Make sure you wear headgear, to a minimum, and knee and elbow pads if you want to be extra careful. While starting to lift the front wheel on a bicycle may seem harmless, you can still do some bad riding and hurt yourself.
Step 2. Practice while riding uphill
Start with light teeth. Second or third gear is probably the best option, so you won't be over-pedaling too much. The hills shouldn't be too steep, but learning on good hills, gradual slopes can help you keep your balance and keep your front wheel in the air. As you learn to lift the front wheel, your pedals may become cramped, as you fall off the bike. Pedaling against the uphill will counter the forces. That way, when you train on flat ground, you will maintain a straight path of movement.
It's not necessary, but it's easier to practice on a mountain bike, which is better than a BMX bike. The rear wheels are more stable, and the front of the bike will lift more easily. the large wheelbase will also make you feel stronger
Step 3. Maintain comfortable speed on level ground
This speed will change on a thing-by-thing basis, but you can aim for somewhere Between 5-10 MPH. Moving too fast can cause you to lose control when you are only on one wheel. If you walk too slowly, however, you may not have the correct momentum to lift the front into the air.
Step 4. Pull your front wheel into the air
This will require some brute force from your upper body, as well as some vigorous strokes. Curl up your front handlebar to prepare for the lift, and don't forget to look ahead. Once you can lift the handlebars in the air, lean back and continue pedaling. You may lose your balance or be unable to lift up for longer, but as a result, you will feel your body sinking into the front wheel lift for a longer period of time.
Step 5. Maintain your movement as you lift the front wheel
Once you have the front wheel lifted in the air for some time successfully, you will want to start riding with the front wheel raised for a longer time. While you are in the air, soften your grip and extend your arms. You'll also want to use your rear brake to adjust your lift as you lift the front wheel up. Some people keep the rear brakes in place for the duration of lifting the front wheels, while others just tighten the grip when they feel the front wheels lift too high into the air. The harder you press on the brakes, the harder you have to pedal to keep your front wheel in the air.
Method 2 of 3: Keeping Yourself Safe
Step 1. Wear protective clothing
You don't want to get on a motorbike without the right gear. This includes thick motorcycle headgear, leather gloves, jeans or leather pants, and a sturdy leather jacket. You also want some sturdy boots, preferably leather, with some of the right gear. When you're first starting out, it's also not a bad idea to wear elbow pads, ankle or knee guards, as you'll be going downhill a lot.
Step 2. Find a remote road or highway
Remember that learning this will take you some time, and you may end up picking up some bad rides. You don't want to endanger every pedestrian around you or crash your motorcycle into every car, whether walking or parked. your constant effort will also result in a loud noise, so you don't want to disturb those around you.
It's an illegal technique to lift the front wheel up on a motorcycle on the street, so finding a secluded place to practice will also help you avoid trouble from law enforcement
Step 3. Learn on a motorcycle with enough power
If you're trying to learn the power of lifting the front wheels on a sports motorcycle, you'll probably want a 500cc motorcycle, at a minimum. You'll be lifting the front wheels solely with your acceleration, so you want to make sure that your motorcycle has the power to do that.
You can also learn the power of lifting the front wheel on a dirt bike. If you have access to one or want something a little more convenient, this can be a great idea. 100 or 150 cc motorcycles must have enough power to practice this acrobatics
Step 4. Make sure your rear tire is free from any damage
You will spend a lot of time on these rear tires when you are practicing lifting the front wheels up, so make sure that your tires are in good condition. You don't want any wobble in the end. It's also ideal for running your tire pressure slightly lower than normal, as it will make lifting the front wheel more stable.
Step 5. Eliminate the reverse sensor-more if your motorcycle has one
This sensor can cause your motorcycle to turn off if you tip over too far back. You'll be flipping backwards, and since you're just learning, it's probably on the far end of being completely comfortable. Make sure your motorcycle is not giving you a mid-lift on the front wheel by removing this sensor.
Your rear exhaust may hit the ground, depending on where it's located on your motorcycle, so make sure that it doesn't hit the ground while you're on one wheel. Otherwise, you may hit the road and fall off the bike
Method 3 of 3: Learning the Power of Lifting the Front Wheel
Step 1. Position yourself in first gear
You can practice in any gear you want, but generally the first gear is easiest for beginners. If you've ever graduated to learn how to lift a front wheel with a clutch, you'll need to know how to shift gears when lifting a front wheel. Since the lifting power of the front wheel is just about using your acceleration to pull the front of the motorcycle up, you don't have to worry about changing.
Your rear brake, like the handbrake on a bicycle, will help if you start overturning too far back. While riders often don't use the rear brake on a regular basis, it is very helpful in your first steps in learning to lift the front wheel. If you find yourself moving dangerously far back, you can put some force on the rear brake, stopping your rear wheel. This will quickly bring your front wheel down. Be careful when it goes down, however, as you will get some pressure towards you impacting it upwards
Step 2. Get your motorbike at a good speed
It's recommended that you start learning to lift the front wheel at a speed somewhere between 10-20 KPH. If you move too fast, you may lose control, causing you to pull on the gas in an unsafe manner. When you train too slowly, however, you won't be able to lift the front wheel with enough force to force it.
Step 3. Release the gas while maintaining your speed
You don't want to let go too much, but it's useful to lower your speed just before you accelerate to lift your front wheel. This will give you more of a kick when you hit the gas, and this extra power will bring your front wheel up, lifting more smoothly.
Step 4. Pull the gas to accelerate and bring the front wheel up
Once you've lowered your speed a little, hit with a hard pull. When you do this, you are lifting the front of your motorcycle up, just like you would lift the front wheel on a bicycle. First, this height will feel a little high, almost like a rabbit jumping. As you become more comfortable lift the fronts up, however, and they will gradually get longer.
When you lift your motorcycle off the ground and come back down too suddenly, your front wheels will have a wobbling effect. If you don't land straight, you will flip over the top of the front of the motorcycle, otherwise known as the high side. This may happen when you first start, so make sure that you lift the front wheel as straight down as possible to avoid it
Step 5. Maintain your balance while lifting the front wheel
When looking for your point of balance, lean on the back of the motorcycle, making sure that the center of gravity of your system (you and your motorcycle) sits at the center. This will help you ride by lifting the front wheel for a longer period of time. Any reverse forward or backward will mess with the center of your system, causing you to flip over.
When starting out, beginners may try to hug the tank with their knees, helping them hold on as the front wheel of the motorcycle lifts. This will actually prevent you from moving backwards against the chair. If you get caught while hugging the tank while your bike is going backwards, then the gravity of the system will be out of balance
Step 6. Lower your pull when you settle on a comfortable balance
When you find yourself easy to balance on lifting your front wheel, you can lower the pull, just a little bit, so you don't lose control while holding it in motion. Lowering it too much, however, will cause your motorcycle to lose all momentum.
Step 7. Take a step on the rear brake to bring yourself down
When you want to finish lifting your front wheel, you will use the rear brake to bring the front of the motorcycle back on the road. If you press this too hard, however, the front may fall down too quickly, and you may shake or fall. To fix this, you can increase the gas as the front descends, balancing your movement.
Tips
- Standing-on lifting the front wheel, with both feet behind the hook or just the left foot on the back of the hook can make it easier to balance lifting the front wheel.
- Once you have mastered the power of lifting your front wheel, you will be able to smoothly transition to learning to lift the front wheel with the clutch.
Warning
- Always wear protective equipment.
- You can get into trouble with the police if you are caught doing front wheel lifts on a public road, and you could even lose your license. Make sure that you always practice lifting the front wheel in remote areas.
- Don't think you can learn to ride a front wheel lift in a day. You may have to practice every day for a few weeks, at least, to get comfortable. The professionals you see in the video have been doing it for years.
