Hey Guys, don't flame the stupidity of this question.
Six, been riding over 8 years, the one thing I've never done is wheelies, want to learn however want to do it smartly. Great write up on the how. Two other questions: good idea to keep seated to start trying this? Will do the fallings rpm method. Also do I always cover the rear brake? If so, down the road when I try standing, you can't do that, can you? Like to know head knowledge from someone who lives on one tire.
First of all...there is no such thing as a stupid question! Hurting yourself doing something you're unsure about when you could have ask a question is stupid.
Whether or not you sit or stand during a wheelie is personal preference, and whatever you feel most comfortable doing. Seated wheelies will eventually require you to lean your head out to one side to see as your wheelies get too high to see over the windsheild, if you stay seated.
Standups are done different ways and positions. You can stand up first then wheelie, or you can raise up into the bike as it lifts. Your body position is again preference and what you're comfortable with. You can pull in tight to the bike, or hang as far back off as you like. It will all depend on how and where you and the bike balance.
If you're trying the falling rpm's way, do enough low wheelies seated so you comfortably feel like you can ride a long one with the bottom of the tire about a foot off of the road. If you can do that, now do exactly the same thing, only raise up off the seat some. Raise up before, during, or after the wheel is up. This will give you a good idea of what standups feel like. Alot of people aren't comfortable with them for some time, and eventually grow to prefer them. A standup wheelie I personally feel is a little harder to loop, just because you can get your center of gravity a little further forward.
If you continue you build your wheelies higher, little by little, you'll be fine.
As far as covering the rear brake goes, again that's riding preference. Personally not something I do alot of. I just like to keep riding, and I can keep my bike balanced where it will stay at a consistant speed and rpm in the balance point.
Covering the rear brake is good if you want to ride slow wheelies, but it throws something else in the mix for you to learn, as that brake is now affecting how you balance...not just throttle and body positioning.
It's a great thing to know how to do, but get comfortable and find your balance first. You can also cover the rear brake while standing if your foot is in the right position for it. Keep in mind too that when you apply pressure to the rear brake, the front end is going to lower, and it's going down fast and hard if you let off of the throttle. Resulting in a hard uncomfortable landing, possibly losing control, bending a rim, shortening fork seal life(they're a cheap easy fix if you don't already know how, there's some good DIY write ups on here)and if you're going fast enough you could even end up in a tankslapper...never good, and seldom saved.
Some folks will tell you to stand on one or both of the rear pegs too, this again is another preference. It's not something I'de reccomend trying until you have learned a seated or front peg standup first. It is a totally different feel and balancing act, and a big difference. As you know the Busa has a good 150lbs or so on a liter bike, and all that weight will fall to the left or right much easier while trying to learn to stand on the passenger pegs.
Different things work for different people though, just stay in your comfort zone and take your time. If you get frustrated...go home! Try again later, if you're cool headed and persistant, it will come. Let me know if I can help you any, and good luck.
