First wheelie...

[milhouse]

****! I went down on my way to work this morning. It happened as I was filtering through traffic at a red light. I got to the front of traffic just as the light turned green, I start to go and realize I'm in 2nd so I downshift and gave it throttle.

Apparently too much throttle, because before I knew it I was looking at the unfamiliar sight of my front end in the air with a backdrop of sky. At this point, I must say that I freaked out. I've only been riding for a month and a half, and I have no idea how to handle a bike that is mid-wheelie... so, I kind of leaned forward (not sure, it all happened very quickly), the front came down but by then I was in full shitting-pants-mode and was holding onto the throttle for dear life. At some point I put my feet down, lost control and took a tumble.

The damage to the bike isn't too bad, a broken turn signal and some scrapes. My jacket shoulder took the brunt of the damage. I only had jeans on and have a quarter sized scrape on my knee. Overall, I feel I was lucky. I was able to dust off and rode the rest of the way to work. I think my confidence and ego took the most damage. Will have to give the bike a closer inspection tonight.

Not that I plan on ever doing another wheelie, but what is the proper/best way to bring it down? I'm thinking if I just eased off the throttle and kept my feet on the bike I may have been able to recover, but I was panicking.

Anyway, I just wanted to vent.

[Joshorilla]

Let off the throttle

[cuong-nutz]

Just ease of the throttle and keep your feet planted the pegs. Could cover the rear brake as well.

[Motofool]

Sorry to read that.

Happy for you being unhurt.

Feel envy because some of us spend our lives unsuccessfully trying to wheelie our Ninjettes.

[Jono]

Let off throttle and use rear brake.

[csmith12]

Originally Posted by Jono

Let off throttle and use rear brake.

this ^^ it puts it down hard but better than looping it.

[csmith12]

Wait.... power wheelie on a 250? You must have dumped the clutch also.

[milhouse]

Thanks guys.

I definitely should have just stayed in 2nd and puttered along instead of feeling the need to downshift and get out ahead of the cars. Also, more attention should have been paid to being in 1st as I came to a stop.

Felt pretty sheepish riding the rest of the way to work..

[csmith12]

We are terrible... Glad gear did it's job and cool your good to ride again soon! Now your bike has character!

[csmith12]

Seems you black W fell off too. hahahahhahaha

[alex.s]

Originally Posted by Joshorilla

Let off the throttle

no. stay hard on the gas and use the rear brake to bring the front down.

[milhouse]

Originally Posted by csmith12

Seems you black W fell off too. hahahahhahaha

haha... yeah, I just recently noticed that that isn't the way it comes.... apparently PO took an exacto to the W on the left side and the S on the right. I just thought it came like that stock. Maybe I should post a DIY in farkles section?

[Motofool]

Originally Posted by csmith12

Seems you black W fell off too. hahahahhahaha

Good catch !!!

Your forks should be twisted now (front end misalignment),........... as they should be after a fall...

If so:

http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/I_need_...nd_front_wheel

[Live2ride]

Originally Posted by alex.s

no. stay hard on the gas and use the rear brake to bring the front down.

what he said ^. And if you freeze up and can't remove your throttle hand, you always have a clutch to cut the power in the other or a rear brake to do the same....

[Aurodox]

I did something similar the second day I had my 300. A car and I were playing the "no you go" game at a stop sign, so I finally decided to go. Not being familiar with how far the clutch travels, I had the engine spinning faster than necessary and let the clutch out a little too fast which caused me to wheelie. When I did this I didn't fret, just kept in control and kept my cool. The wheelie itself only lasted for a second so it probably didnt look bad ass so no cool points, but keeping your cool helps you in situations where the bike is doing something you weren't necessarily prepared for. Always stay in control, even if you accidentally tell the bike to do something you weren't wanting to do.

Glad you weren't physically injured to badly, and I hope your pride starts to heal up too.

[Joshorilla]

My worry with him using the rear brake is if he panics while doing an accidental wheelie, applying the rear brake may result in locking the rear wheel and coming off worse than letting off the throttle, both will get you down, but rear brake in a panic situation has the greater chance of messing you up.

But under normal circumstances, I would agree the rear brake is the correct method.

[JohnnyBravo]

Vroooom vroom skeeeeeeeeert

[csmith12]

Originally Posted by Joshorilla

My worry with him using the rear brake is if he panics while doing an accidental wheelie, applying the rear brake may result in locking the rear wheel and coming off worse than letting off the throttle, both will get you down, but rear brake in a panic situation has the greater chance of messing you up.

But under normal circumstances, I would agree the rear brake is the correct method.

Locking the rear while 100% of the bike + rider weight is on it is going to be more unlikely. Nearly 100% of the time, the front will slam the ground before the back locks up. This is why Alex said to stay in the throttle, that will also help prevent lock ups. Easier said than than done though. OP is a new rider so doing anything that keeps the bike off his chest is a plus.

[ChaoSS]

How the hell do you accidentally wheelie a 250?


Anyway, maybe you should hold off on the lane splitting until you are a more competent rider. Lane splitting is a good technique, and it is safe... for competent riders. Putting yourself in that position, being that close to other cars, makes it so that mistakes can have much worse consequences, much more quickly. Get used to riding, then learn to split lanes correctly.

[subxero]

In order,

1) dont panic, keep your feet on the pegs and don't even think about trying to jump off and wrangle the bike down.... it won't work. Stay on the bike
2) With any luck you did #1 meaning you should still be able to control the throttle because you are not hanging from the handle bars and throttle because you took your feel off the pegs like an idiot. Just ease the throttle off should be enough to bring the front back down.
3) If you don't have control of the throttle pull in the clutch and try to let it down that way
4) If that doesn't work try and find the rear brake which is your last resort as a new rider. In an "oh sh*t" moment like that the odds of you being able to find the rear brake and even think about using it are not very good, especially when you are fighting your fear response to put your feet down just like you did.. I have never had to let a wheelie down with the rear break. Throttle control and body position is generally enough.

[Joshorilla]

What the above said!

Pretty much what I said but a lot more words.

[choneofakind]

You wheelie'd a 250 accidentally? Work on the clutch control. These bikes aren't exactly prone to power wheelies. The only way they'll lift the front is by dumping clutch on a high revving engine.

If you do have the front lift, there's a few things you can do.
1) pull the clutch in.
2) tap the rear brake. A little rear brake slams the front down hard.

[Aman13]

Originally Posted by Motofool

Feel envy because some of us spend our lives unsuccessfully trying to wheelie our Ninjettes.

So true