Hey don't laugh at me cuz i am new to riding, but my 01' 400ex has no trouble getting the front off the ground but i have trouble keeping it there. I see people riding wheelies on lesser machines for days on end. What's the secret? Is there a balance point? Will the machine go all the way over???

Thanks

Phobos

 

The machine stand on the grab bar, at least mine does. now when im in high second or 3rd, traveling at a faster speed, the grab bar may dig in the ground and cause it to turn directions then planned!!. make sure the wheels (back) are both on smooth ground, well, as smooth as dirt could be. If you feel it wanting to go all the way back, you can tap on the rear brake to either set it down or just lower the front to where you like it. what i did when i first got used it was just let it go back on the bar, then you will know where the point of no return is. Only do this in first gear to keep speed down. highly recommend safety goodies while doing any kind of stunts and general goofoffs.

Steve

 

Also, if you desire to go straight, make sure the air pressure in the rear meats (tires) is equal.

 

The 400Ex is easy to ride a wheelie on. I sucked when I first got mine now I can go through four gears, was working on balancing through 5 gear and got my Raptor. Just practice alot and you will get better. Just do it on flat ground, not hills and 9 times out of ten if you stand it straight up the grab bar will catch you. So dont wory about flipping.

 

Yes, but sometimes if the grab bar hits hard enough, you get bucked off, and nearly break your tailbone. I hate when that happens

 

The ex will hit a wheelie any time you want it too. I love riding wheelie's in 4th and 5th on the sand bar and passing banshee's left and right!

 

The most simple way to learn the balance point is to start by riding a wheelie with your right foot it the back grab bar and your left foot on the peg, and stand up too. This has its advantages because if you pass the balance point it is very easy to just start running behind the bike and she will come back down in a sec (dont let go of the handle bars) this also lets you adjust your body in a wheelie to move weight forward or back, also makes it extreamly easy to come and stay up. later

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On my friends 400EX. I can ride wheelies all day. The best way to learn is to do what the other guys said. Put the right foot on the grab bar, stand up and learn the balance point. then work up from there. Start in first, learn to shift to second, so on, and so on. The 400 has enough torque to do wheelies all day. Just get to know your machine.

 

Hey buddy, don't feel bad. When I got my 400EX, I couldn't ride a wheelie for crap. I could get the front end up and go a little bit, but I couldn't actually "ride" a wheelie. Now, I can ride wheelies through 4th on mine. Fifth gets pretty difficult. Anyway, just take your time and practice a lot. Like the others said, try it on level ground at first. I usually pull the front end up in second, and go from there. There is a wonderful balance point on the 400EX. At first, it feels like you have to stand it straight up to get to the balance point, but you will get accustomed to it.
Don't worry about flipping. The grab bar will save you. I still fall off the back sometimes. That happens very easily when you stand it on the grab bar. You'll just dirty up the butt of your pants. Make sure that you have your right foot on the brake, and when it starts to fall back to the grab bar, tap the brake and let off of the gas. Just try it yourself and practice, and you'll figure out which is the best way is for you to ride a wheelie. Soon, it will be nothing for you to ride wheelies for several hundred feet.

 

Once you have the front end up in the air to the point in which you feel comfortable you can use the power of your machine and blip the throttle to keep the front end up or let off to lower the front end, this is at least the way i do it on my 300EX.