Here are your four basic wheelie groups:

The teenybopper:

After class is over at high school, rev the piss out of your poor bike, and dump the clutch in the parking lot.

The upside: You could actually get the front up this way with a moped.
The downside: Damn tough on the drive of the bike. I give it 7000 miles before you replace the gear set.

The power wheelie:

Find a nice rise in the pavement (often in an intersection) and hit it in the early portion of your powerband.

The upside: Easy on the bike.
The downside: You can't always find a good bump in the road.

The next two can be practiced early on by standing up. Not only does this look great, but it makes it easier.

The throttle bop:

Just as you come on to your midrange torque (3-5k rpm), close the throttle so that there is a weight transfer to the front, and then whack it back open (a very quick operation).

The upside: Big controllable wheelies.
The downside: Difficult to manage or maintain without the power. Tough on the drivetrain.

The rolling clutcher:

This is probably the most difficult to master, but pays off well with huge controllable wheelies. (I stole the description from Performance Bike, it was the best I have found):
  1. Open the throttle for hard acceleration (slam it open)
  2. As the power starts to climb, dip the clutch: lightly pull it, maybe only about a 16th of an inch, and then pop it.
    This will loft the front wheel.
  3. Control the height of the wheelie by rolling the throttle on and off.
  4. Find the balance point (that's what they say, I am still balancing using power, and haven't had the sack yet to pull it full vertical.)
The upside: Much easier on the bike, sounds great, controllable.
The downside: Eats up clutches.
*An alternative to the method above is to rev the bike to 4-5k, then tap the clutch and twist the throttle at the same time. If your rear tire spins, your revs are too high. If the bike "bogs", bring the revs up... Enjoy.

Step by step instructions for a VTR:

  1. Go into first and sit normally.
  2. Ease speed up until revs at 3000.
  3. Give it 2/3 throttle.
  4. Remember to close throttle, or change gear, or apply rear brake, if all you see is sky.
  5. Keep doing this until you are known as "Mr Wheelie" by your mates.
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