Wheelies and, erm.... frame health

[Paulaner]

So I've noticed a little 'looseness' up front recently (past few weeks), mainly while railing through the curvy mountain roads. I thought it was my POS leaky front shock, so I've laid off on the wheelstands as of late. Then one day I noticed the whole fairing/instrument cluster oscillating as I was leaned over on the local roads!

A little disassembly was VERY revealing:

[Paulaner]

So I was facing a major double-displacement:

bad frame out-of-place, and bad ME out-of-hammock-on-a-holiday.

Badbadbad

[Paulaner]

So on Tuesday I stopped into my local specialist welder- a guy whose name was passed on to me through another biker buddy. The welder shop is in an unmarked old warehouse, no signage anywhere, no hours posted, no phone # to call and see if anybody is in. Last time I went by 4 times before I got someone!

Well, he was in when I showed up, fixed it in 15 minutes while I waited (including adding some extra welds to stiffen up other suspect areas)- and the whole shebangabang only cost me $20.00! This guy's a stud!

I told him I'll break something else just as soon as I can just to come back and watch him do his magic.

[Paulaner]

I kindof like the streetfighter look!

[Paulaner]

I noticed some rubbing on the A-arm, any ideas? Snorkel?

[wswartzwel]

you need to stop chopping the throttle and get softer landings.

[Paulaner]

A wise man has spoken:

Originally Posted by wswartzwel

you need to stop chopping the throttle and get softer landings.

Yes, thank you for reminding me to expound....

I'm SURE that the frame is broken due to wheelies- and the associated learning curve.

At first I would get the wheel up and get excited and *chop* the throttle, slamming the front end pretty hard. I soon realized that this could not be a good thing for the front end, so I began to actually try to wheelie with some technique: slip the clutch in 1st to get it partway up, then hit the fat part of the powerband to gently lift the front all the way..... as soon as the power starts to taper, clutchless shift into 2nd and run out the throttle until the nose gently comes back down. I've gotten it into 3rd a couple times!

OK, I need a Gixxer until I grow up enough to ride the BMW.


p.s. when I switched back to stock exhaust the bike would not lift the front wheel at all without being revved/clutched to death. My pipes DEFINITELY make a big difference!

[SergioK]

This is all Greek to me as I was born sans wheelie-gene.

[shreddr]

Originally Posted by wswartzwel

you need to stop chopping the throttle and get softer landings.

you beat me too it, and because the R11S doesn't really have the stones to carry the wheel all wheelies are pop and slam. The lack of power on the R11S was what lead me to purchase the R12S in the first place.

[Drews323i]

Damn kids and wheelies... Serves ya right... Loud obnoxious hooligan...Hehehe.

[wswartzwel]

Originally Posted by shreddr

you beat me too it, and because the R11S doesn't really have the stones to carry the wheel all wheelies are pop and slam. The lack of power on the R11S was what lead me to purchase the R12S in the first place.

??? that has not been my experience on the ones that I have ridden.... slowly accelerate to 1800 rpm snap the throttle open and they loft right up. My prep with the minimal mods it has will flip over if I don't roll back off the throttle.

[shreddr]

Originally Posted by wswartzwel

??? that has not been my experience on the ones that I have ridden.... slowly accelerate to 1800 rpm snap the throttle open and they loft right up. My prep with the minimal mods it has will flip over if I don't roll back off the throttle.

maybe my BCR was a dog, or you got a ringer on your prep. it always felt like there was too much weight forward. the HP2S on the other hand will pull the front wheel up with the throttle as a rheostat

[wswartzwel]

I have no doubt that a HP2S will outwheelie an R1100S

[JonyRR]

wheelieing an R110S is like bare-knuckle brawling with lauren becall..you can do it, but your prized beauty will be much uglier on the other side.
get a bike that will do this willingly, and learn to wheelie correctly...at the balance point, with the rear brake covered...then, start your learning curve.
keep it up with the 11 and I guarantee you you'll be replacing more, and more expensive parts...word.

[JonyRR]

and yes, I AM still riding, the only thing I can hold up right now, a roketa 150 scooter.
I just got done breathing on the engine, just tuned it to my witch's brew fuel..it smells so nice

funny to have a world-class-trick HD streettracker in the garage when I can't lift it off the race stand.

[markjenn]

I hate that front headlight/cluster frame.

It's a total PITA to remove/replace what with the way the fuseboxes and electrics are intertwined with it and it bends like putty in any kind of wreck. I managed to straighten mine after a minor shunt, but it never has been exactly right since and because so many things attach to it, the bodywork doesn't quite line up correctly despite repeated re-aligns. It's ridiculously expensive to replace and even new ones are so soft, they likely are tweaked form sitting around and shipping.

The R1100S is not a bike that likes being thrown down the road.

- Mark

[Sideshow_S]

Agreed, mark. A poor option in design. I wish someone had the ambition to make a jig for us to pass around or for someone to hold and perform straightening services. I have 3 cages sitting in my garages of various tweakings in the ranges I have called "deer", "turkey", and "seller didn't know it was messed up."

As for Bill's wheelie-ability, I'm jealous. The 1800 rpm bounce trick only works when I'm crossing over a road that has a crown in it. Once up, there is the power to hold it up, but the abruptness lofting always freaks me out. After trashing a front fender from a too-surprised slam, I've gone the route Jony warns of. DRZ's are great machines that crash a lot better.

[R111S]

I gave up wheelies on my previous BMW after it broke the Transmission the 3rd time - they're just not right...and ABS is better than LHD (Laying Her Down).

[Stampertje_35]

This is how I learned to wheely ...

R1100S Wheelie (tje) - YouTube

Little hups ... and later more ...



No broken frame(s), cardan/transmission was okee ... also after 8 years !!!

[Paulaner]

Originally Posted by Stampertje_35

This is how I learned to wheely ...
No broken frame(s), cardan/transmission was okee ... also after 8 years !!!

Nice and smooth, soft touchdown too.... nice vids, I like how you chamfer the valvecovers!