'02 VFR 800 - Front wheel came off the ground for the first time today!

Was I a split second from losing it? How does anybody get used to the front end rising?

Still a relatively inexperienced rider so I was quite surprised at how fast it happened and how quickly I got off the throttle when I was looking skyward.

I had a thought rush through my head that the front end might get light right before it happened, but the combination of things (1st gear, rolled into the throttle, coming up a slight incline that leveled off where a side street dumped out to the road I was on, VTEC kicked in) made it worse than I expected.

I think my bike is making more power than it's been making since I bought it 4 months ago. The plugs had been fouling due to a stuck open thermostat, but I didn't realize it. I think my bike was down on power and I never knew it.

Anyway, glad it came down stable and I was a few hundred feet from my house so I could get off and collect my thoughts! Holy shite!

 

Mine comes up a few times a day! I just dont give it any thought and ride on.

It sort of like getting in a rut or large seem on the freeway, If you fight it, your fucced.

If you let the bike do it's thing, it will pass without a hitch.

 

Ya gotta chip away at that stone.

LOL! Thanks for sharing JB that brings back good memories.

After I finally got through the factory recommended break-in period on my brand spankin' new '03 VFR800 I took it out one afternoon for a proper break-in ride. While exiting a sweeping high speed right-hander with the RPM's way up in second gear,I clutched snicked it into third grabbed a big handful of throttle dumped the clutch gave her a good tug on the bars and did a crossed-up wheelie on the exit.
YEE-HAW!!! Talk about BIG FUN!!! :biggrin:

I don't pull those crazy shenanigans anymore with my VFR though,I've got way too much money sunk into the bike.

It is exhilarating though isn't it JB?

 

Exhilarating? I'm still puckered up. I may not be right for days!

 

I've been there twice! first time I was 20 and test road a brand new Hurricane 1000, and a few months ago I took my 1100xx to within 400 rpm of redline in top gear.:crazy::crazy::crazy:

 

LOL! You're crackin' me up JB.

Okay I gotcha JB. I suppose if you weren't expecting it,it can be kinda scary.

The first time I wheelied was on a '87 Honda XL600R which I now own for the second time. It's a big 600cc thumper enduro bike.

At the time it belonged to my sister's exhubby's little brother. He let me take it out for a ride. I was stopped at a red light,it turned green and I stalled the bike. I kick started it quickly because there was a line of traffic behind me. I dropped the clutch and the front end shot skyward. Scared the crap outta me. I clutched,the front end came down,shifted it into second,dropped the clutch and the darned thing shot skyward again.
It still brings a smile to my face when I think about that. :biggrin:

 

Sounds like happening on your first wheelie is a common thing...maybe even a right of passage. Problem is I'm 38 and a puss, so I don't like happening on things like this.

Lesson learned, I figure.

 

Welcome to the club!

Well there's gotta be a first time for everything,right?

 

Howdy,
I think that you will find that as you get more used to the bike, it will only happen on purpose. VFR's are incredibly stable and forgiving bikes. It is easy to get all the power to the ground with out lifting the front wheel. Be gentle, ride easier,and you will go faster.

Mac

 

Sounds like my first wheelie experience with the VFR. Thought I was being smooth enough on the throttle, but the VTEC hit and up she came! I hadn't experienced that in almost 13 years; it was exhilarating and a little scary at the same time. The bike was incredibly stable and it didn't freak me out quite like you; more of a pleasant surprise that the bike's got all the juice I'll ever need. Good stuff!

 

My first wheelie scared th living crap out of me! HAHA here is the scenario...

I was new to riding in the early 90s and had purchased a used katana 600 as my first streetbike. I was very carefull for the first few weeks of ownership but was soon lulled into a false sence of security and enjoyed taking the exit ramps a bit hot.

One day I entered my favorite decreasing radius 35mph downhill ramp at about 50mph, everything was fine at that point so I picked it up to 60. As the exit tightened everything still felt good and I was near the end of the curve high on the tach so I decided to open it up. BAD IDEA!!! By doing this caused a slide across 2 lanes of traffic heading straight for a gaurd rail and bridge pillon. I was sure I was going to lowside and was hanging on to the bike and throttle out of fear for dear life. 10ft from the rail I gained traction and was almost highsided knocking my feet off the pegs and standing the bike in the highest wheelie I have ever done. At this point my legs are hanging behind teh bike and I cant let go of the bars or let off the throttle without falling off the bike. luckly I was already at the top of my gear and the front end came back down fairly gracefully under the circumstances.

I pulled over to the first availible parking lot completely shaken. got off the bike and stared at it for a good 15minutes before taking it bake home at a 20mph pace. It sat in my garage for more than a week before I had the brass to get back on it...

 

My first and only time was at a track day. I had no idea that my 17 year old 3rd gen would have had the power to ever pull the front tire up.