How To Wheelie Your eBike

The wheelie is an important skill to learn, it teaches you balance and improves your climbing considerably. Steve Jones and Rich Payne thought they would share a few pointers to help you get the front wheel in the air and keep it there. Wheelies are tricky, throw in a pedal-assist motor and they become near impossible. However, once you master them you're sure to become king of the car park.
⏱ Timestamps ⏱
0:36 - What Surface Should I Learn To Wheelie On?
0:57 - What Speed Should I Go For A Wheelie?
1:17 - What Is The Best Gear For Wheelies?
2:35 - What Is The Best Power Mode For eBike Wheelies?
3:07 - What Is The Best Saddle Height For Wheelies?
4:15 - How To Brake For Wheelies
5:24 - How To Pedal For A Wheelie
6:17 - The Process Of A Wheelie
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[@jcrewguy123]

This 62 y/o with 2 knee replacements is determined to wheelie his ebikes! Thanks!

[@embn]

Amazing! You'll smash it 👊

[@vashon100]

Hope you're doing well. After a certain time post surgery is mtb-ing like when you were with healthy knees years ago? I've heard lower physical level activity is well resumed, always wondered about mtb-ing (knee-wise). Thanks.

[@jcrewguy123]

@@vashon100 Thanks for the well-wishes. While I'm sure each case may be different, I've found that while the replacements aren't like original equipment, they have allowed me to do pretty much everything I did before. The originals had begun to cause me pain and swelling when doing significant physical activity (hiking, biking, working out) a few years prior to the partial replacement surgery. We tried physical therapy, cortizone injections, gel injections and when none of those resolved, we did the replacements. I'll admit, I perhaps don't have the strength I once did, but don't know if that is due to the replacements or aging an additional 5 or so years. I do "feel" the joint more - not pain, but rather they just feel different and it isn't that comfortable to be on my knees on a hard surface (they basically cut the nerves in the front of your knee cap, which causes them to be more sensitive to pressure) but that's really the only down side. Before the surgery, I really couldn't do a hard ride or hike without pain and swelling, which is no longer the case. My EMTB's and replacements have extended my riding...hopefully for many years to come! Cheers. Scott

[@vashon100]

@@jcrewguy123 Thanks for the reply. I didn't realize that about the nerves. I'm glad it's allowed you back on the bike.

[@CarkeekW]

5th or 6th gear ⚙️ , lower your rear tyre pressure a couple psi to begin with as it makes the balance point more forgiving. If your forks are not set for a poppy rebound and are more planted then alter the rebound a click toward poppy. Push down on the front end and as it recoils put down the power . Dont be afraid to go over the rearward balance point , practice going too far and saving yourself with the rear brake to bring it back. Both arms straight at the lift point , nose exactly over the stem when you crouch and pop to keep the pop in line with the bike so you dont go off to one side when you spring up . Emtb mode on bosch or 80 percent power is good . To slow the wheelie down go too far back over the balance point and that allows you to brake more. ALWAYS TEST YOUR REAR BRAKE BEFORE YOU WHEELIE, if you just changed wheels the lever will need a few cycles to work , if you wheelie off you will end up on your ass because the front brake doesnt work when you wheelie and nor does the rear if the pistons are open wide. A bit of speed prior to the wheelie gets the front wheel turning and that can help you balance too.

[@newbeginnings8566]

Great detail.. I have never even began to get a decent wheely, so I'll give this a try...😊

[@CarkeekW]

@@newbeginnings8566 i did 1 hour for 40 days in a row at the age of 50+ to lock in wheelies , my big gain was going over the back of the balance point and using the rear brake to get it back controllably , the moment i did that i no longer feared being near the balance point , i had all the tools then .

[@GraFFRipZ]

You are the real deal, thank you so much for this

[@JukS-nh6rd]

Thank you so much for this. I also found that gear 7 worked to. 🎉

[@allanburns3501]

Nice. Can’t wait to get out there and give it a go. This is what I want from this channel. More of this please less of sponsored blah. Can you do manuals next week please

[@ajj4483]

Finally figured out dragging the rear brake a few days ago after years of trying, has made a big diff especially getting to the balance point when starting the wheelie. Top tip.

[@dodgymtbknee]

main thing for wheelies, which everyone leaves out, is how much you use your knees

[@danielsimmonds5162]

Nice one guys, it is a "dark art" to master, all advice much appreciated 👍🏻🙂

[@Thedoug369]

I learned how to wheelie back in the 70s before there were any hand operated brakes on dirt bikes ( bicycles not motorcycles whichhave a rear foot brake ) they all had coaster brakes ( you pedal backwards to brake ) so it was all just balance the way we had to do it. Me and my buddies could go for miles lol.

[@575ban]

I think I did a Steve Jones type wheelie last time I was out. Climbing a steep hill, as the front wheel got to the top just gave a tug on the bars and a bit more boot on the pedals and let the front wheel keep climbing even though the ground had stopped. Felt mint. Got 4 revs on the crank keeping the front wheel up 😎

[@vashon100]

The visor angle on Steve's helmet is set for lift off.

[@00Ears00and00Eyes00]

I like the video. Three questions: 1: What about the suspension. Rear suspension closed or open ? (or mode for Live Valve) 2: Can you provide me the ideal wattage (power mode) 3: What about launch control settings ? Thanks on advance. (Giant Trance X adv E+1)

[@hein_mcleod]

The thing I stuggle with is the balance point on my emtb, it's super narrow. Never had an issue with my old analogs but the eeb is hard!

[@embn]

It's very difficult to predict the assistance the motor is going to provide which is what most people struggle with!

[@redas15]

Use 6th gear, tour+ or emtb mode and higher cadence

[@Lee-ic2yn]

Thanks

[@vashon100]

0:20 "...teach you the why's not just the watts" , I see what you did there.

[@dadventuretv2538]

Extra 🤘🤘🤘🤘 for working scrum commands into a mtb vid from a former forward. 🤘🤘🤘🤘

[@federaldelii]

Can we do wheelie with motor power off? Or we need the motor power always to do the wheelie?

[@Justyn74]

It is possible but because of the weight of the bike it is much much harder. I can do it on very low speeds only and it's hard, tricky and unstable. Normally I'm comfortable on eco mode at 5-6 gear at 18-25km/h. Standard mode over 25km/h, 7th-8th gear and Power mode at high speeds. Bike unrestricted of course, otherwise it will pull you down instantly at 25.

[@steves365]

The first thing I learned my son at 11 was always keep a grip on the rear break lever 😏

[@embn]

Best way to stop loop outs 🤙

[@-R-o-k]

I've always wondered if it's harder for short legged person to wheelie/manual because finding that balance point over rear tyre might be more challenging? And yes, I'm trying to find excuse for my poor wheelie skills. :)

[@CarkeekW]

no as long as the bike frame is the right size , it took me 1 hour a day for 40 days in a row to learn after a life time of fails

[@boydcrowder4436]

You might want to clarify to the USA viewers that you Brits have your brake levers on the opposite side as compared to us. Rear brake in video was your left hand. Thanks for the tips.

[@Lee-ic2yn]

Why do Americans always have to be awkward about things like that?

[@stevenmehr7028]

boydcrower, I'm in the US, and the first thing I do on a new MTB is rectify that situation by reversing the levers to match the Brits. The reason is, I also race off-road motorcycle. So for me, if I rode an MTB with "US" style brakes, I would definitely end up in the hospital!

[@vashon100]

I noticed that and figured it was unique to motorcycle riders. Are you saying that's standard on bikes over there?

[@garrystevens8793]

What saddles are on your bikes? I really find my saddles on my 2 emtb’s uncomfortable.

[@allanburns3501]

Ergon e mountain pro

[@hein_mcleod]

Ergon all the way!

[@stefanhofstetter54]

Did you both reverse the front and rear brake? Rear at the left hand?

[@keithreed5009]

Left lever for rear brake is standard in the UK

[@stefanhofstetter54]

@@keithreed5009 Do you know why? Guess you are the only country in the world 😉

[@keithreed5009]

@@stefanhofstetter54 As I also ride motorcycles which always have the front brake operated by the right lever, same in every country it seems logical to have the front brake on my bikes operated by the right lever

[@stefanhofstetter54]

@@keithreed5009 I understand that, drive also motobike. But still, never saw on a rental MTB reversed brakes. Thats why I tought it must be a GB thing 😉

[@raketoped663]

Should you know these tipps already and still struggle with the wheelie. Do these tipps again and look far ahead, at least 30 meters. This will help you balancing your bike.

[@vashon100]

tips vs tipps

[@raketoped663]

@@vashon100 sry, german

[@MarkBonerea]

1:23 is that rust on that chain🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@daskleineM]

Mine looked the same after a ride in the snow, just the day after it was all rusty, but a good drivetrain cleaner makes it look almost new again

[@Iaroslav86]

Same as on your non-e bike, isn’t it?

[@embn]

Balancing the power from the motor is rather tricky! But you can always do it with the eBike switched off 🤷‍♂️

[@rickebell3867]

Holy Crap! The Whyte ebike is $$$$$! No ebike is with $10K there is just not that much there. Fleeced!

[@Unknown-account3]

Thanks for not once calling it a "manual". Wheelie is the proper terminology.

[@embn]

If you pedal it's a wheelie, if you don't pedal it's a manual! 🤷‍♂️