Motorcycle Wheelie Control explained! (Aprilia Tuono V4 demos with different WC levels!)

In this video, I give a basic explanation of how electronic wheelie control works on most motorcycles, and proceed to show Aprilia Wheelie Control (AWC) in action with each of its three levels of intervention, as well as with it disabled. All wheelies are computer-generated images. I accept no responsibility for the outcomes resulting from your changing of your motorcycle's rider aids. Always practice on a closed course, or in a simulation. 🙂
Thank you for watching, and if you enjoyed this video, I would sincerely appreciate it if you hit the like button and subscribed for more motorcycle content. Drop a comment below with the highlights from your year, and I'll hope to catch you in the next one! ✌️

[@SongJLikes]

Incredible CGI technology!

[@hiimchad]

It's amazing what you can do with these programs now, isn't it?

[@noiceb5655]

Thanks for the video break down, much appreciated from a fellow aprilia owner

[@hiimchad]

My pleasure! Thanks for watching! 🙂

[@katherynscleaning5807]

I sent this video to the new owner of my 2016 1100 RR. Excellent job in helping him understand. How safe this crazy bike is...

[@katherynscleaning5807]

I also helped him with all the settings. He was happy.

[@hiimchad]

Glad to hear it! Why did you decide to part ways with the bike?

[@alexandergleason6688]

Best explanation I’ve seen! I’ve had my 2017 RSV4 for a little while now and didn’t know a lot of this! Thank you for the great walkthrough!

[@hiimchad]

Appreciate your feedback! Thanks for watching 🙂✌️

[@felix-ve8jk]

Very cool video and explanation. I loved the shots of the wheel showing the fork working just like it should. What a great bike.

[@hiimchad]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed and appreciate the feedback. It's a great bike indeed. 🙂✌️

[@DouwGSteyn]

Thanks for great content! I have learnt much from your videos before and after buying my Tuono.

[@hiimchad]

My pleasure! Glad you’re still finding these videos useful 🙂

[@colinrae2742]

Brilliant once again Chad!! have used your video's so many times now with my Tuono regarding set up etc much appreciated stay safe

[@hiimchad]

Thanks Colin! Glad they've been helpful. Stay safe as well! 🙂✌️

[@Hakuchou]

what a powerfull bike , but i was curious how this wheelie control works so thank you so much for demonstrating all of this

[@DiegoMav3rik]

I've owned this exact same bike, same year and all, for the last few months. And this was very useful as I'm still taming the beast, I usually ride in sport mode with TC 1 (in dry conditions), AW1, ABS1. I havent really attempted any wheelies yet but I now know I need to disable AW completely when I do :D /cheers

[@hiimchad]

Glad you found the video informative! Cheers!

[@d675ose7]

Good run through of the settings & nice wheelie at the end 👍🏻 shall be running my Tuono on AWC3 at Portimao in June 🎢🤪👍🏻

[@hiimchad]

Thank you sir! Good call, coming up onto the front straight WOT is sure to create some front end lift 😅

[@JustForRita]

I have a 22 panigale v4s, first bike I've had with wheelie control. I was surprised at the wheelie control settings actually letting you hold a wheelie on the lowest settings. The lower the setting, the higher the angle and longer it will let you hold it. The novelty wore off and I have it turned off now so I can do real wheelies, not cheater wheelies😂

[@ilovepizza8263]

what setting do you do that on? and do you just hold the throttle open and the bike does everything or u gotta manipulate the throttle like any other wheelie?

[@JustForRita]

@ilovepizza8263 if you put it on the very lowest setting, it will hold a 45 degree wheelie all the way through 1st gear. You can literally crack the throttle open 100% above 6000-7000rpm and it will do the rest. It would be a good experience for a noob to feel what a wheelie is like, but it would give you bad habits, won't teach you balance point or back brake control

[@FaddyMcFaddyWaddy]

That was cool as hell man. I have a TV4F and run ATC at 2 and AWC on 1. It's great over the brows of hills but if you're trying to practice wheeling the Ape then best to have AWC set to off.

[@JakeRides99]

Love the videos, great explanation, I used to own a 2011 aprc tuono and loved it sadly got rid of it wonder how different the electronics where then compared to now.. as that one didn’t feel like it kicked in as harsh, keep up the videos man! 😁

[@hiimchad]

Thanks Jody! I'm surprised to hear yours would let the front end get a little happy! I would love to ride an older Tuono back-to-back with mine to see how the electronics differ. Maybe one day! 🙂✌️

[@JakeRides99]

@@hiimchad No worries! Yeah it was a shock for me aswell finding that out 😂 But nah lovely bikes, monsters the older ones were very ruthless but more of a feel for the road I think, it would shut off wheelies within 7-8 seconds I believe with TC on.

[@seanokeefe703]

There was a cool picture of colin Edward's in texas on display next to a Yamaha TZ 250 he raced , he was power sliding with the front wheel in the air

[@banksescalatorcleaning]

It would be great to see a wheelie control video that talks about the history of it and how it works for the different manufacturers and maybe even borrow the bikes that you mentioned in this video such as the r1 really control or the KTM wheelie control, etc. Thanks for the video

[@hiimchad]

If you can line up the bikes, I'll make the video 😂 Thanks for watching! ✌️

[@geopolitix7770]

Loving the VR video.😉 Now just to work out the daft controls to access the AWC settings on the tuono. Found how to flick modes on it the other day... on wet roads...oh my! As you suggest, best to try it on track first😵‍💫

[@hiimchad]

VR has gotten pretty good, hasn't it? 😂 That must have been scary in the wet! Thanks for watching and for your comment! 🙂✌️

[@geopolitix7770]

@hiimchad let's just say I was trying to quickly cycle it back out of race mode as quick as I could find short straights to clutch in!

[@brathersadda9436]

nice video felt professionel

[@hiimchad]

Thank you!

[@PaulJ71]

nice wheelie chad !!

[@hiimchad]

Thanks Paul! 😁

[@Kervrn]

Thanks for this video! Just got a 17 rsv4 RF and i wanted to see how the electronics work for wheelie control. Never had so much tech before on a bike. Had a 12 R1, 11 S1K, 06 R1, and 05 gsxr 600. I will say thanks to having all the older bikes it allowed me to be a better rider before trying out these newer bikes. I had a friend who was on new bikes rode my 10 S1K and nearly crashed because he’s not used to old school bikes..

[@hiimchad]

Glad you enjoyed, and congrats on your RSV4! I came from more analog bikes as well, and am grateful for the experience I was able to bring. The Aprilia electronics are admittedly not the best, so it definitely helps to know what you're doing just in case!

[@Cthooligan]

Due to the lack of noticeable difference in AWC modes, makes sense why the RS 660 only has off and on. Can confirm, with ATC on it will still limit the wheelie duration to 10 seconds. Wish it didn't yell at me every time I turn the bike on that my safety settings are off. I'm lowkey jealous of Ducati's new wheelie assist feature. Don't prevent me, help me Aprilia!

[@hiimchad]

Definitely a bit disappointing that Aprilia's electronics haven't made any significant leaps in the past 5-8 years, but I still think the soul of the bikes more than make up for it 🙂

[@love4boost]

This is very different from the wheelie control on the MT-09 I leave mine on 1 because idk if I want to find out is me or the bike. You can clutch up a wheelie in 2nd basically at balance point and ride it out. It does go down when you hit 3rd. The tc will cut you off if you get to aggressive with throttle

[@SimonVerrechia]

Great explanation and confirmation as to why mine just pops the front wheel with AWC at 1, just like yours 😊. If TC is left on and AWC is off, will it prevent the bike from looping ?

[@hiimchad]

Thanks Simon! 🙂 Only AWC can help prevent a loop. ATC will not stop you if you go too far back. I’ve done some decent wheelies with ATC on 1 and AWC off and have not had TC intervene, except for a handful of times when it’s been cold out and the wheel spun when I popped the clutch. Never any intervention once the wheelie was initiated.

[@leahmunkie]

Cool, I run my 2016 Multistrada pikes peak on DWC1, and i get frustrated by the lameness. I'll try DWC off and see how much it changes. I figured level 1 would enable some hang time, i guess not.

[@hiimchad]

I've seen and heard that the Multistrada, Hyperstrada, and Hypermotard have wheelie "control" like this. It's old and outdated. I wonder if Ducati implemented the same wheelie control system in the newer (2019+) models like that on the Panigale V4. I have experienced that wheelie control first hand, and it does give you some hang time!

[@DEGMOTOV]

what setting AWC did you use on track? I have used 1 so far, but in some situations it cuts so hard, I feel like it is better to control with the right hand..

[@hiimchad]

I always leave it off and will usually run TC on 1 while on track. In my experience, I manage wheelies better than the bike does 😂

[@zgjfinance2796]

Yamaha 21 mt09 with lift set to 1; you can hold it at about 45 degrees no worries

[@hiimchad]

Wow! Well, Yamaha does actually have good electronics that aren't based on a system designed in 2009 like those on Aprilias 😂

[@jay-sea]

Really helpful tx. what do you think of the recent yamaha and ktm versions? (mt09/10 || various superdukes)?

[@hiimchad]

You're welcome! Out of those, I have only ridden a 2020 Super Duke R and thought it was great overall. Electronics are similar to the ones on my Tuono, if not a bit better. I'm a sucker for that V4 soundtrack though :D Have heard good things about the MT09/10 as well! Definitely would be worth looking at if you're in the market for a naked sport bike.

[@jay-sea]

@@hiimchad yeah i'm gonna have to ride all three, though the yamaha has a real edge on price lol

[@jimmyk5331]

I turn all electronics off and ride just with gas and throttle , wheelies all day it helps to ride a stunt bike for fun you can pretty much wheelie anything after that❤

[@hiimchad]

Definitely need to give a stunt bike a try at some point!

[@thizzfox]

Huuuuur virtual reality. Nice one bubba, see how that one would hold up😂

[@hiimchad]

I mean it's held up so far, so.. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@BENJAMINFRANKO]

@@hiimchadJust incase if the police showedup on your front door...you will be like, its not real officer its VR 😆

[@Life.of.Nicholas]

Can you make a three minute video explaining wheelie control

[@tscott6843]

That completely turns me off of the wheelie control of that system. I think what I was hoping for was wheelie assist. I learned to wheelie on dirt bikes and my application on the road was on my 1992 ZX11 (yes I bought it new). It obviously had none of the "aids." It also looked awesome on 2nd gear wheelies because it was so long. I would have liked adjustable traction control, but after a few scares, I learned to manage the power well enough. What I really would have liked was clutchless shift. I ripped some 2nd gear teeth doing far too many speed upshifts. Luckily Kawasaki paid for the gears and labor under warranty. I am looking for a good naked (Agusta, Triumph, Ducati, et.al.) and I think I will skip the controls, except maybe traction control when I am riding "casually."

[@hiimchad]

I typically run the traction control on the lowest setting, as well as the cornering ABS, and everything else off. Quickshift and auto blip are game changers, definitely tech I would not consider skipping in a newer bike. 🙂

[@niktopore7734]

How do you turn everything off? I just can go up to 8 and down to 1. I have a rsv rf 2016

[@hiimchad]

Hold the minus (-) ATC button down for a few seconds when it is set to 1. That disables it on my bike, but can't confirm if the 2016 works the same way.

[@therealsambodian]

No racing for me, just a few buttonwillow trackdays this year.

[@ericleeSupSayK]

Does it matter if you’re on Sport Race or Track mode?

[@hiimchad]

The selected map has no effect on AWC as far as I've been able to tell. I usually keep it in Race.

[@yasin4449]

Can you absolutely full trothle with traction control en wheelie control on max settings without the front end gonna wheelie and flip the bike?

[@hiimchad]

I would not recommend trying. The manual states something along the lines of the electronics not being able to defy the laws of physics, so while it might work, I wouldn't want to find out. First gear would be the most risky. If I roll on smoothly in second with wheelie control off and tuck my body in, the front end barely lifts, but I am also quite tall and heavy for a motorcyclist.

[@yasin4449]

Appreciate the answer

[@Gavel-ul3te]

@@yasin4449 I yank the throttle in 1st gear with awc 1 and tc 1. Unless I'm not in higher rpms (over 7k) it won't wheelie

[@beatsbykrab3332]

Hi, I know im kinda late to this video but could you or anyone else help me with stoppie control? I have an rs 660 so the IMU should be kinda same as the v4. I was wondering if there is the stoppie control or not and on which levels of settings does it kick in. Im kinda affraid i will fly over the front wheel when braking hard.

[@hiimchad]

Aprilia calls it "Rear Lift Mitigation". With the Tuono V4, it is only active with the ABS set to 3 or 2. I have played around with it before and the rear wheel would still lift a bit on bumpy roads under hard braking. I disabled it after that. I would recommend using it as a safety net rather than relying on it entirely.

[@beatsbykrab3332]

@@hiimchad Thank you very much. I just needed to hear it from someone, ofc im not going to count on it, just want to be sure. Ride safe bro!!

[@martialart3277]

Hello i have a question! If i turn on wheelie control and literally give it max throttle and dump the clutch it will literally hold me?

[@hiimchad]

Nope, it will throw you right off the back

[@martialart3277]

@@hiimchad oh! Then.. do you still need to use back break? I'm a bit confused

[@hiimchad]

@@martialart3277 the wheelie control system is not perfect. It will provide assistance under normal riding conditions and works as an anti-wheelie system more than a wheelie control system. If you were to pin it and pop the clutch in first gear, the massive surge in torque would cause the front of the bike to lift abruptly and with a lot of force which the system would probably not be able to overcome. This effect is reduced in higher gears, but under no condition will AWC sustain a wheelie longer than a second or so

[@martialart3277]

@@hiimchad but if your in higher gear it helps right? Because i have a big fear of flipping my motorcycle. (I have an rs660)

[@hbaDave]

I do not really understand why there are 3 modes on the bike. They seem to prevent wheelies on all of them. My s1000rr at least allows you to do no wheelie at all, just a tiny bit, and a full wheelie on the 3 modes

[@hiimchad]

To be honest, I don’t understand either. The difference between each setting on this bike is minimal.

[@Dazed207]

I think on the 21 model plus with the new ecu this has all changed!

[@jacobgreen490]

Hey I have a 2021 RSV4 and I cant for the life of me, get the front wheel up in second. When I try to power wheelie, it doesn't lift up. when I try to clutch up, it almost feels like the bike is breaking up or restricting me. I have everything turned off (WC,TC, ETC). If anyone has any thoughts id appreciate it. I have tried all different speeds and rpm and still nothing.

[@hiimchad]

I'm not super familiar with any updates they may have made from 21 on, but recall the Tuonos being power limited in first and second gear. Not sure if the RSV4 is too, but even with some restriction it should still lift with everything disabled. Do you have ABS on still?

[@jacobgreen490]

@@hiimchad ​ After doing a bunch of research and going through the forums, it seems like its a safety measure Aprilia put in to save the clutches. I do have everything disabled and it will still cut power on a second gear clutch up. I can clutch up in first and I can power wheelie at 75-80 or so if I really try to get it up. Ive been told that getting a tune will solve the clutch up issue or some people just recommended changing sprockets and just doing power wheelies. I will probably start with a tune just to see but thanks for the reply!!

[@hiimchad]

@@jacobgreen490 of course! Hope the tune solves it!

[@TheRiderzx6r]

the sensor is not in the throttle handle , the cables go to the throttle body on the left of the bike wich has that sensor :D

[@TheRiderzx6r]

untill the throttle body , you have normal cables as any other bike , got an Aprilia Tuono as well , I had to do relearn procedure for it , that s how I ve found out of the whole process :))

[@hiimchad]

@@TheRiderzx6r hi, not sure what year your Tuono is but mine does not have steel cables to operate the throttle bodies like any older bike I’ve had. The throttle tube contains a sensor. You can see here in the description of the part on AF1Racing: www.af1racing.com/2d000095-oem-aprilia-rh-grip-w-throttle-sensor-2d000095

[@HAHARBUD]

Jak się nauczyć wheelie 😁

[@hiimchad]

🙂✌️

[@990Hyper]

turned off awc first day i had my v4 back in 2011. Never turned on again

[@astroh8674]

Bro I recognize these streets anywhere, temec ?

[@hiimchad]

A simulation 😂

[@astroh8674]

@@hiimchadthat’s what I meant to say 😂

[@Dazed207]

How many miles on the tuono now?

[@hiimchad]

~12.6k!

[@Dazed207]

@@hiimchad no issues?

[@hiimchad]

@@Dazed207 nothing major, typical spark plug bung o-ring weep that started a couple thousand miles before it was due for valves, so just managed it with cotton swabs each time I serviced my chain. They replaced the o-rings when they did my valves so all is good there. Only other issue was my shift shaft pin game loose behind the clutch, causing some rough shifts and not being able to pull in the clutch and skip gears. The shop found it while doing the valves/12k service and tightened it back up. She’s been great other than those two things 👍

[@Dazed207]

@@hiimchad how much did the valve service cost you? And we’re they way out of spec. Thanks

[@hiimchad]

@@Dazed207 kzbin.info/www/bejne/hJbGoXqXp6mBjpY

[@LeTessier916]

Virtual reality 😂

[@hiimchad]

💻🎮

[@skirrtmainey2405]

That was the weakest wheelie I was hoping you weren’t gonna do lol

[@hiimchad]

Which one? 😂

[@kenman154]

1st

[@hiimchad]

🎉

[@bernandoturner4840]

Nice Job.. over talked the Video.. explained nothing..😹

[@hiimchad]

Based on the other comments I think many others would disagree, but thanks for sharing your opinion!

[@bernandoturner4840]

@@hiimchad theywite… they just helping you get a youtube check.. with A Like…they probably never looked at the Video..if I got A Bike Id get that Suzuki Hayabusa.! & Id Ride that Bike Like I Stole it.. Sell it.. After A Few Speeding Tickets..😄

[@ZERODOSI]

Il controllo dell'impennata sulla tuono V4 è finalizzato alla massima prestazione, non a fare il teppista su strada. Ducati non ha l'obiettivo della massima prestazione. Se Aprilia volesse controllare l'impennata per fare il circo lo saprebbe fare benissimo. Ma è una finalità diversa.

[@docmarc36]

so wait... those cars weren't real in VR?????

[@hiimchad]

Just simulations of cars

[@GhostRider-ms1ep]

ALL THREE SETUPS WESE THE SAME. WHAT A WASTE OF MONEY

[@hiimchad]

I don't think many people buy this bike just for its wheelie control. While that is a weak point, it's incredible in many other areas that count for a lot more in my book.