Topic: Can A 71 cb500 pop a wheelie?

[projectile]

Hey guys,
OK stupid question. I was asked and I don't know. Can A 71 cb500 pop a wheelie?
Thanks,
Jonathan

[don_m]

If the clutch bites firm, put Fat Albert on the back, rev the engine & drop the hammer--it will wheelie 'til you chicken out!  Been there, done that--& most other dumb stunts.
Cheers, Don Madden

[Tim.]

Hey guys,
OK stupid question. I was asked and I don't know. Can A 71 cb500 pop a wheelie?
Thanks,
Jonathan

Are you trying to live up to your user name?

[Bobby]

Jonathan, just about any bike can "pop a wheelie".  Get 'er rolling about 5mph, yank in the clutch, red line the son of a gun and let the clutch lever fly.  Oh, it'll come up, but these old pieces of iron groan and complain when they land.  Also, you run the risk of giving you bike a bunch of summer parts.  Summer lying here and summer lying over there.

-Bobby

[projectile]

I knew I was asking for it with that post and my user name.
I am new to motor cycles, and don't yet know the limits. My user name is a joke (When I first started I didn't know if I was going to stall the engine or fly uncontrollibly into whatever was in front of me). I have no intention of trying to pop a wheelie or any other stunt any time soon.
I am having trouble with the basics of turning, maybe it is because I don't want to put much force on the bars or maybe it is because I have a fear of leaning my head and body with the  bike, but I have noticed I slow more than cars on turns.
Is this a normal limitation of bikes or am I just a wimp?
Thanks for the replies,
Jonathan

[Bobby]

Jonathan, no wimp are you.  You’re doing the right thing by taking your time.  An enormous amount of respect (also fear) is needed to obtain longevity in the sport of motorcycling.  Spend the time in empty parking lots learning to maneuver your machine.  I started riding in 1970 and began amateur racing in 1973.  I have owned and or built just about every type of in-line 4 cylinder motorcycle known to the free world.

Take it from me, loosing it on any type of motorcycle can be painful and expensive.  Build your confidence up by practicing every chance you get and the skills will come.  On rainy days just sit on your bike in the garage without the kickstand down and learn to balance it.  It’s all about time in the saddle.

Not to be a downer, but these things will maim or kill you if you give them the chance.  A case of the yips (also known as the shivering spine and voices screaming in your head to slow down) is a good thing to have early and later on in your motorcycle career.

Here is my little motorcycle site that as with all personal sites, is in dire need of updating.
http://members.cox.net/robert3442/bikes.html

Good luck and welcome to the club.

-Bobby

   

[Glenn Stauffer]

Go to this website and look up an MSF course near you.  The beginner course is going to provide you with the best introduction to riding a motorcycle you can get.  The street is a mean place to learn - one trip too fast into a corner when you are still trying to figure out how to get the bike to turn could be your last.

http://www.msf-usa.org/index_new.cfm?spl=2&action=display&pagename=RiderCourse%20Info

--Glenn

[Tim.]

BTW - it CAN be done (not by me though):

[cben750f0]

good 'ol carpy!!!...god love im...