[top: Biker Boy executing the roll-on method. Raising your front wheel is helpful when you're trying to avoid bumps or potholes on the track.]
By Zaihan Mohd Yusof
CAN'T get it up?
Feeling embarrassed whenever your buddies raise theirs in your face, while you fumble with yours?
Well, there is nothing to be ashamed of, particularly if you're unable to loft the front wheel of your dirt bike.
Raising your front wheel is a useful skill when you want to avoid obstacles or bumpy terrain. It's also a prelude to the wheelie, where a biker rides on only his rear wheel.
Yet, propping the front wheel up isn't as difficult as it seems. It becomes easier once you learn to overcome your fears.
For a beginner, protect yourself with elbow and knee pads, and a back protector before attempting this exercise because there is a high chance that you will fall.
Roll-on method
First, find a suitable place for practice like an open field and not on a road. Make sure nobody is riding near you during this practice.
You will be starting slow, depending on your motorcycle's gearing.
With a 14 front and 48 rear sprockets, learning this exercise in second gear should suffice.
The "roll-on" method uses your motorcycle's torque to lift the front wheel.
Sit closer to the rear of your seat, placing your right foot over the rear brake pedal.
This is important in case you "go over the limit".
Should you lose control and feel that your motorcycle is about to flip, jab the rear brake pedal.
Or you could just shut the throttle to kill the power.
Both actions will bring the front wheel down again and slow you down.
While coasting in second gear between 10 and 20kmh, shut the throttle briefly.
Wait for the front suspension to compress a little, before giving the throttle a quick twist to the half-open position.
You may not see the front wheel lifting high, but you will get used to the sensation of the front wanting to come up.
Do not be afraid of the sudden tug. The feeling is only natural as you get pushed back into the rear of your motorbike.
Progress by opening the throttle to the three quarter-open position, where you can get more lift.
Going all the way from a closed throttle to the full throttle position is not recommended for newbies.
Learn to loft by opening the throttle progressively. This way, you will be able to judge how much is too much.
You do not want to lift the front end too high - just enough to clear the obstacle.
You will notice that sitting closer to the rear of your seat makes lofting easier.
Sitting too close to the fuel tank will put too much weight at the front of the bike as it struggles to lift.
This will only cause your rear wheel to spin furiously when you snap the throttle open.
Your chances of lofting becomes better when you ride on firm terrain, instead of loose soil or sand.
Another trick is to pull on the handlebars at about the same time as you twist the throttle.
Clutch method
The clutch method is a little complex to execute. Other riders may disagree as they find using the clutch offers more control when raising the front wheel.
Again, start off in second gear.
Pull in the clutch lever and at the same time, give the engine more revs.
Immediately "dump the clutch" or release the clutch lever quickly.
This should cause your front wheel to come up.
But if your revs are not high enough, all you may feel is a jerk.
You will need to perfectly time the opening of the bike's throttle with the quick release of the clutch lever.
Lofting the front wheel can be done sitting down or standing on your foot pegs. The former is less scary for new riders.
When lofting becomes predictable, learn to sustain it by keeping the throttle open longer. Doing so gives you distance.
It could also mark your start to performing a wheelie, where finding your bike's balance point and keeping the front wheel up as long as possible, are essential to one of the favourite riding tricks.
But popping a wheelie is another chapter altogether.
For now, just aim for "lift off".
This article was first published in The New Paper on Jan 24, 2009.
