Do Wheelies Damage Your Bike?

Doing some stunts with a bike is exciting and thrilling for the riders. If you have done wheelies, you know that it gives enough stress on your bike.

Whether you are using a mountain bike, fat bike, or a road bike, the scenario will be the same. Now the question is, do wheelies damage your bike?

Well, the answer is not simple. Because it is related to different facts. Though it creates much pressure on the bike, still some bikes may not be damaged just because of wheelies.

In this article, we are going to discuss different points which will make it clear if you should do a wheelie with your bike or not.

Table of Contents

How Does Wheelie Affect Your Bike?

After performing a wheelie, you need to land the front of the bike. After landing, the first thing get hurt are the suspension and the tires.

Now the question is, will it damage the tires or the suspension! Well, there is enough possibility that the spokes will become weak over time and you may have to change it regularly. The suspension is also related to this matter.

Let me explain how suspension and the tires are related to each other about the damage.

When you just performed a wheelie and landed on the ground, the tires get a super bump.

Now how the tires will react this bump depends on the suspension. If the suspension works better, it will have a smooth landing and there will be no stress at all.

Because the front suspension will absorb the shocks. As a result, the spokes on the bike will be safe and there is nothing to be worried about.

On the other hand, when you don’t have any suspension at all and you are doing wheelies frequently, you should expect to have damaged tires and spokes.

The next thing gets affected after a wheelie is the frame of your bike. The frame of a bike is like a skeleton and other parts are flesh.

Just imagine yourself that you are on the top of something and want to jump on the ground.

When you jump, you get stress on the skeleton, particularly the bones of your legs. Similarly, the bike gets a super shock when landing on the ground suddenly.

Now a weak and cheap metal frame can easily get damaged
To protect the damage to your bike’s frame, pick something durable that guarantees to have longevity.

For example, you can pick a mountain bike that comes with a carbon fiber frame. Carbon fiber is known for its durability and longevity.

It doesn’t act like cheap metals. Instead, it has enough capacity to take the shocks during landing.

Other than that, some small parts can get damaged over time when doing stunts with it.

What to Do to Avoid Damages?

If you are wondering how someone can keep the damage to the minimal level, you need to consider several facts. Here are some tips that might help you –

Instead of landing suddenly on the ground, you should balance the weight and find the center of gravity to land smoothly. Slightly change the center of weight and land to avoid damage.

Choose a sensible gear that has durable rings and durable spokes. Because durable spokes are ready to take heavy pressure.

When picking a new bike, check for the quality of the tires. Gripping the tire on the ground hugely depends on the quality of it.

Don’t pick an ordinary bike and try to do a wheelie with it. Instead, go for something durable that is ready to ride on rough surfaces and hard trail.

Because those bikes are constructed to take heavy pressure and load.
Must consider the quality of the suspension.

Especially the front suspension plays a vital role to protect your bike from damage. It should smooth and have enough capacity for shock absorption.

Are Wheelies Good for Your Mountain Bike?

While most mountain bikers love to perform wheelies, are they good for your mountain bike? The answer is a resounding no! In fact, performing wheelies can actually be detrimental to your bike.

This is because doing so can damage important components like the wheels and the fork. So if you love doing wheelies and are wondering do wheelies damage your mountain bike, then the answer is an emphatic yes!

Which Type of Bike is Good for a Wheelie for Less Damage?

Though you can try to do a wheelie with different types of bikes, some particular styles have added advantages.

Though experts can wheelie on all types of bikes, it won’t be the same for everyone. Among different styles, mountain bikes are best to learn to do a wheelie.

This is relatively short in length and comes in lightweight. So, you can keep the proper balance, and landing becomes easy.

Particularly, mountain bikes that come with smooth gear will work better. If it doesn’t have gear, pick a bike that has a relatively small chain. You may also try road bikes for the stunt.