Owning a bike can both be a practical choice and an enjoyable one too. If you wish to go around town, you can do so by using a bicycle. You can save a lot of money by doing that (because you know, it won’t require any fuel). You can also stay physically fit if you keep riding a bike. That’s because biking is a great form of exercise. But aside from the practical benefits that biking provides, it can also be a fun and even challenging activity. It can be fun because you can do a lot of tricks with it if you’ve mastered it well enough.
One such trick is the wheelie. Although there isn’t any bike on the market today that is tailor-made to do wheelies, there are actually ones that can be more suitable for such a trick. This article will discuss the best bicycle for wheelies and how to shop for one. Hopefully, after reading this article, you will be able to get a bike that you can do wheelies without any problems.
Best Bicycles and Bikes for Wheelies 2020
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1. Tommaso 2018 Gran Sasso 29er
The Tommaso 2018 Gran Sasso 29er is a great bike to do wheelies with. In fact, it is one of the best choices for pre-assembled bikes. What makes this bike a good choice is that it is made of full Shimano groupsets. You see, if a bike is made of a mix of parts from different manufacturers, there is a good chance that the performance will decline after some time. The reason for that is the parts weren’t exactly made to work with each other. Unlike if you use a full Shimano groupset, you will be ensured that the parts were made exactly to work properly with the other parts.
What is impressive about the Tommaso 2018 Gran Sasso 29er is that it gets the small details right. Everything from the frame down to the tires is all made to provide excellent performance. What makes this bike great for wheelies is its laser-measured frames and dialed in sizing. That’s why its handlebar width, stem length, and crank arm length always feel like it is optimized to your size. The result of the precision is easier handling which will then allow you to do wheelies a lot easier.
This bike also sports an aluminum frame, which makes it lighter and more suited for wheelies. I’m sure you already know that it is harder to do wheelies when you are using a bike that has a steel frame. Another reason why it is great for doing wheelies is its fork. It comes equipped with a 100mm suspension that will absorb all the impact from any terrain you’ll be riding on. So after you do wheelies, you can land smoothly. All in all, the impression that you will get from this bike upon first sight is that it is perfect. The good thing is, it lives up to the expectation. It truly is a perfect bike in our humble opinion.
- Very easy to assemble
- Excellent balance
- Excellent build quality
- Very versatile
- Made of premium quality parts
- Will handle rough terrain easily
- Seat is not as comfortable as it should be
2. Mongoose Men’s Fireball 8 Speed
Next up is the Mongoose Men’s Fireball 8 Speed bicycle. This bike is specifically made for dirt jumping. So naturally, it can handle the impact of doing wheelies (you could say that dirt jumping is really just doing a harder version wheelie). It is a very responsive and agile bike. It is also very durable (it has to be since it is mostly used for dirt jumping) because it can stand up to the impact and absorb tough landings. This is due to the 100 mm travel suspension fork installed in it. It also comes equipped with strong alloy rims and Tektro Novela mechanical disc brakes.
What makes this bike great for doing wheelies is (well, aside from the features mentioned above) is that it is built for maneuverability. This is basically something that most common riders take for granted, but it is really an advantage if you are looking to do wheelies on it. In order to execute smooth wheelies, you have to be able to maneuver your bike properly. Plus, you have to have the right side position. The good thing is, this bike also has an adjustable handlebar so that you can also adjust your riding position.
Another thing that riders take for granted is the balance of the bike. Basically, a well-balanced bike allows you to do wheelies a lot easier. Add that to the fact that the components on this bike are strong, you will be guaranteed to survive wheelies without breaking or coming off. All in all, the Fireball 8 is made to handle anything you’re willing to throw down. It is a very versatile bike even though it was made specifically for dirt jumping. You can take it to school in the morning, then afterward, ride through your favorite dirt trails. It’s that good. That’s why it is a favorite among athletes who love to ride.
- Excellent build quality
- Very easy to assemble
- Excellent handle
- Excellent suspension kit
- Very versatile
- Design is a bit on the plain side
3. Diamondback Bicycles Hook
Lastly, we take a look at the Diamondback Bicycles Hook. It made the cut simply because it is really great for doing wheelies. In fact, it even rivals the other two bikes on this list when it comes to doing just that. But let’s take a closer look at what makes this bike a great choice.
The Hook comes equipped with a low-slung, modern frame. When you first look at it, you will notice that it is long in the front and short in the back. This makes it a low but maneuverable ride. It offers deft and precision on tight trails and will offer a very steady ride when you are going downhill or down very steep descents. It uses a 120mm SR Suntour fork that will absorb all the impact quite well. It then uses an SRAM X3 1×8-speed drivetrain that will allow you to keep spinning up and down the hills.
If maneuverability is the question, you really won’t have a problem with that since this bike uses 27.5” wheels. That’s why the Diamondback Hook makes for a great trail bike. It is always ready for a quick ride on your local trails or if you want, an all-day pedaling into terra incognita.
But probably what makes it great for doing wheelies is that it has a saddle seat and silicone handlebar that are very comfortable. That’s because its seat post and handlebar are both adjustable. So you will definitely be able to adjust it according to your preference and not just get stuck on the stock setting. It also uses an aluminum frame and as mentioned above, a 120mm suspension fork. All these features combine to allow you to do wheelies a lot easier than other bikes.
As added bonus, this bicycle uses Tektro mechanical disc brakes at the front and at the back. If you are not familiar with disc brakes, Tektro mechanical disc brakes are one of the best on the market today. It also uses an 8-speed drivetrain on 27” and 2.3” tires. Plus, the spokes on the wheels are made of 14g stainless steel. That’s pretty neat.
All in all, the Diamondback Hook is an excellent mountain bike that performs really well on any track. It is very light and has excellent suspension, which makes it a great back to do wheelies with. If your intent is to practice doing wheelies, you won’t find any other bike with stock parts to do it with than this one. And to top it off, the ride on this bike is very good. That’s the reason why it made it to this list.
- Very versatile
- Light and durable
- Well balanced
- Excellent build quality
- Great suspension system
- The 8-speed drive train isn’t enough for riding uphill
How To Choose The Best Bike and Bicycle For Wheelies
Now that you know which bikes are best for wheelies, it’s time to learn how to choose one. This is important knowledge because there’s no doubt in our mind that sooner or later, you will find yourself want to upgrade your ride. So you either modify your bike or look for a better one. So here are tips you can follow on how to choose the best bike for doing wheelies.
As with any shopping endeavor, you first need to determine your budget. That is what will help you narrow down your choices. The next thing you need to look at is the chain. That’s because you have to check whether the chain that the bike is using will allow you to do wheelies without any problems.
Normally, if you will be going for a manual bike, then it is recommended that you get one with a shorter chain. If that is not possible, you send it to a bike shop and let them shorten it for you. Going for a bicycle with gears though is a different story.
For bikes with gears, you have to determine which gear is the best for transferring power to the back wheel. You have to identify this because that will be the gear you will be using for doing wheelies. This will actually rely more on preference and experience. So that’s what you need to figure out by yourself before committing to buying a bike.
The next thing to consider is the frame. This factor is what will affect the weight of the bike. First and foremost, steel frame bikes will be harder because they are heavier. Bikes with Aluminum frames are more recommended because they are lighter. Also, you need to remember that the longer the frame of the bike, the less suitable it is for wheelies. So, we recommend you go for a bike that has a short frame. It will allow you to control the bike better.
The riding position is another important factor to consider because it is a universal truth that it is harder to do wheelies when you are not on the proper riding position. To do a wheelie, it is best that you are not on a relaxed upright riding position. It will be pretty hard to do a wheelie on that position. Of course, the riding position is affected by the seat position and the handlebar position. So you will need to take a look at that too. Remember that the easiest to do a wheelie on and provide a better-balanced riding position is when the seat position is higher than the handlebar.
The next thing you need to take a look at is the suspension. You will want to use a bike that can absorb the impact properly. You need to make sure that the front wheel has a suspension system because after doing a wheelie, you will eventually have to land with your front wheel. You will want a good suspension system to absorb the impact. Otherwise, bike components become rattled or will start to loosen up. That’s the importance of suspension.
Lastly, you will need to take a look at the components of the bike. You have to make sure that they are made of high-quality materials. This is so that the parts are able to withstand the shock and sudden jerks that will happen when doing wheelies. That’s why if you notice, the bikes that we listed above are all made of premium quality parts.
Conclusion
So there you go. The three bikes listed above are your best choice for doing wheelies. That’s because they are all able to absorb the impact of doing wheelies quite well. They are also well built, which ensures that they are a long term investment. But aside from these bikes being great for doing wheelies, they are also very versatile bikes that you can use anywhere. That’s the most important thing. So good luck and happy biking.