Are you having trouble learning to do a rolling burnout because you don’t know the right way? If so, then you’re definitely in the right place.
Doing a rolling burnout on a motorcycle is incredibly easy, especially if you know how to do a static burnout. It involves having a strong stance, engaging the clutch, revving up the engine, putting your bike in the first gear, and releasing the clutch to make the tire spin.
In this article, you’ll get to know all about rolling burnouts, different types of burnout, how to do a rolling burnout on a motorcycle, when is a burnout dangerous for your bike, tips to keep in mind when doing a burnout, and more. Continue reading to know all the answers that you’re looking for.
What are the different types of burnout?
Motorcycle burnouts happen when the biker uses the power of the engine to spin the rear wheel while keeping hold of the front brake. This results in a cloud of smoke, a shower of sparks, and sometimes, the entire bike leaving the ground. Burnouts are accomplished by throttle abuse, and they need a great deal of skill and a sense of balance. They’re often used to show the prowess of bikers and are a common occurrence in rallies and events. However, burnouts also come with a sense of danger and pose a significant risk of injury. Riders can lose control of their bike quickly, resulting in accidents. For that reason, it’ll be important to be aware of the risks that are involved before attempting a burnout.
A motorcycle burnout is an incredibly easy way of showing off your skills on a bike. There are different types of motorcycle burnout, with each one of them having its own difficulty level. The most common type of motorcycle burnout is the power wheelie. It can be done by revving up the engine and then popping the clutch. This causes the front wheel to come off the ground. Another popular form of burnout will be the stoppie. It’s done by applying the front brake and then sifting your body weight to the rear. This causes the back wheel to come off the ground. The most challenging form of burnout will be the endo. It can be done by applying both the brakes and then quickly shifting your body weight to the rear. This causes your bike to flip over end-over-end.
How to do a rolling burnout on a motorcycle?
Apply the brake
The first phase of popping a burnout will be applying the brake to start the burnout. Remember, in a burnout, you start by holding down the front brake entirely. But in a rolling burnout, you leave the brake and are doing a burnout while being in motion. You can then gradually apply the brake until the rear wheel can break the tire loose. Here are the steps you need to do in this phase –
1. Stand with both your feet as flat on the ground as you can
To prevent the bike’s tires from gaining traction, you should put the least amount of weight on your bike by standing over it. If the tires have too much traction, the bike will move forward even before you’ve attempted the burnout.
2. Start the bike and keep it in neutral gear
Turn the key in the ignition and then start the engine such that it can warm up. Check the temperature gauge after a while to ensure that the dial is at almost the halfway point. This indicates that the engine has sufficiently warmed up. Remember to keep the engine in neutral gear when it’s warming up. You can rev up the engine a couple of times to warm it up faster. Allow it to run for at least 5 minutes before you attempt a burnout.
3. Pull the clutch lever in
On most bikes, the clutch lever is the one on the left hand of the handlebars. You should use your four fingers to engage the clutch by pulling the clutch all the way back to the handlebar. Make sure that you’re keeping a tight grip on the clutch lever such that it stays engaged. If your bike has the clutch on the right handlebar, ensure that you’re engaging it fully with the four fingers of your right hand.
4. Hold the front brake with your right hand’s middle finger
Apply the brake and then rev up the engine throttle simultaneously by holding the front brake using your right hand. Use only the middle finger to pull back the lever for the brake. This way, you can use the rest of your hand for working the throttle. If you’ve got a motorcycle with a throttle on the left-hand side, you can use the middle finger of your left hand for applying the brake.
Release the clutch
The second phase here will be to release the clutch and pop a clean burnout. To accomplish that, follow these simple steps –
1. Put your bike into first gear
Use your foot for clicking the gear shift pedal such that your bike shifts to first gear. Keep the clutch engaged with your left hand such that your bike doesn’t shift into gear yet. But remember, you’ll eventually need to shift gears because this is a rolling burnout and your bike needs to be moving.
2. Rev up your bike’s engine close to the red line on the gauge
Using your right hand, rev up your bike’s engine by twisting the throttle down. Look at the RPM gauge and look for the red line towards the top of it. Remember to rev up the engine such that the arrow is around 75% of the way to the red line at the top. Start to rev the engine slowly to ensure that the engine isn’t in gear and your bike won’t move. However, it’s only temporary because as it’s a rolling burnout, your bike will need to start moving to pop a rolling burnout. It’s important to build up the engine before putting it into gear so that the tire spins fast to gain traction.
3. Lean forward to shift the weight off of the rear tire
Ensure that your feet are flat and that you’re standing stable. To ensure that all the weight is off the rear tire, lean forward a bit.
4. Let go of the clutch for performing a burnout
You shouldn’t ease off of the clutch for disengaging it. Instead, you should just let it go all in one motion by releasing your fingers at once. The engine then engages in the selected gear and the rear tire starts spinning to create a burnout. The longer you’re holding the burnout, the more wear and tear will be there on the rear tire.
When are rolling burnouts safe for your Harley-Davidson bike?
Although it may seem like rolling burnouts could be harmful to your bike, they’re actually pretty safe when done correctly. But they could cause issues, which you might not expect, such as rim and debris damage. Moreover, a full burnout on a new set of tires takes way too long for the engine to cool.
There are many things that you can do that can cause damage to your Harley-Davidson bike. However, if you’re doing things right, there isn’t a lot that you should worry about. First, if you’re performing a burnout for a short period of time, it won’t cause any damage to the engine. But you should ensure that the engine isn’t already too cold or too hot. It’ll probably be best if you let the engine warm up to around 45°C to 50°C (113°F to 122°F) before you start a rolling burnout. You’ll likely be done with your burnout not too long after you’ve reached 90°C (194°F).
Essentially, this means that you can safely pull off a rolling burnout using a set of old tires. This is the case as you’re highly unlikely to pop a new tire by that time. By doing a rolling burnout, you’re essentially extending the time greatly. It’s worth knowing that the idea of a rolling burnout isn’t to pop the tire. In simple words, rolling burnouts shouldn’t be full burnouts, as you might easily crash if the tire does pop. Moreover, you shouldn’t be doing it on an old tire.
The next thing to consider is when you aren’t using the clutch. You should get the tire spinning before leaving it. There will be no point in screwing up the tire and the clutch.
If you’ve got full control of your motorcycle, pulling off a rolling burnout would be a joy unlike anything else. You might have seen videos of people losing control when trying a burnout and bumping into vehicles, trees, or something. If you’re trying a burnout for the first time, you should probably start out against a wall. Moreover, you should keep using the front brake to remain in control.
Ultimately, if you ensure that your engine isn’t overheating, don’t play around with the clutch, and have total control of your bike, you’ll be safe. You’ll likely have a fun time whether you’re doing a static burnout or a rolling burnout.
When are rolling burnouts unsafe for your Harley-Davidson bike?
As mentioned before, the clutch and the engine are the most important components that you need to protect. But where else can things go wrong?
You could end up damaging the rim if you don’t stop at the right time. For beginners, this is why they have to look back at the rear tire constantly. Other than that, the debris from the tire could end up going into the chain or accumulating on the hot parts of the engine. You can also damage the chain, sprockets, or even both. In the worst-case scenario, your Harley-Davison bike could end up catching fire.
When you’re doing a burnout on an old tire, you probably won’t have to deal with a fire when you’re doing it for a short period of time. This happens because old tires don’t last long enough for them to build up heat.
Another thing that many bikers fail to do is control their bike’s engine speed. You wouldn’t want to have your engine limiting at 11,000 RPM or so. Aside from sounding stupidly loud, it’ll be extremely annoying and other bikers will cut your engine if they’re around. Limiting for too long could easily damage your bike’s engine.
The risks involved with doing rolling burnouts
Rolling burnouts are often seen as a mind-blowing stunt and an impressive display of power. However, there are many potential risks and dangers associated with this stunt. Foremost, rolling burnouts generate a large amount of smoke and debris, which quickly obscures the vision of others. Moreover, the high temperatures generated during rolling burnouts can damage the tires or cause your bike to lose control. Lastly, the sheer force of a rolling burnout could cause your bike to tip over, potentially injuring both you and your bike. For such reasons, it’ll be important to be aware of all the risks before you attempt a rolling burnout.
Tips to remember when doing a rolling burnout
Now that you know how to do a rolling burnout on a motorcycle, there are some important tips to remember. These tips should be used each time you try a burnout so that you can perfect it.
Always use fresh tires
Using fresh Harley-Davidson tires will prevent the tires from slipping while giving you the best possible traction
Warm up the tires
This will help your tires increase their grip on the ground. Do it by performing a few laps around the block or riding for a few minutes before attempting the burnout.
Use the appropriate gear
Using lower gears helps increase the amount of torque that gets sent to the rear wheel. It’ll make it significantly easier to spin the tire.
Do not overdo it
It can be easy to get carried away when you’re performing a rolling burnout. If you over-rev the engine, you might damage the clutch or cause the engine to seize up. You should be careful and not overdo it.
How to cool down your bike after a rolling burnout?
After a rolling burnout, it’s important to cool down the engine to avoid any damage. The best way of doing this would be to let your bike idle for a while. Once the engine has cooled down, you’ll be able to shut it off and allow it to completely cool down. If your bike is still too hot to touch, just use a wet rag to cool it down. Once your bike has cooled down, you’ll be able to inspect it for any damage. If you find any damage to the bike, you should get it repaired before you ride it again. This way, you’ll help avoid damaging the bike and keep it running smoothly for a long time.
What to do if you end up getting injured when doing a rolling burnout?
There is nothing like the feeling of popping a stunning rolling burnout. The smoke, the noise, and the smell, it’s all a part of the overall experience. As every biker knows, it’s important to be safe when trying a burnout. This is why it’s important to have an idea of what to do if you end up getting injured during a burnout.
The first thing that you’ll need to do is stop your bike. It may seem like an obvious thing, but you’ll be surprised to know how many people forget this in the heat of the moment. Once you’ve stopped the bike, you should assess the damage. If possible, remove any debris that might cause further damage. If you’re bleeding, apply slight pressure to the wound and immediately call for help. If you’re unable to stop the bleeding or think you might have a broken bone, avoid moving at all. Instead, you should wait for the help to arrive. Injuries from motorcycle burnouts are actually rare, but they might happen if you’re not careful. Knowing what you should do in case of an accident will help ensure that your burnout is as safe as fun.
Conclusion
Thank you for reading. Hopefully, now you know a lot more about rolling burnouts, different types of burnout, how to do a rolling burnout on a motorcycle, when is a burnout dangerous for your bike, tips to keep in mind when doing a burnout, and more. Performing a rolling burnout is actually pretty easy, especially if you’ve become a pro at static burnouts. In a static burnout, you’re starting out by holding down the front brake entirely. For rolling burnouts, you’re leaving the brake and doing the burnout while in motion. You can then gradually apply the brake until the rear wheel can break the tire loose.
