How to Do a Sit Stander Wheelie

A sit stander is a wheelie in which the rider stands with both feet on the end of the passenger seat. To ride a sit stander, you need to master the rear brake duplicator (handbrake). It is a crucial skill for doing difficult tricks and combos in a wheelie. The principle of balancing on the handbrake is the same as on the foot brake. Before moving to the sit stander position, get used to the duplicator on two wheels and in a standup wheelie, so you can back yourself up with the foot brake. Duplicator setup is individual, but traditionally the index finger is on the clutch and the middle finger on the brake. The levers should be turned so that your wrist isn't bent when the motorcycle is upright.

Lift-off

The lift-off is done the same way as for a standup wheelie. It is best to start from a standstill or at low speed. Your fingers should be on the levers before the lift-off.

Riding in balance

It is better to reach the angle with a second pull, so as not to give too much throttle at the lift-off and to damp side-to-side wobble. Brake with the duplicator using light but frequent presses: this keeps you from slamming the front down or scraping. At first you have no feel or understanding of the braking force needed to bring the bike back from past the balance point, so control the angle not by how hard you press but by how often. Damping side-to-side wobble in a sit stander is easier than in a seated or standup wheelie, because the rider presses on the subframe with their full weight (not just the left foot, as in a standup wheelie) and can shift their body a lot in all directions to correct the balance.

Mistakes

A scrape in a sit stander isn't as dangerous as in a seated wheelie. If it happens at speed, you can step off and let the motorcycle go. If the speed is low, you don't need to let the motorcycle go: just pull the clutch and close the throttle. If the motorcycle leans to the side on landing, it's better not to open the throttle to soften the impact. A hard landing is better than losing control and falling off the motorcycle. Make sure the passenger seat is securely fastened. When the rider stands with both feet on the end, the plastic frame deforms and the latches can pop out! You can remove the seat altogether and stand on the subframe if there is a suitable ledge.

The video clearly shows how to reach the angle safely and how to use the duplicator correctly. Train in full riding gear.