IMO Jason the wear on a bike from someone as well pratised and experienced as you will be very minimal as you can pull the wheelie up and put it down very smoothly and therefore as you point out you will not really put much more wear on your bike than a fast ride would.jason wrote: spot on on the first point I first learnt to wheelie on a 12bhp RD125 LC. or take a look at the scooter kids wheelying.
the second point is a popular myth - slam it down as hard as you like you can not damage a non worn out set of fork seals wheelying. If you develop leaking fork seals from wheelying they where on there way out anyway.
Although you can damage headrace bearings but you really do have to be a complete clutz and be forever slamming them down - in which case you will probably eventually bin it in the process and headraces will be the least of your worries anyway.
it will stress your chain and sprockets little more than a spirited sunday blast - and who cares about that they are consumables anyway. Thats kinda like restricting your riding to get more tire longevity.
That said a novice trying to learn to wheelie will definately put a hell of a lot more wear on their bike. As you say fork seals should be fine but constant ham-fisted attempts are likely to shag your head bearings and also your clutch could take quite a hammering. I agree that chain and sprockets probably aren't worth worrying about but head bearings and clutches could start to be expensive.
Of course the real problem is that trying to learn to pull wheelies on your own bike will almost definately result in you crashing at least once. We all make mistakes and in order to get good you bound to have some mishaps - just like most people do when they start learning how to ride a bike fast. I would suggest the best thing to do would be to buya tatty old bike to learn to wheelie first (even a 125) then when you jump on your pride and joy you'll probably find it easier and you'll be smoother and safer "hoisting a minger"
