Wheelie
A wheelie is a technique that can only be used on a bike in Mario Kart Wii. They slightly increase the speed of the player's bike, but if they bump into an object or opponent while performing one, it cancels and the player loses speed. The player also drops any items deployed out. Also, the speed increase comes at the cost of reduced handling, and turning while performing a wheelie slows down the player substantially. Wheelies will fail if the player tries to perform one without moving, or if they are moving too slowly.
In Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, wheelies have been removed altogether, and cannot be performed by the player at will. However, during certain boosts, racers who are riding bikes will perform a purely cosmetic wheelie.
Depending on the player's controller, a wheelie is activated accordingly:
- Wii Wheel - Lift controller up
- Classic Controller - Press
- Nintendo GameCube Controller - Press up on
Wii Remote / 
Nunchuk - Lift Wii Remote up
To stop them:
- Wii Wheel - Lower controller
- Classic Controller - Press
- Nintendo GameCube Controller - Press down on
- Wii Remote / Nunchuk - Lower Wii Remote
In addition, drifting can cancel a wheelie.
Gallery
Birdo, performing a wheelie on her Dolphin Dasher
Diddy Kong, performing a wheelie on his Zip Zip
Larry, performing a wheelie on his Sport Bike
Ludwig, performing a wheelie on his Sport Bike
A red Shy Guy, performing a wheelie on its Flame Rider
Donkey Kong, performing a wheelie on his Jet Bike
Trivia
- The wheelie can be used to avoid the effects of POW Blocks, by timing it at a certain point. Players still drop their items, however. Although karts cannot perform wheelies, they can also avoid POW Blocks using the same controls as wheelies (lifting the Wii Remote or pressing
on 
).
