First off I want to point out that this answer is not aimed at people who can already get the front wheel in the air, so it won't describe the slightly more advanced technique of 'clutching it up'. It's also not aimed at those of you with 500cc two-stroke engines, as all you need to do is open the throttle. This answer's aimed purely at 'motard riders whose bike is reasonably modern, has a healthy engine and who can't wheelie - yet.

Now we've got that out of the way...

The easiest gear to wheelie in without using the clutch is, obviously, first. Move your bum back along the seat slightly to move the centre of gravity towards what will become the pivot point, get your foot over the rear brake pedal (notice I said over not on - you don't want to be dragging the rear brake, just covering it) roll up to between fifteen and twenty mph and either snap the throttle closed and then snap it open again (this technique is not even remotely mechanically sympathetic and also results in quite a vicious launch) or, while still gently accelerating, snap the throttle open. No matter which tecnique you end up using, only your wrist should move - if your arm moves at all then your technique isn't smooth enough and can cause the bike to veer off line, resulting in the bike either going where you don't want it to or actually weaving while on the back wheel. Different engines have different reactions times so you'll need to experiment a little with just how long a gap you leave between closing and opening the throttle if you use the close/open technique. As for how much to open the throttle ... we're not talking about banging it to the stop, more like the way you'd accelerate aggressively away from a junction or traffic lights. You're not trying to scrape the mudguard so be careful with your right hand.

When the front first comes up you will snap the throttle closed again - everyone does. The thing to remember here is to take your time learning how to wheelie. Do not try to get the bike vertical as this will come with time and practise. You simply can't rush these things. Start very low and work your way up, while always concentrating on smoothness not height. Also, keep your arms relaxed while gripping the tank with your knees. Flap your arms around and the bike will lose its stability, which, rather obviously, could cause both you and the machine to part company leaving you with a very large repair bill and, very possibly, badly mangled bones, too. Do not continually blip the throttle while on one wheel, either. Although there's at least one wheelie school that teaches wheelies this way, they're 100% wrong and are teaching people to crash (which is why you'll never find their name or homepage anywhere on this site). After the initial launch the throttle should be used so gently anyone stood watching or riding next to you should barely hear any change in engine revs at all. If your engine goes 'brap, brap, brap' then, on a road bike, you're simply not in control, plain and simple. Nor, because the bike's moving around quite a lot, are you likely to feel anything start to go wrong with the wheelie - well, not until it's too damn late to do anything about it, anyway... If you're having to brap the throttle rather than keeping it nice and smooth then drop some height out of your wheelie and practise holding a smooth throttle.

If the bike starts to weave when on one wheel, put the damn thing down immediately. If you don't you're looking at enjoying a one-wheel tank-slapper. Initially the weave will hopefully be very minor (unless you've really cocked up the launch) so you should have enough time to be able to land the front wheel reasonably safely as long as you put it down straight away. If you think 'it's okay, it doesn't feel that bad' and don't put the wheel down then that weave will almost certainly become violent, leaving you in a situation where the chances of saving it are less than 1% - and that's being generous with the odds. Although I'm not trying to teach anyone to suck eggs here, but if the wheelie isn't smooth, then it isn't safe. Fact. Remember, if you land your wheelie safely then you can have another go - crash while on one wheel and you may never get the chance to ride again, ever...

As I'm sure you can imagine, first gear can be a little vicious but it does get you used to the wheel not being on the tarmac and your 'bars being in your face rather than their usual position. But for more control second gear's a lot easier even if it is harder to initially get up. Again you'll be using the exact same throttle techniques as above but this time you'll be rolling along at around twenty five mph. You will need a more violent throttle opening action but it won't come up as fast as before and will be easier to control via the twist grip. Start off using first gear, though, as it is initially easier and you'll need the confidence this will give you before you'll get your bike up in second.

Don't even consider trying to change gear while on one wheel until your wheelie is perfectly smooth and controlled. As with everything two-wheeled, smoothness is the key to success. As for the technique of changing gear mid-wheelie - once you're up on one wheel and the bike is perfectly upright and 'floating' (you'll recognise this sensation the second you manage it) throttle off slightly while at the exact same time changing gear without using the clutch and then return the throttle to exactly where it was before you changed gear. Sounds like too much to remember? Then don't do it until it sounds reasonably easy. Wheelies look superb when done right, but if you crash you'll look like a twat and nothing more. And if you're unlucky, looking like a twat will be the least of your worries compared to the injuries you may have...

As for vertical wheelies - the only safe (not that there's any such thing as a safe stunt in all reality) way to do them is by using a very difficult balancing act of throttle and rear brake. Don't even consider trying to do them until you're able to put the front wheel at any height you choose (whether that's two inches off the road or three feet) as you won't have enough machine control to practise this type of wheelie remotely safely. And if you're not capable of pulling a 100% smooth wheelie (including 100% smooth throttle control) then if you attempt a vertical minger you will crash.

Warning - there's no such thing as a 'safe' stunt. Once you're on your bike no one can help you if it all goes wrong, which, sooner or later, it will. Always engage your brain before you engage first gear, and never forget that if you do the stunts then you'll also do the crashing. It's the way it is and there's no escaping this very simple, unarguable fact.