Wheelie

A wheelie is a technique that can be used only on a bike in Mario Kart Wii. Wheelies 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 they 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 a wheelie:
 * Wii Wheel – Lower controller
 * Classic Controller – Press
 * Nintendo GameCube Controller – Press down on
 * Wii Remote / Nunchuk – Lower Wii Remote

In addition, drifting cancels a wheelie.

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 ).