How to Do a Burnout on a Motorcycle

Reviewed by Jason Shackelford

Last Updated: August 4, 2021 References

A burnout, also known as peeling out, is when you spin the wheels of a motorcycle while keeping the frame of the bike stationary. You can use a burnout to create a big cloud of smoke and impress your friends, but over time, it can damage your rear tire. To do a burnout, take a strong stance, engage the clutch, and rev up the engine. When you’re ready to start, put the motorcycle in first gear and release the clutch to cause the tire to spin.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Applying the Brake

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To prevent the tires from gaining traction, put the least amount of weight on the bike by standing over the bike. If the tires have too much traction, then the motorcycle will move forward when you attempt a burnout.^{[1]
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2
Start the motorcycle and keep it in the neutral gear. Turn the key in the ignition and start up the engine so it can warm up. Check the temperature gauge after a few minutes to make sure the dial is at about the halfway point to indicate that the engine has warmed up.^{[2]
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- Keep the engine in the neutral gear while it warms up.
- You can rev the engine a few times to get it warmer faster.
- Allow the engine to run for at least 5 minutes before you attempt a burnout.
Warning: It’s dangerous to perform a burnout with a cold engine because it can sputter and suddenly gain traction, causing the motorcycle to lurch forward.

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3
Pull the clutch lever all the way in. On most motorcycles, the clutch is the lever on the left hand of the handlebars. Use all 4 fingers to engage the clutch by pulling it back all the way to the handlebar.^{[3]
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- Keep a tight grip on the clutch lever so it stays engaged.
- If your motorcycle has the clutch on the right handlebar, be sure to engage it fully with all 4 fingers of your right hand.
4
Hold the front brake with the middle finger of your right hand. Apply the brake and rev the engine throttle simultaneously by holding the front brake with your right hand. Use just your middle finger to pull back the lever for the brake so you can use the rest of your hand to work the throttle.^{[4]
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- If you have a motorcycle with the throttle on the left-hand side, then use the middle finger of your left hand to apply the brake.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Releasing the Clutch

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Use your foot to click the gear shift pedal so the motorcycle shifts into first gear. Keep the clutch engaged with your left hand so the motorcycle doesn’t shift into gear yet.^{[5]
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2
Rev up the engine close to the red line on the gauge. With your right hand, rev up the engine by twisting the throttle down. Look at the repetitions per minute (RPM) gauge and look for the red line towards the top of it. Rev up the engine so the arrow is about 75% of the way to the red line at the top.^{[6]
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- Start revving the engine slowly to make sure the engine isn’t in gear and the bike won’t move.
- It’s important that you build up the engine before you put it into gear so the tire spins too fast to gain traction.
Make sure your feet are flat and you’re standing stable. To make sure that all of the weight is off of the rear tire, lean forward a little bit.^{[7]
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4
Let go of the clutch to perform a burnout. Don’t ease off of the clutch to disengage it. Instead, let it go in 1 motion by releasing all of your fingers at once. The engine will then engage in first gear and the rear tire will start spinning to create a burnout.^{[8]
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- The longer you hold the burnout, the more wear and tear on your rear tire.
Tip: Hold the burnout for a minute to create a plume of smoke.
5
Reengage the clutch and release the throttle to end the burnout. Use your left hand to pull the lever to engage the clutch, which will pull the engine out of first gear and into neutral. Rollback the throttle with your right hand, but keep the brake engaged the entire time. The rear tire will come to a stop and your motorcycle will not roll forward.^{[9]
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- Do not release the brake until the tire has completely stopped spinning.

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Question

Can I do a burnout on any motorcycle?

Adam Monk

Community Answer

No, because if the front brake is terrible then the bike will just push it along.

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Can I do this with a Pulsar 150?

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Yes, you can do this on a Pulsar 150. Make sure your front brakes are good or else the bike will start moving.

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How can I do a burnout with an automatic motorcycle?

Community Answer

Lock the front brake, and give the throttle it all. If that doesn't work, it's not happening.

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Warnings

Do not perform a burnout until your engine has warmed up.

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Burnouts will degrade your rear tire over time.

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