Wheelie is a recurring enemy who takes the form of a sentient black wheel about the same size as Kirby with a a large, reptilian eye in its center. First appearing in Kirby's Adventure, Wheelie is the most common provider of the Wheel Copy Ability, and serves as the ability's helper in Kirby Super Star and its remake. Uniquely, in this role as a helper, Wheelie can pair up with Kirby to form the Wheelie Rider ability combo.
In early games, particularly sprite-based ones, Wheelie had a simpler design, consisting of only a black tire with the eye in the middle. Following its appearance as a helper in Kirby Super Star, however, it would increasingly be portrayed with the red cover, engine, and handlebars it is seen with in modern titles. There is also a larger version of Wheelie known as Grand Wheelie which serves as a mid-boss. Other variants of Wheelie include the Wheelie Bike, Wheelie Scooter, and Rex Wheelie Air Ride Machines from Kirby Air Ride, and the Blaze Wheelie vehicle from Kirby Battle Royale.
Game appearances
Kirby's Adventure/Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land
Kirby contending with a bunch of Wheelies in
Kirby's Adventure.
In Kirby's Adventure and Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land, Wheelie appears as a regular enemy. In Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land, it also appears in the sub-game Quick Draw as the second opponent Kirby faces off against.
Locations
Wheelie can be found in the following levels and stages:
Kirby's Dream Course
Stone Kirby sliding toward a Wheelie in
Kirby's Dream Course.
Wheelie makes an appearance in Kirby's Dream Course as a standard enemy upon the course. Wheelie holds position, and grants the Wheel ability when collided with.
Locations
In Kirby's Dream Course, Wheelie can be found in the following courses and holes:
Kirby's Block Ball
Wheelie appears as a common enemy which is worth 600 points on defeat. It drops a Block Flip item.
Kirby Super Star/Kirby Super Star Ultra
In
Kirby Super Star, Kirby is automatically given a Wheelie to ride for the final escape sequence of
Revenge of Meta Knight, giving Wheelie the most prominent role it's ever had.
In Kirby Super Star and Kirby Super Star Ultra, Kirby is able to ride Wheelies, as well as have them as helpers. When befriended as a Helper, instead of changing palette like other enemies, it gains a "saddle" and exhaust pipes reminiscent of a motorbike. In the Revenge of Meta Knight sub-game, Kirby is required to ride one of these helper Wheelies in order to complete the game.
Wheelie also appears as an opponent in Samurai Kirby, and in Kirby Super Star Ultra as one of the playable helpers in Helper to Hero.
Locations
Wheelie can be found in the following places in Kirby Super Star and Kirby Super Star Ultra:
Kirby Air Ride
Wheelies appear as common enemies in this game, can can be seen riding along various tracks in Air Ride mode, as well as appearing in Kirby Melee. They grant Kirby the Wheel ability when swallowed, though this only lasts a short time. In this game, enemy Wheelies use the Helper motorbike design.
Wheelies also appear in the form of Air Ride Machines that can be selected, including the Wheelie Bike, Wheelie Scooter, and Rex Wheelie. King Dedede rides a special Wheelie Bike, named the Wheelie Bike Dedede Custom.
Locations
In Kirby Air Ride, Wheelie can be found in the following places:
Kirby & The Amazing Mirror & Kirby: Squeak Squad
Wheelie appears in both of these games, taking on its look and function from Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land.
In Kirby: Squeak Squad, Wheelie can be possessed by Ghost Kirby, whereupon it can be made to ride forward, acting much the same as Wheel Kirby would.
Locations
In Kirby & The Amazing Mirror, Wheelie can be found in every major area of the Mirror World except for Moonlight Mansion and Cabbage Cavern.
In Kirby: Squeak Squad, Wheelie is a relatively rare enemy, only appearing in a few stages. However, one stage in particular (Secret Sea - Stage 5) is notable in that it only features a single Wheelie as an enemy, whereas no other stage does that with any other enemy. Wheelie can be found in the following levels and stages:
Kirby: Canvas Curse
Kirby nearby a Wheelie in
Kirby: Canvas Curse.
Wheelie appears in Kirby: Canvas Curse, with similar form and function as in previous games. Although its speed is concerning, Wheelie can be easily stopped by tapping it with the Nintendo DS stylus to stun it.
Locations
In Kirby: Canvas Curse, Wheelie appears in the following locations:
Wheelie locations in Kirby: Canvas Curse
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Reddy Land
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Arange Gorge
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Iello Adventure
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Neo Greo
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Bloo Hills
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Omarine Zone
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Wonder Lilane
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Kirby Mass Attack
While not appearing in the main game, Wheelie cameos in Kirby Quest in one of Kirby's attacks.
Wheelie also appears as an enemy in Kirby's Brawlball when fighting Heavy Lobster.
Kirby: Triple Deluxe
A Wheelie from
Kirby: Triple Deluxe.
Wheelie returns in Kirby: Triple Deluxe and grants the Wheel ability once again when swallowed. As in Air Ride, enemy Wheelies use the motorbike design, which carries over to Planet Robobot.
Wheelies also appear in two randomly-obtained Keychains. One is on its own depicting its sprite from Kirby: Squeak Squad. The other is paired up with Kirby as Wheelie Rider from Kirby Super Star.
Locations
In Kirby: Triple Deluxe Wheelie can be found in the following levels and stages:
Kirby: Planet Robobot
Wheelies appear again in this title, though the Grand Wheelie does not. In addition to providing the Wheel ability as usual, they also appear out of ducts to grant the Robobot Armor with the Wheel Mode in the appropriate stages.
Locations
In Kirby: Planet Robobot Wheelie can be found in the following levels and stages:
Kirby Battle Royale
- Main article: Blaze Wheelie
A special variety of ride-able Wheelie appears in the Attack Riders game mode. Known as Blaze Wheelie, this Wheelie is extra large and takes on the color of its rider's team. It can perform a burst attack which knocks opponents away.
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Wheelie appears as a collectible trophy.
Trophy Information
Image
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Description
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"A real speed demon. Once the Wheelie gets going, he can't be stopped. Wheelies are sometimes known to run in packs too. Kirby can copy the Wheel ability, turn into a tire, and run over enemies. The momentum will keep him rolling until he runs into an obstacle such as a wall."
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Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS
Wheelie appears as a collectible trophy.
Trophy Information
Image
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American English description
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British English description
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"Pop quiz! What do cars have four of, bikes have two of, and this enemy would blend right in with? That's right! Tires! Your prize is...more info! Wheelie likes to charge ahead, and Kirby can ride on top when he's a helper. If Kirby inhales him, he can even turn into a tire!"
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"The most memorable characteristic of Wheelies is their tendency to speed right into Kirby. If Kirby inhales one, he can turn into a tyre too! Sometimes, though, they find it in their hearts to help Kirby out by adding handlebars and a seat to their frames to become Wheelie Bikes that Kirby can ride! Nice!"
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Role in Kirby: Right Back at Ya!
Wheelie appears as a monster in the Kirby: Right Back at Ya! episode Born to Be Mild - Part II. The character Fang transforms into this monster as a last resort to try and finish the race against Kirby and Gus. In the anime, Wheelie is much larger than its in-game incarnation, but its powers and appearance are largely the same.
Wheelie attacks by trying to ram into its targets on the road. Unlike most other monsters, Wheelie is not defeated by Kirby directly, but rather defeated by falling into the traps that King Dedede set on the racetrack to get Kirby. These traps cause Wheelie to crash into the walls of the raceway stadium repeatedly, causing the whole arena to collapse with Wheelie inside it.
Wheelie races against Wheel Kirby
Wheelie falls victim to King Dedede's cal-trips
Wheelie falls into the collapsing stadium
Gallery
Artwork
Sprites
Kirby Super Star sprite as an enemy
Kirby Super Star sprite as a Helper
Sprite from Samurai Kirby
Splash bar from Samurai Kirby
Kirby Super Star Ultra sprite as a Helper
Icons
Kirby Super Star Ultra icon
Other
Kirby: Planet Robobot model
From Kirby: Planet Robobot
Screenshot of Kirby and Golem using piggyback on a Wheelie from Kirby for Nintendo GameCube.
Screenshot of Kirby riding on a Wheelie from Kirby for Nintendo GameCube.
Names in other languages
Language
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Name
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Meaning
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Japanese
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ウィリー WirĪ
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Wheelie
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German
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Wheelie
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Korean
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타이어맨 Taieomaen
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Tireman
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Kirby's Dream Course |
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| Characters | | | Single-Player Courses and Holes | | | Two-Player Courses and Holes | | | Copy Abilities | | | Enemies | | | Course Obstacles | | | Extra | |
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Kirby: Canvas Curse |
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| Playable characters | | | Levels and Stages | | | Copy Abilities | | | Enemies | | | Bosses | | | Items and objects | | | Extra | |
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Kirby: Squeak Squad |
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| Standard characters | | | Squeaks | | | Levels and stages | | | Mid-Bosses | | | Bosses | | | Enemies | | | Copy Abilities | | | Items | | | Collection | | | Sub-Games | | | Extra | |
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Kirby Mass Attack |
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| Characters | | | Levels and stages | | | Story Mode enemies | | | Sub-Game-exclusive enemies | | | Mid-Bosses | | | Story Mode Bosses | | | Sub-Game-exclusive bosses | | | Sub-Games | | | Extra | |
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Kirby: Triple Deluxe |
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| Characters | | | Levels and stages | | | Bosses | | | Mid-Bosses | | | Copy Abilities | | | Enemies | | | Sub-games | | | Items and objects | | | Kirby Fighters Battle Stages | | | Dedede's Drum Dash stages | | | Extra | |
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Kirby: Planet Robobot |
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| Characters | | | Levels and stages | | | Bosses | | | Mid-Bosses | | | Copy Abilities | | | Enemies | | | Sub-Games | | | Kirby 3D Rumble levels | | | Items and objects | | | Extra | |
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