Takes a while to get used to the front coming up Chop, then when you get used to it, it becomes seriously addictive !!!!
My mates used to say that my front tyre would never wear out cos it was hardly ever in contact with the road !!!
1st gear is too dangerous in my opinion and you are more likely to flip it, 2nd gear is the best option i would say, get it up to around 5 or 6k, back off then whack the throttle open and she should come up, a quick slip of the clutch and it will deffo come up. Try and be gentle with the power delivery when it does come up and it will be nice and smooth and your confidence will grow in no time
Few of us used to go down to the Exhibition Centre car park to mess around as plenty space down there to practice, wheelied one of my Blades the complete length of the car park

Turned around and then did a 2nd gear burnout all the way back and shredded the fuck out of my tyre !!!! Expensive carry on but left a mighty impressive black line all through the car park !!!