Cattle grids

[gundog]

Hey, I live in the scottish highlands which means lots of cattle grids. These are obvously unavoidable if one is in your path, whats the best way over them, i assume at a reduced speed but just looking to clarify.

[defblade]

Cross at right-angles to the bars (that is as straight across as possible). I like to stand on the pegs and take the bumps with my knees. Watch for wet/frost on the bars as the metal may be colder than the ground in general.
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[aaronb74]

Stop, get off the bike, lift the bars so that the front wheel is off the ground, then slowly walk across. 50 points for each car sitting in the queue behind you
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[Carl_steveo]

Go over it at fast as you can with your feet out infront of you shout weeeeeeee.
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[stinkwheel]

The bad things that can potentially happen are:
1) Sliding sideways on it.
2) Skidding
3) Spinning a wheel up.

So ensure you are:
1) Not leaning over, keep bolt upright.
2) Don't brake on them.
3) Don't accelerate as you're going over them.

There is always a warning sign first. By the time you get to the grid, make sure you're going straight across it with the bike upright and a neutral throttle position.

There are only two I've encountered in Scotland (and I've been on most Scottish roads) that were on a corner. You see the warning sign, think "Hell, they wouldn't possibly have been so stupid." then realise they have. In this case, I've always opted for sitting the bike up as I went over then laying it down again to complete the corner once I was back on tarmac again.

If you're going too fast to do this. You're going too fast altogether and you'll be taken out by something else anyway.
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[gundog]

Cheers for the advice peeps

[DrDonnyBrago]

[aaronb74]

[adama]

I always glide over them, no throttle, no lean, no movement...and thats in the dry haha. Just go straight over though, dont go turning on them
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[colin1]

There is another bad thing that can happen.

The bars lie across some supports, and in some cases, the supports may be worn, or the bars may be bowed, so that riding across is no longer like riding across something flat. Sometimes some bars can even be broken.

I lost the sump plug to my oil pan by going across such a dodgy cattle grid. Fortunately I had breakdown cover to get me back from Cornwall to Dudley.

Now, I always assess the condition of the cattle grid before I get to it.

Where possible, I ride of the bit of the bars that is supported.

If I didnt like the look of the cattle grid, I'd stop and look before risking the same accident.
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[metalangel]

I go across one every day, just be straight and gentle, coast right across. Be especially gentle if it's wet as they can be very slippery.

Look at it as you approach, make sure there's no potholes where the tarmac ends and the bars begin. Also beware of crafty sheep who lie down and roll across to get over them :p
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[Kal]

[stinkwheel]

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

Clutch it up and hoick a large wheelie over it.
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[Clanger]

Hit them straight on, and let momentum do the work. That is don't brake and don't accelerate.
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[Tank19Josh]

Carl Stevo ... i enjoy reading your comment lol
Go as fast as you can over it shouting weeeee ... LEGENDARY

i would go down to 5mph and put your feet down, once your commited, dont look back! once your commited you cant go back!

Josh
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[Louise]

I like to go slow... I like the feel . . .

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

^^^ At 18mph i sometimes go firm.


Pat
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[Hazylogic]

just wang it

[Acemastr]

Don't put your feet down, i can imagine your foot getting caught and ripping the bones/tendons in your ankle to shreds
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[Tank19Josh]

Not put your feet down, just out of the pegs ...
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[kate t]

I always hold my breath because I think something bad is going to happen when I go over them - nothing ever does

I just slow down (a bit)

[kate t]

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

^^^I haven't taken you as pillion have i ?
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[kate t]