[Suzuki new guy!]

Road over my first bridge grate the other day. Major thrill.
Hough in Street Strategies says, "small steering and throttle adjustments and enjoy the ride."
Easier said then done. Those little gyroscopic adjustments the bike normally makes are temporarilly put on hold. Just something we have to get used to. I guess that it's more anxiety provoking then dangerous? Hopefully!
:roll:

 

[SuzukiGirl1]

Yeah, I hate those bridges!!! I always find myself holding my breath, and chanting in my head, "Let the bike do what it wants, it'll be fine, keep your hands loose, go with it..." and then let out a big sigh of relief when I roll onto the pavement on the other side!

 

[stp1971]

Haven't encountered those things yet,,, I guess I need to read more on those things if I am planning on riding my bike to the coastline.

 

[Louis]

These are pretty unnerving. One of our five bridges has a metal grating on one direction (probably was the most cost effective to make the bridge larger at the time) for about 400 to 500 meters (about 1200-1500 feet). I tried it the other day. I did not like it. The bike was steering smoothly but it felt like riding on pure ice.

Don't know if it would be worst or not but on that bridge, the grating was all aligned. Probably would feel it more if each row was offset but would it provide more traction?

The close route to the States goes through Ogdensburg. The bridge is metal grating for about a mile!!!

 

[Trapper]

If you happen to dump the bike, make sure you make fists with your hands if you would like to keep your fingers.

 

[stp1971]

Oh great thought,, I wonder what the penalty is to stop prior to the grates and just walk it across,,, of course as Louis said if there is one for a mile,, then maybe I would try to find the long way around. Is it any better if you go really slow? Or does it suck at any speed?

 

[SuzukiGirl1]

You want to go at a normal speed. You don't want to go too slow. Your bike handles it well, you just want to let the handlebars move with the flow.

 

[ChicsterMG]

Yeah, just take it easy. Don't accelerate quickly, the back tire could come around. I had this happen. Thankfully, I was the only one on the bridge and was able to correct. I just walked it accross on the sidewalk or went around it after that.

They have sinse paved it.

 

[ArmaghKev]

Went up to Port Jevis NY last Saturday for a ride, damn if I didn't find a grated bridge,a good 1/4 mile or more I'd guess, was reading about riding on one just the day before, nothing gets you ready for it, but like every-one has said, maintain your speed, lighten up on the steering and let the bike guide itself, un-nerving but not dangerous. What sucked is after breathing a sigh of relief I realized I'd have to cross it again to get home!!! Sheesh

 

[Hunter]

Roads that are being set for repaving feel the same.

 

[Ride-or-die]

sorry my ignorance but what are they, some sort of bridge covered by a metal grate that affects steering?

 

[intimid8er]

Roads that are being set for repaving feel the same.

Amen to that brother.

 

[Trapper]

 

[simplegame]

In Oregon they groove the concrete on some bridges; it's just about like metal grating.
They post warning signs with a picture of a motorcycle on the sign. Never really had any trouble it's just a mental thing and once you have traveled across it a few times you don't even think about it anymore. Fortunately the state is low on money and does not groove concrete any more so the old stuff is wearing smooth and I doubt they will have the funds to do any more bridges.
The only way to stop wild government spending, is there any other kind, is to cut off their money supply. In Oregon I think we are doing a fairly good job of that because the government is screaming like a stuck pig, and trying to squeeze every last dime out of us with increased fees and taxes that we can’t vote on.

 

[stp1971]

Bad metal crap!!!

sorry my ignorance but what are they, some sort of bridge covered by a metal grate that affects steering?

I have drove across them in my Duallie before going across a bridge that goes into Ohio,, my rear end felt like it was fish tailing everywhere,, did not like it,, I can only imagine what it feels like on a bike???? :|

But that is a good pic of what they are Trapper. :mrgreen:

 

[zot]

I picked up a kid on a bicycle that had wiped out on one of those bridges once and brought him to the hospital. He had flaps of skin torn off his knees and hands. Those things are major dangerous. If you wipe out on one of those with a bike, which can happen quite easily (metal can be real slippery) it's like sliding on a meat grater. They scare the crap out of me, especially the ones with the grate going at an angle.

 

[stp1971]

There should be some sort of law passed or the Highway department should make an alternate route available that motorcyclist have that option to take versus that being the only way to get across. If the highway departments know that they are dangerous then they know they are putting people at risk. If there answer is that motorcyclists shouldn't cross them then,, well that is infringing on our rights.

But that is just my opinion,, if there is something to sign in protest let me know,, I'll sign it.

 

[Ride-or-die]

thanks for the picture, so basicaly it is just the material that some of your bridges are made out of, doesnt seem too clever, especially when wet, as even if u go over a metal drain in the wet you can lose grip so i avoid them like the plague. so why do they build them out of that metal work, cheap? its like an unfinished job, surely it could be concreted over the top?

 

[stp1971]

You know,,, you would think so,, maybe it's good for water not standing,, but then again,, water does run downhill,, I think it is a cost effective thing they use,, maybe for joint expansion or something,,,but nonetheless,,,,STUPID IDEA!!!!! For bikes as well as other vehicles.

 

[St0nkingByte]

Be especially cautious of the ones that say 'do not change lanes' recently there was a woman here who simply changed lanes on a metal grate bridge in her SUV and spun out of control and into a big panel truck. Basically you need to set yourself up in the lane position and speed that you want to cross the entire grate at before you get on the grate and then concentrate on making no changes in speed/direction until you get off the grate. I find concentrating closely on throttle control distracts me from the pure panic that the bike wiggling like it does on grate causes.