Many motorcyclists who ride not only on asphalt encounter the problem of needing to cross a railway line where there is no proper crossing. In the case of a road motorcycle with its low ground clearance, it’s complicated. If you don’t have a folding ramp with you, the simplest solution is probably to look for another place to cross the railway line.
If, however, you have an enduro motorcycle, there are options. On a light enduro without luggage, and with the appropriate skills, you can simply jump over the tracks (if the terrain allows).
However, this is not always possible for one reason or another. For example, if you have a heavy tour enduro or it’s heavily loaded with luggage, such a trick could end with you flying over the handlebars or worse. If you are in a group, you can carry the motorcycles one by one, manually lifting the wheels over the rails. This is quite labor-intensive and takes a long time. However, there is a faster method. The only thing is that it requires some preparation in advance.
Preparation to cross railroad tracks on motorcycle
You need to take a short, thick log, which will need to be split into four pieces (you will only need two of them). It’s preferable to use a log with rough bark.
Choose a spot where the tracks are clearly visible in both directions to avoid accidents. Place one piece of wood at a right angle to the rail on the outside. If possible, position it between the sleepers or between the bolts, so that it has support not only perpendicular to the rail but also parallel.
Place the second piece on the inner side of the second rail at some distance. The distance depends on the wheelbase of the motorcycle, but in our experience, even the shortest motorcycle, if it is not a pit bike, cannot fit strictly perpendicular to the rails in length.
After that, the motorcycle can easily and effortlessly go over the rails without fear of scraping its belly or getting stuck between the rails, as often happens when carrying it by hand. At the same time, the motorcycle can be led “by the reins” or ridden, this depends on your motorcycle handling skills and the specific situation.
