Will it be too tricky to get motorbike through this gate????

[TheBear650]

Hi

Hoping for some help as I’m clueless. I’m about to buy my first bike for 20 years and in all the excitement failed to compare the width of the front gate with the width of the bike I decided on.

It’s a BMW G650GS Sertao so the bars are fairly wide - 920 mm ( incl mirrors). The gateway is 2ft deep and once the gate and posts are removed it ranges from 930 mm at its narrowest (house side) to just over a metre at its widest (road side) so it will fit....just! I don’t think pushing the mirrors in will make much difference so we’re looking at very tight squeeze.

The issue is that there is a 6 inch step from the gateway straight on to a (fairly quiet village) road, between two parked cars albeit one is mine and i can move it to make space. I can put down a small ramp, but when you consider the tight squeeze it gets complicated. Especially when I’ll be trying to press up against the bike to squeeze through the gateway alongside it.

Lastly, I live on a hill. Not particularly steep, but just adds to the challenge in terms of balance.

Gateway can’t be widened easily. It will be costly and will look odd.

Some mates have said it will be fine, and one of those things that will get easier with practice and confidence. Just wonder if anyone else has any experience. Should I man-up and tackle the challenge, of is it a bad idea?

I love the bike, and don’t really know what other “beginner” adventure bike would be better in terms of width. Possibly enduro bike would be thinner and lighter, so that would be a last resort.

Thanks in advance

Tim

[KurtFlew]

Make a ramp and ride it in and out slowly each time.

[MrGman]

I tackled a gate like that with the drop for a year, I just rode the bike through slowly, never had an issue.

[Ed.]

Looks like there's room to turn around once in, how much is the odd bar end scuff going to bother you?

[moanthebairns]

One things for sure, id be putting a latch on the other side of the gate so when it's windy it doesn't smash your face and bike to fk.

[Steve Bass]

At 90...... no problem

[untakenname]

Moving the gate back to the rear of the wall instead on the side would give a few more cm.

[Google [bot]]

How tall are you? The G is quite a tall bike and when your front wheel is up the step and your back isn’t it adds to that. Ask me how I know.

[Drawweight]

untakenname said:

Moving the gate back to the rear of the wall instead on the side would give a few more cm.

Like he said.

Put the posts at the back of the wall, buy a wider gate.

Oh and hinge it from the other side so it can swing completely out of the way.

That’ll give you a lot more room.

[mickyh7]

My mate had this problem with a Harley and a Brick Archway.
He cut an inch off each side of the Handlebars.
They were straight bars IIRC it was 30 years ago!
No problems after that, and it didn't affect the ride.

[Mabbs9]

Maybe some sacrificial bar end protectors too would stop you wincing if there's a tiny scrape, even if it costs you a few mm in width.

It'll be like a kickstart obstacle

[Carl-H]

That gateway doesn't look particularly tall. Would the bars on an adventure bike pass above or is it just the camera angle throwing me?

I have to bring my bikes through a front door. It's tiny, about 750mm I think. Every bike needs the bars feeding through but luckily I don't have to travel 2 ft forward like yourself so it wouldn't be an option if so. The indicators have 10mm clearance either side and it's up a step in and down a small step out. Plus I don't have room to turn round inside really so I have to take it out backwards. Proper faff, yours looks nice and easy in comparison. Just always ride it in and the steps not a problem.

[SteelerSE]

Carl-H said:

That gateway doesn't look particularly tall. Would the bars on an adventure bike pass above or is it just the camera angle throwing me?

That's what I was thinking. If the bar ends go over normal car mirrors then surely they'll go over the gate too?

[TheBear650]

Thanks for all the replies. Very kind.

Good to hear no one is telling me it would be a complete nightmare.

The photo is a bit misleading - the gap is way higher than the bars. Also, taking off the gate has already been factored in the measurements. I’ll have to reposition as suggested.

In answer to one post - I’m not the tallest (5ft 9) so take the point re that being an issue when bike has one wheel up the step and I’m stood on the road. I think if I use a ramp that should negate that issue when I’m stood on it, if pushing not riding up.

Had another thought. If riding out would be better than pushing, I could pause mid gap using the depth of the gateway to rest the handlebar end on the wall before resetting and dropping down a ramp /step on to the road. A two stage manoeuvre to help me get set properly. I presume I could roll through in neutral without an issue?

I’m not it any way precious about scuffs of bars etc. Prefer to have a battered bike than no bike at all. Will no doubt get dropped frequently by me anyway on the green lanes.

Cheers

[Pizzaeatingking]

Go for it, I had a CB500 for my first bike and my rear gate is quite small. Managed to wiggle it in and out well enough, had to go at a bit of an angle and turn the bars while leaning it but never dropped it. I always done it while on the bike too.

[Drawweight]

Might sir consider a redesign of his ramp?



Although getting back out might be tricky.

It doesn’t look like you have much run up there .

[Google [bot]]

I’m 6ft1 and I came a cropper.

I stupidly stalled at that point and couldn’t get both feet down, as you’ll need to do in your situation.

Great bike though!

Edited by Google [bot] on Saturday 6th June 07:53

[GriffoDP]

I can only add that when I got my 1250GS I realised it was slightly too wide to fit through the rear garage door... which I'd specifically bought and fitted the widest version of for my old K1300S! I got it narrow enough to waggle through by removing the hand guards when I want to put the bike in the back garden. As the weights came off too it took off easily 50-60mm I think. Made all the difference!

But I guess if you want to be riding it and remove the guards you'd still want bar end weights, thus making my whole post pointless! Unless someone makes slim weights. Good luck and I hope you enjoy the other 99% of the time when you're on the road .

[A500leroy]

definitely ride it through dont push it, ask me how i know.