Tail Of The Dragon

[oldguyinTX]

Having never seen it, much less ridden it, I am really glad I saw this. Makes me want to leave now for the Blue Ridge Mountains.

http://www.autoblog.com/2013/12/12/...=maing-grid7|main5|dl33|sec3_lnk3&pLid=489947

 

[Bob Denman]

:shocked: Can I join you??
We're just going to have to figure out a way for a Caravan of us Northeasteners to make the trip! :2thumbs:

 

[oldguyinTX]

:shocked: Can I join you??
We're just going to have to figure out a way for a Caravan of us Northeasteners to make the trip! :2thumbs:

Bob, I have not shown this to my wife and neither should you. Soon as they see bikes crashing & semi trucks forcing people off of the road neither one of us will EVER ride it!

 

[Bob Denman]

:agree: We just keep our traps shut; and start planning! :thumbup:

 

[sddinnh]

I was down there last year on a BMW, but I ended up running it in the rain :gaah:

 

[ARCTIC]

I went to the killboy website and was amazed how many spyders went through on the most recent posted day. :2thumbs:

 

[Bob Denman]

I was down there last year on a BMW, but I ended up running it in the rain :gaah:

In that case; you'll have to be our Tour Guide! :2thumbs:

 

[sddinnh]

It's a really nice trip if you throw in Gettysburg, Skyline Drive, and the Blueridge Parkway. They're all right on the way, so you might just as well do them too.

 

[Bob Denman]

It would hardly be worth the effort, if you leave them out! :2thumbs:

 

[sddinnh]

It was a nice trip. I'm game as long as my health holds up.ray:

 

[Oldmanzues]

Made several trips down the Dragon. ST1100 Sport/tourer was great. 08 GS was great or greater, RT not so much. Not because the RT was not fun or willing, but my body was not up to it.
the sayings is Run the Dragon which I did on the ST and the GS. I kind of trotted the it on the RT.
All kinds of great roads down there, some mentioned, plus RT 209, which I thich they are calling the Rattle" now, 431 (Snake ?). Senic highway is the Cherohala Skyway ( go to GrahamCountytravel.com), great fun, great view, no gas or food. You can spend days riding around or just playing on the Dragon.
another group held Spyder in the Smokies down there for a couple years which I went to.
Lessons: the Police do give tickets. Is it possible to get one for 61 as in the vid, depends on you. Lots of good advice in the vid. Kilboy pics are great when you ride it.

Big and stand alone lesson: Do not let your butt override your brain. It is very easy to do. That person (guy or gal) is older then me/ I have a faster bike/I am more experienced the them and so on. The tree of Shame is real and the ride in a medic unit with the lights off is even worse. I have seen and helped at the scene of more then one accident down there.

but it sure is fun
Oldmanzues

 

[Bob Denman]

It's only 820 miles from Grahamsville, NY; to Robbinsville, NC...
That's one long day, and then a short hop for the commute! :thumbup:

635 miles, from here to Bristol, TN...
That leaves only a touch over three hours to get there on the second day...

 

[bscrive]

We did it in 2007 and it was a great ride. If you are going to do the Dragon just make sure that you do it on a weekday. We rode it on a Tuesday and it was not busy. The weekends are nuts. We also did Gettysburg, Skyline Drive, and the Blueridge Parkway. We happen to get to Gettysburg on the weekend of their recreation of the battle in July. Quite awesome. We were at the hotel across from the museum where the officer's camps were set up. We are going to do the Dragon again sometime.

 

[Chupaca]

Thanks..!!

great link with awesome video for us that are too far away to ryde it. Maybe some day...:2thumbs:hyea:

 

[Pennyrick]

Everyone has to do the Dragon once.

When we lived in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee we ran the Dragon often for afternoon outings. It was the first trip I took in the mid-70's when I got my brand new Z-28, then my Harley, then my GS 1000 Suzuki and finally on my Gold Wing Aspencade just before we got transferred across country.

As previous posters have mentioned there are some great roads in the area where you can enjoy a lot of scenery and have a good time. The Rattler (highway 209) is like a trip back in time from Waynesville, NC to Hot Springs, a 40 mile stretch of joy.

Highway 68 is called The Sidewinder and runs 31 miles with over 200 curves.

It runs out of Tellico Plains, TN where the Cherohala Parkway terminates.

Our favorite doesn't seem to have a name but it is Georgia Highway 60 runnning out of Dahlonega, Georgia north, through Suches to Blue Ridge, Georgia. It is 48 miles of mountain roads, with lots of curves. Not quite as dangerous as the Dragon although some of the curves are just as dicey. It doesn't get the traffic that the Dragon does and it is a lot prettier country to ride in.

 

[Bob Denman]

:shocked::bowdown:
Boys; how are we gonna break the news to our Better-Halves? :yikes:

 

[sddinnh]

:shocked::bowdown:
Boys; how are we gonna break the news to our Better-Halves? :yikes:

Not a problem :shocked:

 

[ARtraveler]

If anyone comes to Alaska, I can direct you to two different "Dragonlike" rydes. The upside, very high mountains, scenery to blow your socks off, and no semis or crazy other bikers to dodge.

One is 10 miles of curves and twisties, and the other is 13 miles of curves and twisties. I get to ride both several times a month.

 

[bruiser]

I did the dragon a few years back. Fun. But 209 is better. The Rattler. Runs out of Maggie Valley to Hot Springs NC.

On the Dragon, if you see an opposing rider tapping the top of his helmet it means a cop is up ahead.

 

[Bob Denman]

Not a problem :shocked:

pps: Sorry...
I can't even begin to imagine how much you long for this type of problem... nojoke

I'm trying to figure out how to take the minimum amount of time out of the office for this...
It almost looks possible...
Travel on Saturday and Sunday...
Run the Dragon, and start home on Monday...
Home on Tuesday!
Back at my desk on Wednesday... :shocked: