Any tips for taming the 'Dragon'?

[Woodsrider]

Weekday, end of season is real good (I like it in October personally). Stay a few days and hit Cherahola Skyway, pop through Maggie Valley and down to the Casino, lots to do.

My last ride on it was an FJR and I did it once 2up with the wife and then went back and soloed for a sportier experience, it's a lot of fun but watch out......cars and bikes will swing wide into your lane, so don't push the envelope, you need an escape route.

I hope to go back there this fall, don't know if I'll take Spyder or my old water buffalo.

 

[Ex Winger]

Been there not going back.Nice road Nice country but the idiots that can,t ride or think they can.Can kill you.First time there saw 2 crashes in less than a mile.Female rider crossed the line almost hit me then went into the ditch.We stoped to help then another rider crossed the line scraping the chrome of his bike but kept it up.If you go ride early or mid week
Bill

 

[Oldmanzues]

Legend and the sticker/pin/tee shirt are the reason the fame of the Dragon. I would say Ohio 555 (used to be 666) is a much more technical road to ride at speed. Lots of good roads already talked about on here. Will not repeat them.

The thing about riding any road, Ride your ride, not somebody elses. If they are trying to push you. let them go, do not ride over your skill level. In my younger days, I was riding a ST1100 and passed a guy on the Dragon( not over the yellow line). He sped up to keep up/pass and crashed, saw him Go down. His bike was a lot better then mine, real pocket rocket, his skill was less. I think he lived but left in a medic unit.
It has been said and with good reason, there are no bad roads in WV, Ky, Tn. I found lots of good ones on my CB750F, ST1100, Spyder GS and a whole lot slower on my 2010 RT
Oldmanzues

 

[pickelhead]

I am not dissing it just not understanding the mystic about it?
In my opinion it has or gets way too much "fan fair" for a road in the hills. I just cannot relate to it being on many other roads far more extreme through-out the country!

And yes I watched a cycle video of the entire road! So even though I have not ridden it, I just don't get the "fan fair" it gets......

I mean my god.... It's like the most talked about road on this forum! Again I just don't get it.

I am not dissing it... just saying it's not that big deal of a road based on many I have been on out here in the west.

Bob

The DRAGON is one of the most famous if not the most famous motorcycle rides in North America, if not the world. It has 318 curves in 11 miles, ranking it number one as the curviest road in the USA. I'm sure there are other routes that are also fun to ride, but there is only 1 "Tail of the DRAGON"!

 

[MikeP]

I am not dissing it just not understanding the mystic about it?
In my opinion it has or gets way too much "fan fair" for a road in the hills. I just cannot relate to it being on many other roads far more extreme through-out the country!

And yes I watched a cycle video of the entire road! So even though I have not ridden it, I just don't get the "fan fair" it gets......

I mean my god.... It's like the most talked about road on this forum! Again I just don't get it.

I am not dissing it... just saying it's not that big deal of a road based on many I have been on out here in the west.

Bob

Well yeah ,, you are kinda dissing it... You watched the video and you think you can get the change in elevation or the tightness of the corners both banked and offset??? I've been all over this country / Big mountains n little and the Dragon is a hoot if you have no traffic... Been through there at insane speeds dragging knees in the corners on my sport bike and flat out embarrassed Rickey Racer types in full leathers on my 1200 GS ADVENTURE... I can't even believe you think you can comment on a road ,,, you never rode by watching a video! I'd be embarrassed to type that..

 

[MikeP]

OK doing a little research I think I get it.

Out there, there are not many roads that are as big a challenge. This "Tail of the Dragon" is one of them. Thus it gets a lot of attention.

Out in the West we have MANY MANY roads like that all over the place! So I think I get why I am so numb to the entire "Tail of the Dragon" thing and not impressed. It's because out here, it's a norm outside of the cities in just about any rural mountain roads!

Demographics I think

Trust,,,, if I was out there I would want to ride that road! I am sure it is a challenge and to be honest I might have to add it to my bucket list. But in the end I have a feeling I will have been on far more challenging roads already.

Bob

You've been on far more challenging roads ????? Many Many roads like that ALL over the place??? Name 3,,,,, with 318 curves in 11 miles... Name three with the changes in elevation with so many off camber turns / That's when you go into a corner that tightens up as the road surface is going away "Extreme opposite of banked" People travel from all over the world to ride Deals Gap,, The "Dragon" and although the world is full of nice roads,,, anyone who's actually RIDDEN the Dragon says : it lives up to the hype.. BTW it's a nice road to ride at a leisurelypace toooo if you're not being pushed by fast traffic!!!

 

[MikeP]

Lots of good advice for the op in this thread:: like ,,ride your own ride,, be careful n have fun.. Do it a few times n try to get s rhythm goin.. Pay attention and enjoy it!!! It really is a hoot and a roller coaster as someone else described..

 

[blacklightning]

We have a group that goes to the Maggie Valley/Gatlinburg area every year (7 years running). This year we will be there from 6/10-6/14. There will be atleast 3 spyders in our group this year. Normally we do the dragon on a Thursday or Friday to avoid traffic. We will be doing about 300 miles each day and riding each and every road from parts of Georgia, N.C., S.C., and Tenn. So, don't just do the dragon, hit the surrounding areas. They are all loads of fun for different reasons.

 

[finless]

You've been on far more challenging roads ????? Many Many roads like that ALL over the place??? Name 3,,,,, with 318 curves in 11 miles... Name three with the changes in elevation with so many off camber turns / That's when you go into a corner that tightens up as the road surface is going away "Extreme opposite of banked" People travel from all over the world to ride Deals Gap,, The "Dragon" and although the world is full of nice roads,,, anyone who's actually RIDDEN the Dragon says : it lives up to the hype.. BTW it's a nice road to ride at a leisurelypace toooo if you're not being pushed by fast traffic!!!

Not hard out here!

Here is just one but I can name probably 50 or more just in our local mountains.

Highway 39 from Azusa to Cyrstal Lake Café. Click the link.

24 miles, probably 1,000 curves and an elevation change of 4,000 feet.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/34....d4e700cd1c0!2m2!1d-117.835176!2d34.324238!3e0

Want more?

OK here is another route to the same location. One stretch of that is what you see in my video above. 34 miles and FAR more challenging corners and switch backs. Many many hair pin turns. I could try to count the corners but I am sure it's close to 2,000 and probably more than that!

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/34....d4e700cd1c0!2m2!1d-117.835176!2d34.324238!3e0

Want more? All I have to do is move east 20 miles and go up yet another mountain.

Have you ever been in the Rockies or Sierra Madres? These are mountain ranges! 1,000's of very challenging roads people die on every year. They just don't get the fame.

The many roads we have just in or local San Gabriel or San Bernardino mountains are extreme twisties because in 20 miles you can change altitude 5,000.

Bob

 

[dlby]

Sounds awesome!

One of the most beutifull and peaceful places around

 

[MikeP]

Not hard out here!

Here is just one but I can name probably 50 or more just in our local mountains.

Highway 39 from Azusa to Cyrstal Lake Café. Click the link.

24 miles, probably 1,000 curves and an elevation change of 4,000 feet.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/34....d4e700cd1c0!2m2!1d-117.835176!2d34.324238!3e0

Want more?

OK here is another route to the same location. One stretch of that is what you see in my video above. 34 miles and FAR more challenging corners and switch backs. Many many hair pin turns. I could try to count the corners but I am sure it's close to 2,000 and probably more than that!

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/34....d4e700cd1c0!2m2!1d-117.835176!2d34.324238!3e0

Want more? All I have to do is move east 20 miles and go up yet another mountain.

Have you ever been in the Rockies or Sierra Madres? These are mountain ranges! 1,000's of very challenging roads people die on every year. They just don't get the fame.

The many roads we have just in or local San Gabriel or San Bernardino mountains are extreme twisties because in 20 miles you can change altitude 5,000.

Bob

SERIOUSLY ????? All your PROBABLY statements mean zero !!!! Been all over the Rockies as well as Sierra Madres on road off road... I stick by my posts.. I don't know how anyone can bring anything to a conversation about a road they haven't ridden by watching a video... You should PROBABLY stick to what you know instead commenting on something you don't.. But you Probably won't..

 

[DrewNJ]

I think I've been replaced. ...

 

[finless]

He is free to click on the route I posted and count the corners. No probably about it then. Clearly just looking at it you can see more corners than 318. I am not going to spend the time so whatever....

Bob

 

[asp125]

The Dragon (IMHO) is a sportbike road. Folks go there because of the reputation, thinking they have something to prove. On a Spyder it's way more physical than on two wheels; you're trying to throw 700+lbs of trike around. For us it was a "been there tried it once to see what the fuss is all about" road. I much preferred it on my sportbike. The Skyway and others in the area are frankly, better for the riding experience. Best time to ride the NC/TN loops is weekdays - no worries about sport bikes buzzing you or pulling your hair out behind some Harley leather parade. The eastern backroads are (IMO) difficult because of the trees right against the side of the road, the cover going from sun to shade all the time.

We traveled to both coasts last year in our toyhauler. Hands down, the mountain roads in SoCal beat the TN roads! Nicer pavement, good sightlines, faster speeds; even if you are knee down in second gear. Santa Monica mountain roads offer the technical challenge of the Dragon and incredible views. Eg: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/34....0x80e823b9d4e195b7:0x38e4b9bde32e8231!1m0!3e0 From the Rock Store to PCH via Mulholland and Latigo Cyn.

Different strokes for different folks.

 

[MikeP]

This is NOT about counting corners faster speeds nicer scenery / We are very fortunate to have lots of that all over the country... The beginning and END of this debate which it clearly is not,,, is that an opinion based on no exposure is just plain blowing smoke... It's like me havin a conversation about goin to the moon with an astronaut / He's been there and all I can bring to the discussion is to jump on a milk crate and point up towards it... It's that simple..

 

[ARtraveler]

Ohhh, ohhhhhh, seems we got into another fight over tips and hints for doing the Dragon.

No reason for it. Really.

There are many rides all over the country that are similar. We all have our favorites and it is good to hear of other rides also.

How a person does a ride is their business. I prefer challenging rides on the low and slow. Others, that is their personal choice.

No reason to go for each others throats in the discussion.

Can we get back to the discussion, and take off the gloves? :dontknow: :bowdown:

 

[MikeP]

There is no fight anywhere.. I have no axe to grind w anyone on this forum... Mr Finless is probably a nice guy.. I think I've commented on the tips abt riding the Dragon on a previous post to the OP.. This clearly was / is not a gripe about my road is better than your road... We ride Spyders.. Let's have a guy come up to any one of us and comment abt how odd he thinks it might be to ride one,, nor understand what the hype is about.. It certainly doesn't have to turn into a roadside fight by saying "Go try it,, then you'll have an opinion based on knowing vs thinking.".. I wouldn't ask my roadside buddy for a recommendation on restaurants he's never been to either... Safe riding no matter where you're at and how many curves there are

 

[Rottieluvr]

Well, I rode the dragon 4 times. Down and back with Mrs. Down and back solo. Yes it is a lot of turns and Spyder gave arms a workout. Did give "Nanny" a workout also. She shut me down at times I 'thought' things were in control, but may have been for the best. Also rode afew other backroads that were a lot more scenic. Now I can say 'been there, done that' which sums it up. Won't be back.

 

[finless]

Won't be back.

Why? Because it was not fun? Too challenging? Not challenging enough?

Bob

 

[Deer Slayer]

The Dragon is overrated! Too much hype and children in small cars with noisy exhaust. Give me all the roads around the Dragon. :f_spider: