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Tail of the dragon

Scotts8826

Scotts8826

Member
I am mapping out a potential summer trip that will take me to Deal's Gap and the Tail of the Dragon. I will be coming in from the west (Knoxville). What are some good websites to visit to help with the planning? Any personal experiences or suggestions you can pass along? It will take me a couple of days ride just to get there so I don't want to overlook any stops, sights or restaurants that will enhance my trip. My end destination will be the Outer Banks for a family reunion.
 
Personally.. the Dragon itself is worth it to ride once, to see what the big deal is. It's a lot of work, on a Spyder; you will get a workout throwing it into those tight corners. IMHO the Cherohala Skyway is more of a Spyder road - mostly sweepers. There are many other fun roads in the area - The Devil's Triangle etc over into the NC side.

Friends of ours stayed in Tellico Plains, a quiet town with a good cafe (Tellico Plains Bakery) and there are some nice B&Bs
 
I liked NC 28 and the Cherohala Skyway too. Foothills Parkway on the north side of the dragon. Cades Cove in the Smokey Mountain Park. We stayed in Robbinsville NC at the Microtel, folks were nice and the area is accommodating to bikers.
 
The North Carolina mountains are full of great roads. One of my favorites is Hwy 80 out of Marion going up to the Blue Ridge Parkway.

The Tail of the Dragon is nice to do once, but it is very dangerous due to the crazy Crotch Rockets that pass you on the turns. At the start of the tail on the NC side there is a tree called the Tree of Shame. Attached to it are pieces of crotch rockets that didn't make it.
 
I use Trip Advisor for planning my stay-overs.

Rides - Don't forget the Rattler, north of Maggie Valley

If you want to take some time for some fun rides going or coming, cut across northern Arkansas. I don't remember the roads, but someone here will put you onto them.

Have fun!
 
I know everyone has to do the Dragon once but there are many better roads in the same area.

If you are determined to do the Dragon come at it from Deal's Gap north to Maryville.

I assume you will be coming in on I40 so plan to get off and go to highway 68 east down into Tellico Plains. The Lodge at Tellico is a great place to stay and it is right on 68 just as you come into town. Walt and Anna run the place and it is reasonable, clean and they even have a garage for motorcycles (yes, Spyders fit too).

Then you can take the Cherohala Skyway east out of Tennessee, into North Carolina and hit Highway 129 (The Dragon) going north to Maryville and then Knoxville.

Coming out of Kansas you'll probably want to stay on I 40 to make good time but if time isn't a big deal take 209 off of I 40 and go north to Hot Springs. That road is the Rattler and well worth the ride. You can then follow back roads east to get over to Asheville and back on I 40 or get on the Blue Ridge Parkway for a half day or more.

A good site to plan a ride is the Harley Davidson Ride planner. Once you have the route set you can easily transfer it to the Can Am, Garmin 660.

We did the Outer Banks in October and stayed off of the interstates all the way. Be sure to travel route 12 all the way down the length of Cape Hatteras and take the 2-1/2 hour ferry from Oracoke back to the mainland. Also worth the time.
 
Double Trouble said:
I know everyone has to do the Dragon once but there are many better roads in the same area.

If you are determined to do the Dragon come at it from Deal's Gap north to Maryville.

I assume you will be coming in on I40 so plan to get off and go to highway 68 east down into Tellico Plains. The Lodge at Tellico is a great place to stay and it is right on 68 just as you come into town. Walt and Anna run the place and it is reasonable, clean and they even have a garage for motorcycles (yes, Spyders fit too).

Then you can take the Cherohala Skyway east out of Tennessee, into North Carolina and hit Highway 129 (The Dragon) going north to Maryville and then Knoxville.

Coming out of Kansas you'll probably want to stay on I 40 to make good time but if time isn't a big deal take 209 off of I 40 and go north to Hot Springs. That road is the Rattler and well worth the ride. You can then follow back roads east to get over to Asheville and back on I 40 get on the Blue Ridge Parkway for a half day or more.

A good site to plan a ride is the Harley Davidson Ride planner. Once you have the route set you can easily transfer it to the Can Am, Garmin 660.

We did the Outer Banks in October and stayed off of the interstates all the way. Be sure to travel route 12 all the way down the length of Cape Hatteras and take the 2-12 hour ferry from Oracoke back to the mainland. Also worth the time.
Click to expand...


Good information.

But I-40 doesn't go through Kansas. But he can catch it by going through Oklahoma.
 
Do yourself a favor and plan out your trip so you ride the dragon mid week! Avoid Friday through Sunday, that road gets very very busy on the weekend and not just bikes.
 
These are some of the ideas I was hoping for. Certainly, Tail of the Dragon has the reputation but it's good to read about other rides that may be more enjoyable on an RT. I'm planning on two days to get from Kansas City to Knoxville. Another two days to enjoy the Deals Gap area and get to Outer Banks.
 
While you are at it do the Blue Ridge parkway and the Chimney Rock national park, well worth it, :doorag:
 
Come to the Maggie Valley meet and greet on 6/10-6/14. I will be there along with at least one other spyder, and a crap load of M109's. We have been doing the area for the past 7 years, and can show you places that you have always heard of, and some places that you will never find on a map. Going to be a great time. I just cannot wait to do it on a spyder this year.:ohyea:
 
Tail of

These are some of the roads I have ridden over the past few years all are challenging, some more so than others, and definitely agree that the Cherhola is the most Spyder friendly. I haven't ridden these on my Spyder yet, still learning what it will do, but have on 2 wheels. More experience and I will tackle them
on the Spyder.

http://dealsgap.com/index.html
http://www.tailofthedragon.com/ (This website lists a and describes several of the ones I have listed)
http://www.cherohala.com/
http://www.shadyvalleycountrystore.com/
http://www.wheelsthroughtime.com/component/option,com_frontpage/Itemid,1/
http://backofthedragon.com/

http://devilstriangletn.com/ (Be sure to visit this site and pay heed to the warnings. It ain't for inexperienced folks)

These 2 can be ridden easily in the same day as they are only a few miles apart and makes a nice loop if you return to Little Switzerland on the Blueridge Parkway.

http://www.diamondbacknc.com/
http://www.thedevilnc80.com/store.html



These 2 can be ridden easily in the same day Lake Junaluska and Waynesville are only about 10 minutes from one another.
http://www.209therattler.com/index.html

http://www.motorcycleroads.com/75/1335/North-Carolina/The-Copperhead-Loop.html (This one IMO it is
best to turn rt on 215 for the southern trip and take 276 for the return North. Doing so allows you to be facing Looking Glass Falls and Sliding Rock as you head North.
 
Scotts8826 said:
I am mapping out a potential summer trip that will take me to Deal's Gap and the Tail of the Dragon. I will be coming in from the west (Knoxville). What are some good websites to visit to help with the planning? Any personal experiences or suggestions you can pass along? It will take me a couple of days ride just to get there so I don't want to overlook any stops, sights or restaurants that will enhance my trip. My end destination will be the Outer Banks for a family reunion.
Click to expand...

http://tailofthedragon.com/
 
Grandpot said:
The North Carolina mountains are full of great roads. One of my favorites is Hwy 80 out of Marion going up to the Blue Ridge Parkway.

The Tail of the Dragon is nice to do once, but it is very dangerous due to the crazy Crotch Rockets that pass you on the turns. At the start of the tail on the NC side there is a tree called the Tree of Shame. Attached to it are pieces of crotch rockets that didn't make it.
Click to expand...

Sportbikes pass you if you are unwilling to use the pull off's. If you are slow you should be willing to get your ass out of the way. The tree of shame contains the parts of not only sportbikes but cruisers and others as well. Cruisers cause most of the problems on the Dragon.
 
clinard said:
These are some of the roads I have ridden over the past few years all are challenging, some more so than others, and definitely agree that the Cherhola is the most Spyder friendly. I haven't ridden these on my Spyder yet, still learning what it will do, but have on 2 wheels. More experience and I will tackle them
on the Spyder.

http://dealsgap.com/index.html
http://www.tailofthedragon.com/ (This website lists a and describes several of the ones I have listed)
http://www.cherohala.com/
http://www.shadyvalleycountrystore.com/
http://www.wheelsthroughtime.com/component/option,com_frontpage/Itemid,1/
http://backofthedragon.com/

http://devilstriangletn.com/ (Be sure to visit this site and pay heed to the warnings. It ain't for inexperienced folks)

These 2 can be ridden easily in the same day as they are only a few miles apart and makes a nice loop if you return to Little Switzerland on the Blueridge Parkway.

http://www.diamondbacknc.com/
http://www.thedevilnc80.com/store.html



These 2 can be ridden easily in the same day Lake Junaluska and Waynesville are only about 10 minutes from one another.
http://www.209therattler.com/index.html

http://www.motorcycleroads.com/75/1335/North-Carolina/The-Copperhead-Loop.html (This one IMO it is
best to turn rt on 215 for the southern trip and take 276 for the return North. Doing so allows you to be facing Looking Glass Falls and Sliding Rock as you head North.
Click to expand...

I am very happy and proud to say that I have ridden all of the ones listed above, except for the last one. Of all these, the most unfriendly was the Devil's Triangle. The road was terrible, and dangerous. It is one of the roads that you should do only if you want to mark it off a bucket list. It is not that great, and definitely not for the inexperienced. Even most sport bike riders I know avoid this road because there are so many others that are nicer.
 
The Devils Triangle has been paved and although it has been a few months since I've rode it, it was in great shape then. 209 is probably my favorite.
 
All the above are great but take some time & just visit lookout mt in Chattanooga TN. & try hang glide for a blast! Was towed up by an ultralight 2200ft & awesome! First trip was wrk related in a cage got to go back this yr on spyder for the fun, Gonna stretch on out to marker 0 in key west as well, back in time for spyders on the bayou & spyderfest shortly there after. Hope to see you out there


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