Tail of the Dragon
#41
09-27-2011 | 04:31 PM
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 149,359
Likes: 50,076
From: Southeast Michigan 15 Minutes East Of Hell
I did the TOD... once. IMHO it's not really worth it. There are far too many roads around the same area with just about the same twisties and MUCH less traffic. Between the tractor trailers, sports cars and especially the disrespectful sport bikes, (passing many times around blind turns) it wasn't really that enjoyable and I'm a Street Glide scraper. I LOVE hittin twisties hard and close to the limits of the bike. Don't get me wrong, it was fun... but I have no desire to do it again. Both myself and my buddies that rode down together had more fun on the roads to get there than on the actual TOD. Just in the time to go out and back we saw 3 street bikes either off the road completely down in ditches or wrecked into an oncoming car. There are ALOT of wannabees pushing wayyyy too hard trying to impress friends and worrying about how good their videos are going to come out. YouTube it and watch for yourself to get a feel of what it's like. There's my 2 cents...
#42
09-27-2011 | 09:10 PM
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,652
Likes: 4
From: The sticks in SC
#43
09-27-2011 | 09:24 PM
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 78
Likes: 1
From: Hinesville, Ga.
Rode it in early Aug. The day before our arrival sport biker was killed hitting the rear tandems on a semi in his lane.
Next day a Tn trooper followed a Semi up the hill, then stopped him and wrote him a citation for every time he had crossed the double yellows. I'm told he had a fist full of tickets.
#44
09-27-2011 | 10:00 PM
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 4,011
Likes: 297
From: Central Fl
I did the TOD... once. IMHO it's not really worth it. There are far too many roads around the same area with just about the same twisties and MUCH less traffic. Between the tractor trailers, sports cars and especially the disrespectful sport bikes, (passing many times around blind turns) it wasn't really that enjoyable and I'm a Street Glide scraper. I LOVE hittin twisties hard and close to the limits of the bike. Don't get me wrong, it was fun... but I have no desire to do it again. Both myself and my buddies that rode down together had more fun on the roads to get there than on the actual TOD. Just in the time to go out and back we saw 3 street bikes either off the road completely down in ditches or wrecked into an oncoming car. There are ALOT of wannabees pushing wayyyy too hard trying to impress friends and worrying about how good their videos are going to come out. YouTube it and watch for yourself to get a feel of what it's like. There's my 2 cents...
Yeah that. It's a fukin road. Period! In my opinion it is one of the most over rated roads in the country. What makes it dangerous is ******** riding over their head and others that just don't belong on any road much less the dragon. It is a tourist area plain and simple. The locals make money promoting the road and so called ''experts'' will tell you what a treacherous place it is. If you think HD shirts are over priced check out deals gap. On the other hand there are some beautiful riding areas and if you are into toothless women Robbinsville is the place to be.
#45
09-28-2011 | 06:30 AM
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,000
Likes: 5
From: S.E. NC
+1 ... Been there, done that. Once was enough. Way too congested and far too many rookie riders who think they are "knee draggers" There are far too many other great roads in the area. Here is a link to a map that provides information on great brides in and around the area that will keep you riding for days on great roads with plenty of great scenery. http://shop.americaridesmaps.com/12-...ides-NC007.htm
#47
09-28-2011 | 12:45 PM
Good luck on riding the TOD. It can be fun and it can be dangerous. But, you should ride it, just be careful, ride within your ability, and watch out for the other guys. Biggest issue I had was the riders that passed me on curves. One dude had his girlfriend (I guess) on the back of his rice rocket and passed me at the beginning of a blind curve. That spooked me some but I was on the correct side of the rode meaning he wasn't - he was over the double-yellow line. Ride it before the weekend as the crotch rocket types are out in force on the weekend.
#48
09-28-2011 | 06:29 PM
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 6,478
Likes: 10
From: Nashville, TN
If ya leave her on the TN side, she will be in the middle of nowhere, except for a nice Mountain lake. NC side she could hang out at Deal's Gap motorcycle resort.
#49
09-28-2011 | 07:57 PM
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 883
Likes: 1
From: Clearwater, FL
Just ride to your skill level and have a good time. We just got back from a week's stay in that area. Weekdays were the best time to run the dragon and later in the day on Sunday wasn't bad either. We rode the dragon a couple of times each day just because it was between where we were and where we wanted to go. Didn't see any trucks but did see sport bikes crossing the center line and there were several riders off the road and in the ditch or worse. We stayed at the Ironhorse and rode a different direction each day. There are lots of roads near the dragon that are as good if not better. Enjoy your ride!
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