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[porthole]

Week before we get there

http://m.knoxnews.com/news/2013/sep/10/state-troopers-mount-motorcycles-for-enforcement/


State troopers mount motorcycles for enforcement on "The Dragon"

By Don Jacobs
Updated Tuesday, September 10, 2013

State troopers on motorcycles will saturate U.S. Highway 129, especially the section called “The Dragon” in the upcoming weekend because of two events expected to bring a deluge of riders to the area.

Motorcycle riding troopers from Tennessee Highway Patrols districts in Knoxville, Chattanooga, Cookeville and Fall Branch will converge on the federal highway during Sept. 13-15, according to the state Department of Safety and Homeland Security.

A $71,116.79 grant from the Governor’s Highway Safety Office, which covers a period from Oct. 1, 2012, to Sept. 30, 2013, will pay overtime funds to the motorcycle officers

The decision to saturate “The Dragon” with motorcycle officers was prompted by two events this weekend expected to bring heavy motorcycle traffic to the challenging road. In Maggie Valley, N.C., the “Thunder in the Smokies” event will be under way and in Pigeon Forge the “Fall Rod Run” will be held.

The Dragon is an 11-mile section of U.S. Highway 129 that attracts motorcycle enthusiasts from around the world because of its 318 curves. According to the state, one motorcyclist has died so far this year on U.S. Highway 129.

Officials said the state troopers will especially be alert for aggressive and reckless driving, speeding, impaired driving and seat belt use for four-wheel vehicles. Authorities expect to have a sobriety checkpoint established on U.S. Highway 129 on Saturday.

More details as they develop online and in Wednesday’s News Sentinel.

[OBB]

I wonder what kind of bikes they'll be on...

[porthole]

I wonder what kind of bikes they'll be on...

Nothing can outrun an Motorola

[2k]

I wonder what kind of bikes they'll be on...

Tennessee still rides Harleys whereas NC & SC ride BMWs

[dlaws01]

They'll probably grease down a couple of curves just to keep everyone on their toes.  Make sure you have your insurance cards with you.   

[Panhead_Jimmy]

"..According to the state, one motorcyclist has died so far this year on U.S. Highway 129..."

With respect and condolences to the family:  Only one?  We get that every week on the Ortega Hwy, and that doesn't include Santiago Canyon and Live Oak Canyon.  Then there's Palomar Mountain.

And they're going to "saturate The Dragon"?  All 11 miles?  How many State Troopers does it take to saturate 11 miles?

[North Georgia Hawg]

Nice timing! Those boys will all be back home the weekend we're in MV for the GTG! 

Ken

[muddypaws]

They were there two weeks ago on the Dragon.

[naitram]

i have never been on the dragon and not seen at least 1 cruiser, any day of the week

[North Georgia Hawg]

i have never been on the dragon and not seen at least 1 cruiser, any day of the week

I rode it last Friday, and we did see one cruiser. But only one...

Ken

[2k]

"..According to the state, one motorcyclist has died so far this year on U.S. Highway 129..."

With respect and condolences to the family:  Only one?  We get that every week on the Ortega Hwy, and that doesn't include Santiago Canyon and Live Oak Canyon.  Then there's Palomar Mountain.

And they're going to "saturate The Dragon"?  All 11 miles?  How many State Troopers does it take to saturate 11 miles?

But most of the riders out on the left coast have flowers in their hair and smoke lefty's, right? 

[OBB]

Speaking of the Dragon. We've never been down there on the bike. I like to think of myself as an intermediate rider. Is there any particular days anyone is heading that way? I can't get that close and not ride it.

[dlaws01]

"..According to the state, one motorcyclist has died so far this year on U.S. Highway 129..."

With respect and condolences to the family:  Only one?  We get that every week on the Ortega Hwy, and that doesn't include Santiago Canyon and Live Oak Canyon.  Then there's Palomar Mountain.


Maybe you California riders need to get more experience riding the twisties or keep the rookies off the Ortega Hwy. until they know how to handle it.   

[naitram]

Speaking of the Dragon. We've never been down there on the bike. I like to think of myself as an intermediate rider. Is there any particular days anyone is heading that way? I can't get that close and not ride it.

it is a must do, had to get some orange wings when i was in the area this summer.



typically different groups will go on different days, ask around the first day and fall in with a group of similar riders.

i did a great loop last year that hit both the cherohola and the dragon

[OBB]

NICE, Neal!

If you see THIS, you're dong OK...

I'm hoping like hell this is a typo  especially after all the banana talk 

[OBB]

it is a must do, had to get some orange wings when i was in the area this summer.



typically different groups will go on different days, ask around the first day and fall in with a group of similar riders.

i did a great loop last year that hit both the cherohola and the dragon

Are you making it down for next week?

[North Georgia Hawg]

it is a must do, had to get some orange wings when i was in the area this summer.



typically different groups will go on different days, ask around the first day and fall in with a group of similar riders.

i did a great loop last year that hit both the cherohola and the dragon

NICE, Neal!

If you see THIS, you're doing OK...

[porthole]

i have never been on the dragon and not seen at least 1 cruiser, any day of the week

And as luck would have it, I've seen the opposite multiple times - no enforcement. Several times with no photogs either.

[1abastarsmda]

The last time I rode through, there was nobody on the road but me and the bike I was with....and 2 sports cars that almost took us out fishtailing through a curve.  It was very peaceful riding the Dragon in a heavy rainstorm.

[dahsen]

Been There 2 years ago...

3500 mile ride for a 11 mile long dream road.  Note that the roads to get there are awesome too!

[hogasm]

This was from 2008 on the Dragon. The popo was using motorcycles back then

[2k]

Saturday, Tn troopers had a checkpoint at the state line.........writing tickets for improper helmets?  Its all about the money, boys.

[spydglide]

Saturday, Tn troopers had a checkpoint at the state line.........writing tickets for improper helmets?  Its all about the money, boys.

Yep, NC has that law on the books, but haven't heard of them enforcing it lately.  spyder

[Finster101]

Been on the Dragon several times mostly just because it was part of our route.  It certainly is not a destination for me.  There are much nicer stretches of road in the area.  When it is busy you constantly have to be aware of sport bikes over taking you, some of them not safely.  I really don't know why enforcement is not always present as it has the reputation of a public raceway.  Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against speed or what goes on there but since there are so many incidents in such a specific area I am surprised that the state has not gotten sued for not shutting it down.  Having said that I am sure it also brings in a lot of dollars to the local economy so it is a fine line taken on enforcement.

[swedgeblock]

"..According to the state, one motorcyclist has died so far this year on U.S. Highway 129..."

With respect and condolences to the family:  Only one?  We get that every week on the Ortega Hwy, and that doesn't include Santiago Canyon and Live Oak Canyon.  Then there's Palomar Mountain.

And they're going to "saturate The Dragon"?  All 11 miles?  How many State Troopers does it take to saturate 11 miles?

I don't get it either.  I have seen video of the "dragon" from start to finish and don't see the allure,  unless that's the only road they have overthere with curves in it.   Then I guess I understand.

[2k]

I don't get it either.  I have seen video of the "dragon" from start to finish and don't see the allure,  unless that's the only road they have overthere with curves in it.   Then I guess I understand.

There are plenty of great roads in these hills. Talk to any of the local riders and the Dragon has a hard time making top 5. I think most of the hype comes from West Coast riders and other foreigners who are simply amazed at the Southern Boys skills 

[dlaws01]

There are plenty of great roads in these hills. Talk to any of the local riders and the Dragon has a hard time making top 5. I think most of the hype comes from West Coast riders and other foreigners who are simply amazed at the Southern Boys skills 

Amen to that Brother!  X2 

[GregKhougaz]

There are plenty of great roads in these hills. Talk to any of the local riders and the Dragon has a hard time making top 5. I think most of the hype comes from West Coast riders and other foreigners who are simply amazed at the Southern Boys skills 

    Go West, young man......   go West.                 

[djkak]

There are plenty of great roads in these hills. Talk to any of the local riders and the Dragon has a hard time making top 5. I think most of the hype comes from West Coast riders and other foreigners who are simply amazed at the Southern Boys skills 

The first time that I rode that stretch of 129, I said to the person that was showing me around, “This is the best stretch of road that I’ve seen”. He replied, “You haven’t seen chit”. I headed back the next year to check out some of the chit that I’d missed; you could wear yourself out on all of the crooked two-lane in that part of the country. The Dragon’s lack of driveways and intersections make it a favorite of mine.

There is a lot of remarkable riding to experience in California, and I found an outstanding 70 mile stretch of road in Southeastern Arizona; Highway 191 from around Clifton up to Highway 60. There is an interesting POI at marker 223 that is worth a look and maybe a photo.

Another day-long favorite is Highway 93, west of Butte, near Hamilton, then 75 through the Sawtooth’s to Ketchum. This is a 270 mile, you must be effen kidding me experience that I always look forward to when I’m out that way.
 

[dlaws01]

The first time that I rode that stretch of 129, I said to the person that was showing me around, “This is the best stretch of road that I’ve seen”. He replied, “You haven’t seen chit”. I headed back the next year to check out some of the chit that I’d missed; you could wear yourself out on all of the crooked two-lane in that part of the country. The Dragon’s lack of driveways and intersections make it a favorite of mine.

There is a lot of remarkable riding to experience in California, and I found an outstanding 70 mile stretch of road in Southeastern Arizona; Highway 191 from around Clifton up to Highway 60. There is an interesting POI at marker 223 that is worth a look and maybe a photo.

Another day-long favorite is Highway 93, west of Butte, near Hamilton, then 75 through the Sawtooth’s to Ketchum. This is a 270 mile, you must be effen kidding me experience that I always look forward to when I’m out that way.
 

Thanks for the "must ride" road details.  I'll add them to my notes for the next time I'm in the area.   

[muddypaws]

I would not go out of your way to ride the Dragon. There are much better roads in the area to ride. Someone was smart to make a business out of it.

[Rooster]

The California roads with curves have a little extra thrill called tar snakes.

[Thermodyne]

I rolled through there on Friday the 13th.  There was a big crowd at Deals Gap and a couple of troopers poking around.  Next ones I saw were about 5 miles in looked to be 5 or 6 of them with a bunch of riders pulled over.  Saw a couple more headed that way soon after.  Didn't really have time to do much more than glance at them.

Biggest issue that day was meeting a semi coming the other way.  He was using both lanes and some of the shoulder, a real ass.   I had to pull off in the dirt and let him pass.

We came in from the east on 28 and traffic was almost nonexistent.   And except for the semi, 129 was had only light traffic.  I caught one pickup who was poking along, but he pulled off and let me bye without too much delay.   All in all, I liked the ride on 28 better than 129.  129 is not all that difficult, it just takes a higher level of attention and endurance.  It's not at all like the roads we have in this area.  Here the hairpins tend to be at the end of long straightaways, so speed and braking are more of an issue.   

On 28 we did see some people loading what was left of a sport bike onto a trailer a few miles east of Deals Gap.  I guess someone has to feed the tree.  Better them than me.

[casper]

I was with a group of 21 of us at the Georgia State HOG rally from Maryland rode the Dragon on Friday 13th, saw lots of troopers riding over a dozen of them. werent bothering anyone. One even stopped when I was broke down with a dead battery. And there is no reason the Drogon is such a destination however if in the area love to ride it wth people who have not. It is definitely a we;; marketed promotion that cost the promoters nothing to build, but make a fortune for about 4-5 months a year with all the sales of hats shirts stickers and at least 4-5 photographers I saw there Friday.

[2k]

The first time that I rode that stretch of 129, I said to the person that was showing me around, “This is the best stretch of road that I’ve seen”. He replied, “You haven’t seen chit”. I headed back the next year to check out some of the chit that I’d missed; you could wear yourself out on all of the crooked two-lane in that part of the country. The Dragon’s lack of driveways and intersections make it a favorite of mine.

There is a lot of remarkable riding to experience in California, and I found an outstanding 70 mile stretch of road in Southeastern Arizona; Highway 191 from around Clifton up to Highway 60. There is an interesting POI at marker 223 that is worth a look and maybe a photo.

Another day-long favorite is Highway 93, west of Butte, near Hamilton, then 75 through the Sawtooth’s to Ketchum. This is a 270 mile, you must be effen kidding me experience that I always look forward to when I’m out that way.
 

Go ahead and tell us, I and many others may never make it to that area!!

[djkak]

Go ahead and tell us, I and many others may never make it to that area!!

The POI isn’t anything more than an excuse to get off your machine and stretch your legs. It is a tree near marker 223 that a number of local folks, and maybe some that aren’t so local, have shot a massive number of arrows into. It is something that you probably wouldn’t see unless you knew to look for it.

[ChopperPilot]

it is a must do, had to get some orange wings when i was in the area this summer.



typically different groups will go on different days, ask around the first day and fall in with a group of similar riders.

i did a great loop last year that hit both the cherohola and the dragon

I have got to put that trip on my list for next year.  Too many roads to ride and not enough time.