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[DavidB]

May 19-20: Saturday was wild with Z cars, 2 strokers, V-Stroms, KLRs, Super Motos, Homeland Sportbikers, Christian Sportbike Riders, and several other groups on the Gap. So far the busiest day of the year. Sunday slowed a bit, but a serious accident marred the festivities. A Bandit passing on blind corner hit a Goldwing head-on in the Chicanes. Bandit rider was airlifted out with a compound fracture of his femur. Two lessons here ... ride the wide line and pass with extreme care. Saw some bad riding all day, both cruisers and sportbikes. Be warned, bad riding will cost you here. This comes from this link.
http://tailofthedragon.com/

Watch out for the nuts up there passing in blind corners. Some people dont care fore there safty and  could care less for ours . Happens all the time . Stay on the inside of right turns and way to the outside of left turns.
Dave

[hard10]

May 19-20: Saturday was wild with Z cars, 2 strokers, V-Stroms, KLRs, Super Motos, Homeland Sportbikers, Christian Sportbike Riders, and several other groups on the Gap. So far the busiest day of the year. Sunday slowed a bit, but a serious accident marred the festivities. A Bandit passing on blind corner hit a Goldwing head-on in the Chicanes. Bandit rider was airlifted out with a compound fracture of his femur. Two lessons here ... ride the wide line and pass with extreme care. Saw some bad riding all day, both cruisers and sportbikes. Be warned, bad riding will cost you here. This comes from this link.
http://tailofthedragon.com/

Watch out for the nuts up there passing in blind corners. Some people dont care fore there safty and  could care less for ours . Happens all the time . Stay on the inside of right turns and way to the outside of left turns.
Dave

I just read about this on the DG website while planning our trip. I'm not sure I want to take this ride on a weekend or at all.

[Hoist!]

I just read about this on the DG website while planning our trip. I'm not sure I want to take this ride on a weekend or at all.

You do want to take this ride AJ! You're rigt though, stay away on weekends especially betwen Memorial Day and Labor Day. Hoist!

[DavidB]

You do want to take this ride AJ! You're rigt though, stay away on weekends especially betwen Memorial Day and Labor Day. Hoist!

I agree with Hoist ,take the ride. On the weekends ride it before 10:00 and stay away on holidays. Im just passing along some info learned by 35 years of riding on the mountain to stay safe. Never get close to the center line in a curve. You never know whats hanging over it coming the other way. When sport bikes roar up from the rear slow down and wave them around when its clear. You"ll be fine.

[hard10]

I agree with Hoist ,take the ride. On the weekends ride it before 10:00 and stay away on holidays. Im just passing along some info learned by 35 years of riding on the mountain to stay safe. Never get close to the center line in a curve. You never know whats hanging over it coming the other way. When sport bikes roar up from the rear slow down and wave them around when its clear. You"ll be fine.

We may have to make this a week day excursion and not incorporate it into the VA trip. Good news is that it would be two trips!

[HogBreath]

Take the ride AJ, you don't want to miss it. Just take your time and ride your ride at YOUR speed.

[2006_CVO_HD]

Take the ride AJ, you don't want to miss it. Just take your time and ride your ride at YOUR speed.

Absolutely......

There was six (6) of us there on April 29th, 2007 and it was a real blast!!!!!!

[HogBreath]

My biggest enjoyment was pulling over on the side of the road and watching the crazy ppl on crotch rockets ride. NO THANKS, not my style. I mosey through it.

[iski]

May 19-20: Saturday was wild with Z cars, 2 strokers, V-Stroms, KLRs, Super Motos, Homeland Sportbikers, Christian Sportbike Riders, and several other groups on the Gap. So far the busiest day of the year. Sunday slowed a bit, but a serious accident marred the festivities. A Bandit passing on blind corner hit a Goldwing head-on in the Chicanes. Bandit rider was airlifted out with a compound fracture of his femur. Two lessons here ... ride the wide line and pass with extreme care. Saw some bad riding all day, both cruisers and sportbikes. Be warned, bad riding will cost you here. This comes from this link.
http://tailofthedragon.com/

Watch out for the nuts up there passing in blind corners. Some people dont care fore there safty and  could care less for ours . Happens all the time . Stay on the inside of right turns and way to the outside of left turns.
Dave

Thanks for posting the link and info, Dave.  We have a trip planned in a couple of weeks to Franklin and will ride Deals Gap a few times - not on the weekend.  Best to stay away on holidays - too crowded.  My favorite ride and when the wife goes she enjoys it as a passenger. Wives are not making this trip and some of the guys on the trip (20 or so of us) ride the roads in that area with gusto.  Lots of fun on the twisties and Cherahala, Foothills parkway, etc. are BEAUTIFUL.

Words of warning you posted are well worth heeding - we have made quite a few trips to that area and have seen some of the worst examples of scoot riding on that stretch of road called the Dragon.  Earlier in the morning is better if you must ride it on a weekend.

Glad to read DOT is considering a truck ban on the road.  The corners are not easily negotiable for smaller trucks and trailers and the big ones cross the lines in your lane as that pic shows on the website.

[Bojiboy]

Just ride like these two old farts and you'll be fine. We had a blast. All of the tips above are good ones too. 

Ride safe

[nidan]

I've done the Dragon a dozen times and will pass on future trips, it filled with too many crazies.

The Cherohola , Hellbender and the surrounding area as those who made the Maggie Valley trip can attest is filled with great roads much less populated by those of limited maturity and judgement.

[Chief]

Pinkie and I rode it one year when coming home from Sturgis. We stayed close, and came through about 8 or 9 in the morning. We were the only bike on the road, but when we got to the end and passed the motel on the NC side, you could see the sport bikers starting to stir.

It is an awesome ride, and beautiful country. Being early was the key.

[mr_magoo]

Sounds like getting there early is the ticket,  be careful.

[naitram]

I've done the Dragon a dozen times and will pass on future trips, it filled with too many crazies.

The Cherohola , Hellbender and the surrounding area as those who made the Maggie Valley trip can attest is filled with great roads much less populated by those of limited maturity and judgement.

and in some cases more challenging then the dragon

[Twolanerider]

My biggest enjoyment was pulling over on the side of the road and watching the crazy ppl on crotch rockets ride. NO THANKS, not my style. I mosey through it.

You should do like I did last time Ken.  Stopped ahead of everyone to grab the camera and take pictures for them as they rode through.  The got bike on the bike with teh camera still slung and wandered on through taking most excellent pictures of beautiful fall scenery and other riders as it all passed by  .