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[grinner]

Laid my brand new 2010 Street Glide SE down 6 days after purchase.  Not doing anything out of the ordinary - just came out of a deep curve, scraped a floorboard, a little jiggle was all it took, then kissed the side of the mountain.  Amazing how well the highway bar protected me and the bike, but still about $10K in damage.  I blew out a knee, finished the ride with my buds up and down the Tail, then limped back home (200 miles).  Slept all day the next day from what I am pretty sure was a mild concussion.  Too many victims along that stretch for me......  Blue Ridge Parkway is the only way to go for me from now on!

Grinner

[Cvostu]

That's a sad one to hear but at least you are still hear to tell us about it. Hope to see you feeling better soon. I did the Dragon one time and tho I did enjoy it, One can never forget that you need to pay attention every bit of the way. Unfortunatly if you want to pick a fight with a tree or anything else out there, you will lose every time. No fender benders on a motorcycle. If you do get to do it again, I'm sure you will give it the respect that it needs.   Good luck too..

[tennisman]

Really sorry to hear your story, Grinner.  A bud of mine dumped his Street Glide similarly without as much personal physical damage.  Hope you heal quickly.  His error was going too hot into the corner, dragging parts and unweighting the tires which had him off the road and down the mountain.  He rode his home too.
Having lived almost all my life within 20 miles of the Dragon, it is not a "fun" road to ride.  I use it to practice my riding skills (but not overly agressively, I try never to drag anything).  But one can't enjoy the view on the Dragon.  Cherohala Skyway is much more enjoyable a ride as is the BRP, as mentioned by others.
T-man

[grinner]

Really sorry to hear your story, Grinner.  A bud of mine dumped his Street Glide similarly without as much personal physical damage.  Hope you heal quickly.  His error was going too hot into the corner, dragging parts and unweighting the tires which had him off the road and down the mountain.  He rode his home too.
Having lived almost all my life within 20 miles of the Dragon, it is not a "fun" road to ride.  I use it to practice my riding skills (but not overly agressively, I try never to drag anything).  But one can't enjoy the view on the Dragon.  Cherohala Skyway is much more enjoyable a ride as is the BRP, as mentioned by others.
T-man

Hey, I am the rider - my fault all the way - new bike deserves more time before riding any stretch that is that challenging.  Didn't mean to lean in so deep and scrape the board, but when I did it startled me for a nano-second, I hesitated coming out, and gravity did the rest.  I went to my local HD dealer the next morning, rang the bell and promptly apologized to everyone that had fallen in love with my "date".  I'll do a full restore on my baby, and book this lesson in all CAPS!  I've tried to attach a picture of my 6 day old highway bar that I was able to throw up in the Tree of Shame at the bottom of the Dragon.

Thank God Almightly that I hit the high side of the mountain - many folks went the other way and are not here to write about it.....

Grinner

[FLSTFI Dave]

  Hey guys!! I live very near the dragon. My suggestion is stay away Fri evening til Sun. Ride it Mon.-Thru. Forget Holidays anyday of the week.

Exactly.  I live about 78 miles from Deals Gap and ride it several times a year.  However I only Ride it Tuesday,
Wednesday and Thursday.  Thing is you have to watch the road, not the sceanery.

I live in Tennessee, too. I've only ridden the dragon a handful of times, all during the week when the traffic is pretty thin. The Dragon is a great road that does command the rider's respect and, above all, constant attention.

Most (though not all) of these accidents happen on the weekends when the Dragon is very crowded. Some of these crashes are less experienced riders who typically show up on the weekend when their limited skill set gets challenged by both the road and the traffic. Some of these crashes are the result of some folks who want to ride the Dragon hard. When the dragon is not so crowded -- weekdays -- they take themselves out, maybe a riding buddy, too. On the weekends and in the crowds, things get a bit more dicey and sometimes, unfortunately, one (or more) totally innocent rider(s) is(are) involved.

I'm sure there are other causes for accidents such as mechanical failure. Truth be told, though, on a road like the Dragon, most of the accidents can be chalked up to bad judgement on someone's part.

I agree Rick.

Heck I had less than 500 miles on the SERG before I took her across the dragon, but I took it slow and easy to learn the bike.

[BUBBLEHEAD]

Sad to hear. I stay away from the dragon due to the many skill less riders that want to go there. I know they are everywhere but they seem to congregate there. It's too easy for some people to get a MC license. with very little riding skills.

[Georgehjr]

I am planing a ride from PA next Sunday,weather permitting , via Knoxville, hoping to ride next Monday,  when all the craze's are gone.........

[smkymtnboy]

I am planing a ride from PA next Sunday,weather permitting , via Knoxville, hoping to ride next Monday,  when all the craze's are gone.........
[  good plan! mon. is very smart                                        /quote]

[FLSTFI Dave]

I am planing a ride from PA next Sunday,weather permitting , via Knoxville, hoping to ride next Monday,  when all the craze's are gone.........

Mondays are good.

I prefere Tuedays Wednesday and thrusday.  I will ride Mondays on it.  I refuse to ride it Friday Saturday or Sunday.

[Highjagger]

Is "the dragon" a specific dangerous bike route ? Or what is it ?

[Highjagger]

http://www.tailofthedragon.com/dragon.html
Wohoo , i allready found it .

[porthole]

Is "the dragon" a specific dangerous bike route ? Or what is it ?

The road itself is not dangerous. Well marked for speeds (limit is 35) and when a sign says "15 mph" you are well advise to do 15 or less, unless you are really sharp with your skills.
Main problem with the road is the high number of vehicles traversing it with less than appropriate skills for the speed they are traveling.

Then you have the shots which tend to be a menace to the rest of us, and the "trucks" who make it outright dangerous on the many blind curves.

It is a no "sight seeing" road, eyes on the road and your complete attention, no day dreaming.

It's reputation has been more inspired by the Internet then anything else and as so, gets a lot of attention.

I rode the "Dragon" many years ago, long before there was a "Dragon", and it was no different then then it is now, 'cept for the traffic.

[naitram]

one of the photo guys on the dragon is killboy his blog is here
http://killboy.blogspot.com/

you can scroll through some pics and comments here's a good example of why its dangerous when dumbass people are around


another thing you dont want to see


anyone we know?

[Talon]

Not sure, but I think this is a Dragon picture also.

[naitram]

looks like it