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[smkymtnboy]

  i have rode the dragon many times!! :2vrolijk_21:but, taking all things into consideration the ride itself,scenery,dealing with the fact there is so much law enforcement just seemingly waiting for the smallest infraction do you feel it is worth the effort. just wondering? just seems to be so many other roads to ride just as fun with scenery and no crazies or law enforcement with i am sure with strict orders to take em down. not bashing law enforcement they have orders and bosses too.

[Jswerve]

I haven't even been there yet and I am considering skipping it altogether for the other better scenic routes that surround it 

[phato1]

We were down there last September and rode the "dragon" several times. Personally we found the best time to ride to be early in the AM - prior to 9:00 AM on a weekday. We were able to leave Fontana Village at 7:30 AM on a Given weekday morning and ride the tail going west without sharing the road with anyone then turn around and have it to ourselves coming east before continuing down to "monshiner" 28 or Cherohala . After 10:00 AM forget it, everyone is out then. Law enforcement is not a concern since on a 900 Lb Ultra (plus riders and gear) you aren't really in danger of exceeding the legal limit by a great deal, or at least shouldn't be your first few times on the road.

It is one of those rides that needs to done. Then you can pick any road you want in the area and enjoy yourself.

[bloper123]

Have a bike just like yours 2011 same color , my lifters broke at 10,000 miles but no more promblems since then . has your bike been giving you good service  , got 36000 on it now and going to see if i can but about 200,000 on it .

[smkymtnboy]

We were down there last September and rode the "dragon" several times. Personally we found the best time to ride to be early in the AM - prior to 9:00 AM on a weekday. We were able to leave Fontana Village at 7:30 AM on a Given weekday morning and ride the tail going west without sharing the road with anyone then turn around and have it to ourselves coming east before continuing down to "monshiner" 28 or Cherohala . After 10:00 AM forget it, everyone is out then. Law enforcement is not a concern since on a 900 Lb Ultra (plus riders and gear) you aren't really in danger of exceeding the legal limit by a great deal, or at least shouldn't be your first few times on the road.

It is one of those rides that needs to done. Then you can pick any road you want in the area and enjoy yourself.

agreed weekdays are much better!

[naitram]

have seen plenty of LEO there dont think i have ever seen them pull anyone over.

as phato said i'm not worried about setting any speed records on it with a big touring bike

[phato1]

Have a bike just like yours 2011 same color , my lifters broke at 10,000 miles but no more promblems since then . has your bike been giving you good service  , got 36000 on it now and going to see if i can but about 200,000 on it .

My lifters went bad last spring at about 7500 miles - it resulted in all new cam chest parts and a thorough cleaning of the oil pan and top end. So far so good after the repairs, currently 14000 miles - last year was a good one for me as far as time to ride goes although it still wasn't enough. To busy earning a living.....

[owl893]

DO NOT skip the Dragon, if nothing else it is a unique riding medallion.  See Fugitive Dam and Fontana Dam while in the area, and obey the law, and the LEO's will leave you be.  For the last nine summers I have taken groups there and everyone has been glad we made the trip.  It is a technical run, it is for skilled riders, it is not a race track and the abuse comes from the ninjas that try to make it one. Ride it smooth and smart, pick your lines wisely, switchbacks are all about angles in and out, speed, gear selection, and revs. There are several such runs in WNC and they all have idiots riding them and cops regulating them.  Once you have done it you can decide if you would do it again, but not until then.

It's old for us Smokey, but I would place it along with Daytona Bike Week, Sturgis, Americade, and Monument Valley as some of the most memorable riding moments there are.

OWL

[1sharprdkg]

  i have rode the dragon many times!! :2vrolijk_21:but, taking all things into consideration the ride itself,scenery,dealing with the fact there is so much law enforcement just seemingly waiting for the smallest infraction do you feel it is worth the effort. just wondering? just seems to be so many other roads to ride just as fun with scenery and no crazies or law enforcement with i am sure with strict orders to take em down. not bashing law enforcement they have orders and bosses too.

X2 Agree except it is a must do ride at least one time. Never seen the law be a problem. Highly recommend riding The Dragon during the middle of the week, I would avoid Saturdays and Sundays.

[Jswerve]

X2 Agree except it is a must do ride at least one time. Never seen the law be a problem. Highly recommend riding The Dragon during the middle of the week, I would avoid Saturdays and Sundays.

When we do it it will be on a Weds or Thursday and not during a holiday week most likely early morning lol.

[muddypaws]

We did the Dragon but in my opinion there are much better roads in the area without all the traffic.

[martys]

     I agree that the Dragon is fun, and challenging, and I have ridden it a few times.  I found it more relaxing on a Wed morning than later in the day or later in the week.  I also agree that there are many roads in the area that are as good or even better to ride, but you don't hear as much about these great roads,  "Score one for good Marketing" for the Dragon, but don't miss out on the rest, if your in the area.

Marty

[cvoDoug]

When I road trip I try not to set any route other then north, south east or west.  In my experience most state routes are fun.  If I'm trying to hit a specific area, I pound miles to get to a way point then get lost from there.  This October me and a bud found some really cool roads in Kentucky, Tennessee, NC, Virginia and Georgia.  After the first day we stayed off interstate unless it was an easy bypass.  I really wish we did a better job of marking the route because we found some great little towns, bars and people.  Sipped a little of Kentucky's revenue free finest, had great conversations with people that had some great stories, met some uhm very friendly tour guides and had an overall great time.  We rode 129, it was a been there done that thing but it was cool.  We both agreed that we found better roads on our own.  So sometimes when you grab the map, use it to trace your route rather than find the next one.  There's something about traveling on a road and seeing where it brings you.

[smkymtnboy]

When we do it it will be on a Weds or Thursday and not during a holiday week most likely early morning lol.

good choice!

[Thermodyne]

I rode it last fall.  I was already in Maggie Valley so I thought I would check it out.

All in all, it wasn't all that great.  The area is wonderful, but the ride is a bore after the first 5 miles or so.  It's 11 miles of blind corners and people sightseeing.  Met a semi about halfway through, he was using the whole road and both shoulders.  Forced me way off into the weeds.  Then for a couple of miles I was behind a big assed SUV that was doing all of 15mph.  He finally pulled over and let the backed up traffic pass.  It's really just a lot of turns, so the rider has to keep up with the technical stuff.  I found that after a few miles I wanted to start cutting the turns too tight, and was close to hanging over the center line.  I think it the frustration that comes from miles of endless turns.

I actually enjoyed the ride into Deals Gap on 28 more than the ride on 129.  28 was a nice ride.