Ran The Dragon!!

[Bam Bam and Pebbles]

Ran the Dragon Saturday morning. Got there about 7am. Did 4 runs. First one was sorta slow so I could look for cops. The video I linked was my second run. Tn. To Deals Gap. 71 was my top speed with a slow speed of 25 in the hairpin turns. Generally going 40 to 45 in most turns but if I could see some road ahead of me, I would up it to 55 or 60. Had a ball. Cameras do not do the sharpness of the turns or how fast your speed is any justice. If the sunlight blinds you while watching the video, it was blinding my ass as well.

https://youtu.be/YvzLErHVak8

[kep-up]

Ran the Dragon Saturday morning. Got there about 7am. Did 4 runs. First one was sorta slow so I could look for cops. The video I linked was my second run. Tn. To Deals Gap. 71 was my top speed with a slow speed of 25 in the hairpin turns. Generally going 40 to 45 in most turns but if I could see some road ahead of me, I would up it to 55 or 60. Had a ball. Cameras do not do the sharpness of the turns or how fast your speed is any justice. it was blinding my ass as well.

https://youtu.be/YvzLErHVak8

Do Speed Limits mean nothing, anymore!?

(rode it many many times on 2 wheels. Haven't done it with the spyder.)

[Bam Bam and Pebbles]

Do Speed Limits mean nothing, anymore!?

(rode it many many times on 2 wheels. Haven't done it with the spyder.)

Actually, no they do not. You aren't trying to say that on two wheels that you were strictly by the book, are you? Or was that when the speed limit was 50?

[HVACR Guy]

Thanks a lot. Now I'm late for work but well worth it. Changed settings to watch in 720p much better. Have a great day.

[Deer Slayer]

In the good old days US 129 was a 55 mph road. Tis now a money maker for Tennessee.

[sjcpanther]

I'm heading out that way over the 4th. Bad time to go, I know. But I'll hit the Dragon early in the day and maybe it won't be so bad.

Looking forward to it and the other roads in that area. Never ridden out there before.

Ran the Dragon Saturday morning. Got there about 7am. Did 4 runs. First one was sorta slow so I could look for cops. The video I linked was my second run. Tn. To Deals Gap. 71 was my top speed with a slow speed of 25 in the hairpin turns. Generally going 40 to 45 in most turns but if I could see some road ahead of me, I would up it to 55 or 60. Had a ball. Cameras do not do the sharpness of the turns or how fast your speed is any justice. If the sunlight blinds you while watching the video, it was blinding my ass as well.

https://youtu.be/YvzLErHVak8

[purplepig]

While the Dragon was a bucket list item for me, I found the Cherohala Skyway and the Blue Ridge Parkway both to be better rides. Between traffic and slow speed limit the Dragon was somewhat of a let down. Enjoy and be safe

[Tango]

After doing the Dragon last year. It was a let down. Very tame compared to the road we rode the day before. Local rider led our group onto a road that made the Dragon look pedestrian. Don't remember the number that road was. But it was wicked. Will be back in September again. Tom

[Bam Bam and Pebbles]

I went to the Dragon not expecting too much. So many comments on youtube and google saying with the cops, cars and slow ass harleys, it wasnt what it used to be. Thats why I got there at 7am. Got back from the casino in Cherokee at 3am, got a couple hours of sleep and left at 6am. Rode the Hellbender 28 up to Deals Gap. A few people were awake but they werent riding yet. I really did enjoy riding it though. After checking for cops, I was able to really go as fast as I wanted. If you have to go the speed limit, it wouldnt be that much fun. But that is true of any road. I suggest getting there at 7. By the time I finished 4 runs, it was getting crowded. Talked to some of the riders, bought a t shirt, and then headed back to Cherokee to go riding through the Smoky Mountains with Pebbles. A great day of riding all around.

[kep-up]

Actually, no they do not. You aren't trying to say that on two wheels that you were strictly by the book, are you? Or was that when the speed limit was 50?

By the book? Posilutely!! My personal best time from the bridge back to the way back then gas station and ratty motel, a midge under 14 minutes. on a V45 Sabre.

[Elembytes]

I'd love to experience that ride some day--but I am too cautious and a law abiding person so would probably be run over by others for sure- and given a few gestures and what not's!

I'd ride it to say I have done it, to enjoy the scenery and be thankful for the experiences God allows us to do.

[ARtraveler]

That is one bucket list ride that I will personally pass on. For my personal reasons only.

to those that ride it and like it.

[Bam Bam and Pebbles]

To anyone who won't ride the Dragon because it is over rated, go first thing in the morning. I did 4 runs before anyone really started riding. Very little traffic. Go from Deals Gap to the Tennessee end and check for cops. If you don't see any, drive it back like you stole it. The only way a rider is gonna be pissed at you is if you don't pull over, or wave em on by when you are slower. I had a Vette pass me on my first run, and a crotch rocket pass me on my third. There was no place to pull over so I slowed down and waved them around me. No problem. Nobody was getting close to me on my rides from Tennessee to Deals Gap. That is when I could ride without worrying about the cops. Those 2 rides were well worth going up there for, and I will do it again. It aint over rated when you can go as fast as you can handle. I was very happy with the runs I did. Thought I really had good technique in the turns. Hitting the apex and leaning way out. I went out a bit wide on a couple of turns, but as many turns as there are, a couple aint too bad. I had a few people with 2 wheelers who complimented me on my rides. Said they didn't think a Spyder could go that fast in the turns.

[pwm]

Living there I ride the Dragon more that I want to. Early morning being the best time. There are A LOT better rides in the area.

Now about the speed limit, a friend of mine was hammered by a Camaro that was speeding and drifted into his lane Sunday.

Tony has a shattered shoulder & had 6 bones in his ankle sticking out his boot.

[SpyderWalter]

Dragon is lots of fun, try weekdays instead of weekends and holidays if you can. Have ridden it on two other two wheelers and on Spyder last fall. Photographers on the route can give you a nice souvenir (as you may note I have). I agree that I enjoyed Rt 28 more but felt better marketed on the Dragon.

[Bam Bam and Pebbles]

Living there I ride the Dragon more that I want to. Early morning being the best time. There are A LOT better rides in the area.

Now about the speed limit, a friend of mine was hammered by a Camaro that was speeding and drifted into his lane Sunday.

Tony has a shattered shoulder & had 6 bones in his ankle sticking out his boot.

I had heard that a Camaro hit some bikers friday night. A couple of guys staying at Deals Gap greeted me with that when I got there. I hate that this happened. Drivers and riders need to only go as fast as their abilities allow them to. This dude obviously went way past his. I hope your friend gets through this without to many residual problems.

[Bam Bam and Pebbles]

Dragon is lots of fun, try weekdays instead of weekends and holidays if you can. Have ridden it on two other two wheelers and on Spyder last fall. Photographers on the route can give you a nice souvenir (as you may note I have). I agree that I enjoyed Rt 28 more but felt better marketed on the Dragon.

I rode 28 to and from the Dragon. Enjoyed the ride and the scenery, but for pure excitement, ill take the Dragon early in the morning. I ride a twisty road, im riding to test myself. I want scenery, ill take Pebbles with me and take my time. Two different types of riding.

[blacklightning]

I have a full 4 days in the area and plan on hitting as many of the roads as possible. Most of them I have done multiple times, but they never get old. I will be doing Mooneshiner 28 down into S.C., the Dragon, Cherohola Skyway, The Rattler, BRP up to Little Switzerland and do the Diamondback, hwy 80, possibly the Devil's Triangle, and any interesting roads in between. My only fear is that the weather doesn't hold out. Any place that I miss this time, I will be back to do near the end of September.
Then I will be back for the spyder rally in October from 10/5-9. But this time I will have the wife with me, so I will need to behave myself.

[Chupaca]

They aren't too fast... but they breath fire... looks like you had a blast and thanks for the tag-a-long video for those that have not made the journey over there. But then we have some dragons of our own to slay...

[Blade]

Thanks or the memories, I too rode the dragon early in the morning. Like you I rode it 3 times the first day and twice the next. I truly enjoyed the ride. I saw too many sport bike guys doing wheelies on straightaways and not staying in their lanes. There were two accidents when I was there 2-yrs ago. I was riding my Vulcan 1600. I hope to ride the spyder there soon.

Blade

[Jpquinn]

I've rode the dragons tail a few times and it's fun. Just don't become part of the tree of shame. But if you're going through North Carolina IMO try the devil's staircase aka devil's whip. NC-80 It's a beautiful ride a lot less traffic more curves then the dragons tail more elevation changes. Also a really great ride is called the snake that's US-421 in Carolina 33miles long 489 curves and not to much traffic.

[Bam Bam and Pebbles]

I've rode the dragons tail a few times and it's fun. Just don't become part of the tree of shame. But if you're going through North Carolina IMO try the devil's staircase aka devil's whip. NC-80 It's a beautiful ride a lot less traffic more curves then the dragons tail more elevation changes. Also a really great ride is called the snake that's US-421 in Carolina 33miles long 489 curves and not to much traffic.

I have ridden the Devils Whip twice so far and then over to Diamondback. Do those a couple of times and they are great rides. Next time I will get some video.

[Bam Bam and Pebbles]

I have a full 4 days in the area and plan on hitting as many of the roads as possible. Most of them I have done multiple times, but they never get old. I will be doing Mooneshiner 28 down into S.C., the Dragon, Cherohola Skyway, The Rattler, BRP up to Little Switzerland and do the Diamondback, hwy 80, possibly the Devil's Triangle, and any interesting roads in between. My only fear is that the weather doesn't hold out. Any place that I miss this time, I will be back to do near the end of September.
Then I will be back for the spyder rally in October from 10/5-9. But this time I will have the wife with me, so I will need to behave myself.

I had Pebbles with me, but I left her sleeping in the motel from a long night of gambling. She knows that I like to kill the twisty roads, and she knows that we will take a nice slow ride through some scenic areas after I get back. Best of both worlds.

[Rockwall]

Sounds cool.

[dndfindley]

After doing the Dragon last year. It was a let down. Very tame compared to the road we rode the day before. Local rider led our group onto a road that made the Dragon look pedestrian. Don't remember the number that road was. But it was wicked. Will be back in September again. Tom

Opinions are subjective of course but I beg to differ on the Dragon being pedestrian. I live 30 minutes from the Dragon and do it at least twice a month. There are some very good roads in East Tennessee and western North Carolina and some are pretty twisty but none have the reputation of the Dragon and there's a reason for that. More people have accidents and more people die on the Dragon than on the other roads. The Dragon will lull the first timer or low time rider into thinking it is just another road. It's not. Your attitude will get you hurt or killed on the Dragon.