Wisconsin man dies after accident on Dragon
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,896
Likes: 2
From: North Lima, Ohio
I have been riding for many years and lucky me, have never gone down. YET! I rode the Dragon for the first time last July and I gotta tell ya, It is deffenetly NOT for beginners. I have friends that want to go there and they dont have the experiance that I do and they dont seem to belive me when I tell them how serious this road is. Im glad I took it easy on my trip through the Dragon for sure. I can see how these things happen.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,431
Likes: 1
From: Calgary
We have been thinking of trying that road. Having never been on that road, I think I would be taking it quite easy not knowing the road. My apologies to anyone behind me that would like to ride a little faster.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,447
Likes: 163
From: Northern VA
I have been riding for many years and lucky me, have never gone down. YET! I rode the Dragon for the first time last July and I gotta tell ya, It is deffenetly NOT for beginners. I have friends that want to go there and they dont have the experiance that I do and they dont seem to belive me when I tell them how serious this road is. Im glad I took it easy on my trip through the Dragon for sure. I can see how these things happen.
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,597
Likes: 3
From: Inland Empire, So Cal
Tragic.....RIP and God bless his loved ones.
These guys certainly aren't beginners on the Dragon.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nrMQ3QwyPo
These guys certainly aren't beginners on the Dragon.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nrMQ3QwyPo
Club Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 21,679
Likes: 22,680
From: North Carolina
I am very sorry to hear that someone lost there life on the Dragon today. My thoughts and prayers with family and friends. RIP
Just this morning I was making plans with friends out of Florida to come up next month and ride the NC mountains including the Dragon.
I rode it for the first time on July 29th this year and on my first Harley ever that I had only owned a year with 7000 miles of seat time. Believe me I was very anxious and actually a little scared about making the first pass. One thing that helped me was a lady from Arkansas on a Harley Crossbones that I met the day before wearing a Deals Gap shirt. I asked her if she rode it and she smiled and said ”YES I DID, I HAD A BLAST AND I RODE THE ENTIRE DISTANCE IN SECOND GEAR”.
Well we started on the NC side and went to Tennessee and ran the speed limit. We then turned around and ran it a little harder on the return trip. I can say that I actually saw 60 MPH on the Dragon. Yes in the one almost straight stretch that is maybe ź mile long I came out of the curve pretty good hit third gear and twisted the throttle hard and was hard on the brakes before I wanted to be for the next curve. I told my buddies that I would have been proud to have gotten a speeding ticket that day with 60 MPH on the dragon. The rest of the ride both ways was 30 MPH.
It is a dangerous road but it you respect it, run the speed limit, stay in your lane, stay 100% focused and watch for trucks you will enjoy it. I look forward to doing it again and as before I will not be in any hurry.
Ride same folks
Just this morning I was making plans with friends out of Florida to come up next month and ride the NC mountains including the Dragon.
I rode it for the first time on July 29th this year and on my first Harley ever that I had only owned a year with 7000 miles of seat time. Believe me I was very anxious and actually a little scared about making the first pass. One thing that helped me was a lady from Arkansas on a Harley Crossbones that I met the day before wearing a Deals Gap shirt. I asked her if she rode it and she smiled and said ”YES I DID, I HAD A BLAST AND I RODE THE ENTIRE DISTANCE IN SECOND GEAR”.
Well we started on the NC side and went to Tennessee and ran the speed limit. We then turned around and ran it a little harder on the return trip. I can say that I actually saw 60 MPH on the Dragon. Yes in the one almost straight stretch that is maybe ź mile long I came out of the curve pretty good hit third gear and twisted the throttle hard and was hard on the brakes before I wanted to be for the next curve. I told my buddies that I would have been proud to have gotten a speeding ticket that day with 60 MPH on the dragon. The rest of the ride both ways was 30 MPH.
It is a dangerous road but it you respect it, run the speed limit, stay in your lane, stay 100% focused and watch for trucks you will enjoy it. I look forward to doing it again and as before I will not be in any hurry.
Ride same folks
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,916
Likes: 19
From: Sunshine State
Any tragedy like this is heartbreaking, only consolation is he passed doing what he loved to do, it is a risk we all take once we throw a leg over the scoot.
Prayers and thoughts go out to his family and friends.
You have to respect this road as any other. We've done the Dragon four times and yes, it is a rush, workdays in the AM is perfect and safer. We were there on a Saturday, lot's of crotch rockets and car clubs, turned around and did some of the other fantastic roads.
Had a major "pucker factor" event as a Suzuki rider on a 90 degree turn came straight into our lane, I guess he freaked out more than we did as he was wobbling big time as we rode past him. Don't panic, don't speed, stay in control and focused!!
Prayers and thoughts go out to his family and friends.
You have to respect this road as any other. We've done the Dragon four times and yes, it is a rush, workdays in the AM is perfect and safer. We were there on a Saturday, lot's of crotch rockets and car clubs, turned around and did some of the other fantastic roads.
Had a major "pucker factor" event as a Suzuki rider on a 90 degree turn came straight into our lane, I guess he freaked out more than we did as he was wobbling big time as we rode past him. Don't panic, don't speed, stay in control and focused!!
Last edited by vickon; Sep 3, 2009 at 07:34 PM.
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,117
Likes: 5
Those guys in the above video on GW1800s were outta control! They were GOOD! But damn I bet the floorboards are ground all to ****. a little sand off the back of a truck and it would have been all over. Im saying they were good but it is so easy to die there, why risk it?
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Club Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 21,679
Likes: 22,680
From: North Carolina
Those guys in the above video on GW1800s were outta control! They were GOOD! But damn I bet the floorboards are ground all to ****. a little sand off the back of a truck and it would have been all over. Im saying they were good but it is so easy to die there, why risk it?