The Tail of the Dragon
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Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 600
Likes: 2
RE: The Tail of the Dragon
ORIGINAL: traveler
Where is the tail located at? I've never heard of it! Sounds like a cool ride...
Joe
[&:]
Where is the tail located at? I've never heard of it! Sounds like a cool ride...
Joe
[&:]
[/align][/align]It's just north of Maryville TN. and goes into NC, Maryville is south of Knoxville.[/align][/align]Try these sites for more information[/align][/align][/align][/align]www.tailofthedragon.com/maps_loop.html [/align][/align]www.tailofthedragon.com/dragon.html [/align][/align]www.dealsgap.com[/align]
Guest
Posts: n/a
RE: The Tail of the Dragon
ORIGINAL: Ratman
Good news is that out of the tons of bike going off the side of the road only 1 person died hitting a tree in 2006 when he went over. In 11 years 17 people have died from various accidents. My source of information is tailofthedragon.com
Been there done that.
Good news is that out of the tons of bike going off the side of the road only 1 person died hitting a tree in 2006 when he went over. In 11 years 17 people have died from various accidents. My source of information is tailofthedragon.com
Been there done that.
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,475
Likes: 1
From: Knoxville TN
RE: The Tail of the Dragon
Hel, theres more than one curve to look out for, Like you better be looking at all of them, and espeacialy those idiot wanna be racers on them crotch rockets.[8D] I remeber riding hwy 129 , B.C. (before crotchrockets)......
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 485
Likes: 10
From: East Tennessee
RE: The Tail of the Dragon
ORIGINAL: cowboy Harry
Hel, theres more than one curve to look out for, Like you better be looking at all of them, and espeacialy those idiot wanna be racers on them crotch rockets.[8D] I remeber riding hwy 129 , B.C. (before crotchrockets)......
Hel, theres more than one curve to look out for, Like you better be looking at all of them, and espeacialy those idiot wanna be racers on them crotch rockets.[8D] I remeber riding hwy 129 , B.C. (before crotchrockets)......
I was raised near Maryville, Tenn., and used to ride my 67 Triumph on US 129 in the 60s and 70s when you'd only see an occasional pickup truck or bootlegger's car come through. The road is legendary because of its excellent engineering and natural flow due to the hollows aong the side of the mountain above the Little Tenn. River. The curves are banked perfectly for a motorcycle or car, some of the series of turns and undulations can only be described as having a rhythm that is sensous. There are a few hairpins that are so tight the old timers used to say that "you meet yourself coming around."
Eerily, the road is hypnotic in its effects and you must fight a constant urge to take the next corner just a little faster than the last. It could be something to do with the ghosts of the Cherokee, who are exacting revenge for the Trail of Tears. I used to scrape the rigid footpegs on the Triumph, and on that bike, that's a severe lean angle and a dangerous place to be. My brother hit gravel there on his bike many years ago (he lived in Topoca) and did major damage to his leg. Chilhowee Lake used to be a party place for us in high school Some buddies crashed in two cars one night, leaving four of them disabled. My wife and I rode it last year on a rented Softail and ground the footboards down on several corners. I missed having my Road King's clearance.
Problem is, The Tail so popular now you can't stir the bikes and sports cars with a stick on the weekends, never mind the occasional RV and gaping cager. Try to go early in the day during the week to miss the big crowds. Otherwise you'll have crotch rockets and motards cutting around you at insane speeds.
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 334
Likes: 0
From: ohio
RE: The Tail of the Dragon
I a g r e e, those darn bumble bee type bikes are always trying to straighten out the curviest road east of the Mississippi.
We usually gather a small group for a spring pilgramiage to Deal's Gap.
Weekends are such a wastelast couple of years. Better off avoiding the Dragon completely! ! !
(I'm not riding the Harley while in these parts)
Hunt for a place called "Blood Mountain" US 129 - Georigia - stop at "Turners Cafe" for lunch
or "Wolf Pens Gap" - close to T.W.O - Georgia
or "Devils Triangle" - Tenn. north of Knoxville
or the "Skyway" - Tenn, N.C. - lunch at the "Bistro"
or 28 towards Fontanna
or 129 towards Robinsville - lunch at the "SmokeHouse"
If you do ride the Dragon,
just go slow,
-don't sight see - watch the road (professional photographers might distract you)
-DO NOT cross centerline, stay in your own lane.
-Take advantage of the rare straight away to relax, don't blast down that straight
cuz there's a really F'n sharp turn coming up really quick!!
We usually gather a small group for a spring pilgramiage to Deal's Gap.
Weekends are such a wastelast couple of years. Better off avoiding the Dragon completely! ! !
(I'm not riding the Harley while in these parts)
Hunt for a place called "Blood Mountain" US 129 - Georigia - stop at "Turners Cafe" for lunch
or "Wolf Pens Gap" - close to T.W.O - Georgia
or "Devils Triangle" - Tenn. north of Knoxville
or the "Skyway" - Tenn, N.C. - lunch at the "Bistro"
or 28 towards Fontanna
or 129 towards Robinsville - lunch at the "SmokeHouse"
If you do ride the Dragon,
just go slow,
-don't sight see - watch the road (professional photographers might distract you)
-DO NOT cross centerline, stay in your own lane.
-Take advantage of the rare straight away to relax, don't blast down that straight
cuz there's a really F'n sharp turn coming up really quick!!