Looking for a nice road trip
6th Gear
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Lakeside, CA
The problem with Dragon's Tail is not the road - it is the guys on their crotch-rockets and anyone else there for their own personal speed trials. If you go, I'd recommend hitting it during off-peak hours - maybe on a Tuesday morning or something. If it is your first time, you probably do not need to compete for road space with the high numbers racing it on a weekend. Then again - higher numbers could force a slower pace too...
Other possible routes -
Depending on how far you wish to travel - The very winding mountainous route up to Clingman's Dome. It sits on the Tennessee/Kentucky border and is the highest point in the Smokie Mountains in Tennessee. It as well as many other routes in the area have fantastic views and less racing traffic - IMHO.
San Diego to Palm Springs - the back way - is cool. Lots of winding roads and elevation change going through the mountain range
San Diego to Napa Valley - straight shot, but it is up the California coast. Beautiful scenery, fantastic weather, lots of opportunities to stop along the way for food, suds, photos, hotels, whatever...
Check your local dealer - they probably have some great rides already figured out that others near you have done or are planning to do.
Best,
Mike
www.michaelmosack.com
Other possible routes -
Depending on how far you wish to travel - The very winding mountainous route up to Clingman's Dome. It sits on the Tennessee/Kentucky border and is the highest point in the Smokie Mountains in Tennessee. It as well as many other routes in the area have fantastic views and less racing traffic - IMHO.
San Diego to Palm Springs - the back way - is cool. Lots of winding roads and elevation change going through the mountain range
San Diego to Napa Valley - straight shot, but it is up the California coast. Beautiful scenery, fantastic weather, lots of opportunities to stop along the way for food, suds, photos, hotels, whatever...
Check your local dealer - they probably have some great rides already figured out that others near you have done or are planning to do.
Best,
Mike
www.michaelmosack.com
Club Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,192
Likes: 168
From: Knoxville, Tn
Dragon
I agree that you need to hit it on an off day and NOT on a weekend. Go slow you're first time through. Most accidents happen because people ride way above their skill level or some idiot comes over into your lane. If you ride at your level, you can ride it on any bike.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,351
Likes: 461
From: Illinois
Check out tailofthedragon.com for lots of info on many great rides in the area. While you are in that area make sure you ride the Cherohala Skyway, it's much more scenic and relaxing than the dragon. You should also try to ride the Blue Ridge Parkway at least from Cherokee to Asheville as well.
Lots and lots of great roads in that area. I do the dragon once a year, but enjoy the surrounding roads even more.
Dennis
Lots and lots of great roads in that area. I do the dragon once a year, but enjoy the surrounding roads even more.
Dennis
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 115
Likes: 0
From: Holland, NY
You might consider arriving at the dragon via the Blue Ridge Parkway. When ridden from north to south, it is an easy warm-up for twistie roads. Also, the Cherohala Parkway, just south of the dragon, would be a less technically challenging warm-up.
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 200
Likes: 1
From: Kentucky
You could ride to the Red River Gorge in Kentucky, plenty of twistys and great scenery! I've ridden the Dragon a couple of times and while its a great ride, worying about the rockets makes it not worth the trouble. Eastern Ky. has some of the best roads for rides! I rode to the Gorge Sunday and had a great ride.
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 916
Likes: 12
From: NoVA
Safe on a Road King. That's funny. There's a guy down there that videotapes rockets riding the Gap. He rides a 1800 Gold Wing while filming and can smoke anyone but Kenny Roberts or Mike Hailwood.
It's the indian not the arrow.
It's the indian not the arrow.
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