Leaving on the Sept 21st for 7 days of riding in the Smokies with 5 couples. plan to ride the BRP to Little Switzerland for lunch 1 day, NC197 from Burnsville south looks like a great road. Several sites say there is a 3.5 mile stretch of gravel. Does anyone know if this if Tar and chip over pavement or Loose gravel with a dirt base?
Basically is it safe on an Ultra? Small chips do not bother me, 1" rock and ruts are no fun.

 

Lol, I hope you had a better time on the unpaved part than I did!
It's a beautiful ride, just not meant for a bagger, IMHO.