Street Glide on the Dragon
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 137
Likes: 0
From: USA
Street Glide on the Dragon
Well me and another buddy rode our Street Glides down to Gatlinburg with our wives and kids driving in the minivan. One day we rode down to the Tail of the Dragon and did it both ways. I will admit though, you can drive as safe as you want but it will be the kid on the crotch rocket passing you on a curve that will kill you. (This happened to me a couple of times.) These guys were wearing their helmets and leathers which is fine and dandy when you are sliding on the asphalt. It is when you hit the tree at fifty MPH that the leather doesn't help.
As for the Dragon, it was not as bad as the road leading to our cabin. I thought I was going to kill myself on a couple occassions riding up the moutain to our cabin. To make matters worse, the county highway department thought it would be a good idea to put tar and gravel down over the PAVED road leading to our cabin during the middle of our vacation.
As for the Dragon, it was not as bad as the road leading to our cabin. I thought I was going to kill myself on a couple occassions riding up the moutain to our cabin. To make matters worse, the county highway department thought it would be a good idea to put tar and gravel down over the PAVED road leading to our cabin during the middle of our vacation.
Last edited by IN Glide; Aug 8, 2008 at 07:45 PM. Reason: grammer
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,807
Likes: 1
From: North Jersey
I know what you mean. My wife and I rode down to Robbinsville NC back in June to take in the Dragon as well as all the other scenic drives in the Great Smokies. On the way to the Cherohala Skyway, the road that led us there had the wet tar and loose pebble treatment. I felt the front end go away a bit in some turns. Made the ol' bung hole pucker if you know what I mean. The same thing happened to us on Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park last year. The last 20 miles or so was VERY loose pebbles. Had to stay in the 5 inch wide tire track on either side of the lane. I do wish they would find another way to maintain roads.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 8,341
Likes: 714
did it 2 weeks ago had a great time except for the rain on the way down around chicago had a good time on the tail spent a week and rode all the scenic roads and i agree some of the side roads going to cabins and condos were WAY tougher than the dragon!
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: Cincinnati, OH
I will admit though, you can drive as safe as you want but it will be the kid on the crotch rocket passing you on a curve that will kill you. (This happened to me a couple of times.) These guys were wearing their helmets and leathers which is fine and dandy when you are sliding on the asphalt. It is when you hit the tree at fifty MPH that the leather doesn't help.
However for us it was worse because they had 2 or 3 Tractor Trailors on the dragon - and the scariest part was making a blind turn to see a large truck taking almost all of your lane - the dragon was covered in smokies pulling over bikers but not a single one keeping the trucks out - thats the scariest part of the dragon to me. We had one guy riding a full size dresser pulled over for going 51 MPH on the dragon - he didn't get a ticket - because he couldn't understand how he was supposed to get a bike upto 51 MPH if he had to keep using 2nd and 3rd gears.
Also will say wish we avoided Cades Cove - we had the luxury of being stuck behind a P/U truck that thought it was a good idea to stop at the top of all the hills - always fun. But we learned a lesson - the gravel short cut to the dragon is a dead end. LOL
Nevertheless we had a great time and plan to go back soon. Give the new ride a taste -
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,108
Likes: 9
From: Lincolnton, NC
Sounds like you stayed where we did last year. We enjoyed the cabin so much we're going back again, next month. Glad you had a safe trip.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,907
Likes: 69
From: Wesley Chapel Fl.
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,530
Likes: 607
From: Raleigh NC
That's why I tell folks to ride 129 Tuesday through Thursday, before noon.... still get your photo taken, still buy the dand t-shirt, and be GONE before the squibs wake up.....Went to Cades Cove one time.... biggest waste to time there is... Foothills Parkway is nice, but, you're stuck in tourist traffic.
Plenty of good roads in the are.... they just don't have a web page like the Dragon
gotta admit, though, great publicity
Plenty of good roads in the are.... they just don't have a web page like the Dragon
gotta admit, though, great publicity
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 324
Likes: 0
From:
I'll be making my annual journey to NC / TN starting Friday. Haven't done the Dragon in two years because of the ricers though. My dad's wanting to do it this year so I may give it a go and get a pic with my FLHX.
---Chris
---Chris
