The Dragon

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Apr 17, 2011 | 01:15 PM

#31

1st 96 ultra

Outstanding HDF Member

Joined: Dec 2009

Posts: 2,502

Likes: 6

From: Lapeer , Mich

great ride did it about 15 years ago , going back one of these days

Apr 17, 2011 | 02:56 PM

#32

monkey sammich

Road Master

Joined: Jan 2011

Posts: 755

Likes: 5

From: Tallahassee, FL/Blue Ridge, GA

Quote:

Originally Posted by handsomeboy1

Also going first week in may. 16 of us rented a cabin in gatlinsburg tn. Hope to make it to the Jack Daniels factory as well.

It's a bit of a ride to Lynchburg to the distillery, as old folks say, "You can't get there from here." However, it's worth it. I intend to go for my second trip to the distillery the second week of May.

Apr 17, 2011 | 03:19 PM

#33

JC Turbo

Tourer

Joined: Jun 2009

Posts: 443

Likes: 2

From: Pittsburgh, PA

Quote:

Originally Posted by banks727

What I found scared the crap out of me. I have V & H Monster Ovals on my FLHX. My friends are always telling me it looks like my pipes are going to hit in the turns. A few of my pictures showed about a 1 -2 inch clearance in the turn. What scares me about that is I wasn't pushing it nearly as hard on this first run. Hitting the pipe would take weight off the rear tire and I'm sure that could have ruined my day.

Any one else notice this with their M. O's??

I had M.O. and I took them off because I did scrape them on the ground and it wasn't on the Dragon. They scraped the ground during tight 360 turns and on moderate cornering. I explained my concerns to V&H and they understood. I now have V&H oval slip ons and they are much better. Still close but they never scrape. I have dragged the floorboard brackets and lifted the rear tire and the mufflers never touched the ground. If i still had the m.o.'s on it I guarantee i would have went down.

Apr 17, 2011 | 04:57 PM

#34

Coach1

Tourer

Joined: Mar 2011

Posts: 336

Likes: 0

From: SC

Go have lunch at Deals Gap where all the crazies gather to do the Dragon. Then head over to the Blue Ridge Pkwy....you've got 450 mile of perfect mc road through the mountains of NC....and, on the way stop at the Wheels in Time Motorcycle Museum in Maggie Valley. I feel in love with this area after my first road tip enough to now call it home.

Apr 17, 2011 | 05:17 PM

#35

FlatBlackGlide

Cruiser

Joined: Mar 2011

Posts: 223

Likes: 1

From: Port Richey, FL

i go there every june and oct this will be the first time on a bagger !!

Apr 17, 2011 | 05:48 PM

#36

iclick

Extreme HDF Member

Joined: Sep 2005

Posts: 11,615

Likes: 50

From: Baton Rouge, LA

Quote:

Originally Posted by banks727

Just back from a great two day trip to TN and NC. Did the Cherohala Skyway and the Dragon, and more. Absolutely great riding. If you're near the Cherohala, it's truly one of the great roads in the country. Breathtaking views. 52 miles of curves and scenery.

In 1998 I found a reference to a new highway that was built between TN and NC, called the Cherohala Skyway and designated as one of the Top 10 best roads in the country. OTOH it was so new (opened in 1996) that it was on none of the maps I had, except the HOG touring atlas. We tried it and were hooked, and always ride it at least once while in that area.

The first time was surreal. In that ~35 miles we saw only two other vehicles, and when you stopped it was as if you were on a planet with no other humans. Very quiet and no evidence of civilization. It is much more heavily travelled now, of course, but it is still one of the best roads we've traveled.

Quote:

I'd heard so much about the Dragon, I was a little nervous. It was great. Like an amusement park ride for big kids. First run was fun. Second was a blast. A real test for your skills.

I've run it twice and that's enough. We usually avoid it because of the crazy sport bikers passing without caution and the 18-wheelers trying to deal with the hairpin curves. Trucks should be banned from that road, IMO. Running it on a weekday makes it safer since the boy-racers are usually in school, but take extremem care if you run it on the weekend.

I would much rather ride the Parkway than the Dragon.

Apr 17, 2011 | 08:22 PM

#37

JC Turbo

Tourer

Joined: Jun 2009

Posts: 443

Likes: 2

From: Pittsburgh, PA

Here are some of my pics from the Dragon

Apr 17, 2011 | 08:50 PM

#38

Jkey

Intermediate

Joined: Jun 2009

Posts: 32

Likes: 0

Me and some friends rode to Smoky Mountain Harley then over to the dragon and the Cherohala around the first of April. Great ride. There was 7 to 10 inch snow drifts on the road sides on the Cherohala. Yeah it got pretty chilly going across. The dragon is fun and do able even for a beginner (provided they don't think they are a motocross rider). As far as crotch rockets my only advice is if one shows up in your mirror hang to the side and it will go around, or at least that was my experience. I prefer the Cherohala. Long sweeping curves that are fun to ride. Stayed at the biker resort at the bottom of the Cherohala. Another great place. The people were really friendly and the cabins were top notch. Like someone else said lots of good roads in the area and the Blue Ridge is another good one.