Tail of the Dragon
Login  | |
|
Tail of the Dragon - 10/24/2007 10:07:54 AM
|
|
|
waterbrat
Posts: 40
Joined: 4/6/2007
Status: offline
|
Rode up to NC to visit the Tail of the Dragon...WHAT A WASTE. Yeah its got curves and could be a nice ride...but there are roads in GA, NC and TN that are more entertaining.
I found it to be jammed with bikers and cars (went on a Sunday). Car clubs, sportbike racers, harleys, you name it, they were on the road. It seems everyone wants to ride the Dragon. Looked more like a parade. Plus the cops.
Also it looked more of a Tourist Trap. They are selling t-shirts, key chains etc...photographers on the side take your picture to sell it to you later online.
Guess the big deal is to tell people you where there, but wouldn't go again. If you plan to go, try it on a weekday not a weekend. In fact take Route 143, the Cherohala Highway, its a better ride 100%.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Tail of the Dragon - 10/24/2007 10:40:58 AM
|
|
|
PlayfulGod
Posts: 3387
Joined: 6/9/2007
From: Dalton, GA
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: waterbrat
Rode up to NC to visit the Tail of the Dragon...WHAT A WASTE. Yeah its got curves and could be a nice ride...but there are roads in GA, NC and TN that are more entertaining.
I found it to be jammed with bikers and cars (went on a Sunday). Car clubs, sportbike racers, harleys, you name it, they were on the road. It seems everyone wants to ride the Dragon. Looked more like a parade. Plus the cops.
Also it looked more of a Tourist Trap. They are selling t-shirts, key chains etc...photographers on the side take your picture to sell it to you later online.
Guess the big deal is to tell people you where there, but wouldn't go again. If you plan to go, try it on a weekday not a weekend. In fact take Route 143, the Cherohala Highway, its a better ride 100%.
What you wanted to go thru @100mph? better be glad you couldnt, you woulda gotten the not so free airlift out. But yea Saturday n Sunday are not good days to go unless you get there later on in the day. I plan on hunting out these other roads that are pose to be comparible to the dragon tho.
_____________________________
For All your Hosting Needs, TechyGeek.com,
SBG
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Tail of the Dragon - 10/24/2007 11:36:07 AM
|
|
|
waterbrat
Posts: 40
Joined: 4/6/2007
Status: offline
|
No ...I am not looking to go 100mph...in fact if you start hauling, the Dragon will get you...saw one bike run of the road...just felt that it was a lot of traffic and cops...kinda ruined the ride (expectation)..Maybe if there was 50% less traffic.... just felt that deals gap is a bit overrated....At least on that day...There are plenty of roads in that area that are over looked....
P.S. did not mean to say that photographers on the road are bad...in fact it is great to get a picture....They are doing their job...
If you want to get an idea of the riders, look at the photographers website:
http://www.zeefoto.com/
http://www.killboy.com/destiny.html
http://us129photos.com/
http://http://www.moonshinephoto.com/
http://http://www.dragonslayerphotos.com/
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Tail of the Dragon - 10/24/2007 12:15:51 PM
|
|
|
PlayfulGod
Posts: 3387
Joined: 6/9/2007
From: Dalton, GA
Status: offline
|
The nice part about the dragon is its well maintained. Meaning the locals sweep the gravel off etc. Yea when theres a ton of people there it gets to be a pita. Still a very nice set of curves. I love em and wish there were some like it closer to me. I have plenty of mtns near by I need to go check out. But what I have seen thus far dont compare to the dragon. Good curves n twisties but not as extreme as the dragon. Tho I may just need shown where they are. lol
_____________________________
For All your Hosting Needs, TechyGeek.com,
SBG
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Tail of the Dragon - 10/27/2007 8:34:17 AM
|
|
|
cb2cbr
Posts: 98
Joined: 11/18/2005
Status: offline
|
Just made my second trip on the Dragon this year. Came thru this past Monday Oct. 22, in the midmorning. I came up from Atlanta after going to the Vintage Festival at Barber in Birmingham. I rode Rt 129 thru the North Georgia mountains. Really nice road in the Chattahoochee Forest. That whole area is target rich in great roads. If the sky had been on my side I'd had spent another day there or more. The forcast was rain anytime after noon and it was accurate! Anyway I had a great time on the Dragon. Very light traffic, no cops and those slower two-up crusers waved me by when I came up on them. I was so tempted to turn around and do it again. Just greedy!
So yeah, weekday, off hours is your best bet. The locals do take care of the road and the pics by KillBoy are great. My trip in June with the Mrs. is my wallpaper on this and my work computer.
_____________________________
cb2cbr
1979 CB750F one owner-me
1994 CBR1000F
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Tail of the Dragon - 10/31/2007 6:00:08 AM
|
|
|
waterbrat
Posts: 40
Joined: 4/6/2007
Status: offline
|
If you find yourself going to Deals Gap, besides the Cherohala Skyway, take a look at the Wayah Road in NC (route 1310). IT IS WORTH IT> It is now one of my favorite roads.
I had a chance of traveling this road this past weekend and found it had less traffic and no cops. Heading towards Franklin NC, you have curves, waterfalls and just a beautiful mountian road. At times you are traveling along a river which you probably cross (bridges) 10 times, giving you a great view. Be careful, the views might distract you.
Hope this helps anyone thinking of traveling around this area.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Tail of the Dragon - 10/31/2007 6:25:15 AM
|
|
|
waterbrat
Posts: 40
Joined: 4/6/2007
Status: offline
|
Here is an example of the Wayah Road....http://www.wayahroad.com/
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Tail of the Dragon - 11/19/2007 6:35:48 PM
|
|
|
invader_zoom
Posts: 45
Joined: 8/17/2007
Status: offline
|
Glad someone else is finally saying that....I went one time....on a relativly uncrowed day; still people everywhere. Saw the tree, took some pictures, passed on the 25 dollar t-shirt. I'll probably never go back.
_____________________________
''''''''''''''''03 CBR600RR
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Tail of the Dragon - 11/19/2007 8:05:53 PM
|
|
|
Silver Wing 06
Posts: 143
Joined: 10/20/2007
Status: offline
|
north Ga is way better. the gap is cool been there 6 times and when i first went back in 2001 it was empty. now it is a zoo. we stick to the other good roads. try rt 28 the road that leads out the back of the crossroads(gas station) it is great. the skyway is nice. and 180 in Ga is as good as the gap but much less crowded. 60 in ga is great to. jst watch the cops in lumpkin co. they gave me a nice 215 dollar reminder not to pass the local cars, even if they slow and wave ya by?!! we stay in north Ga and ride the roads there and up to the gap. man i miss the days when you only saw 20 or so bikes there on a weekday. and maybe 50 on a weekend. now we went on thurs and saw over 100 bikes at the gas station alone!
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Tail of the Dragon - 12/28/2007 11:50:55 AM
|
|
|
lcbatl08
Posts: 17
Joined: 12/27/2007
Status: offline
|
I live only 20 min from the start of the dragon on the TN side yes pigs and traffic are heavy during the week but if you ever get a chance to go on a weekday not really during riding season its nice and yall said there are roads that are better well not east of the mississippi it is a fact that deals gap has the most turns east of the mississippi i guess it because i live so close but i love it and if you live close and can get up there often and get to know the road and turns then you can go fast and enjoy the ride
Mike D
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Tail of the Dragon - 12/28/2007 12:29:47 PM
|
|
|
PlayfulGod
Posts: 3387
Joined: 6/9/2007
From: Dalton, GA
Status: offline
|
The dragon kicks ass over any other road in these parts. Only thing the makes the other roads better is if they are less known n have less traffic/cops. The loop has some great curves but it also had a bunch of phuqing iggits on it.
_____________________________
For All your Hosting Needs, TechyGeek.com,
SBG
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Tail of the Dragon - 12/28/2007 12:45:38 PM
|
|
|
lcbatl08
Posts: 17
Joined: 12/27/2007
Status: offline
|
Where is the loop im new to the Ga area i see ur from dalton i ride past there every wknd on my way to tn did u by chance know a billy jackson??
Mike D
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Tail of the Dragon - 1/6/2008 6:04:40 PM
|
|
|
Jeff1980
Posts: 130
Joined: 9/16/2007
Status: offline
|
I went there years ago and it was great.... enough people there to meet and hang out with but not so many that many people got in you're way. On occasion, there would be some kid that thought he knew what he was doing riding waaaayyyy too slow in front of you but it was easy enough to find a somewhat sweeping left and pass on the outside.... I went back last year and found that it was completely different... It was just like the original poster said... People everywhere.. It was like being at a freakin' amusement park... The first time I was there I didn't see a single cop, I passed several this time... Just as the original poster mentioned, I felt like I was in a parade.... People were riding like 25-30mph hanging off their bikes like they thought they were really flying... 3 round trips through it and I maybe took 30 turns at a decent clip. Every time I would try to ride slow enough to put distance between me and the slow @$$ group in front of me, some newbie would pass me and then ride just as slow as the previous group.
My first trip was probably the best vacation I ever had... My most recent trip there was without a doubt the worst 3 days I ever had.... I will never go back to that $hithole...
< Message edited by Jeff1980 -- 1/6/2008 6:08:48 PM >
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Tail of the Dragon - 2/20/2008 8:52:58 PM
|
|
|
oneslowf4i
Posts: 19
Joined: 6/10/2007
From: knoxville,TN
Status: offline
|
you just have to know the days to go up there...weekends are awful. Its best middle of the week. I absolutely love it up there but will agree lately it has been shit with all the LEO's and people lane crossing. I wrecked my first bike an 03gsxr 600 up there when i was 16 and still havent been back up on a bike yet. I can absolutely tear it up in a car though. We GPS'd my car rolling through there and my avg. speed was 48 not getting out of 2nd gear which tops at 65 ish and got through in 10 mins...not too bad in a near stock car. It definitely helps to know the road...i have been through about 50+ trips so i have it memorized...
_____________________________
2002 cbr600 f4i
Ford Dark Shadow Gray
RK x ring race chain
AFAM -2 +3 sprockets
muzzy slip-on
K&N filter
speedohealer
SI stunt cage
strapped
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Tail of the Dragon - 3/13/2008 1:00:31 PM
|
|
|
snowboarding82
Posts: 1488
Joined: 6/25/2006
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: Jeff1980
I went there years ago and it was great.... enough people there to meet and hang out with but not so many that many people got in you're way. On occasion, there would be some kid that thought he knew what he was doing riding waaaayyyy too slow in front of you but it was easy enough to find a somewhat sweeping left and pass on the outside.... I went back last year and found that it was completely different... It was just like the original poster said... People everywhere.. It was like being at a freakin' amusement park... The first time I was there I didn't see a single cop, I passed several this time... Just as the original poster mentioned, I felt like I was in a parade.... People were riding like 25-30mph hanging off their bikes like they thought they were really flying... 3 round trips through it and I maybe took 30 turns at a decent clip. Every time I would try to ride slow enough to put distance between me and the slow @$$ group in front of me, some newbie would pass me and then ride just as slow as the previous group.
My first trip was probably the best vacation I ever had... My most recent trip there was without a doubt the worst 3 days I ever had.... I will never go back to that $hithole...
Go do a trackday if everyone else sucks and you're way better.... I only say that because when I go this year I'll be the slow@$$ through it. lol
_____________________________
'06 F4i, Blue Galfer SS lines, K&N air filter, Blue/black, Pazzo short levers, Sportech chrome double bubble, windscreen, Hotbodies front flushmounts, Rumble undertail, Blue "Pimp Stripes"
|
|
|
|
 Today's Posts
Most Active Topics
Make A Donation
Forum Rules & FAQ
RSS Feeds
Advertising Info
|
Contact Us |
Advertising |
Automotive Directory |
About Us |
Archive |
Honda CBR Motorcycle Links |
Legal |
Privacy Policy |
© CBR Forum
CBR Forum .com is not affiliated with or endorsed by Honda Motor Company.
|
Printable Version
