First trip to the Dragon

[sslangs]

Going on family vacation in July to Gatlinburg, TN.  Decided to trailer the bike since I will be close to the Dragon.  I will only have one day for the Dragon.  Any good advice or suggestions would be appreciated.  Thanks Scott

[RRdvark]

Route directions from '04 & '05 Honda Hoot.  Thought it was fun both years.

[mxvet57]

  Any good advice or suggestions would be appreciated.  Thanks Scott

Don't get a performance award.

[Cablebandit]

Go early on a weekday.

[GTS_Rider]

Arrghh, Gatlinburg , and all attached towns down that way I rode. Worst part of my ride going through those towns with traffic equal to LA traffic, but not being able to just split it...

Hey, it's cool for a 'family' vacation, I guess. Looked like lots of various entertainment opportunities as I crawled through. Waterslides, maybe some rollercoasters? Those would be my aim. Still you have the Hatfields/McCoy dinner show available, wonder what that's like? We have medieval jousting dinner shows on the West coast...  

[TriumphTiger1050]

I have done the Dragon some years back and never back.  IMO it is overrated to a degree.  Much better less traveled patroled roads elsewhere in western NC for sure.  But the Dragon is a institution so to speak and to do it at least once a must.  Use to on the TN side when you got out of the twisties on that long straight the Tn HP would be clocking folks.

I have found now that I have been riding some time that there are better roads to twist on.  But go ride it to say you did, stop at the tree of shame and take a picture and get your dragon decal!  Be careful however, there are fools out there that think they are pro riders and will kill you with total blatant disregard to safety!

[Orson]

Arrghh, Gatlinburg , and all attached towns down that way I rode. Worst part of my ride going through those towns with traffic equal to LA traffic, but not being able to just split it...

I had the same experience trying to get thru Gatlinburg (or maybe it wuz Pigeon Forge)  

bumper to bumper traffic had my air-cooled FJ1100 on the verge of overheating before I finally reached the other side of town  

[rajflyboy]

I have done the Dragon some years back and never back.  IMO it is overrated to a degree.  Much better less traveled patroled roads elsewhere in western NC for sure.  But the Dragon is a institution so to speak and to do it at least once a must.  Use to on the TN side when you got out of the twisties on that long straight the Tn HP would be clocking folks.

I have found now that I have been riding some time that there are better roads to twist on.  But go ride it to say you did, stop at the tree of shame and take a picture and get your dragon decal!  Be careful however, there are fools out there that think they are pro riders and will kill you with total blatant disregard to safety!

Go on a weekday and you will enjoy the "Dragon" a lot more.    Weekends are crazy busy.

[Diablo Rojo]

Early morning works on the weekends, otherwise Monday thru Thursday.  Go down 129 from Deals GAP and turn right on 143, you won't regret it.  The Cherohala is one of my favorite roads.

[stromgal]

+1 on the Cherohala Skyway.

[rajflyboy]

Early morning works on the weekends, otherwise Monday thru Thursday.  Go down 129 from Deals GAP and turn right on 143, you won't regret it.  The Cherohala is one of my favorite roads.

 

50 miles of nice 2 lane twisty's with only like 1 or 2 intersecting roads.

[scott19]

Take it easy on the Dragon at least the first couple of times. There's a reason there's a Tree of Shame. Ride on a weekday if at all possible. I just got back from two weekdays in the area and didn't see a single po po.

Then go ride The Cherohala Skyway.

Then go ride 28, which is probably my favorite.

That should eat up most of a day.

Have fun.

[sslangs]

Thanks for all the advice,  a performance award would definitely be a bummer !  the Cherohala Skyway sounds and looks Great.

[rajflyboy]

Take it easy on the Dragon at least the first couple of times. There's a reason there's a Tree of Shame. Ride on a weekday if at all possible. I just got back from two weekdays in the area and didn't see a single po po.

Then go ride The Cherohala Skyway.

Then go ride 28, which is probably my favorite.

That should eat up most of a day.

Have fun.

The moonshiner 28 is a sweet road

[TriumphTiger1050]

Yes, you never want to add a part of your bike to the tree!

But it does make for a great picture if you get there.

[gradus]

The moonshiner 28 is a sweet road

Moonshiner, WTF?  Thought it was the Helbender or some other lame ass name.  Hwy 28 from the Gap all the way to the SC state line is one of the best single road, 100 miles stretches you'll ever find.  

[eljefe-speaks]

Take it easy on the Dragon at least the first couple of times.

+1

Hate to preach but it's easy to forget just how dangerous the dragon can be. Treat a couple runs as sighting laps and even afterwards refrain from getting too crazy.

One pointer - I had to pop a dramamine after doing two back-to-back runs. I almost puked in my helmet.  

Damn, this post is making me look like a real nancy.  

[kyzrex]

Being from central Oklahoma, I know that you are used to heat.  However, Tenn./NC is a different kind of heat...not hot and dry but hot and HUMID.  So the best advice I can give you is to get out as early as possible in the day, drink plenty of fluids, and be prepared for afternoon t-showers.  Be prepared for limited line of sight on the roads.  You won't see the decreasing radius turns or the cars pulling out onto the roads before you get to them, but be prepared for them.  DON'T ride balls out, leave yourself a margin of error for when you need it
Enjoy yourself.

[sprocket]

The nay-sayers of the Dragon...............dont listen to that crap. The Dragon is....without a doubt............ the best twisty road around.....hands down!

My advise..........drink plenty of fluids....nah just kidding....... I dont figure your a dumbass just cause your from Central OK.
Anyway last time I was there (last summer) I stayed at the little hotel there just on the NC side, got up early and I probably road 15-20 laps before it started getting a bit busy.
Sometimes the cops wreck havac on riders, almost always after a crash when someone gets hurt or killed.
If you look like your under control, in your lane not to close to another rider, its highly unlikely you'll get a ticket!

Have Fun!

[banderso]

Enjoy, that is all.....

Be sure to hit the Cherohala Skyway.

There are other awesome roads, but lets wait for your second trip !

[sslangs]

Yea, defiantly going to take it easy until I get my sea legs.  Hwy 28 sounds like one I need to check out.  All this talk  of safety and deaths will get your attention. As for heat, well it summer time and I just take it in stride, stay hydrated and take a break as needed.

[SuperHans]

The nay-sayers of the Dragon...............dont listen to that crap. The Dragon is....without a doubt............ the best twisty road around.....hands down!

I gotta agree. I spent a week in the area and had a blast. Stay away from the area on the weekend and try to make it mid-week if you can, you will have a much more enjoyable time with a lot less traffic. Hit the Dragon early and you may not see another soul on the road.

If you like the really tight twisty stuff there are not a lot of roads that are it's equal.

[dlrides]

The nay-sayers of the Dragon...............dont listen to that crap. The Dragon is....without a doubt............ the best twisty road around.....hands down!

Map reading is a lost art.


 

[rajflyboy]

The Dragon is the perfect road

No gravel

Turns are banked

No intersections

as many twisty's as you could possibly desire