Topic: Tail of the Dragon...what is there to know about it?

[DarkRider]

I know this stretch of road has been mentioned on here many times. I gotta say my curiosity has been perked. Now my riding group is talking about taking a trip to the states closer to spring and one of the destinations we have discussed is the Tail. We all want to run it at least once. What can anyone local to the area tell me about it?

[RRRToolSolutions]

Well, I do know that you don't want to add fruit to the tree - the tree of shame that is.

I go every year and while I enjoy the company and the 100 plus 2 strokes that convene every May, the GAP is something you do the first time very carefully. 314 curves in 11 miles, but it's not the curves that bite so hard - it's the on-coming traffic that refuses to stay in their own lane. If you meet a truck, RV, or anything with a trailer - then both lanes will be used to get them around the turn. Semi tractor trailers are forbidden to travel on there by law, but every year we see dozens. They actually have to put their tires into the ditches on both sides to get around - with drop-offs of 100-300 feet and no room for a bike to go - these are real hazards. I went through there 4 times in one day and almost got hit on three of those - once by a pick-up truck who was in my lane in a blind turn, and twice by bikers who had come into the corners too hot - 1 slammed on the rear brakes and low-sided right in front of me and 1 took 1/2 of my lane coming towards me in the oposite direction.

It's a great road, it has absolutely no run-off area, hospitals and help are over 1 hour away, helicopters are used regularly to air-lift the carnage, and 50% of the folks on it will never stay in their lanes -

Gordon

 

[boatsdickson]

And werent they having a huge police crack down also? Last i heard they were making it very difficult to ride without the harassment. Nice pic by the way.

[Venturous]

Fun road, but stay away during peak hours when the organ donors are out. I find early morning
during week days is the funnest time to ride it. Apparently the kids with no sense are still hung over
and sleeping.

Try to run it in both directions if you have time. Also, the TNHP has increased patrolling this road the
past few years due to numerous complaints. The speed limit in most areas is 35mph which is still
fast enough to enjoy it for cruisers. On a crotch rocket, that is hard to keep that low. Either way,
watch your speed.

Try to plan two nights in the area and take a full day to check out the area if you can. I like to start
in Cherokee, NC, do the Dragon, then return to Cherokee on the Cherohala Skyway. Still leaves time
for a ride over the Smoky Mtns to Gatlinburg or a stop at Clingmans Dome, the highest point in TN.

Also, don't let 'The Dragon' take all your time in the area as there are other cool roads
and attractions in that region. A good place to stay for a Dragon run is the Days Inn in
Cherokee, NC. It is staggering distance to the Harrahs Casino and has good rates.

Some places to Google that you might also wish to check out while in the area
or to build your route to the Dragon:

Cherohala Skyway
Clingmans Dome
Blue Ridge Parkway
Appalachia Museum in Norris, TN
Gatlinburg, TN

This May I will be making a week loop of Appalachia. I run the entire length of the Blue Ridge Parkway,
spend two days in Cherokee, NC, then head back north via Tennessee, Kentucky, and West Virginia.
No interstate and rarely a straight road. Can't wait!

After you run the Dragon, be sure to visit www.killboy.com to see if he caught your picture. They take
some pretty nice action shots and post them for sale at reasonable price. What a job huh! Here is
my wife and I a few years back on the Dragon...

[Rocking-M]

Ok Dark, if your heading down this way come spring. Bring it down through the mountains of Virginia
I'll take you on some nice roads, which I say rival the Dragon but with less cops, and then we'll head to the Dragon.

Hey, I had to come back and add, see if you can get that old grey headed stubble jumper to come with you.

[DarkRider]

Im guessing you are refering to Dave there Rocking and i will see what i can do about getting him to come. Just a lil more info about the plan. The group plans on getting ahold of an old school bus and converting it into an RV/Motorcycle carrier with capacity for 8 bikes. That will be our form of 4 wheel transport when we arent on two wheels. Even if we do not get the bus completed in time i may make the journey on my own with car and trailer carrying my bike. Either way im hitting the area sometime in 09. Heck..if i run solo (or manage to convince Dave to come) i can spend more time in the area and take you up on your offer of showing me the good roads to ride Rocking.

[Rocking-M]

Sounds like you got a plan going, keep me in the loop I'll be glad to serve as tour guide. 
I got to get this leg back in shape but hopefully by spring I'll be good to go.

[KeithTurk]

Do the Dragon but then get the hell out of there and simply ride... the Cherohala skyway is Wicked cool... as are most of the roads in the area... nothing as tough or technical as the dragon... but then you don't have to fight for your lane most the time either...

Ya gotta do the Dragon to say you've done it though... just the way it is...

Oh and plan your trip to show up at Maxton NC when we're racing...it's also a Must see if your into Scooters...

K

[DarkRider]

Will def keep you in the loop as to whats going on Rocking.

[jbailey]

I did the dragon several times, last year two up.  The Cherohala Skyway is better in my opinion.  But then I am an old fart!

P.S. It's 318 curves in 11 miles, but then I've been too busy to count!  Either way, it is one twisty road.  The first time is kind of scary because you are concentrating on the oncoming traffic.  The police were also out in full force last spring, but that keeps the kids away, so that's not so bad I guess.

[unkle fester]

http://www.tailofthedragon.com/

[Sam Green Racing]

Do the Dragon but then get the hell out of there and simply ride... the Cherohala skyway is Wicked cool... as are most of the roads in the area... nothing as tough or technical as the dragon... but then you don't have to fight for your lane most the time either...

Ya gotta do the Dragon to say you've done it though... just the way it is...

Oh and plan your trip to show up at Maxton NC when we're racing...it's also a Must see if your into Scooters...

K

If ya'll going to stretch your ride to include Maxton, make it the 27th/28th of June and the drinks are on me

Sam.

[Rocking-M]

i posted this a while back,
the dragon is 11 miles,
this is 22 miles of 15mph curves......

From Mouth of Wilson to Damascus VA on Highway 58, the Jeb Stuart Highway.
Those who have run both say it beats the Dragon. Plus, once you hit Damascus you can catch
421 and Shady Valley nearby.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Damascus+VA&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&resnum=1&ct=image

[andy750]

I think I may have to join Dark Rider next year and come and see you Rocking M....like a surfer looking for the perfect wave, I love to find great roads to ride..you are only 800 miles from Boston....

keep me posted on plans nearer the time!

cheers
Andy

[Rocking-M]

will do Andy!! how is the nor-easter blowing today?

[andy750]

No snow here....nice and sunny today...rode into work only to be informed later that it was very icy on the roads....oops...it did look a bit damp 

Thanksgiving Day ride tomorrow...a balmy 43F is expected.

cheers
Andy

[DarkRider]

Will def keep you posted on plans as well Andy.....The more i think about it the more i think about the idea of making a trip to the area by myself and maybe some other canadians that feel up to the trip. Right now it isnt certian if the Bus will be ready in time...So if im doing a solo tour I will def take Rocking up on his offer. Dont know what bike i will be using yet be it the VF the CB750F or the GSXR 1100 im looking at buying....I think the Interceptor and the CB would probably be better choices..

[Peterbylt]

We ran the dragon on the Monday morning after the 4th of July and pretty much had the road to ourselves. Its a fun ride, the road is in really good shape, the turns are well marked and most of them seem to be banked. The problem seems to be that you are lulled into driving beyond your ability and then you hit one of the really sharp turns.
My wife and I rode through on the Goldwing and had an awesome ride. Next time I want to be on the 550F alone.

The pictures that showed up on Killboy a couple of days later definitely made it look more intimidating than it was.
http://www.peterbylt.com/dragon.htm

Due to the notoriety of the road it is worth doing at least once and buying a Tee shirt.

Peter
 

[DarkRider]

Well it looks like my Dragon trip may be canceled due to changes at work...gah..just when things looked like they were going right....