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Heading to the dragon

6K views 42 replies 26 participants last post by  Webfors 
#1 ·
I have 4.5 days off starting Saturday afternoon. I'm strongly considering taking the blue highways from St. Louis, MO out to Deal's Gap to ride Tail of The Dragon. My wee is begging for an adventure! Any recommendations of things I shouldn't miss while I'm going out that way? Even better if I can make some semblance of a loop and not come back the way that I came. I would love some light off road adventure, but not too much as I'll be alone.
 
#2 ·
My method for that trip would be a most direct route out and back. About 515 miles depending on where you want to stay. That is an easy day if the bike is set up well. Then you will have time to ride the area. I say that because while the Dragon is something to do at least once, the rest of the area is simply wonderful to ride in. Ride some of the Blue Ridge Parkway, go through Cherokee toward the national park, ride the Cherohola Skyway, Moonshine 28. Beware that traffic will be heavy on weekends as the fall foilage riders and drivers will be out.
 
#3 ·
I have found amazing backroads in the Boone, Blowing Rock and Banner Elk area of NC. Never ridden them on a motorcycle though. I might be down that way end of the month too.
 
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#4 · (Edited)
North Carolina Route 8 is one of the most incredible roads I have ever ridden.

The dragon is nice, but watch out for getting rear ended by riders going too fast. I'd only ride it on a weekday. The Blue Ridge Parkway is really nice, but watch your speed as I have heard there are traps along it. As mentioned there is tons of nice riding out that way.

You can check the MABDR if you want some off pavement routes that aren't that hard. https://ridebdr.com/mabdr/
 
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#5 ·
Wow, I just started looking at google maps around the blue ridge mountains, it seems like one could just close their eyes and point and it will be a gorgeous twisty road
 
#7 ·
I live here and have roads that I prefer over the Dragon . Of course , you MUST ride it and get a dragon sticker , but the car club people have really hurt the Dragon . The best views are on the Cherohala , but the best riding loop is the Reliance loop. And the best dual sport roads are at the west end of the Cherohala
If you get in touch with me I can show you some great rides. I have my dual sport bike and will gladly show you some easy forest roads .
Then there are 2 great ways to get to the Blue Ridge Parkway from here . And the west end is the best part (and highest elevation)
and even has easy dual sport roads right off the parkway.
Wayah Road out of Franklin , NC is another great , uncrowded ride . I have a large map that I can give you that shows nothing but motorcycle rides , motorcycle campgrounds/cabins , and restaurants. You'll wish you had 4.5 WEEKS instead of days.
 
#10 ·
Blue Ridge Parkway is great if you have the time, it will lead you in the opposite direction of home though. Around the Deals Gap area, Moonshiner's 28 is awesome, as is Cherohala. From the Tellico Plains end of the Cherohala, 60 south to Suches is a great road. From there you can do "Georgia's Dragon", Georgia's Dragon - The Suches Loop in Georgia | Georgia Motorcycle Roads and Rides | MotorcycleRoads.com

One piece of advice I would strongly suggest is not to stay in Robbinsville. Everyone wants to stay there cause it's right beside Deals Gap, everything is priced as such. There's nothing to do at night, and even worse, it's a dry county, zero alcohol. Depending on where I'm coming from, I'll usually stay in Knoxville/Maryville or Bryson City.
 
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#11 ·
If you are near Boone and heading towards Blowing Rock, check out Schull's Mill Road and Old Schull's Mill Rd. Also the road going from Boone to Johnson City Tn, was amazing lots of up and down, turns all around.
 
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#13 · (Edited)
The leaves here are shedding from the drought. Be careful of them in a full lean, especially in the morning when they are damp from the dew....slick as 'el. Like others have mentioned, hit the Dragon early and on a week day to avoid the morons. If the cameras are set up...don't look at them, look where you are going. You don't want to be the featured crash pic of the week.

If you need a place to camp, my place is 2 hrs from 129 & north of Morristown TN. Gazebo/firepit/creek/outhouse/pasture/quiet.
36.4248N
83.3052W
 
#14 ·
I have a book titled 'Extreme Twisties'. I've posted several of the states (but not all) recommended rides in the trips/riding routes section. I have the 6 states rides in pdf format. I would be happy to send them to you via email if you wish. NOTE: If I remember correctlty, one of the PDF's is quite large. Just PM me.

In any case - have a Great Trip!!! :thumbup:
 

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#15 ·
Had my strom down there 2 times. Rode all the way once and trailered once.

All the above recommendations are great. Only thing I got was a TOTD licence plate frame.

Check out 129 photos and Killboy for your pictures!
 
#20 ·
#22 ·
Hey Steve,
PM me with your email address and I'll send you some PDFs of my favorites. I tried posting them here BUT my PDF files are larger than allowed.
Big Boy
 
#23 · (Edited)
#24 ·
Just got back form a 4 day trip to meet some friends in Johnson City TN. I found NC route 80 to be a great section of roads with the devils whip portion being especially great tight technical riding. Its like the dragon but tighter more technical and way less traffic. The dragon is nice but there are 1,000 other better less traveled roads in the area.
 
#25 ·
I tend to disagree to a point. 129 is better, or should I say unique than many due to it's banked design along with just about every curve radius being different. Having to do a direction changeover while coming out of one 160 degree curve into another while on top of almost a 3' high narrow crown tends to get your attention. Of course this was all before they reduced the speed limit and the road became a magnet for all sorts of clowns, car clubs, cruisers and knee dragging racers, so in that regard, yes there are way better roads to ride. It is a fantastic road that has been ruined by overuse and the frequent crashes. It's almost my backyard and I have not ridden it since 2000 & have no plans to do so.
 
#26 ·
I still ride it now and then but only on weekday mornings . And I cross my fingers . The Dragon will always be a unique spectacle and it is a crazy , fun ride . And , yes , it's those tight steeply banked turns ( there had to be a biker on the crew that built that road ).
All good fishing spots ...all good hunting areas ... all good roads ....become way too popular. Who knows ...next year you may have to pay and wait in line to ride it !!!
 
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#27 ·
Any motorcyclist should ride Deal's Gap. It is a unique experience with tight, banked corners, but riders should seek out the less crowded ones, too. From my last trip there, it seemed to me there's a lot better, less traveled roads in the area.

When I rode to TN and NC, I went to Deal's Gap, Cherohala Skyway, and rode other sections along the Blue Ridge. Some of the best roads I found were off the beaten path.

Example: If you do hit the Blue Ridge Parkway, consider getting off the Parkway and riding the "Devil's Drop" -- aka NC 151.

This is a road that takes you off the Blue Ridge and down in elevation. It has a lot of technical turns coming off the mountain, and did not have the crazy traffic that the Dragon had when I did it.

For me, the "Devil's Drop" was really good and a different riding experience than the Dragon's Tail -- as did many of the other random roads I ventured down.
 
#28 ·
I'm quite the fan of West Virginia personally, roads are every bit as good and practically no traffic or tourist activity. The dragon is fun to ride, but for me it's just not that fun anymore due to all the traffic and folks riding/driving who SUCK and are a danger to others. For me I love Moonshiner 28 and back of the dragon, I'd go down there just to ride those roads, plus several roads down to Suches GA are amazing as well. Best to just get out and explore in TN/NC, some of the very best roads are the county roads.
 
#29 ·
Big B - PM me with your email address and I'll forward you a PDF of the West Virginia "Extreme Twisties" book riding roads.
Big Boy
 

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#30 ·
I'm about an hour from the start of the good roads in WV and spend a lot of time riding in this great state. A couple years ago we made friend with a crew of riders from Johnson City TN and have been down several time to visit and be shown around. I can tell you the roads in east TN and western NC are nothing short of amazing. If all three states were the same distance I'm not sure I choose.
 
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