Deal's Gap

Well, my second trip to the gap was a great one. I rode in to work fully packed on Tuesday the 20th, even came in at 7:00 so I could get out by 3:00. 3:00 rolls around, and I am outta here!

Now I was a little apprehensive going into this. I met up with 9 other riders, all on gsx-r 750/1000, a cbr1000rr, and 1 dude who brough his motard (easily the fastest out of the whole group). Also, 3 of these guys race, one on a gsx-5 750, one on a gsx-r 1000, and the guy on the motard.

Before we left, I talked to the guy who owns the gsx-r 1000. "Are you sure you want to bring the FJR. I think you'll have more fun on the blackbird. It's going to be mostly sports bikes and we will keep up a pretty good pace."

I shrugged it off, and said, "I can hold my own on the FJR, if I can't keep up, I'll just ride sweep. I got my gps so no big deal."

Long story short, these guys had no idea what the FJR can do. I could not ride as fast in the tight stuff as the 3 who race, but they were never that far in front of me. The other 6 bikes always filed in behind me, they could not hang with the FJR, even on the gap, I was putting their sports bikes to shame with my saddle bags on and carrying some load. I will have a copy of the video soon, and I plan to post that. I'm really curious what the FJR looks like on the gap on the video.

Put a peg down for Killboy! I know I'm on the yellow, but there was no traffic coming the other way.



"Look maw, no hands!"



settin up



Is this far enough to the right Toe?



Get back here GSX-R 1000!





Got ride blood mountain for the first time. If you are ever in that are, you must do it! It was one of the best rides I have been on. You get to use 2 lanes in some parts allowing for very interesting lines.

What I learned:

1. How to get off the bike more to increase peg clearance. It really works! Working with the guys who race and following them in the tight stuff taught me a lot about body position.

2. The FJR earned different names the more we rode. On a first glance, it was the "Donkey." Later, as I wasn't as slow as a donkey, I was called the "pack horse." Towards the end of the ride, everyone referred to the FJR as the "Mothership."

3. Blood mountain rocks

4. Radar on the gap varies from nothing to 10 cops on the gap. Gotta make a test run first, and see how it is.

5. I need to do some track days. Working with more experienced riders is key to improving your riding.

6. While many have complained about the increased police presence, and squidmania ruining the gap and surrounding areas, I had a superb time. Saw very few squids. Got no tickets. And finally, I didn't crash!

keith,

well done. on our fj rallies, inevitably someone brings a brother or friend that has an r1/gsxr/zx9, and they assume incorrectly because their bike is 10-20 years newer and has more hp, that they'll ride much faster than us on the dragon, ch/skyway, brp, little switzerland, etc. and then they crash. r1, z750, fz1, r1, r1. all bitten it.

i'd rather surprise them on a bike they underestimate than disappoint them on a superbike. ( :

did you also do the richard russell highway, i think it's the same or right near 180 in the same area as blood mountain. also very good roads. will be there for the fall fj rally in a few months.

dean

cincinnati

Very nice post, glad you had a nice time and a safe one.

Mike

Looking very good there Keith. Great head turn, feet position (balls of your feet), from the pictures looks like some great lines too.

Gotta love the gap, and surrounding area, hard to imagine it being better except the police of course. The last time there, was just using the back brake approaching turns, which made it easy to be back on the gas after judging the entry.

Looking forward to seeing the vid.

regards,

Ah, the time honored tale of superbike drivers who underestimate the bikes with bags. "The Mothership"" -- man, I like that. I was up running the same roads this weekend, and followed a CBR litre bike through 180 in Georgia who tried so hard to get away from me, he missed the turn and ran wide, running across the double yellow and almost off the road.

He waved me by, and I never saw him after that.

Thanks for sharing.

Awesome post! I'm planning on going to the Gap the 1st week of June. I've never been there and really looking forward to it. I really don't think I will have a problem keeping up with my group as it will consist of : a Hardly cruiser, Honda Goldwing, BMW ST1100, and my Feejer. Should be fun though.

Well! thanks for that report Keith, now I got to go visit my sister in Greenville again.

Glad you had fun...with no field romping...

B) Sweet!! Glad you had fun and I can't wait to get down there in August!!

It certainly was fun. I'm kinda pissed because once again, I came home. Then Sunday i rode for about 150 miles and was wondering where all the twisties went??? :dntknw:

We do have some good roads in KY, but that are is just freeking awsome. Next up is West Virginia. Also will eventually make a run to shady valley TN to ride 421 (the snake).

For those of you going soon, make sure you heed this warning:

"4. Radar on the gap varies from nothing to 10 cops on the gap. Gotta make a test run first, and see how it is."

They are completely unforgiving, I talked to some guys who got tickets for 35 in a 30. Kinda rediculous, but everyone should know to be extra cautious on that road.

Oncoming bikers are pretty good about warning you with a helmet tap to the head if there is a cop ahead. I know I signaled everyone I saw on the days cops were present.

keithaba said:

We do have some good roads in KY, but that are is just freeking awsome. Next up is West Virginia. Also will eventually make a run to shady valley TN to ride 421 (the snake).

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may i suggest you try it on a weekday. we saw no THP units when we were there on wednesday; 4 of us got tickets when we were there on saturday, with units in every direction from the intersection of where the general store is.

dean

cincinnati

Definately hit the Gap during the weekday and then hit the other roads on the weekend. I usually hit the Dragon on Tuesday-Thursday and the the rest of the time is Cheraholla SkyWay, Blood Mountain Run, Suches, BLue Ridge Parkway, ETC

dean said:

may i suggest you try it on a weekday. we saw no THP units when we were there on wednesday; 4 of us got tickets when we were there on saturday, with units in every direction from the intersection of where the general store is.
dean

cincinnati

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Great report. I was on R Russell Highway this weekend also. I live 15 minutes from the peak of Blood Mountain. A better mountain ride (IMO) is Hwy 75 from Helen to Hiawassee. Check it out. If you like Blood Mountain, you will love this. One of these days I gonna hook up with some of you folks!

kiteman,

last fall we were down there, and at the gas station around the corner we ended up leaving the same time a dude on an rz350 was. i ended up playing tag with him going across the r/r highway. he seemed to be a local/know where to go. he could really push that 350. have you seen him/know who i'm talking about?

dean

cincinnati

I find that when the weather is nice, 75 is choked with gaggles of the assless chap types -- in fact, I avoid the roads leading to Helen at all costs if I'm interested in leaning the bike more than 10 degrees. Between the cage traffic and the oil leakers -- it's worthless. No opportunities to pass.

However, 76 from Macedonia over to Pine Mtn (Warwoman) is pretty decent, and running up north on 28 from there is pretty good too. Unfortunately, you need to be passing over the double yellow or you'll get stuck.

My favorite road of the weekend was NC-64 from Highlands to Franklin, NC. It was almost empty by some stroke of luck, and I was able to run it at a fevered pace.

DEFINITELY avoid the dragon (and, now, the Cherohala ) on weekends. Or, run it at the speed limit (no slower). That's fun.

You look like Ashe except he's rarely one-up.

jim

The newspaper this morning said that both states were stepping up speed limit enforcement. There will be increased use of off duty police, which should be interesting? If you go, be aware of this.

jim

Thanks for the reccomendations for other roads. I will be going back again for sure, and it is always good to do new roads.

Deal's gap was not patrolled heavily on wed. Friday morning it was a mess....

Didn't see a single LEO on the cherahola, although they do hide in the bushes and radio to another officer around the bend.

Oh, I forgot to mention the 4 mile uphill gravel road we took to the scenic outlook at the top of Wayah Rd.

That was fun!!! <_<

Bottom of the hill

"It's not too bad, lets just ride up and see how far it goes."

1 mile later

"What the fook, I thought this was going to be like a gravel driveway or something."

2 miles later

"Holy ****, this is a lot of gravel."

3 miles later

"Where the F*CK is the top of this thing!"

4 Miles Later

"The TOP! The TOP! Hooray, finally we made it.... oh ****... we still have to go back down.

8 miles later

"Hey, I think I'm getting the hang of this. You know gravel ain't so bad afterall."

keithaba said:

Thanks for the reccomendations for other roads. I will be going back again for sure, and it is always good to do new roads.
Deal's gap was not patrolled heavily on wed. Friday morning it was a mess....

Didn't see a single LEO on the cherahola, although they do hide in the bushes and radio to another officer around the bend.

Oh, I forgot to mention the 4 mile uphill gravel road we took to the scenic outlook at the top of Wayah Rd.

That was fun!!! <_<

Bottom of the hill

"It's not too bad, lets just ride up and see how far it goes."

1 mile later

"What the fook, I thought this was going to be like a gravel driveway or something."

2 miles later

"Holy ****, this is a lot of gravel."

3 miles later

"Where the F*CK is the top of this thing!"

4 Miles Later

"The TOP! The TOP! Hooray, finally we made it.... oh ****... we still have to go back down.

8 miles later

"Hey, I think I'm getting the hang of this. You know gravel ain't so bad afterall."

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You just stand on the pegs and gas it.....just like a dirt bike. It's actually pretty stable for a bike of this size!

jim