FJR sighting on TN 421 Sunday afternoon Oct. 29th

[TheRepairMan]

I was headed into the last straight stretch before arriving at the Shady Valley General Store on TN 421 Sunday and saw a beautiful blue FJR headed right past me just before 3:00 in the afternoon. I assume the bike possibly just pulled out from the store so regretfully I missed meeting them by just seconds.

The driver and his passenger gave a friendly wave as we came toward each other, but I was so caught off guard that my return wave didn't make it until we passed. I even turned my head as I passed to see if I got the same reaction of surprise. It was a deep blue FJR which are very rare around here, but I couldn't discern in passing whether it was an 05 or 06 model. The couple had matching full face helmets with very bright graphics.

I stopped at the store where there were a bunch of young guns hanging around their sport bikes and just a couple of cruisers. I really didn't fit in that croud, but I made good use of the break anyway. I waited a few minutes in hopes that perhaps the FJR might return to say "Hi", but shortly realized that wasn't going to happen. I put my gloves back on and took off pretty hard back toward Bristol over Holston Mountain but never to catch up with the big Yamaha. Somebody here is wicked fast even two up!

Anybody here on that route during that time frame Sunday?

I was dressed up like the Red Power Ranger as usual which makes me easily identifiable. Oh well, "Hi" !

I really hate we didn't get to meet up and ride a while, and I would have loved to see your bike up close.

Roger B

06 red FZ1

I'm still looking to buy or trade up to a new FJR someday.

 

[smokeFJR06]

First off, it was not I you saw. But, I wanted to respond about TN 421. My Dad lives in Bristol and I have other relatives in Mountain City, Butler, Elizabethton, Johnson City, and probably other local areas that I'm not aware of.

I got my 06 FJR back in April (my first one) and my riding group here in Central Illinois did a trip down to the Dragon in June. It was a short trip for the whole group of 10 bikes being just for the weekend. I extended my stay and rode the Parkway from the Dragon to my Aunts house in Butler. Spent the night at her house and the next morning rode to my Dad's place in Bristol.

I went through Mountain City and took TN 421 all the way to Bristol. Now, I have been going to East Tennessee for 20 plus years and had never been on TN 421. I never had a reason to go on it and was not aware of what kind of road it was. Man was I surprised! That was better than the Dragon in my book!

I got to my Dad's house in Bristol and he asked me what route I took and I told him. He said, NO WAY! You went across that Mountain? I said, yep! He couldn't believe I went across there but I told him it was awesome! Great riding and all. He thought I was nuts!

Anyhow, I plan to make it back down next year for more riding and will definately be taking that road again. I passed the General Store and saw some bikes there but didn't stop. I was kind of on a tight timeline but definately will stop next time. What a great find I made for sure.

I wanted to make it to EOM this year since it was in Boone and they were riding that area, but the dates didn't work out for me. Maybe next year though!

Smoke

 

[wheatonFJR]

Last summer I took US 421 from Kentucky down to meet some FJR riders at Shady Valley. It was a very fun ride...

 

[black mamba]

Though I live in Florida, I get to spend about three months each year at my house in Boone, NC. I spend many hours riding all through the high country and I probably know those roads as well as anybody. #421 from Mountain City to Bristol ( going through Shady Valley ) ranks as one of the very best rides you can imagine....certainly it is in my own personal list of the top five. It's a far superior ride compared to the " Dragon ". If you get anywhere near that area, you need to ride that road.

 

[HaulinAshe]

Well, it wasn't me on Sunday. Where were you all on Saturday!

I was the only bike anyone had seen all day. That was about 14:00 Saturday. Can't imagine why. It was just rainy, cold, 30 mph wind, and wet leaves everywhere.

Folks at Shady Valley store said "See, I told you there was one *****! You rode in on that bike didn't you!"

 

[slapnpop]

Well, it wasn't me on Sunday. Where were you all on Saturday!
I was the only bike anyone had seen all day. That was about 14:00 Saturday. Can't imagine why. It was just rainy, cold, 30 mph wind, and wet leaves everywhere.

Folks at Shady Valley store said "See, I told you there was one *****! You rode in on that bike didn't you!"

What, and no call? :huh:

 

[TheRepairMan]

(snip)
What a great find I made for sure.

I wanted to make it to EOM this year since it was in Boone and they were riding that area, but the dates didn't work out for me. Maybe next year though!

Smoke

I guess the secret is out. Someday there will be only squids in Deals Gap. All the great Yamaha owners will be in Shady Valley. :lol:

I struggled to make it to the EOM myself, but by car rather than bike, due to an injury, just to help photograph the event as best I could, and to see all the FJRs. It was a good time had by all, and many of them did ride 421 several times during the weekend. :yahoo:

Come back when you can, and holler at Slapnpop to get a ride together before you come. He's in Johnson City, TN just fifteen minutes from me. Well, maybe only five for him!

Roger

 

[Bounce]

It wasn't me.

 

[HaulinAshe]

What, and no call? :huh:

Hey Slap, I posted the route several days in the Southeast section. But nobody offered to join me.

It was kinda like a twisted slip-n-slide. Good throttle management practice!

Next time you bet I will call you up!!!

 

[Inlaw1]

my riding group here in Central Illinois

Hey Smoke, I see your from my home town of Normal. I almost came up there in August to get an FJR at Sportland. Ended up my local guy here was able to make me a deal. Might be the S.O. and I make a road trip on the FJR up that way some day to see the family. Maybe we'll get a chance to ride.

I'll have to add TN 421 to the 'to do' list.

 

[CCook82]

I was headed into the last straight stretch before arriving at the Shady Valley General Store on TN 421 Sunday and saw a beautiful blue FJR headed right past me just before 3:00 in the afternoon. I assume the bike possibly just pulled out from the store so regretfully I missed meeting them by just seconds.
The driver and his passenger gave a friendly wave as we came toward each other, but I was so caught off guard that my return wave didn't make it until we passed. I even turned my head as I passed to see if I got the same reaction of surprise. It was a deep blue FJR which are very rare around here, but I couldn't discern in passing whether it was an 05 or 06 model. The couple had matching full face helmets with very bright graphics.

I stopped at the store where there were a bunch of young guns hanging around their sport bikes and just a couple of cruisers. I really didn't fit in that croud, but I made good use of the break anyway. I waited a few minutes in hopes that perhaps the FJR might return to say "Hi", but shortly realized that wasn't going to happen. I put my gloves back on and took off pretty hard back toward Bristol over Holston Mountain but never to catch up with the big Yamaha. Somebody here is wicked fast even two up!

Anybody here on that route during that time frame Sunday?

I was dressed up like the Red Power Ranger as usual which makes me easily identifiable. Oh well, "Hi" !

I really hate we didn't get to meet up and ride a while, and I would have loved to see your bike up close.

Roger B

06 red FZ1

I'm still looking to buy or trade up to a new FJR someday.

 

[CCook82]

The rider was me. Passenger, my wife. We had made a loop up into VA that morning and dropped down Route 80 and 803 into Damascus, VA, then over to Shady Valley for a break before heading home to catch the GP on TV. I live about 40 miles west of Shady Valley.

The FJR is an 05 with 20,000 well maintained miles. Bought it new and broke it in right with oil changes at 300 miles and 1500 for the first two.

Thanks for the compliment on the pace for this 60 year old, but in the time that it takes to remove gloves and put them back on, that can result in a lot of ground to cover, although I didn't buy it to cruise on. I go through Shady Valley a lot, but usually early or late as a neat way to return or leave home. I try to miss the crowds and the cops. Getting very much like Deals Gap.

I might like to move to the 06 while there are a few left, but would not give away my 0 B) 5. Email me if you are interested. Cliff

 

[TheRepairMan]

The rider was me. Passenger, my wife. We had made a loop up into VA that morning and dropped down Route 80 and 803 into Damascus, VA, then over to Shady Valley for a break before heading home to catch the GP on TV. I live about 40 miles west of Shady Valley.

Hey Cliff,

I hate I just missed you. Would love to have met and talked about your bike. Another friend of mine here, Brazos Parker also has an 05 and is through Shady pretty often. We'll all have to get together and ride sometime. I have some Cook friends in the Glade Spring-Meadowview Va area. Hope they are no relation. They are some Krazy boys! :lol:

Thanks for the compliment on the pace for this 60 year old, but in the time that it takes to remove gloves and put them back on, that can result in a lot of ground to cover, although I didn't buy it to cruise on. I go through Shady Valley a lot, but usually early or late as a neat way to return or leave home. I try to miss the crowds and the cops. Getting very much like Deals Gap.
I might like to move to the 06 while there are a few left, but would not give away my 0 B) 5. Email me if you are interested. Cliff

I think you are right about 421 beginning to be another Deals Gap. It was bound to happen, but if you stay away from Iron Mountain and the "Playground" during the middle of the day the rest of the route is a great ride. For that matter, the sport bike guys don't bother me, I just try to stay out of their way and let um go.

All that competitive spirit will be stopped someday but probably not until a few get killed.

Give me, Jeff Ashe, Brazos Parker, and Slapnpop a heads up if you would like to get together and ride from the General Store sometime. There are probably lot of other fairly local folk son the forum that would also like to join in. We need some way to do a hot page to alert area folks of a planned ride a couple of days before it happens.

Your bike looks very nice and is tempting me but I'm going to wait a while to see if MamaYama makes any big changes for 08. It will be here before you know it. I love riding my FZ1 when I'm able to.

Roger B

 

[VicaDon]

I went through Mountain City and took TN 421 all the way to Bristol. Now, I have been going to East Tennessee for 20 plus years and had never been on TN 421. I never had a reason to go on it and was not aware of what kind of road it was. Man was I surprised! That was better than the Dragon in my book!

We moved to Alaska in 1999, having lived at the corner of 421 and 67, in Mountain City, for 11 years. I rode 421 to Bristol from Mtn City hundreds of times. In fact, my first real ride was up 421. I have riden the dragon several times, 421 is much more of thrill and a conquest. Sure would like to see it catch on...

 

[TheRepairMan]

I went through Mountain City and took TN 421 all the way to Bristol. Now, I have been going to East Tennessee for 20 plus years and had never been on TN 421. I never had a reason to go on it and was not aware of what kind of road it was. Man was I surprised! That was better than the Dragon in my book!
We moved to Alaska in 1999, having lived at the corner of 421 and 67, in Mountain City, for 11 years. I rode 421 to Bristol from Mtn City hundreds of times. In fact, my first real ride was up 421. I have ridden the dragon several times, 421 is much more of thrill and a conquest. Sure would like to see it catch on...

Oh, it's already caught on. :angry2:

There was an article in a local Bristol Herald Courier on Sunday July, 2nd, 06 "Taming The Snake", that highlighted The Country Store in Shady Valley and it's new owner, David Dail. He had been quoted as saying that on a good Saturday there would be 500 or so riders stopping in along their 421 run. :clapping:

Other than the Country Store, witch is unique, is about the only attraction that thrives in the Valley. That limits the bikers to little more than grabbing a snack and hanging out with their biker buds before taking off one of the four directions leaving the store. Any direction you go is a great ride and can lead to more twisties than a bag of pretzels. :lol: Be careful! The snake has many ways it can jump out and bite you!

Will it ever take the place of Deals Gap? I hope not, because that congestion would make a great ride a lot more dangerous for bikers. We already have to share it with every kind of traffic including hoards of Bicyclists as well as Deer and occasional Black Bear. The slower car and truck with the seasonal boat and camper trailers taking up all the road and kicking gravel up into the turns (especially bad on the Holston Mtn. Bristol TN side) can be a big challenge for us bike riders to negotiate by due to the limited sight distance and very few legal passing zones. :yahoo:

Road hazards also include wet leaves and fresh gut grass blown onto the road surface. Why do the wet leaves always stay in the sharpest part of the turns? Oh, and on Iron Mountain, you need to watch your mirrors as much as up front 'cause between Shady valley and Mountain City is the "Playground". Lots of repli-racers with full leathers and knee pucks are just out for their Weekend rides. They never quite make it to Mountain City before turning around and doing it all over again and again with an occasional break at the store. I wonder what the hell is going on there! :lol:

So, to enjoy the mountains of 421 to their fullest you already have to pick your travel time carefully or you will just be tagging along watching the bumper of the vehicle ahead of you doing 20MPH, or maybe hit from behind by a 600 crotch rocket at 90mph . Maybe someday they won't let anything but us older, slow, careful bikers go through! Dream on, right!

I don't mean to sound a bit negative about the 421 experience. Sorry if I came off that way, but it's the harsh reality of riding in an area that HAS become so popular. It's still a whole lot of fun, and of course you can ride at your own pace, but like everywhere you go you have to watch what's going on around you and anticipate anything.

You got to love a challenge.

Roger B

red 06 FZ1