Spoiled by the gap.

[keithaba]

Ever since my trip to deal's gap, I feel so bored on all the roads around here! I still love my FJR, but it's just different riding here.

Our roads in KY are pretty good too, but nothing like riding in the mountains in TN. or NC.

On the roads in the mountains, you tend to be able to see the entry and the whole turn. You know what to expect, you know if the radius of the turn increases, decreses, stays the same.... I felt comfortable dragging my pegs on a lot of the corners. Not only that but on the straight stretches, you always have mountains to look at!

Here, I worry more for some reason. I'm not really sure why??? I think it's because the turns are not as predictable, you can't see through the corners all the time, and there are more entrances to the roads. I don't seem to even come close to dragging my pegs around here, and I had never hit the feelers before my trip to NC. Maybe I should go to a track or something...

 

[luvtoride]

Dragon Schmagon... If you haven't ridden WV yet, you should go. There is an overabundance of super cycle roads & scenery.

 

[keithaba]

Dragon Schmagon... If you haven't ridden WV yet, you should go. There is an overabundance of super cycle roads & scenery.

That would be cool. It's only about 4 hours to Charelston. Are these roads east or west of Charelston???

 

[chornbe]

Dragon Schmagon... If you haven't ridden WV yet, you should go. There is an overabundance of super cycle roads & scenery.

Absertively!! I love riding in WV.

 

[luvtoride]

Keith, there are good roads all over WV. I've ridden some of the northern part of the state & some of the southern parts. Right now & from what I've ridden, I like the southern 1/2 better. That's just my taste, though. But then there is Smoke Hole Rd & Howards Lick Rd in the northern part which are two of my favorites. I really have a hard time deciding.

So, to answer your question as to directions fr/ Charleston... probably east/south/southeast. Rtes 16 & 20 are outstanding rides... & there are so many more.

Maybe spklbuk or WVFJR will show up to give some suggestions... I believe spklbuk has the insiders scoop on the southern 1/2 of the state & WVFJR, the northern parts. Sure as hell, spklbuk has taken me on some mind bending rides thru there.

Without speaking with either of them I'd highly suggest 16 all the way down to where it intersects around 460 in VA... or ride up 16 fr/ 460 & do a loop back into KY.

Keep in mind that the big difference from the Gap is the fact that you go thru quite a few small towns, etc. The upside is the twisties go on & on & on for literally miles.

I'm really surprised that you haven't discovered WV, already. I guess it's some sort of secret? I don't know... but if you haven't been, you should go.

BTW... The Eastern Owners Meeting being held in September is being based in Lewisburg, WV this year. If you want a really good taste of the roads, you may consider attending.

Whatever you do, be safe & rubber side down.

Heidi

 

[OrangevaleFJR]

When I think of moving two of the primary considerations I have are the kind of roads that where I'm thinking of going has, and what kind of riding season they have. I am spoiled by the roads in Northern California, and I am spoiled by having a 12 month riding season. The thought of moving away from here doesn't last long when I consider these things. I guess I know how you feel, in reverse. I am spoiled, but the only thing that would upset me is moving from where I live.

 

[FJRMGM]

"It's only about 4 hours to Charelston. Are these roads east or west of Charelston???"

west of Charleston flattens out so stay east/northest/southeast of there and you will be in bike riding heaven.

I lived in Charleston for six years and rode the crap out of the state.

 

[WVFJR]

16 and 20 are must do rides. I'm lucky living in north central WV. 250 is a nice ride also. RT 50 is another good one then there is 42 and so on and so on. :clapping:

 

[timk]

All you have to do is to get into the state(WVa). Stop at a local Fire station, and ask those on duty. It never has failed to provide me with some of the finest riding one could hope for. One thing, though, the farther south you get, the more proficient they are at repairing the potholes/slips. Another way is to look up the ski resorts, as ski resorts+elevation=twisties.

 

[dean]

Ever since my trip to deal's gap, I feel so bored on all the roads around here! I still love my FJR, but it's just different riding here.
Our roads in KY are pretty good too, but nothing like riding in the mountains in TN. or NC.

On the roads in the mountains, you tend to be able to see the entry and the whole turn. You know what to expect, you know if the radius of the turn increases, decreses, stays the same.... I felt comfortable dragging my pegs on a lot of the corners. Not only that but on the straight stretches, you always have mountains to look at!

Here, I worry more for some reason. I'm not really sure why??? I think it's because the turns are not as predictable, you can't see through the corners all the time, and there are more entrances to the roads. I don't seem to even come close to dragging my pegs around here, and I had never hit the feelers before my trip to NC. Maybe I should go to a track or something...

perhaps you should rename the subject of your topic "spoiled by the cherohala", or spoiled by the roads in tn/nc? i suggest, as the dragon really doesn't have the entry/exit visible turns, it has blind curves; it doesn't have normal radius curves, it has decreasing radius curves; and rarely do you have a straightaway, much less one where you can see mountains.

i think maybe you're thinking about your trip _to_ deals gap, and the roads like the cherohala, 28, richard russell highway, blue ridge parkway, etc. personally, on my fjr or my fj, the dragon ain't for me. btdt, now get me to the cherohala and the other roads that have sweeeeeeeeeeping corners that if i were brave and stupid enough to look down at my speedo, i'd see 80, 90, whoa, look back up, here comes mile marker 10 (or is it 9?)... but that's just me.

( :

 

[sprint_st]

perhaps you should rename the subject of your topic "spoiled by the cherohala", or spoiled by the roads in tn/nc? i suggest, as the dragon really doesn't have the entry/exit visible turns, it has blind curves; it doesn't have normal radius curves, it has decreasing radius curves; and rarely do you have a straightaway, much less one where you can see mountains.
i think maybe you're thinking about your trip _to_ deals gap, and the roads like the cherohala, 28, richard russell highway, blue ridge parkway, etc. personally, on my fjr or my fj, the dragon ain't for me. btdt, now get me to the cherohala and the other roads that have sweeeeeeeeeeping corners that if i were brave and stupid enough to look down at my speedo, i'd see 80, 90, whoa, look back up, here comes mile marker 10 (or is it 9?)... but that's just me.

( :

I learned to ride in WV and SE Ohio. I now ride N.Ga, Tn, W.NC, and W.SC almost every week end. I don't care for Deals Gap. Over-rated is the term that comes to mind. Too tight and lots of other roads in the area are much more fun. Hey luvtoride, would you stop telling people how good WV is. It's terrible, roads are bad, just terrible. If you keep it up, it will get like Deals Gap.

 

[MotorSWATCop]

I beg to differ on Deals. It is a great road if ridden at the right time. I will not bother on a weekend; it's ridiculous because of the traffic. Now, during mid-week, it's a completely different story. You can make clean runs and not have to worry about some knob killing you.

The Cherohala is a blast too. It's a different run in that you can caryy a lot of speed through it. It's not as technical a ride as the Dragon. 28 is very nice as well. I have not gotten to WV yet on the bike. I will though. As long as you have 2 wheels turning, they are all great roads.

 

[extrememarine]

I beg to differ on Deals. It is a great road if ridden at the right time. I will not bother on a weekend; it's ridiculous because of the traffic. Now, during mid-week, it's a completely different story. You can make clean runs and not have to worry about some knob killing you.
The Cherohala is a blast too. It's a different run in that you can caryy a lot of speed through it. It's not as technical a ride as the Dragon. 28 is very nice as well. I have not gotten to WV yet on the bike. I will though. As long as you have 2 wheels turning, they are all great roads.

+1 on being on US129 at the right time. Tues-Thurs it's usually empty. Everyone comes out to play on the weekends, turning it into a zoo. There may be better roads else where, but I can hit the south end of 28 in about 3.5hrs, puts me within reach of 28, wayah bald, Cherohala, the gap, and N.GA.

-wr

 

[luvtoride]

16 and 20 are must do rides. I'm lucky living in north central WV. 250 is a nice ride also. RT 50 is another good one then there is 42 and so on and so on. :clapping:

Don't forget 33.

42... not sure that I've ridden 42, yet.

 

[dbvolfan]

I like to hit the gap very early in the morning, ~7am or so. Have ridden it many time suring that time and not had any issues whatsoever. I still think it's a little overrated and worn out now.

Roads in KY are a blast to ride but scarier because many were built only 11' wide in many cases..makes for some interesting corners sometimes.

 

[sprint_st]

On the weekend of the 18th to the 20th of May, come to the ESTN07 in Sparta, NC. We'll take you on a couple roads that will take your mind off Dragons and other mythical creatures. There are several FJR's already signed up riders from FL to Canada coming. Please bring Dramamine. Not quite WV but it will do.

 

[keithaba]

I beg to differ on Deals. It is a great road if ridden at the right time. I will not bother on a weekend; it's ridiculous because of the traffic. Now, during mid-week, it's a completely different story. You can make clean runs and not have to worry about some knob killing you.

The gap is only a blast if your ready to push yourself and the bike. It is a highly technical road, and I learned A LOT from riding on it. Definately wouldn't hit in on a weekend, I went during the week.

Most of the turns don't have a decreasing radius, they are just really tight, and it doesn't bother me that there are a blind corners, because there are no entries onto the road. No one is going to pull out in front of you, and your speed is low (compared to approaching tripple digits), so if you had to, you can stop pretty quickly (see FJRFencer's video "how not to ride the gap")

For some people, speed is exhilirating. For me, it's cornering. Brake, countersteer, hard entry, hold your line, hit the throttle on the way out, repeat!!! For me that's much more of a blast than doing 100 (on a closed course ).

But there really are so many other great roads around that area, not just the gap or skyway. Like Dean said, it's more of the trip to the surrounding area than just the gap itself.

 

[luvtoride]

On the weekend of the 18th to the 20th of May, come to the ESTN07 in Sparta, NC. We'll take you on a couple roads that will take your mind off Dragons and other mythical creatures. There are several FJR's already signed up riders from FL to Canada coming. Please bring Dramamine. Not quite WV but it will do.

Ahhh yes, ESTN '07. Considered that one myself knowing that it was right here in NC. I'm not positive were Sparta is... but pretty sure that it's close to Shady Valley. Keith, if you haven't ridden Shady Valley, TN (The Motorcycle Playground) you should go. The roads in that area are outstanding. If you end up as far south as Little Switzerland, be sure to ride 26A. Also in Carolina, a very good ride is Rte 197.

 

[sprint_st]

I'm not positive were Sparta is... but pretty sure that it's close to Shady Valley. Keith, if you haven't ridden Shady Valley, TN (The Motorcycle Playground) you should go. The roads in that area are outstanding. If you end up as far south as Little Switzerland, be sure to ride 26A. Also in Carolina, a very good ride is Rte 197.

If you take US58 out of Norfolk to Galax, Va, Sparta is 15 SW as the crow flies. One of the planned event routes takes you through Shady Valley. They have a nice roller coaster there called US421.