Tail Of The Dragon- Deal's Gap N.C.

[TheRepairMan]

I just read this report of an accident involving an FJR on U.S. 129 in Deal's Gap a week ago.

https://www.tailofthedragon.com/

FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY SEPT 16, 17, 18: Another busy weekend with good weather. Some rain on Friday but it cleared during the afternoon and stayed sunny the rest of the weekend. Saturday was as busy as we have seen. Sunday saw fewer bikes and cars, but there were a number of accidents. A Porsche went off the side and a FJR hit a pick-up head on. Another tired rider ran off the road late Sunday. No serious injuries in any of the accidents.

Anyone have any idea who this was?

RB

 

[smthng]

Yes, it was one of the attendees of the EOM. He's okay, but the feejer is toast. If you really want the details, go scavenge around the EOM section of Regional Meets.

 

[TheRepairMan]

Yes, it was one of the attendees of the EOM. He's okay, but the feejer is toast. If you really want the details, go scavenge around the EOM section of Regional Meets.

Well...I surfed around but wasn't able to stumble across the Regional Meets.

I'm too new here to know my way around I guess. :blink:

If anyone has a link to more info about EOM I sure would appreciate it.

RB

 

[smthng]

Here be the link directly to the forum... there a few threads regarding that on there.

https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php?showforum=13

 

[black mamba]

You won't catch me riding the Dragon anymore. Because of the ***** bikers, who ride this road at something way above their skill levels, and the trucks who can't help but come into your lane, you're taking your life in your hands to even get close to this place. And the irony is that many other roads in the region give you a superior ride experience without the traffic and dangers of the Dragon.

 

[GunMD]

Here's a picture I found from the Dragon of a crashed FJR...is this the one you're talking about?

That'll leave a mark...

Looks like it may have been FJR vs Porsche

Another look at the FJR

 

[Rogue]

Were is wpbfjr's bike and the truck he hit.

I think someone mentioned the Porsche, it was a seperat solo accident.

 

[Canes]

You won't catch me riding the Dragon anymore. Because of the ***** bikers, who ride this road at something way above their skill levels, and the trucks who can't help but come into your lane, you're taking your life in your hands to even get close to this place. And the irony is that many other roads in the region give you a superior ride experience without the traffic and dangers of the Dragon.

You have to know when to go and when to stay home. The Dragon area rocks Monday thru Thursday.

You are right about the other roads! My favorite road up there is not Cherohala or the Dragon.

 

[Grumpy]

So Canes, what is your favority road up there?

Jim

 

[Hotboot]

You won't catch me riding the Dragon anymore. Because of the ***** bikers, who ride this road at something way above their skill levels, and the trucks who can't help but come into your lane, you're taking your life in your hands to even get close to this place. And the irony is that many other roads in the region give you a superior ride experience without the traffic and dangers of the Dragon.

You have to know when to go and when to stay home. The Dragon area rocks Monday thru Thursday.

You are right about the other roads! My favorite road up there is not Cherohala or the Dragon.

True that !

The place is peaceful and serene most weekdays.

 

[Ramblin Man]

What I can't understand is why an 18 wheeler would take that road unless it was to get a dragon patch.

 

[Kevin]

I regularly take my kids to their grandparents house -- Ohio to north of Seneca SC. We take a 15-passenger van. By way of US129 it's about 100+ miles south of Knoxville. By freeway it's a good 210+ miles. It's MUCH faster on the freeway. And much less stressful too. It's a handful driving a large vehicle down there. You're right -- can't imagine why somone would want to unless that's their starting/ending point.

 

[smthng]

A lot of truckers just don't know any better. As Kevin mentioned, finding another road can cost you 100 miles. Even on the routes for the rides at the EOM, we pretty much had to do the Dragon at some point unless we wanted another 100 miles or were willing to face the 441 parking lot.

On a map, it just looks like any other road. I doubt that most truckers who have done it once will ever try it again. Unfortunately, it's one of those situations where once you're committed there's no way out of it.

 

[TheRepairMan]

...but there is so much to see and do on TN State 441 through Severeville, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg ...then comes the fun riding over the Great Smoky Mountains into Cherokee,NC if your are going South.

We love it there but it does get crouded like the southern coast beaches at times.

If you want a less crouded but very scenic route go a just bit further east and get on Tn State 321 going southeast into NC. It's got some great roads, beautiful sites and a little of everything else to offer almost everybody's style of riding and some real good places to stop and eat also!

That highway also crosses over The Blue Ridge Parkway near Boone, NC.

It's all Goooood!

RB

 

[black mamba]

I'm fortunate enough to be able to spend about 4 to 5 months each year at my mountain house in Boone, N.C. I'll put in probably 5 or 6 days each week riding the hills of the high country throughout N.C., Tn. and the Virginia's. Been doing this for years. I've found That Boone is the very best base for operations ... considering that you can head in any direction and find more great rides than you had imagined. Most of these roads are sparsely traveled and very well maintained. Seems that many of you fellow riders are at somewhat of a loss in knowing where to go when you get a chance to head to the hills. I know that there are some commercially available guides to mountain riding...some much more informative than others. I'm going to put together my own trail guide to this wonderful territory....limited to the high country area I know the best. When I'm finished, I'll make this guide available as a no-cost download. One thing you can be certain of....the info will be dead accurate, and reflect the fact that I've been to the places I document.

 

[FLRoadking]

Black Mamba, just finished a few days in the Boone area and agree you have one fine area to ride up there. The road from Linville to Boone rocks.

As for the Dragon, stay off it Friday - Sunday. There are a lot of roads as good or better in the immediate area that are a lot less congested.

 

[slapnpop]

I mentioned in the '06 EOM thread that shadey valley/boone/banner elk area would be a good spot. I live in Johnson City, so this is all very familar to me. I need more exposure to the east of boone, though.

 

[black mamba]

The riding around Shady Valley, Banner Elk, and the rest of the high country in that area is tops. SR 421 from Mountain City to Shady Valley would have to be on anybody's Top Ten list. The region is absolutely loaded with roads of that caliber. Going east out of Boone will open up some of the best riding you will ever do. Zip over from Boone to southern Virginia and it is just more heaven to be had. Those of us who get to enjoy this area on a routine basis are just darn lucky.

 

[vinnie]

I've been on the Dragon twice. Once on a weekday. Both times were crowded and both times I saw and assortment of: logging trucks; vans hauling trailers with 8-12 canoes/kayaks; a UPS van and many pick-up trucks, along with all of the other cars and bikes (and cruisers with two up). In the summer, you get passing showers through there on a regular basis to add to the fun (challenge).

I live in So. Florida, so for me, just being up in the mountains is fun. I have found that there are way many roads coming off of the Parkway that can be just as scary (challenging) as the Dragon. You just can't get a little dragon decal for your bike on those roads.And besides, it's always fun (challenging) to get up to Craggy Gardens (on the Parkway) in the middle of summer and have to stop to put on a jacket to get through the cold fog up there.

One of my favorites for the last couple of years has been from Newport, TN to Asheville, NC along the French Broad River, through Marshall and Hot Springs. Lots of chances to try out the curves and lots of spots to open it up.

I guess the law of "diminishing returns" is catching up with Deal's Gap. They oughta close it to all traffic except motorcycles! Yeah! :lol: