preacherman
Well-known member
I rode the dragon and the skyway this past saturday. I like the skyway best.
No typo. I started out with the suspension all stock. but the 39-41 tire pressure that worked good on the sweepers made me very uneasy on the switchbacks I found that even the smallest imperfections in the road at full lean moved the bike. so I dropped the tires to 35-37 and that was much better but I wanted to drop it a little more and ended up at 32-35. Not good for tire wear but the roadsmarts like it for spirited rides.Was that a typo? I generally run 40 front, 42 rear COLD. If you were airing warm tires down to 32 psi they must have gotten pretty mushy...I did have to stop 2 times early in the ride to make suspension changes and to drop the tire pressure ( I ended up with the 32 psi front and 35 back.)
especially on the 401 where 100k is the max and anything over is risking a trip to the OPP chateau.The bridges over the 401 look like OPP buzzard nests. :angry2:Me too.. just came back from 1000 clicks in 24 hrs down to Port Elgin and back.. damn I hate the flat land. Its so nice returning to the Canadian Shield where engineers are forced to actually put curves in the road. Now if they could do something about the 4 hours of rain ...I just looked it up on Streets&Trips.....................oh how I loath the meager roads in southern Ontario :angry: \
Along these same lines, I am surprised that the locals allow Killboy and crew free reign to do what they do. I know they are technically "within their rights", but one could argue that they are encouraging others to criminal acts. They certainly help publicize the "ride the dragon" stuff. Those locals that hate squids might also have some animosity toward their photographer, no? Do the LEOs ever come out and roust them?Build a race track if you want to advertise that you're running a personal motogp course. Advertising public roads with the idea that folks can come and pretend they're Rossi is pretty irresponsible.
Actually, Killboy has cried harrassment too. He was whining about how the LEO's said that he was creating a nuisance, and that his crew exacerbated the problems. Of course he cried foul, pointed out how nicely they swept up the corners, and how they had never contributed to any accidents. About that time was when he got rid of the crash photos on the weekly highlights. I don't know if he is still promoting the idea that if you crash your picture is free, but he was doing that for a while, and it was prominently advertised on his web site. They seem to have gotten rid of their "flasher" highlights too these days. Maybe there is less flashing with the LEO's around... tickets for public indecency and all... I don't check his web site but once in a blue moon.Along these same lines, I am surprised that the locals allow Killboy and crew free reign to do what they do. I know they are technically "within their rights", but one could argue that they are encouraging others to criminal acts. They certainly help publicize the "ride the dragon" stuff. Those locals that hate squids might also have some animosity toward their photographer, no? Do the LEOs ever come out and roust them?Build a race track if you want to advertise that you're running a personal motogp course. Advertising public roads with the idea that folks can come and pretend they're Rossi is pretty irresponsible.
You have to think this through a little more. I'm very sure that the publicity the "Dragon" gets has brought an enormous amount of money into the area. I've been there twice, and I have read a lot about the Dragon - from what I can tell the police actually are not really all that strict in enforcing the speeds. I think they walk a fine line between not shutting it down, yet showing enough presence (and threat of presence) to keep things in a happy medium. Kilboy is a big part of keeping up the national attention that brings in the tourist dollars.Along these same lines, I am surprised that the locals allow Killboy and crew free reign to do what they do. I know they are technically "within their rights", but one could argue that they are encouraging others to criminal acts. They certainly help publicize the "ride the dragon" stuff. Those locals that hate squids might also have some animosity toward their photographer, no? Do the LEOs ever come out and roust them?Build a race track if you want to advertise that you're running a personal motogp course. Advertising public roads with the idea that folks can come and pretend they're Rossi is pretty irresponsible.
The costs of hauling people out offset much of the benefit. Plus the guys promoting it are in NC, and the damages are almost always in TN. Besides, are tourist dollars really worth it if you get T-boned by an a**hole riding over his head passing on a double blind curve? It depends on whether you're the one getting T-boned I suppose.You have to think this through a little more. I'm very sure that the publicity the "Dragon" gets has brought an enormous amount of money into the area. I've been there twice, and I have read a lot about the Dragon - from what I can tell the police actually are not really all that strict in enforcing the speeds. I think they walk a fine line between not shutting it down, yet showing enough presence (and threat of presence) to keep things in a happy medium. Kilboy is a big part of keeping up the national attention that brings in the tourist dollars.Along these same lines, I am surprised that the locals allow Killboy and crew free reign to do what they do. I know they are technically "within their rights", but one could argue that they are encouraging others to criminal acts. They certainly help publicize the "ride the dragon" stuff. Those locals that hate squids might also have some animosity toward their photographer, no? Do the LEOs ever come out and roust them?Build a race track if you want to advertise that you're running a personal motogp course. Advertising public roads with the idea that folks can come and pretend they're Rossi is pretty irresponsible.
I had thought of that. Tourist $ is great, but not if it disturbs the quality of life for those that live there. To consider it another way, would you like this kind of situation going on in your home town? Would you move there, buy a house, raise a family?You have to think this through a little more. I'm very sure that the publicity the "Dragon" gets has brought an enormous amount of money into the area. I've been there twice, and I have read a lot about the Dragon - from what I can tell the police actually are not really all that strict in enforcing the speeds. I think they walk a fine line between not shutting it down, yet showing enough presence (and threat of presence) to keep things in a happy medium. Kilboy is a big part of keeping up the national attention that brings in the tourist dollars.Along these same lines, I am surprised that the locals allow Killboy and crew free reign to do what they do. I know they are technically "within their rights", but one could argue that they are encouraging others to criminal acts. They certainly help publicize the "ride the dragon" stuff. Those locals that hate squids might also have some animosity toward their photographer, no? Do the LEOs ever come out and roust them?Build a race track if you want to advertise that you're running a personal motogp course. Advertising public roads with the idea that folks can come and pretend they're Rossi is pretty irresponsible.
First I want to say that not all the Bad things some here have said about the Dragon are true.I went to the Deals Gap aka "the dragon" over the 4th of july. 318 curves in 11 miles,,,,who can resist. :yahoo:
I stayed the night and got an early start on the dragon the next morning. at 7:30 a.m. there were only a few die hard sport bikes and me. No police, or semi's or minivans. It was perfect. so I sugest you go Early and avoid the crowds, because the crowds did come and so did the police , but not until about 9:30ish but this was also a holiday weekend, so an off weekend would probably be beter.
I did have to stop 2 times early in the ride to make suspension changes and to drop the tire pressure
( I ended up with the 32 psi front and 35 back.)
Then yesterday I went back to TN to a place called Shady valley , aka the snake. 489 curves in 12 miles. It was nearly 4 hours getting there but we got there.
The ride through the snake was much better than the dragon, partly because I had my friends with me and I knew if something went wrong they would be there unlike the dragon , they pushed me to really ride the snake harder than I did on the dragon ( although I had to stop to let them catch up, what do you expect with an FJR against 2 cruisers).
My 3 week old Roadsmart tires now have a little over 2000 miles on them and I can say they are the best tires I have had out of the three sets so far ( I.e. stock ones, and D220s)
They barely show a flat spot in the center dispite the fact that most of the miles have been highways , getting me to the curves, and they were very confident in the 1600 + curves that riding up and back through both of those roads aquired on them. all in all A+ from me.
If you get a chance to ride either of these roads, do it. Just do it safely.
I guess I'm confused. Nobody lives on the Dragon. And I really don't think the riders are doing much to upset the people who live in the general area. Everytime I've been there, I see hundreds of bikes a day, and they are all very courteous and respectful. All the wild-ass stuff goes on away from the populated areas, as far as I can tell. I can tell you that I have been treated with nothing but respect at all of the businesses I've visited while in the area.I had thought of that. Tourist $ is great, but not if it disturbs the quality of life for those that live there. To consider it another way, would you like this kind of situation going on in your home town? Would you move there, buy a house, raise a family?You have to think this through a little more. I'm very sure that the publicity the "Dragon" gets has brought an enormous amount of money into the area. I've been there twice, and I have read a lot about the Dragon - from what I can tell the police actually are not really all that strict in enforcing the speeds. I think they walk a fine line between not shutting it down, yet showing enough presence (and threat of presence) to keep things in a happy medium. Kilboy is a big part of keeping up the national attention that brings in the tourist dollars.Along these same lines, I am surprised that the locals allow Killboy and crew free reign to do what they do. I know they are technically "within their rights", but one could argue that they are encouraging others to criminal acts. They certainly help publicize the "ride the dragon" stuff. Those locals that hate squids might also have some animosity toward their photographer, no? Do the LEOs ever come out and roust them?Build a race track if you want to advertise that you're running a personal motogp course. Advertising public roads with the idea that folks can come and pretend they're Rossi is pretty irresponsible.
Fresh roadsmarts on here too. Can't wait to scuff em up! Have fun in CO. Maybe next year...I'm picking my bike up from the shop today after getting a set of roadsmarts put on, then I'm leaving for colorado on friday. This thread tickles me to death as I was beginning to HATE the bt020's, which is all I've ever had on it.
Question... have any of you guys ridden both the Dragon and Old Route 66 from Kingman to Oatman, Az ? I was just wondering how they compared....
Thanks
Mary
Maybe both of these are trolls.They are pretty much the same highway, asphalt.
Question... have any of you guys ridden both the Dragon and Old Route 66 from Kingman to Oatman, Az ? I was just wondering how they compared....
Thanks
Mary
No, I'm not a troll. I don't have an FJR anymore either, but like this forum because there's a ton of good info here. The FJR was too big for me so I sold it.Maybe both of these are trolls.They are pretty much the same highway, asphalt.
Question... have any of you guys ridden both the Dragon and Old Route 66 from Kingman to Oatman, Az ? I was just wondering how they compared....
Thanks
Mary
Kingman to Oatman along old 66, switching over to 10 and over the mountain isn't even paved all the way.
If you're wondering if the routes are similar, take a look at the satellite photos from Kingman to Oatman, and from Robbinsville, NC to Maryville, TN.
I doubt that there are a lot of big rigs running through from Kingman to Oatman on 66 to 10. That last few miles on the mountain would probably be exciting with an offroad vehicle. It doesn't look like a sane place for an FJR.
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