Was on the Dragon yesterday

[Cav47]

The emptiness of the Dragon yesterday confined to me that going on a Monday through Thursday is the best time to go. I think I saw 7 or 8 cars total. Only one or two were hitting it hard. The Camaro came around a blind corner and slid the tail out some. Kinda surprised me some. The best effort was by a guy in a Subaru WRX. He was blasting through some corners. I could hear him coming a ways away and then as he powered past, the turbo whine/dump could be heard.

Lack of traffic was awesome, no squids passed me stupid. Not a single Harley parade to get hung up behind either. As the wife and I stopped to check out the tree of shame and the Dragon metalwork, only a Miata blasted up the hill. We never saw him ahead anywhere. Since the wife was with me, I took it easy and didn't push it.

We stopped at a few of the pull offs to check the scenery. She said lots of it look the same. This was her first time on the Dragon and likely her last. On our ride back to the cabin we rented in Gatlinburg, She said she was not really impressed, but was happy we could ride together through it. Maybe it was too cold for her as temps were in the lower 20s. Maybe it was cause I was going to slow---I wasn't driving into corners hard or powering out. Last thing I wanted to do was scare her or worse yet, crash it in the mountains.

Oh well, I thought it was ok, but could have enjoyed it more if we were not riding in our Toyota Sequoia. It is not the right tool for the job. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the story. Yes, I was there yesterday, I missed my FJR, and I have PMS.(parked motorcycle syndrome).

 

[Redfish Hunter]

There are many wonderful roads that are much more scenic in that area. I hope that while you are there you take your wife for a drive on the Cherohala Skyway. Take her to see Bald River Falls. Take her to see Clingman's Dome in Great Smoky Mountains National Park just south of you. Take her along Little River Road and to Cade's Cove.

And consider all this as a reconnaissance mission for when you come back with the FJR.

 

[El Toro Joe]

I just hope you stayed on your side of the double yellow, in that land yacht

 

[Redfish Hunter]

If he didn't it will show up on the Killboy highlight pics. Mr. Cannon has a special hatred for folks that do not stay in their lane on The Dragon.

 

[Intech]

There are many wonderful roads that are much more scenic in that area. I hope that while you are there you take your wife for a drive on the Cherohala Skyway. Take her to see Bald River Falls. Take her to see Clingman's Dome in Great Smoky Mountains National Park just south of you. Take her along Little River Road and to Cade's Cove.
And consider all this as a reconnaissance mission for when you come back with the FJR.

All excellent suggestions!

 

[Big Sky]

Wife and I rode The Dragon in mid-October 2014, probably mid-week aboard a rented FJR. Traffic was light but there had been some rain so the surface was a little damp and there was no pushing it. Frankly, it is wonderful but somewhat overrated IMHO. We found better in that region that we had virtually to ourselves. We did enjoy the barbecue in Punkin Center.

 

[Niehart]

And consider all this as a reconnaissance mission for when you come back with the FJR.

+1

 

[Bugnatr]

Oh well, I thought it was ok, but could have enjoyed it more if we were not riding in our Toyota Sequoia. It is not the right tool for the job. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the story. Yes, I was there yesterday, I missed my FJR, and I have PMS.(parked motorcycle syndrome).

I rode it on my Wing, same deal-not the right tool. I would love to ride it on a 400 supermoto-that would be the right tool for the job.

 

[erixun]

Jealous, snow has restricted my riding too much this winter. Glad someone is out enjoying some throttle time. When I rode the Dragon last September I did get caught behind a slow moving caravan of Harleys for a bit, but they pulled off to take a break from their pushing it so I was able to get by. Only had a couple of cars, none pushing it like the WRX and Camaro you speak of.

 

[PJ4863]

Probably because his other half was pretty badly hurt when someone crossed the center line and hit her. I think she was on a bike too.

<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote'data-author="Redfish Hunter" data-cid="1283948" data-time="1453219681"><p>

If he didn't it will show up on the Killboy highlight pics. Mr. Cannon has a special hatred for folks that do not stay in their lane on The Dragon.</p></blockquote>

 

[Redfish Hunter]

Probably because his other half was pretty badly hurt when someone crossed the center line and hit her. I think she was on a bike too.<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote'data-author="Redfish Hunter" data-cid="1283948" data-time="1453219681"><p>

If he didn't it will show up on the Killboy highlight pics. Mr. Cannon has a special hatred for folks that do not stay in their lane on The Dragon.</p></blockquote>

You are correct. Mrs. Killboy was on (I think) a Suzuki GSXR600. She got hit head on by a *******, one of the many who make that otherwise enjoyable road unsafe. So many idiots like to go there to play when they really should be doing something else.

 

[yanktar]

I've been to the Dragon twice and, no, it's not the most scenic road in the area, though some of the pull-offs have great views. There are better views on other nearby roads. One of MY favorites is riding to the Fontana Dam, tallest of all the dams of the TVA. If you've ever seen "The Fugitive", it's the dam Harrison Ford jumps off, although it's supposed to be in Illinois or near there.

The Dragon is a technical road, that you ride to get better and to have the fun of constantly changing turns and elevations. The worst trip I took on it was the morning 3 of us were riding back and it was still dark and pouring and we were all loaded down over wet leaves and dodging fallen tree limbs!

 

[someguy]

the locals don't ride the dragon much except to show it to new friends or on their way to somewhere.

there's so many amazing roads all around it...

 

[Cav47]

There are many wonderful roads that are much more scenic in that area. I hope that while you are there you take your wife for a drive on the Cherohala Skyway. Take her to see Bald River Falls. Take her to see Clingman's Dome in Great Smoky Mountains National Park just south of you. Take her along Little River Road and to Cade's Cove.
And consider all this as a reconnaissance mission for when you come back with the FJR.

Good suggestions. We hit the Dome last year as well as Cade's Cove. She had enough of the back and forth on the Dragon after cutting across Newfoundland Gap earlier in the day. We saw some great waterfalls earlier in the week but I will have to keep Bald river on list.
As for Recon, staying away from the area mostly is good advice unless with a local guide/rider early in the mornings of weekdays.

Kill boy was no where to be found. No photographers at all. I really only saw 9 or less cars the whole time.

No crossing the centerline coming out of corners. Setting them up when I could see through them is another story. The Sequoia is a pig. Good for moving people, not carving corners.

 

[csi]

I spent the day chipping ice.....

 

[garyahouse]

Great place to visit in nearby Robbinsville before heading up to the Dragon on those days when the traffic is thick or the road is slick...

And here's a great place to visit as long as you didn't come to make a personal contribution.

 

[SunRider]

...... One of MY favorites is riding to the Fontana Dam, tallest of all the dams of the TVA. If you've ever seen "The Fugitive", it's the dam Harrison Ford jumps off, although it's supposed to be in Illinois or near there.

The Cheoah Dam, near The Gap on US129, is the one filmed in The Fugitive. Quite visible from the road.And yes, Fontana Dam located nearby off NC28, is a fine scenic side trip.

Addendum: Yes, it's snowing and Spring is far away and the FJR winter service is complete...

 

[Scooper]

Bald River falls is worth the side trip.

Others worth finding are Dry Falls and Bridal Vail Falls on highway 64/28 south of Franklin, N.C.

 

[yanktar]

...... One of MY favorites is riding to the Fontana Dam, tallest of all the dams of the TVA. If you've ever seen "The Fugitive", it's the dam Harrison Ford jumps off, although it's supposed to be in Illinois or near there.

The Cheoah Dam, near The Gap on US129, is the one filmed in The Fugitive. Quite visible from the road.And yes, Fontana Dam located nearby off NC28, is a fine scenic side trip.

Addendum: Yes, it's snowing and Spring is far away and the FJR winter service is complete...

I stand corrected. I assumed it was the Fontana Damn....Thanks.