I wanna be a dragonslayer...some day...
http://www.whytheyride.com/flash.html
Actually looks like a pretty good documentary
What the hell is a Dargonslayer?
;D
I have no idea what ur talkin about [beer]
;D
I won't claim to have slayed it this weekend but I can now say I'm a Dragon Rider. If you are within a 10 hour radius you need to get there at least once. Absolutely amazing ride.
Quote from: COWBOY on June 02, 2008, 07:18:01 AM
I won't claim to have slayed it this weekend but I can now say I'm a Dragon Rider. If you are within a 10 hour radius you need to get there at least once. Absolutely amazing ride.
5-0 getting pretty serious around there though.... :(
Quote from: CDawg on June 02, 2008, 07:27:37 AM
5-0 getting pretty serious around there thought.... :(
That's what I've heard. Been an increasing number of fatalities or something. Last time I was driving there in my cage, I saw a guy on a Harley full dresser with his wife on the back run wide on a turn, and lose it on an uncharacteristally shallow edge for the area. Both were fine, and the bike was ridable, but scuffed pretty bad.
BTW dragonslayer is a term given to riders who ride the tail of the dragon, a section of highway US 129 in smokey mountain national park, an 11 mile section of road with a claimed 318 curves.
Quote from: CDawg on June 02, 2008, 07:27:37 AM
5-0 getting pretty serious around there thought.... :(
There were 7 there in 4 spots (2 at beginning, 2 at overlook and 3 near the end) when we first arrived. After lunch there were only 4 there for the rest of our time on it. Traffic was also very light this weekend -- good for us! Rt 28 and the other area Parkways are also good rides.
Quick story, By the end of the 2nd trip up and back traffic was light enough and I had scouted it enough that I decided to push a little more - think 80% v 70%. I upped my corner speeds to 45 and enjoyed the greater lean angles. As the lap was winding down I passed mm3 and entered an S I heard a "boom" and nearly shit myself as 2 locals on liter bikes flew by me knee down at around 65-70 mph (I had been keeping an eye on the mirrors all day these guys came from nowhere). I then noticed one more light back there but thought it was my riding buddy only to get passed mid corner again like I was standing still. The resort owner asked me what they looked like and then told me the 3 guys that had passed me have been known to do the full 11 mile 300 plus turn Dragon in just over 9 minutes. It's crazy the risk they take but witnessing their ability first hand was incredible. One of them in particular needs sliders on his elbows as well.
I always though dragonslayers were dudes who nail ugly chicks. [laugh] ;D
I hear the 5-0 isn't that bad on the TN side.
Quote from: Ducatiloo on June 02, 2008, 08:54:41 AM
I hear the 5-0 isn't that bad on the TN side.
8 or 9 miles of the dragon are in TN. We had no issues this weekend wtih either the Tenn ST and County Sheriffs we saw, including after 2 guys binned it (minor injuries only) during the afternoon.
From all accounts we got lucky though (forecast was rain and it turned out to be sunny all afternoon) so maybe the LEO presence was down accordingly.
this guy www.tailofthedragon.com feels they are.
this guy www.dealsgap.com feels differently.
If the 5-0 is there in force no one slays anything, the bikers become the Dragon parade 15 mph.
The Dragon is 95% on the Tenn side & yes, the cops are just as bad. My son went there this w/e & said there wasn't any real police presence, but if/when you go, you need to get a police report at the store/gas station. It varies dramatically. Personally, I'd be afraid to ride too slow, getting passed at 80mph in a curve will unerve most people.
Horse's mouth:
http://www.tailofthedragon.com/dragon_SHUTDOWN.html
also, if anyone's heading down that way I've hear that Cherohala Skyway is almost as good, but longer and less 5 0
yeah he's the one I linked above and is tits up for the increased presence. His competition (resort, marketing, tshirts, etc) is much less up tight about it. truth probably lies in the middle somewhere.
the video where he gets pulled over is funny though. Cop handled that better than I would have.
Yep I just got back from there less then 24 hrs ago... And the cops were doing a good job. they wernt getting too agressive. I saw 4 crashes on sat. and the cops were more concerned with the safty of other on comming trafic. Another cop I saw was giving an escort to a oversised truck. and the Tenn ST at the end (@ the overlook) is the "cool" cop he will shoot the shit with you and I have herd him talk and joke with a cupple of the "real dragon killers" (sayin with a smile on his face) WOW you boys were relly killing it out there. ( theys were true locals, they live about 15 min away)
Anyway. I recomond EVERYONE should go atleast once. Be smart if its your first time because it deffantley isnt your normal street ride.
Kudos to the cop helping the oversize truck though without incident.
After reading all these stories i really want to go...like now ...lol
Quote from: COWBOY on June 02, 2008, 07:50:51 AM
There were 7 there in 4 spots (2 at beginning, 2 at overlook and 3 near the end) when we first arrived. After lunch there were only 4 there for the rest of our time on it. Traffic was also very light this weekend -- good for us! Rt 28 and the other area Parkways are also good rides.
Quick story, By the end of the 2nd trip up and back traffic was light enough and I had scouted it enough that I decided to push a little more - think 80% v 70%. I upped my corner speeds to 45 and enjoyed the greater lean angles. As the lap was winding down I passed mm3 and entered an S I heard a "boom" and nearly shit myself as 2 locals on liter bikes flew by me knee down at around 65-70 mph (I had been keeping an eye on the mirrors all day these guys came from nowhere). I then noticed one more light back there but thought it was my riding buddy only to get passed mid corner again like I was standing still. The resort owner asked me what they looked like and then told me the 3 guys that had passed me have been known to do the full 11 mile 300 plus turn Dragon in just over 9 minutes. It's crazy the risk they take but witnessing their ability first hand was incredible. One of them in particular needs sliders on his elbows as well.
In the video they did show three guys dragging their knees...i wonder if those are the same guys ...
i was there for the first time over a long memorial day weekend. I rode the dragon on friday morning around 10 am. not too many bikes at that time, but cops set up at 2 different spots along the dragon.
The dragon was fun, but maybe almost too technical for my skill level. I had more fun riding the miles and miles and miles of incredible other roads around the dragon...still nice twisties around beautiful mountain scenery, just less technical.
Link me to the video and I can tell you. The guy that needed the elbow sliders was in silver/white Teknic leathers (was like being passed by Silver Surfer, lol). The other guy was in Yamaha old school yellow leathers (like the edwards laguna helmet) and the last in Red/Black. The bikes were hard to discern just looking at the rear tire adn tailpipes. I'm pretty sure the last guy was on a CBR. Silver Surfer I'm not sure and the Yamaha yellow was on a Yami.
Quote from: COWBOY on June 02, 2008, 06:58:29 PM
Link me to the video and I can tell you. The guy that needed the elbow sliders was in silver/white Teknic leathers (was like being passed by Silver Surfer, lol). The other guy was in Blue/white and the last in Red/Black. The bikes were hard to discern just looking at the rear tire adn tailpipes. I'm pretty sure the last guy was on a CBR. Silver Surfer and the 2nd guy I have no clue.
Try this one.. http://www.whytheyride.com/flash.html ... i think its the same link. watche the trailer titled The Dragon. its in the beginning of it . They were just cruising tru the turns like it was a race track
I didn't recognize anyone in that but the lean angles i saw weren't as extreme. The Silver dude in particular was crazy over. It was a good time though again highly recommend it if you're East of the Mississippi.
http://www.youtube.com/v/pJ9pAIgfyFQ&hl=en
This is my favorite! It'll make you think.
Quote from: NAKID on June 01, 2008, 08:47:27 PM
What the hell is a Dargonslayer?
;D
Is that like slayin' hood-rats? ???
I remember the guy who can drag elbows up there from last year. I knew that guy was going to be an asshole when I saw him at the store w/ tire warmers on his bike.
When he was dragging elbow around a blind corner that I was standing at the entrance to trying my hardest to slow people down so they would ride straight into the 3 bikes that were crashed at the exit. He stopped within about 2 feet of the downed bike.
I don't give a make the beast with two backs how fast you are -- that is not a racetrack. He needs to take his ass back to the WERA trackdays.
I have had thoes three guys pass me as well while I was riding. ( no big deal ) they dident push me off the road or slam me. ( altho there closing speed was avg. of 10 mph ) And yes they do belong on a race track with thoes speeds. ( I would never ride that fast on the road. unless I had to lol [leo])
Once agen I think and I still belive that that is part of the attraction of this place. ( its difficult to kill anyone but your self on a bike.)
this ia a verry contrversal place. I ride 50%-80% depending on the traffic and cops. its a easy place to get your knee down and "look" fast ( killboy ) its a battle out there. lol thus... the slaying of the dragon.
I say let it grow. bring on the riders.
we should make it like the Autobahn in Germeny.
(ps. sorry for all the spelling errors my father is cracking the whip saying "GET BACK TO WORK"
Quote from: wbeck257 on June 03, 2008, 08:42:02 AM
I remember the guy who can drag elbows up there from last year. I knew that guy was going to be an asshole when I saw him at the store w/ tire warmers on his bike.
When he was dragging elbow around a blind corner that I was standing at the entrance to trying my hardest to slow people down so they would ride straight into the 3 bikes that were crashed at the exit. He stopped within about 2 feet of the downed bike.
I don't give a make the beast with two backs how fast you are -- that is not a racetrack. He needs to take his ass back to the WERA trackdays.
LOL. I didn't see anyone with tire warmers while we were there. I'd have definitely had a chuckle at that.
As far as the speeds go. I agree the track is the best place to push yourself. I'm also realistic to know that locals always ride local roads hard -- be they Dragon's or Mules. I'm not going to cast any stones their way over that.
[beer]