Tail of the Dragon

[duc996]

I've been checking out the killboy site from deals gap,i was wondering if any of you out there have slayed that dragon?If so can you let us know how the ride was?Very interested to know.Thanks!

[Reckless_Kelly]

I have slayed the dragon, and the dragon has slayed me. I used to live about 2 hours from there and Deals Gap was an every other weekend trip. I've been stuck in FL for the last 7 years and right now I can only dream of roads like that.

[jdubbs32584]

I've gotten two trips together to go there in the past two months.

The ride on the dragon itself was awesome and there's a ton of other local roads that are excellent as well. I know the are pretty decently (I live in Charlotte, NC and have a cabin thats in Cashiers, NC) and if you're looking to make a trip, I'd be glad to answer questions or meet you.


Here are the two threads from my trips:

http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=14693.0
http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=13088.0

[duc996]

Wow that's very tempting,unfortunately i can't ride the deals gap right now coz im overseas :(thinking of doing a trip spring time.Be great if i can have some riding buddies to hit it.

[mapman]

Deal's gap is great and deserves at least one visit. There are a lot of bikes and boy racers there and for that alone it is worth the trek from wherever you are. That said, there are a ton of other roads in the NC mountains that are worth hitting as well.  Get a place in Fontana or Brysons City and go get lost - yo won't regret it.

[Norm]

I live about 2 hours away & have been there many times. Unless you pick a week day without much traffic, it's not a road you want to ride very fast. The best part is hanging out at the gas station and watching the show.

[duc996]

That's great to know,im sure there's more beautiful roads out there,but the gap seems really tempting 

[wbeck257]

Don't go on weekends, unless you like parades.

I went on a weekday(s), when it was cold.
Get up early, ride from sunup to lunchtime. Go otherwhere until 4 ish. Ride from 4 til night.

[vw151]

I was there back in april on a couple of weekdays.  The dragon was cool but there are a ton of great roads surrounding the area as well.  It's a blast and I recommend it.  I made a couple of strange youtube videos back in the spring about the trip. 

Check em out. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PvB6KMJ78o
yes this tree fire was caused by a motorcycle wreck and yes it is right on one end of tail of the dragon. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adySJNlKX88&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pApclh1fBq0&feature=related

Here is some pics too
http://s144.photobucket.com/albums/r197/vw151/Deals%20gap%20trip/

[the_Journeyman]

I've 90-120 minutes away, and have been out there on numerous occasions.  It's tight, technical and will physically and mentally wear you out after a couple passes.  There's almost always a LEO presence now days, especially on weekends and holidays.  There's plenty of squids and wanna be racers on bikes and cars that might unexpectedly share you lane.  If you're planning a trip down, give yourself several days as the are plenty of roads with hitting up while you're there and you're going to want to NOT hit the gap on a weekend.  The pavement is in pretty good shape too ~

JM

[lwszabo]

i am 1 hour form there and have never been! To many horror stories... I know sad.

[the_Journeyman]

The horror stories usually involve someone riding way above their head or trying to be the fastest guy out there or trying to chase down the Repsol.  It's a shame a few of those hot-headed folks have to occasionally collide with someone who is out there enjoying things responsibly ~

JM

[wbeck257]

The horror stories usually involve someone riding way above their head or trying to be the fastest guy out there or trying to chase down the Repsol.  It's a shame a few of those hot-headed folks have to occasionally collide with someone who is out there enjoying things responsibly ~

JM

Yeah, the last time I was up there some kid lowsided his 600 into the leg of a harley guy.

It wasn't pretty, and he spent a good amount of time in a ditch waiting for the ambulance to carry him to the top of the hill so he could take that little ride over to Knoxville.

But, it happened at 3PM -- when I wanted to avoid the Dragon. I was just passing back through to get back to Robinsville for dinner.

But it is like anything else -- just lookout and try and be safe and resonsabile.

[AfroStar]

I just drove thru the Dragon 2 weeks ago in my car.  I was testing the rode for a spring trip on my S4RS, and it looks intimidating.  I did PCH in June, that was FUN
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tiYjCrc5rU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wffN6nbr3iA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zT6zbEKLE_M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9AO85YB2GI

some pics of my trips i would like to share those who are not working like myself....I need a JOB!

[duc996]

Afros4rs,thanks for the videos! that looks like so much fun!!!the asphalt looks so smooth,ducs love this kind of twisties what did they say about it?318 corners for 11 miles?Man that's work :-)