Deal's Gap/ The Dragon

[wanderer]

I did the Dragon last spring(2008.) It was a week day, it was "stressful". I'm certainly not trying to discourage anyone from the ride, heck I think any motorcyclist owes themselves the experience to know what all the talk is about.

The only point of this post is to be careful out there and not be surprised by what you may find there.

There are riders on that road trying to improve their "personal best" time. They will pass in double yellow zones, I was passed on an inside right hairpin with oncoming cages. Those that know me are aware I do not ride slowly in twisties. Pay attention and don't get caught up in the race mentality some riders demonstrate while riding this piece of road. Some may try to ride your tail.

Let's all have a great Mountain Magic rally in Tennessee!! :bikes

Yea, I know this sounds like a mother but ... well, ...you certainly can take it or leave it.

[KGT1200]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpdKBD9CXXY&NR=1

[AZ-J]

:banghead I wouldn't want any part of my candy cane in that stack. Magic Mountain, here I come.

[Mark II]

This is from when I was there last summer. About 20 minutes of video. That's my uncle in front of me on his Harley, my father was behind me on another GS.

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[55380]

I did the Dragon last spring(2008.) It was a week day, it was "stressful". I'm certainly not trying to discourage anyone from the the ride, heck I think any motorcyclist owes themselves the experience to know what all the talk is about.

The only point of this post is to be careful out there and not be surprised but what you may find there.

There are riders on that road trying to improve their "personal best" time. They will pass in double yellow zones, I was passed on an inside right hairpin with oncoming cages. Those that know me are aware I do not ride slowly in twisties. Pay attention and don't get caught up in the race mentality some riders demonstrate while riding this piece of road. Some may try to ride your tail.

Let's all have a great Mountain Magic rally in Tennessee!! :bikes

Yea, I know this sounds like a mother but ... well, ...you certainly can take it or leave it.

I agree completely. In addition to the sport bikes trying to set records I have seen cruisers plodding along while passing a cigarette back and forth between bikes....on the same road with the squids!

Years ago (you do not need to know how many years) before that stretch of 129 was called the "Dragon" It was a favorite road for my '59 MG and any MC that I had at the time. Now I know of many more that I like more due to less traffic and new scenery.

Go ahead and make the ride. Stop in at Deals Gap store and get a T-shirt. Just watch for the mix of "squids" and the "poser parade"( Cruisers, side by side at about 10 MPH with straight pipes and the usual costumes) . Watch for the police. They are out in droves as a result of the many deaths on that road. I hear and read of these fatal accidents with great dread and sorrow. And, I do not remember these happening to a local rider. It is probably not that local riders are any more skilled but we may be more accustomed to the local roads.

Ride in any direction from the intersection at the top end of the Dragon for some great scenery and fun roads.

I LOVE IT HERE!:dance:whistle

[k12koop]

There have been 5-6 deaths on motorcycles in the area in the last few weeks. Please be careful. The dragon is not any more complicated then a lot of roads you will find in this area. It is just a lot more traveled and folks forget to ride with focus.

Koop

In the shadow of the dragon

[Voni]

I found it hard NOT to focus on the semi coming toward me out of a curve on the WRONG side of the road on Deal's Gap!

Watch out!

Voni
sMiling

[BubbaZanetti]

i may head over there, may not, i'm usually not tempted by things everyone else likes, but i'd like to show my gf. we'll see.

[scbmwrider]

You can read the latest info at Deals Gap. com (http://www.dealsgap.com/)

Good road but LOTS of others in western NC. Personally I am looking forward to finding some new to me roads in TN

[KGT1200]

Having spent the majority of my life running the twisty roads of the foothills of Colorado, all this hoopla of this road makes me have the opinion that the REST of the roads in this area must be very tame. Now that I've seen the you tube of this road, I just don't get what the big deal is; why people spend so much time timing them selves, and consider it such an oddity?

Having grown up with the likes of Highway 14 Poudre Canyon Road West of Fort Collins to Cameron Pass and Highway 34 Loveland to Estes Park, Highway 36 from Boulder to Nedrerland, all much longer, and just as twisty, I see this little 11 mile blip as nothing much to get excited about!

I will ride it, but with caution of over excited and wreckless motorists! No way see it as a challange!

Is this opinion off base? Please let me know, those who have the first hand knowledge!

Thank you!

Red

[BubbaZanetti]

Having spent the majority of my life running the twisty roads of the foothills of Colorado, all this hoopla of this road makes me have the opinion that the REST of the roads in this area must be very tame. Now that I've seen the you tube of this road, I just don't get what the big deal is; why people spend so much time timing them selves, and consider it such an oddity?

Having grown up with the likes of Highway 14 Poudre Canyon Road West of Fort Collins to Cameron Pass and Highway 34 Loveland to Estes Park, Highway 36 from Boulder to Nedrerland, all much longer, and just as twisty, I see this little 11 mile blip as nothing much to get excited about!

I will ride it, but with caution of over excited and wreckless motorists! No way see it as a challange!

Is this opinion off base? Please let me know, those who have the first hand knowledge!

Thank you!

Red

pfft, all those roads out west are boring and straight Dale, duh



http://bubbazanetti.smugmug.com/photos/585585039_uTiZ5-L.jpg (http://www.desertusa.com/mag04/aug/nm_hy.html)

[KGT1200]

pfft, all those roads out west are boring and straight Dale, duh



http://bubbazanetti.smugmug.com/photos/585585039_uTiZ5-L.jpg (http://www.desertusa.com/mag04/aug/nm_hy.html)

Yep, New Mexico too has some lame ass roads...

[scbmwrider]

that the REST of the roads in this area must be very tame. Now that I've seen the you tube of this road, I just don't get what the big deal is; why people spend so much time timing them selves, and consider it such an oddity?

When I found The Gap by accident in the early 80's I thought that it was VERY fun. I was also there in the early 90's and saw one sportbike with the lights zip tied on, safety wired, slicks and a quickfill racing tank. Over the years it has kind of developed a reputation of being a super road. I'm sure that there are many riders who go to Deals Gap and don't even realize how good the roads were that took them there or they take the most direct route there just to ride it. It has become more of a social thing and has lost some of the real reason that it IS a great road.


Truth of the matter is that there are MANY roads in WNC that are very fun. There are also twistie raods to avoid due to campers etc. There are some roads that have almost no trafic at all. I personally prefer the roads that are hard to find and have no motorhomes on them.

Sorry I have forgotten where they are :dance:dance:dance

Not really but............

Looking at the map of Eastern TN I think that I'll try to find some new roads there like Pinhook or Slick Fisher road

[TNOutback]

I traveled Hwy 28 heading north out of Franklin, NC in car last year. VERY twisty road. If you are in that area, you might check it out.

[TexanRT]

I traveled Hwy 28 heading north out of Franklin, NC in car last year. VERY twisty road. If you are in that area, you might check it out.

+1 That's one of my favorites -- great twisties

[AZ-J]

If you want a great one up to this in the West, go here (http://www.motorcycleroads.us/roads/az_us191.html)

[wanderer]

Oh yea, Az. 666. :rocker Didn't you take the pledge of silence? :deal :brow That's the road I was thinkin' about riding the dragon and thinking .... if they only knew. But it's no dragon it's only 117 miles!

[AZ-J]

Oh yea, Az. 666. :rocker Didn't you take the pledge of silence? :deal :brow That's the road I was thinkin' about riding the dragon and thinking .... if they only knew. But it's no dragon it's only 117 miles!

Of pin-hair curves that makes the Dragon look tame! Ever go around the Morenci Mine stretch after Safford? Or back down it, now that's a rush.

:bikes:bolt

[wanderer]

I've run it both ways all the way to I 10. I like uphill best. I've always stopped and looked down into the mine pit. Talk about a hole in the ground wow! Looks like a view from an airplane. It's cool the way the road opens up as you come out of the mountains and drop down onto the desert floor on the south end. :bikes

I'm heading out TOMORROW for Tennessee. Oh boy! Oh boy! Oh boy! :dance

[TexanRT]

Oh yea, Az. 666. :rocker Didn't you take the pledge of silence? :deal :brow That's the road I was thinkin' about riding the dragon and thinking .... if they only knew. But it's no dragon it's only 117 miles!

It's now on my list.....:)

[osbornk]

There are better roads much closer to the rally than the Dragon that are far less traveled with more challenging curves. Try Rt 80 and Rt 16 I outlined in the May ON. You won't be disappointed.

Ken

[AZ-J]

I'm heading out TOMORROW for Tennessee. Oh boy! Oh boy! Oh boy! :dance

I leave Monday 4 AM. I need the weekend to pack! :whistle

Look for me on the candy cane.

[heavyjetpfe]

The last time I rode the Dragon I had the questionable pleasure of watching a K1200LT get hit head on by a squid comming the other way in the wrong lane. The squid didn't make it. The LT rider and his passenger suffered relitivly minor (two broken wrists and a broken leg) injuries. The fact that there are no intersections or driveways on that 11 mile section seems to make drivers and riders want to push their envelopes harder than if they were worring about traffic from side streets. It's not you that's going to hurt you on that road. It will be something completely out of your control. If not a squid maybe a pack of wild hogs crossing the road. JMHO

[scbmwrider]

The fact that there are no intersections or driveways on that 11 mile section seems to make drivers and riders want to push their envelopes harder than if they were worring about traffic from side streets.

IMHO there is nothing especially hard or technical about the dragon. The problem is between riders ears. They think "OH I'm riding the dragon" and either try to post their best lap time, or their floorboards bite them in the a#%. I would be surprised if the average rider even thought about the lack of intersections.

[Warthog]

I headed out early because I had to be in St. Louis for work. I plan on camping at Deals Gap on Sunday and getting up and doing the Dragon and parkway on Monday morning. I have been forewarned and will be careful.

I guess I get some purverse pleasure in watching folks make idots of themselves.

[nevada72]

I'm going to do it just to say I've done it. I suspect I have traveled much better roads in CA, CO, and AR. My plan is to do it early Thurs morning before heading up to the rally. Are Thurs a.m.s busy?

[wanderer]

It sort of has the same draw as any major attraction. Anytime you can think of that seems like a good shot at low volume, many others have thought of too. My guess would be sun up on a week day would be about as good as it gets but I doubt you would ever be alone. But in the early morning you need to deal with the four legged forest rat issue (deer.)

I started this thread to inform riders of hazards, not create fear. Be careful, even extra careful, just don't forget to enjoy the ride. That's the reason for traveling any road isn't it?

:bikes

[kruerjw]

Just got back from a 1720 mile ride from IN to AL and spending most of it in NC. I would recommend the Cherahola Skyway, a road from Franklin to Highlands that goes through a river gorge, 64, and probably the best road was a road that connects 64 to 215. I think it is called Parkway road part of the time and Lake Logan Road further north you go. No traffic, no cops and great curves and waterfalls.

Did the Dragon on the way home on a Thursday afternoon early evening timeframe and passed more cops than bikes. I agree, if you have never done it, do it and get your stickers and shirts and go find better roads with less chance of getting killed by some idiot.:thumb We rode better roads than the Dragon on our trip.

Heading out Thursday morning for the rally from Indiana across Pine Mountain in KY. It will be another great ride. :brad

[scbmwrider]

, and probably the best road was a road that connects 64 to 215. I think it is called Parkway road part of the time and Lake Logan Road further north you go. No traffic, no cops and great curves and waterfalls.

:brad

No that road IS 215 which goes from the 64 across the parkway to 276. Great ride. Now there are roads that connect 64 to 215 but they are classified!

[osbornk]

There are better roads much closer to the rally than the Dragon that are far less traveled with more challenging curves. Try Rt 80 and Rt 16 I outlined in the May ON. You won't be disappointed.

Ken

I gave several folks that came early a little tour of some of our roads yesterday and we had a great day. They rode the dragon on their way here. On Monday, they took the long ride I ourlined in the May ON but did it in reverse. One of them said in the 210 miles they rode the day before (they stayed near Marion), all of the roads they rode were better than the dragon.

[nevada72]

Geez - I'm wondering if I should even bother with the Dragon? Squids. Cops, Traffic. Getting hit by oncoming Squids. I would like to say I've done it just because, but starting to wonder if A - Is it worth it? And B - Would my time be better spent elsewhere?

My route so far is to head down 129 from Knoxville, heading east on 74 to pick up the Blue Ridge Pkwy, take that to Little Switzerland, and then up to Johnson City. Previous posts indicate that 64 is a good road. Maybe I should forego the BRP and take that?

[bmdubyou]

I just love finding new roads that no one else know about! Like a shortcut I found in KY - rt 59 that runs between rt 9 and I64. Its a gorgeous curvy road with hardly any traffic (like two or 3 cars)! It didnt look like much from the map but it was such a fun road-scenic too!:dance Wva and VA are just full of roads like that. By the time I get out of KY and into Ind its sleepy time....the roads here are just as straight and boring!:whistle

[osbornk]

Geez - I'm wondering if I should even bother with the Dragon? Squids. Cops, Traffic. Getting hit by oncoming Squids. I would like to say I've done it just because, but starting to wonder if A - Is it worth it? And B - Would my time be better spent elsewhere?

My route so far is to head down 129 from Knoxville, heading east on 74 to pick up the Blue Ridge Pkwy, take that to Little Switzerland, and then up to Johnson City. Previous posts indicate that 64 is a good road. Maybe I should forego the BRP and take that?

A. Only if you want to be able to say you did it.

B. Yes

You will enjoy it more if you do it first.

[scbmwrider]

My route so far is to head down 129 from Knoxville, heading east on 74 to pick up the Blue Ridge Pkwy, take that to Little Switzerland, and then up to Johnson City. Previous posts indicate that 64 is a good road. Maybe I should forego the BRP and take that?

74 is a highway which is not a lot of fun and IS patroled by the NCHP. 64 is a good road but not great. There is a good chance of getting behind a SLOW local or motorhome.

Now 28 to 64 then turn on 215 to the BRP is a good ride.

[kgadley01]

Also keep in mind that route 421 (the snake) isn't far from the Rally site. a bunch of us rode 421 in April, on the first annual Ride to Q. I only saw one LEO in the twisties. there was also one near the store watching for burnouts and such... :whistle

[jimfastcar]

Did The Snake yesterday en route to the Rally, and it is an amazing road, cannot imagine a more technical ride ! Lots of fun and very little traffic

[mneblett]

Did The Snake yesterday en route to the Rally, and it is an amazing road, cannot imagine a more technical ride ! Lots of fun and very little traffic
Would someone please post about what part of 421 is "The Snake"? I'm between GPS's at the moment and don't have the software needed to open the .g** files that have been posted, so I'm paper map-bound.

Some help for the temporarily electronics-challenged would be greatly appreciated!

[bmw_ken]

;)Would someone please post about what part of 421 is "The Snake"? I'm between GPS's at the moment and don't have the software needed to open the .g** files that have been posted, so I'm paper map-bound.

Some help for the temporarily electronics-challenged would be greatly appreciated!

About 7 or 8 miles north of Shady Valley, TN to a few miles north of Mountain City, TN. You will recognize it when you get to the curves.

[drsales]

Rt 16 north of Marion was 42 challenging miles and the snake comes in a very close second. Thanks TN for letting us play there for the week.:usa

[55380]

Rt 16 north of Marion was 42 challenging miles and the snake comes in a very close second. Thanks TN for letting us play there for the week.:usa

You are very welcome!

Anytime!

:thumb

[nevada72]

Did the "snake" yesterday and the "dragon" today. I'm really glad I did the Dragon despite the criticism. In fact, as a result of said criticism, my expectations were low. I even went on a Sunday and ate lunch at Deals Gap of all things thinking that I'll just end up behind some RV anyway. Was I wrong! I have to say it was amazing! It wasn't nearly as crowded as I thought it would be. No one ever got up on me let alone passed me. Yeah, I did catch up to a few cars and bikes on occassion, but I just pulled over at a good vantage point and watched other riders. After 2 or 3 minutes I headed out again and wore down the sides of my tires some more at my own pace. Killboy et al were there and I'm sure my amazing form was captured many times. :laugh Honestly, it was great and I'll do it again.

The snake was excellent too. Did that twice. You Tenn/NC/VA folks have some amazing places to play! Even the Blue Ridge Pkwy was a gas and the most spectacular scenery the whole trip.

PS - I saw more LE at the snake than the dragon. Go figure.

[osbornk]

Did the "snake" yesterday and the "dragon" today. I'm really glad I did the Dragon despite the criticism. In fact, as a result of said criticism, my expectations were low. I even went on a Sunday and ate lunch at Deals Gap of all things thinking that I'll just end up behind some RV anyway. Was I wrong! I have to say it was amazing! It wasn't nearly as crowded as I thought it would be. No one ever got up on me let alone passed me. Yeah, I did catch up to a few cars and bikes on occassion, but I just pulled over at a good vantage point and watched other riders. After 2 or 3 minutes I headed out again and wore down the sides of my tires some more at my own pace. Killboy et al were there and I'm sure my amazing form was captured many times. :laugh Honestly, it was great and I'll do it again.

The snake was excellent too. Did that twice. You Tenn/NC/VA folks have some amazing places to play! Even the Blue Ridge Pkwy was a gas and the most spectacular scenery the whole trip.

PS - I saw more LE at the snake than the dragon. Go figure.

It's a shame you missed Route 80 and Route 16 in Virginia. You missed the best rides.

[AZ-J]

It's a shame you missed Route 80 and Route 16 in Virginia. You missed the best rides.


The best ride is AZ 191, formerly AZ 666 and widely known as as The Devil's Highway. There are a few good photos here (http://www.azbeemers.org/forum/index.php?topic=1963.new;topicseen#new), including a stop along the way at the Morenci mine.

[osbornk]

These two were part of a suggested rally day tour - the Four Mountain Ride. Excellent roads. We had a lot of fun. Also rather busy, though, but we went on Saturday, understandable.

My friends who live along the roads will probably kill me if they find out I suggested them.

[cyclepath]

It's a shame you missed Route 80 and Route 16 in Virginia. You missed the best rides.

Thanks to one of the vounteers advice, we took the route that included 80 & 16. Wow...what a great ride! I have visited the Dragon many times and enjoy the technical twisties. The roads around the rally rank at the top of my list.

[nevada72]

It's a shame you missed Route 80 and Route 16 in Virginia. You missed the best rides.


Yeah, but then you don't get to buy a cool sticker that lets everyone what a He-Man you are like when you do "The Snake" and "The Dragon". :laugh

I saw your earlier post re: 80 and 16. I looked for my May ON but couldn't find it. With all the trip planning and such I simply forgot about it. I will say that doing "The Snake", the BRP, and 'The Dragon (among many other roads - I clocked about 350 miles Saturday and many more Sunday, but about 1/2 slab on the way home) made for two amazing days of riding. Sometimes it's fun to see the spectacle of places like "The Dragon". I sat outside and had a burger at Deals Gap and enjoyed watching the comings and goings of all types of riders. Was there to help catch a falling Harley and rider in the parking lot (it happens - poor guy was really embarrassed). I had a few nice chats with other BMW riders as well. Also, the amazing scenery of places like the BRP is always welcome.

Now I also have more incentive to return and check out 80 and 16. :)

[KatTN]

Just wanted to let everyone know that several BMW folks made the highlight section at killboy.com last week. Check everyone out!!!!

[henzilla]

The best ride is AZ 191, formerly AZ 666 and widely known as as The Devil's Highway. There are a few good photos here (http://www.azbeemers.org/forum/index.php?topic=1963.new;topicseen#new), including a stop along the way at the Morenci mine.

AZ 191 has a few deeper dropoffs into oblivion and some really heart pounding curves for a lot longer distance for sure...am going back in a few months to do that again...but 16 was as awesome and in my top ten...mostly cause we were just on it!

[rt1to3]

Originally wanted to do the ride, but with so much traffic and other distractions, I chose to do the Pig Trail and some others in Arkansas. Also Hwy 82 in Oklahoma. Both had much less traffic and were enjoyable.

Sometimes it is the unexpected and unknown that is the most enjoyable.
Ride Safe!

[Yockyrides]

US129 "The Dragon" was enjoyable but most of the mystique can be attributed to marketing. I found great roads all over Tennessee, North Carolina, and Virginia this week. US221 from the Blue Ridge Parkway northward was incredible.

[2xcelr8]

Just wanted to let everyone know that several BMW folks made the highlight section at killboy.com last week. Check everyone out!!!!

Thanks for the tip on killboy.com. :thumb I found shots of the wife and I on us129photos.com and moonshinephotos.com but the killboy shots are much better. My only problem with the Dragon was the Harley parade I ended up in even though I pulled over for awhile in attempt to get some clear road.