I don't usually direct people to other sites but check out Adventure Rider dot com.

There is a thread on there entitled Dragon Failure fest or something like it in the Face Plant section.

I think its somewhere between 4-5 hundred pages long.

 

Not sure if my dozen or so trips on the Dragon qualifies me to give advice, but I'll do my best to give you the benefits of my experience and observations. First, if you can avoid being there on a weekend, by all means arrange your schedule that way. It seems to me that Saturdays and Sundays is the time when you find the largest percentage of crotch rocketeers trying to break the "record" for the 11 mile run or little sports cars such as Miatas coming around curves usually taking their half out of the middle of the road.
During the week, it can still be crowded, but it seems to be a lot more sane. Since you said you ride conservatively, bring that attitude with you. There are some pretty hairy turns of every description on the Dragon, and until you have a feel for the road and your abilities on your bike, take it easy. On some of those hairpins, if the speed limits says 15 mph, do 15mph. That is the best way to avoid having parts of your scoot from hanging on the tree of shame.
Be careful not to oversteer the curves because you will be pretty close to dragging the boards, and if you're not ready for that, you could dig into the asphalt and dump the bike. Best advice is to take your time on the first trip across the Dragon and enjoy the ride and the scenery. Once you get to the end, you'll have a better feel for things and your confidence will be where it will need to be to make another try at it.
The Dragon is NOT a dangerous road, but other vehicles do raise the danger factor more than anything else. One more thing you hopefully won't have to deal with is some 18 wheeler trying to force his rig around some of those turns, and they usually need the entire road to accomplish that feat. Don't be surpirsed coming around a turn too fast and have to lock up the binders because a big rig is in front of you. Above all, enjoy. It is a fantastic ride.

 

I might just forgo the tail this year. I have been reading a lot of forums about people's experience and crotch-rocket guys trashing HD guys and vise versa, but maybe I should just give it a couple years till my skills are increased before riding it. I've only been riding my bagger for a year now. It's just hard to imagine why a road would be so hard to ride...but I understand the risks imposed by others as well.

 

It's a mountain road, so the curves could not be avoided. The alternate route around the mountain is 3 hours long.

 

If I ever ride it (which I probably won't) I will start at the crack of dawn on a weekday during the off season. Maybe I've watched too many youtube videos of all the a-holes riding it and crashing -- and not just the sport bikers.

 

If any hesitation, this suggestion is worthwhile. I didn't want to deal with the carnival so rode it around 8:00a on weekday. E M P T Y. Can ride it at your own pace.

And FWIW, I puzzle over the "318 curves in 11 miles". Having ridden many tightly coiled mountain roads before, after riding the "dragon" I didn't come away with the sense it had that many curves. I finally parked my eyeballs before the PC screen and watched a video of a friend who recorded the entire length from the resort to the lookout. I counted every curve, included the faintest of bends, and only came up with 187! Not even close. :dunno Now, some have responded that the 318 total count also includes before the resort and after the lookout as well, but dang, the road straightens out notably in those areas. It's still a twistfest of a road, but there is something funny going on.

 

It's a fun ride,just go at your pace. There's not much scenery except for curves and trees. There's other good riding in the area also.:nod

 

Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap, motorcycle and sport car two lane tourism serving Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap, Cherohala Skyway, Moonshiner28, Devils Triangle, and Six Gap North Georgia.
Well it is 318 curves in 11 miles... so is it dangerous... I suppose if you were to compare it to a straight 11 miles yes. Should you ride it? As long as you are confident on your bike yes. I think everyone should experience the tail. However, if you don't think you can make it through, you probably won't.

 

Well it is 318 curves in 11 miles... so is it dangerous... I suppose if you were to compare it to a straight 11 miles yes. Should you ride it? As long as you are confident on your bike yes. I think everyone should experience the tail. However, if you don't think you can make it through, you probably won't.

I may be mistake with this also, but I don't believe anyone is afraid to ride it because it's mountainous and curvy. I assume people are afraid of being run off the rode or hit by other a-holes in cars and on bikes. Hell, the Mt. Lemmon hiway here is 25 miles long, goes from 2700 ft to 9000 ft, and I'll bet it has more than 300 curves, many very tight radius usually with cliffs on one side.

 

Tim, go to the site I posted. I'm sure if you were to walk the whole stretch you could find more than 318 curves, but that is their slogan... 318 curves in 11 miles. And I am sure that it is not exactly 11 miles... probably 11.2 or something like that. I am not saying anyone is afraid to ride it for this reason or that, I am just simply pointing out that, of course it is more dangerous than a straight road. Do you have to watch out for idiots? Of course you do. But when haven't you had to watch for idiots. I am just trying to say the ride is well worth it. But if you aren't confident in your skills and knowledge of your bike in the first place this definitely is not the ride for you(you, not to be taken as you, or you, or you, just some random you).

 

Oh, I'm sure I would like it. And if I was on my XR1200, I would probably start to play "sport biker" in a limited way. If I lived closer, I would have probably ridden it many times already.

 

I started riding last February and rode the Dragon in June with my brother in-law. Like you I had seen the videos and was really nervous. I was apprehensive but it was a fear that I was bound to conquer! The ride in went really well; probably because we got behind a group of touring bikers traveling 2 up so speed was not an issue and I was able to take it easy. Coming back was another matter. I had a guy ridin' my butt and due to my inexperience I let him intimidate me to higher speeds. Although I didn't crash I did lock up the back tire downshifting with too much speed and once I nearly crossed the center line and came within an eyelash of sideswiping a boat trailer that did cross the center line.

I did see on you-tube a video documenting the dangers of the Dragon due to the volume of auto traffic and big rigs and that more than anything else has me questioning to ride the Dragon again or NOT.

If you're in the area of the Dragon's Tail on the HWY 19/74 side near Andrews NC, stop in at Cherokee County Cycles. They are some great folks!

 

I rode the Dragon with my 8 year old boy last September on a Saturday morning. We had a blast! I think I did it in 3rd gear with my feet up on the highway pegs, and just flowed through it. (no hurry) I pulled over 2 times to let the little cars through. You just have to watch the mirrors. It's no big deal as long as you pay attention. The BBQ at Deals gap is fantastic! We are planning to go back in April.

 

I have rode it since I was little, I am not very far from 129, and yes its dangerous and yes its fun... if you think about it and say man I am scared to even try then don't, also if you come down pm me first and we can meet up there are tons of great roads up there that you got to know where they are...

 

I drove a ford f350 on Route 8 in Virginia. It is the same deal, with the turns and stuff. Unfortunately I couldn't do it on a bike, but you really have to take it easy for a while, turns jump out at you quick, and it is easy to forget to account for mid turn hills, and increasing radii.

And YES I kept the truck in my own lane, I was actually surprised at how few bikes were on the road but whatevs.

 

if we are thinking of the same road, route 8 off of the parkway then it does not compare one bit to 129 at all, 129 has a lot more switchback turns

 

I spent the first 24 years of my life living not much more than an hour from the Dragon. I've been across it dozens of not 100s of times. Some one two and some on four. I've even pulled a 17' boat through there.

I drove my family across there this summer in our SUV.

It's tricky in the best conditions. Mostly because you almost never operate a vehicle under those conditions. But, BY FAR, the biggest concern is the popularity that it has gained. There's way too many that think it is a bleeping amusement park ride instead of a public road. A lot of those guys think as long as they are between the ditches, they're fine.

It's super beautiful up the Smokies. You should do it just to say you did. But, as a native East Tennessean, I've got to tell you that it isn't that special. If you love to run the twistes, there are dozens of roads similar to it all over East Tennessee and Western North Carolina.

.

 

The better 1/2 and I rode it two up last October on a monday morning and the traffic wasn't bad at all. Rode it a total of three times. Took it real easy the first time thru increasing my speed with each subsequent pass. The third time thru we did have a power ranger come up behind us but I just held my pace and he went by when he had a opportunity to do so safely(and rather quickly I might add:eek). Look forward to riding it again in the future.

 

Tim... A good riding philosophy. Riding friends and I will do the same here in CO... even just for the empty roads.

And enjoy the book. :nod

 

And enjoy the book. :nod

I plan too. Thanks for writing it! :thumb

 

129 is a blast to run, whether on two wheels or four but it can be dangerous so just be careful if y'all come down to ride and run it through the week if you can.

 

Go for it and ride the Dragon. As others mentioned, I definitely would ride it mid-week. Too many crotch rocket riders on weekends that think the Dragon is their own personal race track. That includes a dude on a yellow gl 1800 who is actually a pretty good rider and has humbled a few crotch rocket riders there.

 

That includes a dude on a yellow gl 1800 who is actually a pretty good rider and has humbled a few crotch rocket riders there.

That's interesting. I used to know this guy (friend of a friend) who would race sport bikers on his GL1500. He was GOOD. Just goes to show what pro racers say all the time: 80% man - 20% machine.

 

I was watching youtube a few weeks back and seen a guy on a goldwing throwing that bike all over the turns on the dragon. Looks like a nice ride if the conditions were good with other riders and weather.

 

Never heard of this place, and now a club I belong to are heading there in a couple months, so I'm going with them. I'll have to research this a bit more. I just thought it was just another twisty road, but looks like this one is pretty famous (or infamous)


-JP

 

I have rode it many times but the main reason it's another option of some of the best riding roads all around it .. Enjoy !!

 

I say go Tuesday thru Thursday and ride it at your own pace. It is a public road and there are speed limits. If Someone starts pushing you from behind treat it like any other road and there are pull offs to let them go by. Just stay within your riding abilities and enjoy the ride. This is how I would ride it. My 2 cents for what it's worth.

 

this time of the year it will be busy most of the time, not as bad during the week but spring time is the busiest time, i still suggest going during the week but if its super nice there will always be people up there riding

 

If I can Speek for them they are saying that a trailer has hit a bike in the past and that a bike a week crashes by trying to run that road to fast. Sorry if I spoke out of turn.

 

Is the dragon's tail dangerous to ride?

It can be.

How YOU drive is a factor. Know your limits. Know how to properly enter and exit a corner. Don't target fixate, and look THROUGH your corners.

Get in over your head there, and it'll hurt.

The other flip-side to this is: You're at he mercy of the other retards. As stated, avoid weekends. Squid central. Broken plastics and bike parts don't end up in trees there because they were good, non-scraped or damaged parts.

It's a hoot. I've been there once. The people that rent cabins and places to stay are biker friendly, and if you love swaying back and forth going around corners, you'll love it.

It's a great place to have fun, but it can also bite you in the ass really quick if you outride your abilities, or those of your bike.

 

You're at he mercy of the other retards.

Thanks a lot, Bin Laden...


Check out this video on YouTube:

 

Here's a documentary of Yellow Wolf and his bike.
http://ymlmedia.com/media/video/YBL060718.mp4

I don't think Rick has retired yet. I think I saw him last week up there. His record is 11:30 but he averaged less than 13 minutes for 24 hours when he did the 1,000 miles in 24 by going back and forth. There are some sport bike riders that do it in less than 9:30 but that is averaging more than 60mph and most of the guys don't advertise that they ride that fast.

When he did the 24 hrs of deals gap, here were his numbers.
1001.7 miles
23 hrs and 52 min
29,786 turns
avg. 19 mpg

*Edit: Here is a video of him on March 11th at a 15 minute pace to ride the 9 1/2 miles or so between the store and the turn around. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=VxHNnOHuikI

 

Here's a documentary of Yellow Wolf and his bike.
http://ymlmedia.com/media/video/YBL060718.mp4

I don't think Rick has retired yet. I think I saw him last week up there. His record is 11:30 but he averaged less than 13 minutes for 24 hours when he did the 1,000 miles in 24 by going back and forth. There are some sport bike riders that do it in less than 9:30 but that is averaging more than 60mph and most of the guys don't advertise that they ride that fast.

When he did the 24 hrs of deals gap, here were his numbers.
1001.7 miles
23 hrs and 52 min
29,786 turns
avg. 19 mpg

*Edit: Here is a video of him on March 11th at a 15 minute pace to ride the 9 1/2 miles or so between the store and the turn around. Yellow Wolf on his GL1800 at The Tail of the Dragon from Deals Gap.wmv - YouTube

Rick has not "retired." He just took an extended break when he was in between gl 1800's. He just picked up a 2010 gl 1800 and had the whole front end suspension redone by Traxxion Dynamics.

 

http://www.ridelikeapro.com/store-p...m/store-products/instructional-dvds/ride-like-a-pro-on-the-dragon-deals-gap-dvd