Tail of the Dragon

[MPittma100]

Why we respect this area in the North Carolina/Tennessee mountains. The ride through here is included in the XS11 Southeast Rallies.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K16YnmJN0fc

[jetmechmarty]

Tail of the Dragon and Deals Gap open for business on 1 March. That's just four weeks away!

[Gmac]

That ride

to 129 for a run up and back down the Dragon is on my list of one of the first road trips I take when I get either of my XS's going.

Now that trucks are banned it might be a little safer but there's still no accounting for random hot shot squids with no brains. I think it will still be a lot of fun and I'll capture it all with my digitals front and back.

[jetmechmarty]

Gmac,
Do it on Monday or Tuesday. There won't even be photographers. You have to be extra careful on the weekends as you will certainly face lane encroachments by oncoming traffic. Hopefully, you'll consider joining us at XSSE.

[XJOK2PLAY]

Getting to experience the Dragon was the trip of a lifetime for me.

Meeting that one semi trying to navigate all those sharp twists and turns was crazy! I guess most of those truckers wind up there not knowing how impossible the route is for a semi?

I was just glad we didn't meet that trucker on a blind curve while we were "riding spiritedly"...

[jetmechmarty]

US129 at Deals Gap is thrilling to ride, extremely dangerous, and has become Mecca for motorcycles and sports cars. If you're into that sort of thing, it's a pilgrimage that has to be made. It makes for a busy place.

[jetmechmarty]

Obligatory Dragon Pics

[DeanR]

US129 .. It makes for a busy place.

Too much other equivalent riding to be had. I skip it.

[madmax-im]

Gmac,
Do it on Monday or Tuesday. There won't even be photographers. You have to be extra careful on the weekends as you will certainly face lane encroachments by oncoming traffic. Hopefully, you'll consider joining us at XSSE.

yet we run this every year on the weekend...yeah I know thats the only time we have...but running early or late in the day has been pretty good too

[jetmechmarty]

Too much other equivalent riding to be had. I skip it.

Appalachia is full of fantastic roads, for sure. Here in the South, we tend to have the best quality of asphalt. That being said, aside from the traffic the Tail of the Dragon offers up the best of it in a non stop eleven mile stretch. Add in the roads leading to it and I really don't think it can be topped. I certainly have never experienced a bigger helping of technical pavement packed into one place like that. Come on down!

[madmax-im]

obligatory dragon shot


Dean...I run this road twice a year once on a weekend with the XSSE rally and then again in the Spring/Summer during the week...theres alot of hype to be sure...it has toned down somewhat from a few years ago...but I still avoid weekend peaks if possible...now that trucks 30'+ are banned from both ends of the dragon..that will take them out of the equation.

[jetmechmarty]

yet we run this every year on the weekend...yeah I know thats the only time we have...but running early or late in the day has been pretty good too

You're right Ben, we made our last crossing late in the day. It's better then. It's still fun on the weekends checking out all the people and cool bikes. You just have to be extra cautious.