H2O Posted October 18, 2015 #1 Posted October 18, 2015 Rode the Dragon for the first time last week northward from Deals Gap. We were the last in our group to take off. About two miles into it we had a couple of guys coming up fast on crotch rockets. I pulled in tight to the white line and waved them on. The first guy made it passed us on a short straight section. The second guy decided he could pass us going into a hard right. As soon as he passed us we were all in the center of the curve as he hammered the throttle. Immediately his rear tire went out, he went rolling like bent log toward the cliff and his bike stayed right in front of us as it did a couple of spins. I slammed the brakes and somehow managed to miss his bike as I saw the rider go over the shoulder of the pavement and stop in my mirror. My buddy in front of me heard it and stopped, his buddy stopped. Then he got up and of course, limping he went to check out the damage on his bike before making sure he himself was okay. He seemed okay and his buddy was there so we waited a minute to make sure they got off the road to safety, but I was thinking, WTH? Fortunately there was no one behind us and no one coming the other way at that minute or we may all have been put in jeopardy. About four minutes later me and my buddy on his RSV caught up with our other buddy on the H.D., where they had just witnessed another crash from someone who said they have ridden the Dragon many, many times and had never crashed!! The weather was clear and about 65 degrees. Beautiful day.......for most of us. I wonder how many crashes they average a day on that road?
Great White Posted October 18, 2015 #2 Posted October 18, 2015 (edited) Loosing the rear tire in a turn on throttle application sounds like buddy didn't know his own bike and the kind of power it wields (assuming clean pavement and good tires up to temp). Leaned over in a turn calls for smooth, progressive and judicious power application for a good hard drive out of a corner. Whack it open and you're gonna pay. Modern sportbikes have enough power on tap to pretty much break the rear tire loose at will anywhere. Treat it with respect or.....well, he found out the "or" part. People seem to think modern sport bikes are easier to ride. To a certain extent they're right: they're easier to ride fast than say, an 80's sportbike. But IMHO, modern sportbikes are harder to ride because if your skills aren't up to snuff (and 95% or the riders out there aren't up to snuff for a modern sportbike), it's gonna bite you right in the azz when you try to pull that "hero move". Being bold doesn't equal being good. Big difference between the two. I know guys seemed to be all "stoked" about "riding the dragon". Personally, I have no desire to ride that particular stretch of road. Ever. Any road that has a tree dedicated to pieces of crashed bikes is not the road for me. Not because the road scares me, but the azzholes (squids, cops, trucks, RV's, etc) on it do. Anytime a road becomes "popular", it becomes dangerous and no longer fun. I prefer good twisty back roads with decent to broken pavement that no body knows about. That's motorcycling nirvana. Leaning, scenery, smells, nature, sounds of the bike, the joy of just the right gear selection, nailing the apex, braking just right, driving hard out of the corners, less than perfect pavement making the bike move about beneath you and forcing you to pay attention to maintain control and honing your skills. Getting better each time you run it. Minimal to no traffic to break your rhythm. Roads you can run 7, 8 or 9/10ths on bikes like my FJ1200. On those roads, I find my zen. And yes: I'm greedy and selfish. I don't share these roads with anyone when I find them. That's how they get ruined for everybody. Just like "The Dragon". Edited October 18, 2015 by Great White
Great adVENTURE Posted October 18, 2015 #3 Posted October 18, 2015 I don't see the need for speed... Why can't it just be enjoyed for what it is at the posted or a little above the speed limit? I rode a 2001 Honda Rc51 sport bike for a few years and every group ride i was always in the back shaking my head wondering why I'm riding with such a reckless group. I enjoyed the speed and power but responsibly and while everyone in my group usually carried 15+ points on there license I was happy with my 0 Points. Now I just ask where we are meeting up at and grab some coffee and listen to the tunes while i ride there. I do find it entertaining to hear who got pulled over or who isn't showing up cause they ran from the police and most likely went home to hide there bike. I think they like having me around though because when they all buy stuff it goes in my luggage
WildBill1 Posted October 18, 2015 #4 Posted October 18, 2015 "The Dragon", is nothing more than a illegal race track. Rode it survived don't really care to press my luck again.
H2O Posted October 18, 2015 Author #5 Posted October 18, 2015 (edited) I don't see the need for speed... Why can't it just be enjoyed for what it is at the posted or a little above the speed limit? I rode a 2001 Honda Rc51 sport bike for a few years and every group ride i was always in the back shaking my head wondering why I'm riding with such a reckless group. I enjoyed the speed and power but responsibly and while everyone in my group usually carried 15+ points on there license I was happy with my 0 Points. Now I just ask where we are meeting up at and grab some coffee and listen to the tunes while i ride there. I do find it entertaining to hear who got pulled over or who isn't showing up cause they ran from the police and most likely went home to hide there bike. I think they like having me around though because when they all buy stuff it goes in my luggage In my humble opinion it's all about the hype on the Dragon. It's marketed very well and loaded with traffic. We traveled south on 215 out of Bethel and on to hgwy 64 towards Lake Toxaway. Those roads were hardly traveled and much more challenging then the Dragon, not to mention much, much longer. If folks really wanted to test their endurance and limitations on their bikes hgwy 215 & 64 should fit the bill but there isn't anyone taking pictures along those endless curves. Edited October 18, 2015 by H2O
cowpuc Posted October 18, 2015 #6 Posted October 18, 2015 Personally I love the Dragon and always have, kind of a call of the wild sort of thing I guess.. Sort of right up there with doing the Sturgis Rally, riding the Bonneville, coasting for a half hour straight non-stop into Kings Canyon, riding Death Valley at night during a full moon with no lights, camping in Chicago at an abandoned gas station where the building has "Crips Die Here" written on it in red paint, lane splitting on the I-5 in California during one of those 24 hour "rush" hours (do it on a fully packed 1st Gen with a passenger = defines what is meant by "rush hour"), racing down those longggg sweepers on the east side of St. Helens, trying to keep Tweeks upright in the snow on the Going To The Sun trail and following single and two track's from the waterfall's in Spearfish Canyon SD over to Devil's Tower WY.. In the end, I totally understand the parts hanging in the tree thingy too.. Sorta ranks right up there, in a strange sort of way, with the guy who buried all those cars in Texas:big-grin-emoticon: and made his own Stone Henge looking thingy.. I also like machine guns, wish we could still buy Dynamite at the local Hardware store, still miss the M-80's we use to get back in the 60's, miss walking around Manhattan at night, totally miss doing 100' jumps on my dirtbike, killing deer with my Bow from a 2' x 3' "Baker Board" hanging 30' up in Birch Tree, having a BLAST playing with Moe the Goat at Orlin's last summer, teasing and getting teased by lop eared varmints like FlyinFool-Yammer Dan-Billmac-MiRider-Drews-Eck-MarCarl-Raggy-FozzyBear-Wingman (list is to long - they know who they are), meeting as many VR members as I can IN REAL LIFE and still absolutely LOVE puttin around riding 2 up with Tippy on our little Honda Helix and would really enjoy riding the Dragon on it too:missingtooth:.. To each his own I reckon I reckon..
Ozlander Posted October 18, 2015 #7 Posted October 18, 2015 In my humble opinion it's all about the hype on the Dragon. It's marketed very well and loaded with traffic. We traveled south on 215 out of Bethel and on to hgwy 64 towards Toxic Lake. Those roads were hardly traveled and much more challenging then the Dragon, not to mention much, much longer. If folks really wanted to test their endurance and limitations on their bikes hgwy 215 & 64 should fit the bill but there isn't anyone taking pictures along those endless curves. I agree. Road it last summer. If it wasn't the hype produced by those two tee shirt shops, it would just be a road in the middle of all the other roads in that area.
H2O Posted October 18, 2015 Author #8 Posted October 18, 2015 Personally I love the Dragon and always have, kind of a call of the wild sort of thing I guess.. Sort of right up there with doing the Sturgis Rally, riding the Bonneville, coasting for a half hour straight non-stop into Kings Canyon, riding Death Valley at night during a full moon with no lights, camping in Chicago at an abandoned gas station where the building has "Crips Die Here" written on it in red paint, lane splitting on the I-5 in California during one of those 24 hour "rush" hours (do it on a fully packed 1st Gen with a passenger = defines what is meant by "rush hour"), racing down those longggg sweepers on the east side of St. Helens, trying to keep Tweeks upright in the snow on the Going To The Sun trail and following single and two track's from the waterfall's in Spearfish Canyon SD over to Devil's Tower WY.. In the end, I totally understand the parts hanging in the tree thingy too.. Sorta ranks right up there, in a strange sort of way, with the guy who buried all those cars in Texas:big-grin-emoticon: and made his own Stone Henge looking thingy.. I also like machine guns, wish we could still buy Dynamite at the local Hardware store, still miss the M-80's we use to get back in the 60's, miss walking around Manhattan at night, totally miss doing 100' jumps on my dirtbike, killing deer with my Bow from a 2' x 3' "Baker Board" hanging 30' up in Birch Tree, having a BLAST playing with Moe the Goat at Orlin's last summer, teasing and getting teased by lop eared varmints like FlyinFool-Yammer Dan-Billmac-MiRider-Drews-Eck-MarCarl-Raggy-FozzyBear-Wingman (list is to long - they know who they are), meeting as many VR members as I can IN REAL LIFE and still absolutely LOVE puttin around riding 2 up with Tippy on our little Honda Helix and would really enjoy riding the Dragon on it too:missingtooth:.. To each his own I reckon I reckon.. Well I have to agree on the fully automatics. I can remember when you could go into a Sears & Roebucks and buy a Thompson (pre 1968), but I have to say that Tree of Shame is a bit morbid in IMHO. Funny you should mention the Helix there Cowpuc. Me and the others were admiring the photos posted around the top of the walls inside Deals Gap of interesting riders and cagers on the Dragon. One of them is a middle-aged looking dude riding a scooter wearing shorts and tennis shoes and sporting a big grin!! lol
djh3 Posted October 19, 2015 #9 Posted October 19, 2015 In my humble opinion it's all about the hype on the Dragon. It's marketed very well and loaded with traffic. We traveled south on 215 out of Bethel and on to hgwy 64 towards Lake Toxaway. Those roads were hardly traveled and much more challenging then the Dragon, not to mention much, much longer. If folks really wanted to test their endurance and limitations on their bikes hgwy 215 & 64 should fit the bill but there isn't anyone taking pictures along those endless curves. YUP I think those are the roads I took down to SC and Ga this weekend. I know 64 out Sapphire was and then before lake Toxaway I cut down one thru forrest etc. Nice riding and no 18 wheelers trying to run your lane around corners, crazy sport bikes etc. Wider too. I'm done with the Dragon hype too. This Jack A$$ about killed me. http://killboy.photoreflect.com/store/Orderpage.aspx?pi=04RK02LH040001&po=7&pc=34 Once some nice folks helped me get back on the road, I turned around and called it a day.
H2O Posted October 19, 2015 Author #10 Posted October 19, 2015 YUP I think those are the roads I took down to SC and Ga this weekend. I know 64 out Sapphire was and then before lake Toxaway I cut down one thru forrest etc. Nice riding and no 18 wheelers trying to run your lane around corners, crazy sport bikes etc. Wider too. I'm done with the Dragon hype too. This Jack A$$ about killed me. http://killboy.photoreflect.com/store/Orderpage.aspx?pi=04RK02LH040001&po=7&pc=34 Once some nice folks helped me get back on the road, I turned around and called it a day. Dang!!! I thought the crotch rocket cowboy that wrecked next to us was scary! YOU WIN!!
djh3 Posted October 19, 2015 #11 Posted October 19, 2015 A pic or two later it shows the DOT reg numbers and company name. I though I would send them a nice note on how their driver was illeagaly driving on this road for no reason empty and almost caused a fatality. But cant find an e-mail address for the company.
jimmy99 Posted October 19, 2015 #12 Posted October 19, 2015 Loosing the rear tire in a turn on throttle application sounds like buddy didn't know his own bike and the kind of power it wields (assuming clean pavement and good tires up to temp). Leaned over in a turn calls for smooth, progressive and judicious power application for a good hard drive out of a corner. Whack it open and you're gonna pay. Modern sportbikes have enough power on tap to pretty much break the rear tire loose at will anywhere. Treat it with respect or.....well, he found out the "or" part. People seem to think modern sport bikes are easier to ride. To a certain extent they're right: they're easier to ride fast than say, an 80's sportbike. But IMHO, modern sportbikes are harder to ride because if your skills aren't up to snuff (and 95% or the riders out there aren't up to snuff for a modern sportbike), it's gonna bite you right in the azz when you try to pull that "hero move". Being bold doesn't equal being good. Big difference between the two. I know guys seemed to be all "stoked" about "riding the dragon". Personally, I have no desire to ride that particular stretch of road. Ever. Any road that has a tree dedicated to pieces of crashed bikes is not the road for me. Not because the road scares me, but the azzholes (squids, cops, trucks, RV's, etc) on it do. Anytime a road becomes "popular", it becomes dangerous and no longer fun. I prefer good twisty back roads with decent to broken pavement that no body knows about. That's motorcycling nirvana. Leaning, scenery, smells, nature, sounds of the bike, the joy of just the right gear selection, nailing the apex, braking just right, driving hard out of the corners, less than perfect pavement making the bike move about beneath you and forcing you to pay attention to maintain control and honing your skills. Getting better each time you run it. Minimal to no traffic to break your rhythm. Roads you can run 7, 8 or 9/10ths on bikes like my FJ1200. On those roads, I find my zen. And yes: I'm greedy and selfish. I don't share these roads with anyone when I find them. That's how they get ruined for everybody. Just like "The Dragon". Yup, I'm on the same wavelength. Went to the dragon a few years ago with some friends, rode it sensibly, got a t-shirt, then found a bunch of other beauty roads in the area to ride.
Max Posted October 19, 2015 #13 Posted October 19, 2015 Ya, you can see the potential for crashes on dragon. Just google 'Dragon' images Wife and I had a pretty good go on the dragon last June/14. Pushed the 87' a little harder keeping it in the fun factor. Apparently we got lucky that day, traffic wasn't too bad. A few rockets passed us like we were standing still, crazy. For us it was a passage of rites of sorts .. 'bin there dunit got the overpriced t shirts', even had our pics taken. There's quite a few less traveled touring routes we enjoyed more this past spring. Passed on the dragon this time around. (clipped a couple of low res thumbs)
BigLenny Posted October 19, 2015 #14 Posted October 19, 2015 I don't hate the Dragon at all. I do fully understand that it is a well marketed motorcycle tourist destination, and as such there are going to be a lotta folks riding it at any given time. However, when we've ridden it, it has been in the middle of the week, so we had no traffic issues at all. Also, I wait at Deals Gap and stake out the traffic just long enough between bikes leaving ahead and bikes following us to ensure I won't get pushed. Usually when I'm riding it, somewhere in the middle of the 11 miles, I become aware that I have a big goofy looking grin on my face. LOL. Now, as stated in previous posts on this thread, there are a buncha roads around the Dragon that I would rather ride because they are pure Zen inspiring paths.
djh3 Posted October 20, 2015 #15 Posted October 20, 2015 Lenny, I left Deals Gap heading north. I too waited for sort of a "gap" in bikes. But the 18 wheelers was coming from the other way. As they dont have any kind of way to tell folks on the bottom whats coming, Me and the big truck met, almost at a very very bad way. I'm surprised this jerk didn't hurt someone on his way down. they fellows that helped me said he was off both sides all the way down, and I was not the first he had run off the road, but the others were luck'er.
Yammer Dan Posted October 20, 2015 #16 Posted October 20, 2015 Dragon don't hold a lot of "Thrill" for me anymore. I've rode it "Hot" and rode it easy. 1st year I think it was I rode it with someone on here and that one was "HOT" Who was that??? Good thing cops weren't everywhere then. Last time I went after a crotch rocket rider that almost wrecked me in a turn when we got to the end. Just before I got to him I noticed he only had one arm!!! What do ya do??? I'll probally ride it again!!
mm482 Posted October 21, 2015 #17 Posted October 21, 2015 I like to ride the Dragon during the week when there are not a lot of crazies out there and I can run my own speed. The Cherohala Skyway is more my kind of ride.
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