Tail of the Dragon - have you ever been there? - Page 1

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Tail of the Dragon - have you ever been there? (Page 1 of 3)

Posted: 5/7/2021 1:48:47 AM EDT

If not... it's well worth the visit! Last weekend was my 2nd time there and I already want to go back. Sure, there are plentiful mountain roads around in that area but there's something about the tail of the dragon that is special. I think it's the experience of riding there and enjoying watching the bikes and beautiful vehicles that traverse on that road.

Posted: 5/7/2021 2:20:20 AM EDT

[#1]

Yes. We used to vacation every year on the bike. Did the smokie mountains several years ago and rode the dragon. Probably not as much fun on a Road King as a sport bike but we enjoyed it. Neat ride.

Posted: 5/7/2021 2:24:31 AM EDT

[#2]

Been several times. Stayed in an AirBnB pretty much right off of it multiple times.

Better question, have you been on the Cherohala Skyway on a clear night and looked up? That's a fairytale sight to see for sure.

Posted: 5/7/2021 2:25:04 AM EDT

[#3]

I've been there once or twice

Posted: 5/7/2021 2:42:23 AM EDT

[#4]

" In Russia, dragon tails you"

Posted: 5/7/2021 2:49:29 AM EDT

[#5]

Motorcycle cornering pics are awesome. Man and machine.

Posted: 5/7/2021 3:38:10 AM EDT

[#6]

Been there twice in the middle of the week lots of fun crowded I hear on the weekends.

Posted: 5/7/2021 3:43:45 AM EDT

[#7]

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Once or twice...

Posted: 5/7/2021 3:49:42 AM EDT

[#8]

Yes, drove the tail and the blue ridge parkway. To be honest, I was seriously tired of the motorcycles tailgating and passing everybody acting like they owned the road. My wife and I stopped at a lookout, and it was mostly motorcycle riders bitching about how “the cagers” should be banned from driving the road. There were points where I wanted to just crush the fucksticks that couldn’t help themselves from playing peekaboo in my blind spots.

That said, it was an enjoyable drive.

Posted: 5/7/2021 4:31:16 AM EDT

[#9]

I don't live far from there. Me and the wife go every few months.

Posted: 5/7/2021 4:42:24 AM EDT

[#10]

Drove it 25 years ago in a Miata.
Would have been more fun but Mustangs and motorcycles slowed me down :-)

Posted: 5/7/2021 4:43:59 AM EDT

[#11]

I'm guessing someone here was there before me.

Posted: 5/7/2021 4:46:52 AM EDT

[#12]

Several times..............it's pretty cool, the tree of shame makes it all worthwhile.

Posted: 5/7/2021 5:19:58 AM EDT

[#13]

Headed there for the 2nd time next week.

Honestly it's a must do, but there's a few funner roads in the area, if only cause they don't have near the traffic.

Posted: 5/7/2021 5:32:03 AM EDT

[#14]

My dad has been a few times, but I never got the chance to make it. My body couldn't handle the 4hr ride to get there on my bike. I would have had to trailer it there...

Posted: 5/7/2021 5:32:59 AM EDT

[#15]

Yes and it’s better to go on a weekday early in the week. Weekends are a shit show. 2-3 wreaks a day and the occasional big truck that sneaks through getting stuck blocking traffic.

IMHO, there are better roads in the area that are safer (less idiots) and more fun.

Posted: 5/7/2021 5:41:26 AM EDT

[#16]

I have ridden it at least a dozen times or more. I agree with the advice about earlier in the day on weekdays is more enjoyable as it is less congested then. There are often time wrecks there when people ride over their heads.

Posted: 5/7/2021 5:44:13 AM EDT

[#17]

Quote History

Quoted:
Yes and it’s better to go on a weekday early in the week. Weekends are a shit show. 2-3 wreaks a day and the occasional big truck that sneaks through getting stuck blocking traffic.

IMHO, there are better roads in the area that are safer (less idiots) and more fun.

View Quote

All this.

I live here & I avoid it like the plague.

Posted: 5/7/2021 5:48:02 AM EDT

[#18]

Going for the first time next weekend. I am planning on doing it early Sunday morning to try and avoid some of the congestion. P-Forge is my first stop on my road trip. going to take the Foothills PKWY to the Dragon and be back at Dicks Last Resort for lunch.

Posted: 5/7/2021 6:03:08 AM EDT

[#19]

Rode it on my 2010 kawasaki voyager. Not fun on a 900lb bike

Posted: 5/7/2021 6:04:27 AM EDT

[#20]

My DW's family keeps a beautiful 5/3 on 17 acres up west of Murphy just for the family to use. Been riding/driving up there for 30 years, lots of more pleasurable roads and single tracks to ride than the Dragon, especially on a weekend. Too many to list.

Go explore.

Posted: 5/7/2021 6:12:20 AM EDT

[#21]

Yep,

Attached File

Posted: 5/7/2021 6:34:37 AM EDT

[#22]

Yeah, first in the 90s and a couple of other times since. Always as part of a larger trip. Even in the 90s it was kind of a shit show. Don't get me wrong, it is a very enjoyable piece of road, but there are SO MANY vehicles on it, especially on weekends that I don't enjoy it, plus I am not really interested in riding the street as though it were a track, even though I have been known to exceed the speed limit from time to time. As other have said, there are tons of excellent roads that are free of all the tards, and I would rather spend my time on them.

Posted: 5/7/2021 6:35:54 AM EDT

[#23]

Gps sent me home thru there, i was like WTF IS GOING ON ?!?

It was like accidentally driving onto a 12 mile long racetrack.

Posted: 5/7/2021 6:38:54 AM EDT

[#24]

Yup.

The snake is good also.

Attached File

Posted: 5/7/2021 6:39:58 AM EDT

[#25]

So many times, I can’t count. My buddy nearly lost his life when he wiped out a pristine Ducati 851 that I just sold him. That was a long day and a cold ass ride home from the hospital.

Posted: 5/7/2021 6:42:12 AM EDT

[#26]

I drove it twice in a pickup truck, dragging a utility trailer behind me.
It fucking sucked and I was seasick by the time the road straightend out.

Just needed to get from A to B and unfortunately this was the most direct route.

Posted: 5/7/2021 6:42:57 AM EDT

[#27]

Been there several times. The first time through is not enjoyable at all. After that it gets much better.

Posted: 5/7/2021 6:43:31 AM EDT

[#28]

Been there a few times. Dragged the floorboards.

Attached File

Posted: 5/7/2021 6:45:53 AM EDT

[#29]

Went years ago and had a good time. Some of the other roads in the area were fun and much less traffic.

Posted: 5/7/2021 6:46:58 AM EDT

[#30]

I was just up in Suches three weeks ago. I drove the Dragon in my Jeep Gladiator. I was there for some off-road trail riding

Posted: 5/7/2021 6:47:37 AM EDT

[#31]

Quote History

Quoted:
I drove it twice in a pickup truck, dragging a utility trailer behind me.
It fucking sucked and I was seasick by the time the road straightend out.

Just needed to get from A to B and unfortunately this was the most direct route.

View Quote

I would have hated to see your alternatives

Posted: 5/7/2021 6:48:59 AM EDT

[#32]

It’s on the todo/bucket list. Also want to see a Back of the Dragon in Va.

Posted: 5/7/2021 6:50:11 AM EDT

[#33]

Quote History

Quoted:
Yup.

The snake is good also.

https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/296599/BA7DD7D3-6B29-4EAD-ACD3-85753B82FD49_jpe-1932869.JPG

View Quote

I did lose a friend there, unfortunately. Right up that road past that house. His family used to keep a cross on the telephone pole in the last turn coming back towards that pic.

Posted: 5/7/2021 7:22:15 AM EDT

[#34]

I have a cabin on 30 acres around 5 miles from there.

Kind of fun to watch people when my Roush F-150SC slays the dragon.

Posted: 5/7/2021 7:23:21 AM EDT

[#35]

Yes not on a bike though

Posted: 5/7/2021 7:23:40 AM EDT

[#36]

Been there and it is a great ride...But not the best in the area.
Just the most advertised...

Posted: 5/7/2021 7:25:34 AM EDT

[#37]

Been several time. Cool trip and fun road

Posted: 5/7/2021 7:25:50 AM EDT

[#38]

yep, theres a yearly trip we call deal gap rotary rally (dgrr). the dragon is fun but theres just as good if not better less crowded roads in the area

Posted: 5/7/2021 7:45:41 AM EDT

[#39]

A few times.

Quote History

Quoted:
Better question, have you been on the Cherohala Skyway on a clear night and looked up? That's a fairytale sight to see for sure.

View Quote

We are planning a trip here with the kids and telescopes some nice weekend this summer.

Posted: 5/7/2021 7:55:29 AM EDT

[#40]

Quoted:
If not... it's well worth the visit! Last weekend was my 2nd time there and I already want to go back. Sure, there are plentiful mountain roads around in that area but there's something about the tail of the dragon that is special. I think it's the experience of riding there and enjoying watching the bikes and beautiful vehicles that traverse on that road.

View Quote

I was there last weekend as well with an Evo group.
There was about 40 Evos in the group, my first time going on a Saturday, and I'll stick to the weekdays if I'm not with a large group.

Posted: 5/7/2021 8:01:42 AM EDT

[#41]

Many times. Even my wife is dragon-qualified.

Attached File

Posted: 5/7/2021 8:03:15 AM EDT

[#42]

Quote History

Quoted:

I did lose a friend there, unfortunately. Right up that road past that house. His family used to keep a cross on the telephone pole in the last turn coming back towards that pic.

View Quote

the roads are no joke. 1 mistake and you are toast, no runoff, just trees and rocks.

RIP to your friend.

Posted: 5/7/2021 8:12:36 AM EDT

[#43]

Drove it by accident once in my SHO with Eibach's, Koni's and Comp T/A tires. I was smiling ear to ear.

Posted: 5/7/2021 8:12:53 AM EDT

[#44]

I was headed back to my BIL’s house from the Dragon when I got crunched by a runaway 4-Runner. After 6 hours of running the twisty mountain roads throughout a 4 state area and I get hit on a straight 4 lane road.

Posted: 5/7/2021 8:17:28 AM EDT

[#45]

Attached File

See the little bell on the bottom of my frame, drug it off before I got to the end.

Posted: 5/7/2021 8:33:08 AM EDT

[#46]

Quote History

Quoted:
https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/259573/IMG_1530_JPG-1932897.JPG

See the little bell on the bottom of my frame, drug it off before I got to the end.

View Quote

I used to take the boat to the very end of the tail... Chilhowee Dam.. The Harley Davidson dealership is there as well.

Water is a cool 60 ish degrees even during 100 degree summer days....
That is a true ice water challenge.
Life jacket, rope tied to the boat... Jump.....

Man I miss boating.....