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Cruiser
Posts: 215
orrick, mo | Just rode the Dragon on the 29th and 30th of June. All I can say is I LOVED IT. Great ride!! I will defiently be going back. We did the Dragon 4 times and I wished it had been more.The Cherohala Skyway was great also. There a lot of great rosds in the area. Also rode the entire lenth of the Blue Ridge Parkway. All were great rides worthy of repeating.
Not a bad week of riding. 3400 miles 7days. 1st day 690 miles and 975mi the last day.
Looking forward to the next trip where that may be. |
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Visionary
Posts: 4278
| Did you ride like this guy. I heard he passed a semi and two street bile in one pass on the dragon.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nrMQ3QwyPo&feature=related |
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Cruiser
Posts: 192
Republic of Tejas | I'm with you Buzz. I'm hoping to get back in early 2012.
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Cruiser
Posts: 192
Republic of Tejas | I'm with you Buzz. I'm hoping to get back in early 2012.
(The Dragon 01.JPG)
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 The Dragon 01.JPG (70KB - 0 downloads)
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 37
Southern Indiana | Headed that way in 8 weeks going to spend the week in the area riding |
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Tourer
Posts: 446
East TN | Give us the Dragon Riders a shout when you get here...If we have time, we'll gladly ride with you and show you some LESS famous but equally good roads! |
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Cruiser
Posts: 131
Edmond, OK 2012 Vision, 2012 Cross Country | We are headed that way on the 5th of Aug. we will be on a 10 day ride of approximately 3000 miles which includes the dragon as well. When I get back home I will be here roughly 36 hours before heading out again. The next leg will be up to spirit lake then off to mn, wi, sd,wy, co, nm, tx and back to Ok in time for kick off in Norman. If you see a white VV with plate MYVISN and OU Soners on the wedges I shouldn't be far away.
I hope everyone rides safe. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 51
Ennis, Tx | We're making plans for middle of Sept to head to the Tail of the Dragon and surrounding roads... |
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Cruiser
Posts: 92
Fort Walton Beach, FL | The "Dragon" has become famous because of the commercial growth factor along the road... if you want to ride real twisties and really challenge your skill level ride Hwy 16 thru southern West Virginia from Beckley to I_81.
By the way... semi's are not permitted on Hwy 129 "The Dragon" anymore. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1359
New Bohemia, Va | Handyhoward - 2011-07-22 7:29 AM
The "Dragon" has become famous because of the commercial growth factor along the road... if you want to ride real twisties and really challenge your skill level ride Hwy 16 thru southern West Virginia from Beckley to I_81.
By the way... semi's are not permitted on Hwy 129 "The Dragon" anymore.
+1
I've enjoyed far more challenging roads other than the dragon without the idiots. But no one was there to take my picture. But who cares? |
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Cruiser
Posts: 215
orrick, mo | Maybe I was just lucky but I didn't see or talk to anyone that was being an idiot on the Dragon But then again I never did look in a mirror.LOL I did meet some real nice people though. Even meet a Leo who let me off with a warning thank God.  I did enjoy other roads also but I do believe the Dragon has earned its hype.
I guess each person can decide it they want too believe the good or the bad all I know for sure is I will be riding it again. 4 times wasn't enough for me. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 721
| Handyhoward - 2011-07-22 7:29 AM The "Dragon" has become famous because of the commercial growth factor along the road... if you want to ride real twisties and really challenge your skill level ride Hwy 16 thru southern West Virginia from Beckley to I_81. By the way... semi's are not permitted on Hwy 129 "The Dragon" anymore. Howard, unless there has been a change to FEDERAL LAW then they cannot ban any particular type licensed vehicle from any road that uses federal funds for it's upkeep. This law was enacted in response to the city of Chicago attempting to ban motorcycles on certain roads in the city including Lake Shore Drive which is also US 41 and since the law was created the city has rescinded it's ban not only on US 41 but on all city streets. Now, since the Dragon, a.k.a. Deals Gap, is also US 129 they cannot ban any particular type of licensed vehicle from using it. It is however heavily signed on both ends with strong warnings to drivers of large vehicles to seriously consider using alternate routes, or at least it was the last time I was there in '07. The key is to look on a map for any road the has US before it's number, if it does then that means federal funds are used for it's upkeep.
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Tourer
Posts: 446
East TN | Handyhoward - 2011-07-22 8:29 AM The "Dragon" has become famous because of the commercial growth factor along the road... if you want to ride real twisties and really challenge your skill level ride Hwy 16 thru southern West Virginia from Beckley to I_81. By the way... semi's are not permitted on Hwy 129 "The Dragon" anymore. NOPE Semi's are NOT BANNED from the Dragon....Totally incorrect statement here.....Trust me I live here (30 minutes away) It just has signage at both ends "SUGGESTING" not to use due to switchbacks etc.... |
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Visionary
Posts: 4278
| When we were on the Dragon we came upon a semi and when it gets tight in corners they take up the hole road. Good thing were under four feet wide. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1632
Jasper, MO | Handyhoward - 2011-07-22 7:29 AM
The "Dragon" has become famous because of the commercial growth factor along the road... if you want to ride real twisties and really challenge your skill level ride Hwy 16 thru southern West Virginia from Beckley to I_81.
By the way... semi's are not permitted on Hwy 129 "The Dragon" anymore.
I agree that "The Dragon" is overrated and heavily promoted. There are lots better roads in that area and in other parts of the country.
Semi's are NOT restricted from US Hwy 129. For one thing, it's a federally funded US highway open to all commercial traffic. For another thing, how do you think the gas and food gets to the stores and lodges along the road? Yeah, they take the whole road in the tight sections. They have no choice with a vehicle that long and wide.
Only a fool would pass going around blind curves, no matter whether a truck or a car or another bike might be coming around the bend. Lots of fools at the "Dragon" on the weekends.
I've been there, done it, got the sticker on the back of my bike, and I'm done with the "Dragon". There's lots better roads to ride.
Ronnie |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 37
Southern Indiana | Joe we are going to be in the area Sept 25-27 staying in Townsend Tenn. If you have any sugestion of road to check out or want to meet up and ride one day let me know thier is four of us going down. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 97
Okeefenokee Swamp | My wife and I just rode the Dragon in May 2011. We rode it twice. We stayed down the road in Townsville Tenn. There are loads of beautiful rides in that part of the country. I was there for 3 days and would love to go back and spend an entire week. |
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Tourer
Posts: 415
| Went down for the first time last year at Lobsterfest/Southeast Fall Gathering.
Road the big three, Dragon, Cherohalla and Blue Ridge.
My favorite was the Cherohalla.
Will be back this year October 7th to the 9th and staying at the Iron Horse Motorcycle Lodge again. |
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Tourer
Posts: 367
Cottage Grove, Mn | Five Days and counting second time for me. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 141
| The Dragon, Blue Ridge and Skyline seem to be my bucket list I havn't been able to find the time. Great desire but the planets havn't alighned yet Some day ! |
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Tourer
Posts: 415
| Digby, you can head down with us this fall! |
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Cruiser
Posts: 141
| Thanks for the offer Rick, but that pesky work thing and lack of enough vacation time this year get in the way. Maybe next year ....some day for sure. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 849
, FL United States | #57 - 2011-07-23 9:41 AM
Went down for the first time last year at Lobsterfest/Southeast Fall Gathering.
Road the big three, Dragon, Cherohalla and Blue Ridge.
My favorite was the Cherohalla.
Will be back this year October 7th to the 9th and staying at the Iron Horse Motorcycle Lodge again.
+2 for CoolHand and Laura. Look forward to seeing you again Rick. |
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