Bad crash on The Dragon today...Wild Bunch Ride...

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

We hooked up in Clinton , Tennessee this morning with plans of headin' up toward Kentucky. After checking the doppler we thought we could run from the thunder-storms by going south. Foothills Parkway - The Dragon let's ride . First picture is " The " Detn8er's grandson Ryan . Mark came in from South Carolina yesterday to get Lucky 13 ( Gordon ) help him with rebuilding his Valkyrie front forks.



We had ( 6 ) bikes show-up this morning for the ride.



Lucky 13 was on his Kawasaki ZRX today as his Interstate is down waiting on new shoes. Of all the years Kawasaki made this bike this is my favorite color combo.



Few shots from the over-look ....I'd love to have a dollar for every picture that's been taken here .



My ridin' buddy Wimp ( Paul ) diggin' the view.



We had a group of Harley's roll out before we did from the over-look all from Ohio just out enjoying the Tennessee mountains.A young man 23 years old from Georgia on a sport bike passed several of them in a decent place on double yellow they said he pulled a wheelie when he went by. The next couple bike's he went around in a hard right hander double yellow again and again pulled the front wheel as he came out of the curve only this time when he sit it down he lost control and went off the moutain hitting at least 8 to 10 trees as he and the bike landed 50 yards at the creek bottom.Three in the  group I was riding with went down to check on him along with a nurse who was a passenger on one of the Harley's. He was in very bad shape we took off when the THP showed up and wanted the road cleared as folk's was stopped all along the road by this time.We saw the nurse at Deals Gap and she said he was alive when they finally got a ambulance. He was a good 50 to 55 yards down the straight down gorge and she said they had a very hard time just getting them back up to the road.





Lots of Spyders in the mountains this weekend they have a rally going on in Maggie Valley she was a cutie.



We saw the rain coming and just sit on the porch and watched it rain for about 30 minutes.



I've had better no doubt..." The Money Shot "

[hubcapsc]

Sorry about the wreck... real lucky having the nurse right there...

-Mike

[97ValkSteve]

What a dumbass!  Hope he lives, sort of.  Sweet looking Valk! 

[gwise]

Hate to hear stories like this. Alot of people can only learn from their mistakes. Hopefully he will survive this accident. Seems about every weekend this kind of thing happens at the Gap. Luckily nobody else was involved.
   Gregg

[bscrive]

When we were on the Dragon in 2007, there was a person who died the day before.  It is a great ride but can be a deadly one if you don't give it respect.

I also agree, that is one cool looking Valk.  I may steal your paint job idea for my IS.  Except my colours will be red/black.

[thumper]

Sad to hear.  Glad he didn't take anyone else out.

I rode up to ride one weekend with the Wild Bunch last year and came through Deals Gap on a beautiful Friday afternoon around 1:30.  Very little traffic, thought it was going to be a great run on the Dragon.  Got to the switchbacks and the road was closed off by emergency vehicles taking a guy away.

I've seen a lot of accident sites where they do investigation spray paint but they actually drew an outline of the guy's bike in the middle of the road.  I'm pretty sure he didn't make it and the outline was there for a long time after that.  Kinda creeped my out everytime I rode over it.

[KW]

Thanks for sharing! Sounds like, overall, you had a great ride, but what is it about those crotch rockets? Do people lose brain matter after they buy one or are they just plain stupid to start with? In fairness; when we ‘did the dragon’ in 09 the sport bikes we saw were, for the most part, piloted by decent kids. . . . and one overweight old dude! I had to laugh when I saw the guy. He looked like a Shriner clown on a mini-bike. When I saw him parking it and standing up, I swear the bike rose up off the ground a few inches before popping lose and dropping down to the kickstand.

As far as jerks riding crazy; the worst offenders when we were there were simpleton jerks in sport cars. Must have been a rally nearby or something. Those idiots ran us off the road twice. . . and "I" would have been wrong to shoot their tires out on a curve. Go figure!  

All in all I believe the Dragon a MUST DO ride for everyone. If you haven't been, start planning. You won't regret it. Beautiful scenery, great roads, and you’re just far enough in the South that most people are super friendly.  

[BigAl]

I noticed a few things while riding today.

Can-AM Spyder Bikes hug the road better than a Two  Wheeler in the rain.

Joe can't pass up a BBQ Stand.

Gordon carries Band AIds in his wallet.

My buddy Mad Dog deserves his name. Got cut off and almost run over by two punks in a Toyota, He chased them down.

Hope the guy that acted like Evel Knievel on the sport bike lives and can have a normal life.

In all fainess to the young man, the Harley dudes were moving like snails, could not maintain even 25 on the straits, and were holding all of

us up, I passed all of them one by one and did not enter the opposing traffic lane. They should have pulled over a bit and waved him on.

Like I do everytime when I see a faster bike on the road. These a-holes were partly to blame as well.

Dragon is fun and very dangerous,mostly because some people like that fellow take too many chances.

Until next time Viva La Dragon.

Al

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

I noticed a few things while riding today.

Can-AM Spyder Bikes hug the road better than a Two  Wheeler in the rain.

Joe can't pass up a BBQ Stand.

Gordon carries Band AIds in his wallet.

My buddy Mad Dog deserves his name. Got cut off and almost run over by two punks in a Toyota, He chased them down.

Hope the guy that acted like Evel Knievel on the sport bike lives and can have a normal life.

Dragon is fun and very dangerous,mostly because some people like that fellow take too many chances.

Until next time Viva La Dragon.

Al

Enjoyed the ride today my friend    BBQ was'nt bad but I've had better ...Look forward to the next time we share the wind.Photo below taken yesterday at Lucky 13's place.

[BigAl]

  

[old2soon]

Well i hope that person be allright soonest. That being said-ya can't fix stupid. And no-i've never been on the dragon. It's on my bucket list. Just from what i've been able to read about this road-i'm thinkin a wheely ain't showing the proper respect for that particular highway. Am i being some what harsh in my post?? You betcha. Not having been there and not actually seeing what happened-could he possibly have picked a better place to pass?? With out showin his a$$?? I'll be amblin on out toward the garage and diggin out the flame suit. RIDE SAFE. PLEASE!!!

[3fan4life]

Am i being some what harsh in my post?? You betcha. Not having been there and not actually seeing what happened-could he possibly have picked a better place to pass?? With out showin his a$$??

No you're probably "Right on The Money".

We've all been there and done stupid things, the difference is that we lived and learned........



When I was about that rider's age more than once I was known to use the space between to semi's on the interstate as a passing lane.............. 





Now I think about that and realize just how "ugly" it could've been.

Back then it was just "fun"!

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Am i being some what harsh in my post?? You betcha. Not having been there and not actually seeing what happened-could he possibly have picked a better place to pass?? With out showin his a$$??

 



 

It's a bird,it's a plane,it's Swift in the hammer lane.

[old2soon]

Swift be the MOST inept name ever fer a truckin outfit. I retired from heartland(heartless) and while our trucks were by no means fast-i could get around swift. Ya want some ALL day fun?? Swift tryin to pass j b hunt or a schneider. RIDE SAFE.

[Jess from VA]

Nice post/pics Joe.   

All I can say about the accident is................. 'We reap what we sow.'

[BigAl]

Swift

Sure

WIsh

I hadda

 Faster

Truck

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Swift

Sure

WIsh

I hadda

 Faster

Truck

SWIFT
(S)ure
(W)ish
(I)'d
(F)inish
(T)raining

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Must be a very pretty highway but with a 30mph speed limit and the road filledl with anything from big butt barges to 150 hp super sports not including the 4 wheel traffic, I  say thanks but no thanks to rides on that road. I do like looking at the photos  tho.

I love The Dragon and I'm blessed to live so near you can go there anytime year around and see and talk with folks that share the love of motorcycling. I've shared many smiles with my ridin' buds crossing The Dragon both in daylight and doing it at night as well.

[Stormrider65]

Sorry to hear about a fellow rider doing down.  I understand having fun but there is a time and a place for everything,  but sometimes things do go wrong.


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Great pics Joe.  I plan on coming to see my sister in S Carolina in the future.  Don't know when yet, but having seen your pics of you on the Dragon, especially the one with the yellow/white Valk in the corner and sparks flying, I don't know if I can keep up or not ???.  When I do come out, I would like to meet up with ya and ride.  
A Swift driver was at a truck stop trying to back into a spot for the night.  He tried 5 to 8 times with no success.  A fellow driver comes up to him and asks if he could be of some help.  The Swift driver says yes, climbs out of the truck, letting the other driver put it into the parking spot the first time.  The Swift driver thanks the driver for his help.  The driver tells him no problem, and saying it might have been harder if a trailer would have been on the back of the truck.  

Walt

[BradValk48237]

I have to agree with Joe.... The Dragon is one of the best and on a not so busy day, a "brisk" pace can be had..... I have only been on it 4 times and not only is that a great road , but there are any many roads in the area in general that will make for a great ride without taking the same road twice. Gatlinburg is a great place and once you are south or east of there , lotsa great roads. I always try to take a new route every time we go down. Have only bee to Yellowstone area once and many really nice places to go and more great roads. New England also has many great roads, have been there several times, but its easier and its closer to hit the KY/TN area without running the slab from Michigan much. Overall, you can do some great riding in a long weekend from the Detroit area.

One Day, I hope to ride the Dragon with the Wild Bunch... See if I can keep up!!!!

B

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

I have to agree with Joe.... The Dragon is one of the best and on a not so busy day, a "brisk" pace can be had..... I have only been on it 4 times and not only is that a great road , but there are any many roads in the area in general that will make for a great ride without taking the same road twice. Gatlinburg is a great place and once you are south or east of there , lotsa great roads. I always try to take a new route every time we go down. Have only bee to Yellowstone area once and many really nice places to go and more great roads. New England also has many great roads, have been there several times, but its easier and its closer to hit the KY/TN area without running the slab from Michigan much. Overall, you can do some great riding in a long weekend from the Detroit area.

One Day, I hope to ride the Dragon with the Wild Bunch... See if I can keep up!!!!

B

You will be welcome to join us we have some outstanding not so famous roads to ride here as well.

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

   
     
A Swift driver was at a truck stop trying to back into a spot for the night.  He tried 5 to 8 times with no success.  A fellow driver comes up to him and asks if he could be of some help.  The Swift driver says yes, climbs out of the truck, letting the other driver put it into the parking spot the first time.  The Swift driver thanks the driver for his help.  The driver tells him no problem, and saying it might have been harder if a trailer would have been on the back of the truck.  

Walt

Just let me know when you head this way    We have the  annual " The Fall Color Ride " out of Robbinsville,NC the third weekend in Oct.

[T-Bird]

Swift

Sure

WIsh

I hadda

 Faster
Truck

SWIFT
(S)ure
(W)ish
(I)'d
(F)inish
(T)raining

How can you tell if your wife is having an affair with a swift driver?  
When you come home he is still trying to back out the driveway,,,

[Dubsvalk]

Teaching on weekends sure eats into some good riding with my friends.  I'm glad you all made it home safe!  A lot of bad weather out there this past weekend too; big lightening storms throughout the area. 
Dubs

[czuch]

I hope the fool learns and gets a cruiser. I never wanted one of thiose because I know ME.
A good friend of mine has one, I have no idea what it is but, It redlines at 16K!!!!!!!!!
Bag on SWIFT portion;
Know why they dont haul doubles? One went under a bridge and knocked the top one off.
Theyre banned from McDonalds. One fell off the slide and ruined it for the rest.

[..]

Riding on GA400 yesterday afternoon - it's a 4 lane with grassy median.

A SQUID turned onto 400 heading in the opposite direction. Immediately popped a wheelie.

Male rider in T-shirt, shorts and sandals. Female passenger wearing similar. If i was her father I'd hurt the rider and ask my daughter if she would rub a cheese grater along her arm.

[ValhallaIamComing]

Seems like every bike crash I hear of on the Dragon involves a sport bike... kinda telling!  I will stick to cruisers and will never be ashamed of taking a 30 mph curve at 30-35 mph!

[Willow]

Seems like every bike crash I hear of on the Dragon involves a sport bike... kinda telling!  I will stick to cruisers and will never be ashamed of taking a 30 mph curve at 30-35 mph!

At the risk of my sounding antagonistic, you're living in a dream world, on both counts.

[ValhallaIamComing]

Guess I don't follow you, Willow... Am I dreaming that most accidents I have seen reported on the Dragon were involving sport bikes, or am I dreaming that I will remain satisfied at taking 30 mph curves at around 30 mph?

I know many folks take curves at twice the posted speed limit, dragging metal every which way... I guess I just don't get it!  Ruin your ride and risk your life (or someone else's) all at the same time!

[..]

Am I dreaming that most accidents I have seen reported on the Dragon were involving sport bikes.

YEP every kind of two wheeled transport gets fairly represented.

Here's a classic.

An average Harley rider at Deal's Gap	powered by Aeva

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Am I dreaming that most accidents I have seen reported on the Dragon were involving sport bikes .

 
 

Little bit of everything check the tree of shame.

[razor]

I've been looking in the Maryville and Knoxville papers for info on the guy that crashed but haven't seen anything.  Must have survived or I think there were have been something in the papers.

[Willow]

Seems like every bike crash I hear of on the Dragon involves a sport bike... kinda telling!  I will stick to cruisers and will never be ashamed of taking a 30 mph curve at 30-35 mph!

Guess I don't follow you, Willow... Am I dreaming that most accidents I have seen reported on the Dragon were involving sport bikes, or am I dreaming that I will remain satisfied at taking 30 mph curves at around 30 mph?

I know many folks take curves at twice the posted speed limit, dragging metal every which way... I guess I just don't get it!  Ruin your ride and risk your life (or someone else's) all at the same time!

My response was to "every".  You seemed to have changed the term to "most".

My response was to "never be ashamed".  You seemed to have changed the phrase to ""will remain satisfied".

If you think riding a cruiser and not riding a sport bike will keep you safe you're deluding yourself.  If you want to change your observation to most accidents that you've seen reported on the Dragon involved sport bikes I wouldn't contest you.  However, I would also make the observation that a very high percentage, if not most, bikes that are ridden on the Dragon without an accident are also what you might label sport bikes.  

If you believe that with your riding skills you need to slow down to 30 - 35 mph for a curve that was marked by the highway department as safe at 30 mph for a four wheeled vehicle occupying most of the width of a lane, you'll be much more likely to be involved in or cause an accident than the majority of the sport bike riders.  On the other hand, if you're saying that although your riding skills would allow you to negotiate a curve marked for 30 mph at 55 - 60 mph, but you're perfectly satisfied to slow down to 30 - 35 mph then I won't contest you.

There are a lot of riders out there on many different brands and styles of motorcycles who are operating outside the boundaries of their skill levels.  Some are going fast.  Some are riding slowly.  I don't think at a glance you or I can always tell which are and which aren't.  

This I will tell you, I feel much safer around someone who rides hard, maintains a good line, and demonstrates control of the machine than I do around someone who stands on the brake for every curve and brags about how slowly he rides.

Those are only my own observations.  Others may have different or better views.  

[Dubsvalk]

Reading Willow's post I have to make this observation of myself.  For the most part, if I am riding with Joe and the Wild Bunch, I will ride hard with them.  Staying in your lane is the the key to riding hard safely.  The Exception is The Dragon.  I have had too many close calls with bikes of every description invading my space to the point of forcing me completely off the road to avoid them.  For me, it is a matter of preservation that I ride the Dragon at a slower pace.  But The Dragon is an exception in and of itself.  Too much traffic, too many riders with limited skills creating an environment that could become dangerous very quickly.  The most important thing is to ride your ride based on your skill level and the conditions present for the road you are riding.  Everyone should push themselves to ride hard on occasion to keep your cornering skills sharp.  Enjoy The Ride!
Dubs

[ValhallaIamComing]

A speed limit is a speed limit... it applies to four wheels or two.  Exceeding the speed limit on a curve by 5 mph or so... understandable.  But taking them at close to double just seems stupid on top of illegal!  I have not yet ridden the Dragon, but I imagine the speed limit is consistent on the road, so taking the curves at limits should not involve braking and slowing down... just not speeding in the first place!  Even here in MO it is not as if there is a high speed limit that suddenly drops to 30 or 40 at the curve.

I enjoyed the movie and pics... some of them I have seen.  It appears that, along with speeding, passing seems to be a big danger at the Dragon... can't imagine there are many legal places to pass there either!

Will riding a cruiser keep me safe?  Well, to the extent that I can control my own safety... yes!  I know if I got into sportys I would want to "see what they can do" and before you know it I would be hauling ass everywhere!  Willow is right though, there is a measure of accepted risk on any bike that is far greater than in a car.  You can't control the other people on the road... you can only be aware and prepared for them!

[BIG--T]

When I was there last year, the Tree of Shame seem to have more sport bike parts than cruisers. Yeah they are some crazies on sport bikes, especially when you're going as fast as you can in a curve and one passes you like you're sitting still! They have caused other people to wreck..me for one and if I could have shot his tires out I would! The funny part is these same young whipper snappers that I bad mouth....I have to think back and I was even worse! It's amazing what age will do!

Now some cars can be worse than all. There were some Harleys and a trike pulling a trailer that were running maybe 10 mph that had traffic backed up and could have got over but didn't. In front of us was a Corvette club that had enough and started smoking their tires, fish tailing and almost hit the bikers! I've also seen a lot of drunk cruiser riders, I don't know why but they were all riding harleys!

Bottom line- There are some stupid people on 2,3, and 4 wheels!!

[old2soon]

I've mentioned a few times what willow brought up and at the risk of getting reamed or flamed or whipped with the wet noodle-every bit of it boils down to the skill LEVEL. Every last one of us is at a DIFFERENT skill set. Can't be helped-just the way it are. If i were to get back into a semi right now-it would take more than a little while to be as sharp as i was 2 years and 4 months ago. A simple case of use it or lose it. On the other hand-remember back to when we were young and bullet proof. Course when i was young you couldn't walk into a dealer and buy a 200 M P H ride(2 wheels) fer any price-ya had to build it yerself. Some people that i know down here tell me i should turn myself in to the hiway patrol when i exceed the posted speed limit. Don't really see that happening any time soon. My ex brother inlaws take is i have absolutely no right what so ever to ever exceed the speed limit. Yeah-right. There is a time and a place for every thing. Keeping uppermost in your mind i have NEVER ridden the dragon-yet. Was a wheely at that place and time the correct thing to do?? The answer is/was self evident. He crashed. Bad judgement?? Preventable?? Absolutely!! Will he try that again?? I sincerely hope the heck not. Iffin he trys that again-could be far far worse than this time. RIDE SAFE PLEASE RATHER TALK TO YA THAN ABOUT YA.

[BIG--T]

Good points there! Yep, use it or lose it and so far I'm riding almost every weekend and during the week. Old2soon, everybody needs to go to Deals Gap at least once in there life! It is beautiful country and know it's a good drive from MO. but you owe it to yourself and you can get some cool t-shirts with pockets!! Lol

 I am blessed to live so close and we are always going to eastern TN or western NC. If you go my advice would be try going during the week if possible.
Tony

[old2soon]

Good points there! Yep, use it or lose it and so far I'm riding almost every weekend and during the week. Old2soon, everybody needs to go to Deals Gap at least once in there life! It is beautiful country and know it's a good drive from MO. but you owe it to yourself and you can get some cool t-shirts with pockets!! Lol

 I am blessed to live so close and we are always going to eastern TN or western NC. If you go my advice would be try going during the week if possible.
Tony

   Oh yeaaaahh it are on my bucket list fer real and fer shore. Gettin there during the week ain't a problem. I is retar uh retired. At this point in time it is a finance issue. They just don't have deposit bottles no more. Young uns-look it up. RIDE SAFE.

[BIG--T]

Good points there! Yep, use it or lose it and so far I'm riding almost every weekend and during the week. Old2soon, everybody needs to go to Deals Gap at least once in there life! It is beautiful country and know it's a good drive from MO. but you owe it to yourself and you can get some cool t-shirts with pockets!! Lol

 I am blessed to live so close and we are always going to eastern TN or western NC. If you go my advice would be try going during the week if possible.
Tony

   Oh yeaaaahh it are on my bucket list fer real and fer shore. Gettin there during the week ain't a problem. I is retar uh retired. At this point in time it is a finance issue. They just don't have deposit bottles no more. Young uns-look it up. RIDE SAFE.

Oh, Fer a minute I thot ya sayed yer retartted! I bet someone will let you stay with them that live close and with the great mpg the Valk gits....can't get no better than that!
And yep, I remember selling dem bottles for $.02 each!!