Tale Of The Dragon

[willpower719]

Well guys it was my pleasure in discovering the reason the Valkyrie GL1800CE was built! I rode Tale Of The Dragon yesterday(8/1/16) and the Valk did very well. That was the first time I rode it in an aggressive manner that wasn't straight line. Those familiar with the Tail know the tight, banked sweeps and curves....definitely gets the adrenaline flowing to say the least. Those who aren't its 13 miles that contain 311 curves.

[postoak]

Good for you!  I'll never make it over there but I've watched a few videos of complete rides through it. 

[sleepngbear]

Definitely one of the places I'd like to ride before I die ... hopefully not just before I die. 

[hubcapsc]

We have a ton of roads around here as good as The Dragon. I
typically avoid The Dragon, it is such a spectacle of cops and
people going too fast and people going to slow on a busy day.

-Mike

[ledany]

Definitely one of the places I'd like to ride before I die ... hopefully not just before I die. 

 

[AdrianR]

For those who've not been there, and maybe those whom have...

The Dragon is cool...been there done that....had several cigs reading all the RIP signs on the 'Tree of Shame'..

But what is REALLY cool out there is the Cherehola Skyway! (spelling?)  This roughly 75mile stretch of newer road is approx. 40 miles to the south east of the Dragon.

Undoubtedly one of the coolest ever motorcycle experiences...Imagine starting near sea level in TN, hot and humid...hauling butt to 6K...in the cool fog and clouds...and then back down into NC.  Incredible sweepers man...and the scenery was over the top beautiful.

If you plan to do the Dragon...YOU HAVE to do the Cherehola!

[Dragunslayer]

For those who've not been there, and maybe those whom have...

The Dragon is cool...been there done that....had several cigs reading all the RIP signs on the 'Tree of Shame'..

But what is REALLY cool out there is the Cherehola Skyway! (spelling?)  This roughly 75mile stretch of newer road is approx. 40 miles to the south east of the Dragon.

Undoubtedly one of the coolest ever motorcycle experiences...Imagine starting near sea level in TN, hot and humid...hauling butt to 6K...in the cool fog and clouds...and then back down into NC.  Incredible sweepers man...and the scenery was over the top beautiful.

If you plan to do the Dragon...YOU HAVE to do the Cherehola!

[Robert]

 

[Thor32]

What! no straight Illinois FARM roads! I may go over the edge.....I'm scared!

[Bamaburt62]

Your absolutely right.  The skyway is one awesom road to let the Valk eat.  I ride the Dragon a couple of times a year with friends and it's ok but the skyway is what we really look forward to.  Long sweeping curves on one of the best roads in the nation.  I've ridden a lot of bikes on the Dragon and the skyway but the Valkryie is by far the most fun yet.

[AdrianR]

The Dragon though, I'm tellin' ya, has magical, but dangerous power!

It'll bite, and when it does, it bites HARD!

It sucks you in, making you think you're better then you are, and then you loose it...and it offers NO QUARTER..  Lining the entire route is large boulders, bluffs, negative berms..and mostly; LARGE TREES...

I was there for three days.  In that time there was at least one, nearly fatal accident.  A guy on a Duccati suffered a really bad compound fracture of his lower tibia...

If you go, be sure to visit the Tree of Shame...It's branches and limb sport thousands of wrecked bike parts, and good bye letters from loved ones whom lost their loved ones in an accident.



Beware of the Dragon!

[Speedracer28]

I agree. The Dragon is a must do bucket list to do if your an avid motorcyclist. Beware - If you've only been on a bike a few years this is not a road for inexperienced riders! Riding over your head is not an option and I am dead serious about that. But if you have several years of riding - If your riding/cornering skills are sharp and your confidence is strong then it can be an amazing experience. Think of it as a horizontal roller coaster for motorcycles where you control the speed. The greater Smoky Mountains area is also just 40+ miles away and have some of the VERY best motorcycle roads in the country. Make a detour in Cherokee and you can also jump on the Blue Ridge Parkway for another amazing and scenic ride. I make a weekly trip there yearly on my 12 Goldwing but thinking about taking my Valkyrie this year. I get goose bumps when I think of those roads and the Dragon!   

[big poppa pump]

Did the dragon a couple of months back on the way home from Inzane. It was fun, but the Moonshiner 28 run was even better. 129 miles of sweeping and sharp curves from Deals Gap to Walhalla, SC.

[willpower719]

I guess Im nuts....how do I add a Dragon photo? The insert image button just puts IMG in brackets. Suggestions?

[hubcapsc]

I guess Im nuts....how do I add a Dragon photo? The insert image button just puts IMG in brackets. Suggestions?

You have to put the image on the internet somewhere (else) and put it's URL
in between those img brackets...

-Mike

[bscrive]

For those who've not been there, and maybe those whom have...

The Dragon is cool...been there done that....had several cigs reading all the RIP signs on the 'Tree of Shame'..

But what is REALLY cool out there is the Cherehola Skyway! (spelling?)  This roughly 75mile stretch of newer road is approx. 40 miles to the south east of the Dragon.

Undoubtedly one of the coolest ever motorcycle experiences...Imagine starting near sea level in TN, hot and humid...hauling butt to 6K...in the cool fog and clouds...and then back down into NC.  Incredible sweepers man...and the scenery was over the top beautiful.

If you plan to do the Dragon...YOU HAVE to do the Cherehola!

I couldn't agree with you guys more.

The Dragon was cool, but the Cherohala was great.

[Bamaburt62]

Don't get me wrong I love riding the dragon and the Valk does just fine in the twisties.  I just like the long sweeping curves where I can really let the air in her sales.  This thing accelerates so damn quick it's one helluva rush.  As stated in another post all the runs in that area are spectacular and over about thirty years of riding that area we still make it up that way at least twice a year if not more.

[woofred1832]

                            Ya the tail of the dragon is one wicked road, went there when my brother and I were down in Tenn. to see an old high school buddy.... i was on my 2014 before I got the hard trunk so ya lot of bungies... my brother was on his dresser FLH , afew of the turns were trickey but WOW want a ride.. I got the emblem and now it is on the bike right below Stirgis 2012.... lived in Colorado for 11 years so I have ridden switch backs but not that many in a row.... had been drinking the nite before so had to stop once just to keep our heads from spinning. starting to make plan to ride to Glacier National Park in Montana next year. My kids came to visit me over the 4th this year, so next year we plan to meet in Montana and see the sights..... be safe RIDE on life is good... oh ya now have over 16,000 miles on the bike

[brew1brew]

The dragon is fun, I did it last year, during Inzane, on my new girl. Was the only real rain I got the entire trip, so I had to go slow. But the Cherohala skyway was after lunch that day and the sun came out and it was one of the most amazing roads I've been on! I love the long wide sweeper turns!

[Jambriwal]

Just got back  Home from" Back of the Dragon" 32 miles , lot of curves , lot of elevation.
Rt # 16 in Virginia
The Valkyrie was made to run this, even with the crappy Dun-lops.
41 Psi front
40 Psi Rear
Great handling. Fantastic Brakes , and that seamless Engine made it a blast.
JW