Tail of the Dragon - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

nallend · 09-18-2008, 06:55 PM

How many of you have heard of the Tail of the Dragon or the Cherohala Skyway Us 129 in Tenn and N.C. the tail of the Dragon has 318 curves in 11 miles and there is an 120 mile loop you can ride for info just type in Tail of the Dragon and it will take you to their website. There is info about events and a map ,very biker friendly. It is rated Americas No. 1 Motorcycle road Hope you like the info.

**Clint** · 09-18-2008, 07:27 PM

Type it in where? How about a link?

Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap and Cherohala Skyway, Graham Co, NC

nallend · 09-18-2008, 07:42 PM

Some one has posted a link but all you have to do is type it in your search and there will be a list of web pages Sorry I should have written that

DrBob · 09-18-2008, 09:02 PM

Been there dozens of times- it's a great road, but I don't think it is worth all the hype. Heck, it's not even the best road in the county, just the only one with a publicity department. Everyone should ride it once, then go exploring away from the crowds. Oh, the store / campground/ motel at Deal's Gap is for sale, should anyone have a wad of cash laying around.

**Clint** · 09-18-2008, 09:52 PM

It is unique, though. I've ridden some pretty amazing mountain roads, and I've never come across one quite like that. It's so tight you'd think it was a go-kart track if you didn't know better. There are roads in the area that I liked much better, but you have to ride the Tail at least once.

tricker · 09-18-2008, 10:06 PM

i liked hellbender better than the dragon. But clint we can say our first trip through was at night after 12 hours of riding.. now that takes balls to do it. Or just plain stupidity

**Clint** · 09-18-2008, 10:09 PM

Yep. Some of both. Shall we say "stupid balls"?

ranger04 · 09-18-2008, 10:10 PM

Been there-done it. Its an awsome ride, dont go just for the tail though, make sure you hit hellbender and the skyway, personally like both those roads over the dragon, but its a great ride-recommend to anybody to do it at least once.
Make sure you check out fontanna damn while your on hellbender-nice view
Make sure you check out Baird falls-I think its the name-again nice view
And take the long detour home and ride 441 through the smokey mountains, makes for an awsome ride as well

I think im gonna go back when I can spend more than one day of riding down there

And we also did the right the tail at night thing-about 9:30 monday night with very little light left but not completly dark, but before we finished it was dark, and to make it better it had rained for the past 3hrs, so wet and dark and first time on road-nice adrenaline rush

tricker · 09-18-2008, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clint

Yep. Some of both. Shall we say "stupid balls"?

how about we just go with... we are just that awesome! Or didn't have a choice.. at least we had 12 bikes in front of us leading the way

SNAFU · 09-19-2008, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nallend

How many of you have heard of the Tail of the Dragon or the Cherohala Skyway Us 129 in Tenn and N.C. the tail of the Dragon has 318 curves in 11 miles and there is an 120 mile loop you can ride for info just type in Tail of the Dragon and it will take you to their website. There is info about events and a map ,very biker friendly. It is rated Americas No. 1 Motorcycle road Hope you like the info.

Tail of the what? Never heard of it.

frostbitevinnie · 09-19-2008, 05:53 AM

Wasen't it the Charcoalgranola skyway where we encontered gravel in the road at night?

Also watch out for the Mini Dragon, it has a bite to it.

pneblett · 09-19-2008, 08:34 PM

I have ridden it a couple of times. I enjoyed it a lot. I also love the Cherahola Parkway even more. The area is very biker friendly- especially Robbinsonville, NC. I highly recommend the trip. Great rides all around in the SMokies.

dwiebe · 09-20-2008, 10:10 PM

I rode it last Oct ,wife and I on our vs1400 and my buddy and his wife on their 83 goldwing what a blast.

ranger04 · 09-21-2008, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frostbitevinnie

Wasen't it the Charcoalgranola skyway where we encontered gravel in the road at night?

Also watch out for the Mini Dragon, it has a bite to it.

I know my group had hit some gravel towards the end of it, but they were also in process of construction

frostbitevinnie · 09-21-2008, 08:39 PM

We pretty much had gravel spots all the way up then decided to come down in the dark. Fun!!

1badbaker · 09-28-2008, 12:10 PM

I've been on the Dragon 3 times now, the most recent was yesterday afternoon. It was still as exciting as the first time. I liked the Cherohala and Hellbender just as much, if not more. We followed US129 all the way south to Jefferson, GA. Blood Mountain in Northern GA is a good ride too, especially since they have sections with 2 lanes to get around the cagers....

We spent a few days in the area of the Dragon a month back and found a lot of good riding up there. NC28 has a lot of good sections, the Devil's Triangle is just plain crazy. If I could, I would just move up there and retire, get a GPS and try to ride every single road in the area, I don't think you could find a boring road up there if you tried.

Rickster · 09-29-2008, 11:24 AM

The last three years there has been a group from here (motorcycle journal) that has gotten together down there in June, who knows, we might even do it again next year, all are welcome to join us if we do. I know Vinnie & I have already talked about it a little, and I have a feeling the topic will heat up after the ground gets covered with the cold white stuff.

Apertureguy · 09-29-2008, 11:27 AM

Yep, I've heard of it.

GeorgiaRoller · 09-29-2008, 04:15 PM

Mile marker 10 on the Cherohala on the NC side near "Spirit Ridge". This whole area of Eastern TN & Western NC is great for riding.

Pic 1 - looking south
Pic 2 - same spot looking north (by the time I turned and took this shot the sport biker was already gone)

http://www.tailofthedragon.com/maps/PDF/Chero_new07.pdf

-

Davecm203 · 09-29-2008, 04:20 PM

A search on here would have resulted in a lot of results. It is a lot of fun because of the excitement. But there are so many better places to ride in the NC mountains. Many roads that are just as tight and curvy, go on for longer, and not near the traffic. One of my favorites roads near blowing rock is nearly twice as long. I attempted to count the curves when me and the wifey went up in the SUV. Impossible feat. I should have gotten one of the counter things and made the wife click them off. I also love to go to Lake Lure. Awesome roads around there and north of there. Highlands, NC has some cool roads also. The only problem with Highlands is that all the blue hairs from Florida like to summer there. They come to a stop on the switchbacks (which there are a lot of).

09-18-2008, 06:55 PM	#1 (permalink)
nallend Newbie Joined: Aug 2008 Bike: Suzuki C50 Location: Va. Posts: 13	Tail of the Dragon How many of you have heard of the Tail of the Dragon or the Cherohala Skyway Us 129 in Tenn and N.C. the tail of the Dragon has 318 curves in 11 miles and there is an 120 mile loop you can ride for info just type in Tail of the Dragon and it will take you to their website. There is info about events and a map ,very biker friendly. It is rated Americas No. 1 Motorcycle road Hope you like the info.

09-18-2008, 09:02 PM	#4 (permalink)
DrBob In The Zone Joined: May 2004 Bike: several Location: Decatur, GA Posts: 2,765	Been there dozens of times- it's a great road, but I don't think it is worth all the hype. Heck, it's not even the best road in the county, just the only one with a publicity department. Everyone should ride it once, then go exploring away from the crowds. Oh, the store / campground/ motel at Deal's Gap is for sale, should anyone have a wad of cash laying around. __________________ Dream like you'll live forever, live like you'll die tomorrow. You MUST obey the pug dog!

09-18-2008, 10:10 PM	#8 (permalink)
ranger04 U.B's LoveChild Joined: Oct 2006 Bike: 2006 Suzuki Boulevard M50B Location: ohio Posts: 1,123	Been there-done it. Its an awsome ride, dont go just for the tail though, make sure you hit hellbender and the skyway, personally like both those roads over the dragon, but its a great ride-recommend to anybody to do it at least once. Make sure you check out fontanna damn while your on hellbender-nice view Make sure you check out Baird falls-I think its the name-again nice view And take the long detour home and ride 441 through the smokey mountains, makes for an awsome ride as well I think im gonna go back when I can spend more than one day of riding down there And we also did the right the tail at night thing-about 9:30 monday night with very little light left but not completly dark, but before we finished it was dark, and to make it better it had rained for the past 3hrs, so wet and dark and first time on road-nice adrenaline rush __________________ Pics of Bike -MySpace-http://copronymous.com/images/M50-MANUAL.pdf

09-19-2008, 05:53 AM	#11 (permalink)
frostbitevinnie In The Zone Joined: Jul 2007 Bike: 07' C90T 76' MT250 Location: 3rd house NW of the Depot Posts: 2,727	Wasen't it the Charcoalgranola skyway where we encontered gravel in the road at night? Also watch out for the Mini Dragon, it has a bite to it. __________________ I set up a by knot of soups that valid terrific, and can be made in big batches and frozen. Is there any interest? Karri Tamsin

09-20-2008, 10:10 PM	#13 (permalink)
dwiebe Newbie Joined: Feb 2008 Bike: 04 intruder 1400,06 Hyosung avitar 650 Location: Missouri Posts: 3	tail of the dragon I rode it last Oct ,wife and I on our vs1400 and my buddy and his wife on their 83 goldwing what a blast.

09-18-2008, 07:42 PM	#3 (permalink)
nallend Newbie Joined: Aug 2008 Bike: Suzuki C50 Location: Va. Posts: 13	Some one has posted a link but all you have to do is type it in your search and there will be a list of web pages Sorry I should have written that

09-19-2008, 08:34 PM	#12 (permalink)
pneblett Seat Tester Joined: Aug 2005 Bike: Suzuki Boulevard C50 Location: West Virginia Posts: 61	I have ridden it a couple of times. I enjoyed it a lot. I also love the Cherahola Parkway even more. The area is very biker friendly- especially Robbinsonville, NC. I highly recommend the trip. Great rides all around in the SMokies.

09-21-2008, 08:39 PM	#15 (permalink)
frostbitevinnie In The Zone Joined: Jul 2007 Bike: 07' C90T 76' MT250 Location: 3rd house NW of the Depot Posts: 2,727	We pretty much had gravel spots all the way up then decided to come down in the dark. Fun!! __________________ I set up a by knot of soups that valid terrific, and can be made in big batches and frozen. Is there any interest? Karri Tamsin

09-28-2008, 12:10 PM	#16 (permalink)
1badbaker U.B's LoveChild Joined: Jan 2008 Bike: 05 Black M50 Location: Milledgeville, GA Posts: 1,260	I've been on the Dragon 3 times now, the most recent was yesterday afternoon. It was still as exciting as the first time. I liked the Cherohala and Hellbender just as much, if not more. We followed US129 all the way south to Jefferson, GA. Blood Mountain in Northern GA is a good ride too, especially since they have sections with 2 lanes to get around the cagers.... We spent a few days in the area of the Dragon a month back and found a lot of good riding up there. NC28 has a lot of good sections, the Devil's Triangle is just plain crazy. If I could, I would just move up there and retire, get a GPS and try to ride every single road in the area, I don't think you could find a boring road up there if you tried. __________________ 2005 M50 Black: "Black Betty" John's Kit Forward Controls/Saddlemen Explorer/Kury Iso-Grips/Stiletto End Caps/Kury Throttle Boss/De-Paired/De-Badged/De-Baffled/De-Mickeyed/pac50t Naked Jug Kit/PCIII USB/Cobra Streetrod Slashdowns/Saddlemen Bags/Cobra Sissybar/Metz ME880's/Slipstreamer Windscreen/C50 mirrors Blacked Out: Headlight Bucket, Mirrors, Front Signals, Radiator Cover, Neck Covers, Speedo Cover, Tank Cowl, Fender Rails, Sissybar, Saddlebag Supports

09-29-2008, 11:27 AM	#18 (permalink)
Apertureguy Throttle Jockey Joined: Jun 2006 Bike: 2006 Blue M50 Location: New York Posts: 3,267	Yep, I've heard of it.

09-29-2008, 04:15 PM	#19 (permalink)
GeorgiaRoller Fifth gear streak Joined: May 2008 Bike: Twisted 05 M50 Location: Barnesville, GA Posts: 1,358	Current Pictures - Sunday 28th, 2008 Mile marker 10 on the Cherohala on the NC side near "Spirit Ridge". This whole area of Eastern TN & Western NC is great for riding. Pic 1 - looking south Pic 2 - same spot looking north (by the time I turned and took this shot the sport biker was already gone) http://www.tailofthedragon.com/maps/PDF/Chero_new07.pdf - Attached Thumbnails __________________ Skull Graphics - Depaired - Vance & Hines Cruzers - Thunder Charged Air Kit - Cobra FI2000R - J/K 2-1/2" Drop - J/K Forward Controls - Integrated Tail Light - Mustang Seat & Fender Bib - Boulevard Tank Bra - Grasshopper Driver Backrest - Kury Iso Grips w/Baron Bullet Ends - Memphis Shades Pop-Top - Side Mount Plate.

09-29-2008, 04:20 PM	#20 (permalink)
Davecm203 U.B's LoveChild Joined: Apr 2008 Bike: 2006 GSXR750 Location: Central North Carolina Posts: 1,103	A search on here would have resulted in a lot of results. It is a lot of fun because of the excitement. But there are so many better places to ride in the NC mountains. Many roads that are just as tight and curvy, go on for longer, and not near the traffic. One of my favorites roads near blowing rock is nearly twice as long. I attempted to count the curves when me and the wifey went up in the SUV. Impossible feat. I should have gotten one of the counter things and made the wife click them off. I also love to go to Lake Lure. Awesome roads around there and north of there. Highlands, NC has some cool roads also. The only problem with Highlands is that all the blue hairs from Florida like to summer there. They come to a stop on the switchbacks (which there are a lot of). __________________

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