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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | Well my finale for the Texas trip was to run the Dragon. I've never been there before and only heard folk rant and rave about "doing the Dragon". It was not much out of the way so I said why not. So never being there before and not really paying attention, I know you could get to deals gap via Tennessee, so I thought I would come in that way from Marysville. It was getting dark so I thought I could stop at Deals Gap and stay at the hotel there and ride the rest in the morning. So as I make my way to DG, I come down 129 and find that on the Tennesse side it was rather hairy. I kept thinking, man, if the Dragon was anything like this, it would be one wild ride. The sun has gone down, and the hollers on this part of the road looks very unforgiving. A few cars are coming from the other direction while in curves and I'm on edge like I've never been on the Vision. All I kept thinking was a deer would leap out from the high side and push me over the edge. I'm still thinking I can't wait to get to deals gap and stay at the hotel and then ride the dragon in the morning. I see all these skid marks and scratch marks through the headlights and think of how many people have lost it on this road. Finally, I get to Deals Gap and all I see is the glow from the coke machine. So I stop and physc myslef up for the "Dragon" and put on my little camera. So off I go on the NC portion of the dragon. Wow! what is so great about this, that road in Tennessee is much more thrilling. Then it dawned on me, THAT WAS THE DRAGON! My next thought is, Where is KillBoy when you need him.
By the way, it is a great road, and that 311 curve thing is cool, but I could take you to some roads in SW Virginia that makes the Dragon look lame. Sorry. I stopped to warm up in that little store by 129/74 intersection. I was talking about with the locals and its just another road to them, a way to town if you will. None the less, it was cool to do the Dragon at night, Top heavy with the tour pack and luggage. I'd like to try it without the luggage and in a Street config. Hopefully in the spring. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 849
, FL United States | Chris, I knew where your post was headed as soon as I read that you came in from the Tenn side. You were ON the Dragon & didn't know it !!! LOL Hope you enjoyed it but it's ssssooooooooooooooooo much better in the daylight where you can see the road AND the surrounding scenery. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 273
| my new Bruatle in N.C. in a week.
Only problem with Va. are the cops in that state where they all act as if they haven't bedded a female in their life. 
Pricks...the entire lot of 'em.  |
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Visionary
Posts: 2118
Pitt Meadows, BC Canada | Now Smitty - tsk tsk. Are you including the cops that ride Vision's? Or just cops in Va.? |
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Cruiser
Posts: 273
| donetracey - 2008-11-18 1:09 PM
Now Smitty - tsk tsk. Are you including the cops that ride Vision's? Or just cops in Va.?
 Guess! |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 849
, FL United States | Chris, the 4th Annual SE Victory Rally will be June 4-7, 2009 in Helen,Ga. It's only an hour & 40 minutes from Helen to Deals Gap & I'm sure we'll be riding over there sometime during the meet. Perhaps we can "hook up"? |
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Tourer
Posts: 495
Carrollton, TX | Here is how much fun the Tail of the Dragon is on a Vision on a sunny May day. The video camera is on the fairing of Fergy's Vision and I am right behind him through the Tail of the Dragon. The Vision handles like no other cruiser or touring bike. Vision on the Dragon part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7T18KxY_sJc Vision on the Dragon part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoYb0FWbQIw |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | Spock, you made it a whole lot funner looking than what I did. I'll have to go back and off load the baggage before I do it, and of course do it in the daylight. With just headlights at night it is hard to mark the target and going slow the bag became a burden making me think I was going to bottom and they wouldn't find me until spring. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 849
, FL United States | Craig, thanks for sharing the vids. Sent a link to all my jealous friends. |
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Tourer
Posts: 363
Goldsboro, NC | I did the same thing in my cage. Had the kids and wife with me after a long day in the mountains and were headed home. Wound up entering the Dragon and two of the four got car sick (yuck). Creeped through the rest of the way so as not to experience the technicolor yawn again. An eternity later, I went past a sign facing the other way. When I stopped and looked, it welcomed opposing traffic to the Dragon.
I hope to do it intentionally, on my bike, in the daylight... some day. |
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Visionary
Posts: 2118
Pitt Meadows, BC Canada | I really enjoyed the Dragon videos. Which led me to this website: www.tailofthedragon.com - where I learned about what pricks the TN LEO's are!
Great website - almost feel like I have done the ride itself, after viewing a bunch of videos, looking at photos, and reading the articles.
Maybe someday.... heavy sigh... |
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Tourer
Posts: 495
Carrollton, TX | varyder - 2008-11-19 9:54 PM Spock, you made it a whole lot funner looking than what I did. I'll have to go back and off load the baggage before I do it, and of course do it in the daylight. With just headlights at night it is hard to mark the target and going slow the bag became a burden making me think I was going to bottom and they wouldn't find me until spring. Kevin and I were loaded down with all of our stuff also. We had the side bags and trunk full. I am sure we could have done better empty with the trunk off. It is important to adjust the rear shock before doing the dragon. I set my pressure to 50 with me and the loaded bike. I can tell you when the rear shock is set to 50 and you are scraping the floorboards you are really leaning on the Vision. Sport bike riders can't believe it. |
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Tale of the Dragon