The Dragon is a slow ride, you'll do well to hit 20 mph, unless you're on a sportbike, and then you can do 60 -70 mph.

 

I have not been there myself but have been to the Badlands in S. Dakota. Don't remember how many checkpoints there are but im thinking its like 13 or so where you can get out and take pics etc. Made it to the 1st and everything was cool. Proceeded to the second one and after going around the 1st curve the land disappeared and you had inches between you and some major cliffs (No Guard Rails). Once we got to the 2nd check point we headed back . We were scurrrrred!

 

Hey CameraCrew, still wondering if I should drive it in my HHR. Sounds like from your post it is a nice ride, with the exception of the sport bike crowd. Am I understanding you correctly. Still would like to take my VTX up there, but have to find a light trailer to pull behind the HHR to do that. I have the poster they sell online and it looks like a hoot to ride/drive. Talk to you later.

 

i wanna go it looks pretty and the road cant be that bad......i've been on some pretty hairy ones in ireland

 

20 MPH!!!! U GOTTA BE KIDDING!

An HHR can run the Dragon at waaaaaay better than 20...

While I am not stupid enough to believe that my little Black HHR can run with the sport-bikes, I have run the Dragon muitple times at consideraby more than 20 M.P.H.

It is a great ride, (make sure and give the crotch-rockets the room they need....they live for these curves !!!!!).... in a beautiful part of the country....East Tennessee.

Be sure and visit Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge while you're here in the SMOKIES!!!

 

I have been to the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area many times. It has been almost 10 years though. Can't imagine what it would be like now. Beautiful area with lots to do.

 

A newbie mentioned a Dragon Run in another thread so I thought I would post some not so new NEWS. Another group I belong to decided not to do another run there because of it. Last summer the local authorities really cracked down on drivers in the area. People just touching the double yellow lines were pulled over for reckless driving.

THP kicks up patrols on Dragon

By Iva Butler
of The Daily Times Staff

Tennessee Highway Patrol officers wrote 142 tickets for motorcycle and car violations on the Dragon last weekend in a crackdown promised to extend through September.
The tickets, 92 for motorcycles and 50 for cars, included tickets for violations such as speeding, registration, drivers licenses, helmet law, lane violations and riding standing up.
The Tennessee Governors Highway Safety Office provided $60,000 for overtime enforcement on the Dragon, where three motorcyclists have been killed in Blount County this year.
The Dragon refers to the 11.1-mile stretch of U.S. 129 which runs from Tabcat Creek to Deals Gap at the Tennessee and North Carolina line. Known worldwide as a premier ride for motorcyclists, the section of roadway has 318 curves.
Last Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the Highway Patrol had 11 troopers enforcing traffic safety laws on the Dragon, said Trooper John Pedigo,
Today through Sunday, THP is expected to have two or three cars working that stretch of road. Pedigo said the increased enforcement will run every weekend through the end of September. Several Dragon motorcyclists complained and called the THP blitz harassment.
Herb Handly, executive vice president for tourism of Smoky Mountain Convention and Visitors Bureau, said apparently bikers on the Dragon have taken a dim view of having increased enforcement.
Handly said the governor has taken a dim view of having Lifestar helicopters called so often to transport injured motorcyclists off the Dragon.
Some people are speeding and driving recklessly, so the governor had THP go in force over the weekend, he said.
Apparently numerous people have e-mailed the governor, correspondence that was forwarded to Tennessee Commissioner of Tourism Susan Whittaker.
People have canceled or been threatening cancellations of travel plans to this area, Handly said.
We certainly understand safety issues having to deal with that area. We think safety should be a high priority. We are encouraging people to use care and caution in that area and remind them we have a variety of rides besides the Dragon that are safe and enjoyable, Handly said.
Smoky Mountain Convention and Visitors Bureau has a brochure, called Circle the Smokies, that lists a variety of routes from Townsend that motorcyclists might want to consider, he said.
They might want to stay away from The Dragon until this enforcement blitz is over, Handly said.

 

Deal's Gap is a sportbike mecca... well, it used to be before everyone discovered it and now it's jammed full of people who have no business driving or riding it. 318 curves in an 11 mile stretch of scenic mountain road is hard to navigate if you aren't paying attention. This is more true for sportbike riders (yes, I am one of them) because the bike goes where you look. If you look off for an instant you can miss a turn and go sailing into the other lane or off the road altogether. Lane violations are very dangerous because persons travelling in the opposite lane often don't see you until they are nearly on top of you due to the sharpness of the curves and the mountain terrain. STAYING IN YOUR LANE should be your #1 priority. Crossing the centerline even slightly can kill someone. Three poeple died at the beginning of the last season and that is why the TN State Patrol came down so hard. While the scenery is beautiful, only passengers should be taking in the view. If you are driving, you need to watch the road. If you do ride the Dragon, there are several photographers who take pictures all day and sell them online. Killboy.com is one of the most famous as his photos have appeared in several auto and bike magazines. He runs a weekly blog on his site featuring select photos from the week. I suggest you guys check out his site once things warm up and see the highlights of car rallys as well as sportbike and Harley riders. You may notice how he calls out idiots (in cars and on bikes) who cross the centerline. Remember, mastering the Dragon isn't about how fast you complete the 11 miles, it's how well you maintain your lines and transition from turn to turn. Let's keep it safe for everyone!

 

I'm leaving work in an hour to go there for the weekend for our anniversary (19th). I also have a VTX and an HHR, dbeatt. If you bring either to the Dragon, be careful. The police patrol it pretty good now.

 

Dragon runs can be fun as a lot of you know....but they can also be dangerous.....we prefer to run during the week and then stay off the Dragon during the weekend as it's just so crowded. We head off into the Smokies. Excellent roads there and the scenery is spectacular. I used to drive the mountain ledge roads in Ethiopia which is now Eritrea. Cross the middle and you'll get squashed by a truck, look off for a second and you could end up falling for a thousand feet. As long as you drive by the rules you'll have a better chance of being ok. Having said that tho, our last trip as mentioned above, we stayed off the road on the w/e. Just too dangerous.

Glad to hear the THP is flexing their muscle.

Long Live The Dragon.