Now that's a ride. 318 curves in a 11 mile stretch. In great weather you got to ride the Speed Limit or one of the many cops patrolling the road will give you their autograph.
I did it on my '96 Virago in May and it was fun. Scary but fun even when you consider that crotch-rockets were passing me in blind and hairpin curives. Will do it in the RE/Hack next month as part of my C-C-C ride. But this time I'll ride "The Tail" into TN, loop over to Tellico Plains and end up back at Deals Gap Then I can add a "Dragon" to my hack.
I've done it on my Venture touring bike twice but wouldn't consider trying it on my hack. That takes some nads!! Maybe it is a lot tamer since the police crack down. I heard they were getting tough on that road. When we rode it in 2005 and 2006, it was all bets off. Idiots passing me on my RIGHT side in the the middle of a left hand turn.
Good luck when you do it! On our second run we found that riding it mid week real early in the morning seemed the best time. Most of the organ donors will still be sleeping off their hang overs then.
Be sure to get your www.killboy.com pics when you do it.
I don't have any nads :), but I've taken my rig through Deals Gap more than once. As far as I'm concerned taking a rig through there is just gut wrenching work! I hate it, but when I'm with my husband and friends in that area, we usually wind-up riding the Dragon's Tail. Of course, since they are on two wheels, they just wait for me at the other end.
I hate those crotch rocket idiots, too! But they don't seem to be quite as much of a threat to everyone else's safety since the cops are patroling pretty intensely. Of course, the best thing to do with crotch rockets is to get over to the right as far as possible and let the idiots pass. I don't have a problem with them killing themselves; I just don't want to go with them!
I love the killboy photos, but they haven't ever taken photos when I was going through with my rig. But they have gotten shots of my husband and me on his 1800 Wing. Got about 4 shots of us going through there last month.
Only reason I want to do it with the Enfield and hack is because I can. Well, that and being able to put a Dragon's Tail on the hack.
I figure that stretch of road and the El Cajon Pass in SoCal will be the two toughest tests on my C2C2C trip next month.
There are two members of our Valkyrie club who live down there and regularly ride Deals Gap side by side on their Valks. Either extremely experienced or extremely stupid.
I didn't ride my Valk through there on two wheels and I'm sure not gonna do it with my rig.
Hi Calman:
I assume you mean, the Cajon Pass (Interstate 15/215) Are you aware that part of Old Route 66 runs parallel with the Cajon Pass route? It is a nice break from the Interstate. The 15 is heavily trafficked with trucks and speed. We always take the 66 until we are forced onto the 15.
If you are referring to the "EL" Cajon Pass, I am wondering what route you are considering to get there. Actually what route do you have planned for your trip? It sounds like a great time.
May I suggest that you invest in a cool vest, and some mesh gear. It does get warm here in SoCal.
gp
GP,
My route for this trip pretty simple: Basically I'll be following I-40 from NC to Kingman (dropping off to visit RVN buddys in KY, OK, AZ) but will use the Interstate only when forced to since I prefer to see the countryside not read billboards. At Kingman will shoot up 93 to Henderson to visit some friends. After that I-15 (Rte 66 etal) to San Diego.
Return trip is I-8 (CA-94) to Boulevard and over what we called El Cajon Pass when I lived in San Diego to the El Centro in the 70s/80s. Just follow/parallel I-10 an pretty much follow it into East Texas where I'll jump down and follow US-90 through LA, MS (stop near Biloxi to see Sis), and FL where I'll turn north at Tallahassee and head up to Tifton, GA then mossy over to the ooast and grab US17 and follow it back home.
Trip should be about 6K miles.
Oh yeah I know about the SoCal heat but at least you don't have the humidity we get with the heat down here. Ol' trick we use to use was wet yourself down with water and put on your rainjacket.
Cal
If you get a chance, you should consider writing an article about your journey, and submitting it to The Sidecarist magazine/newsletter.
Have a great time 🙂
Safe riding ~ gp
Took the Bullet and S/C through The Dragon's Tail this past Friday. With all the cycles at Deals Gap I must have timed it just right since I had no one pushing or passing me until I had completed the run.
It was a little tough in some of the hard right hairpin turns but otherwise it was just as smooth as when I took the Virago down the trail in May. Now had a DT decal for the bullet.
We did the Dragon on our way to upstate New York last year. We timed it for mid week to avoid most of the beserkers and Banzi bombers. Still gave me a real upper body work out! Any one for Sturgis in 09???
I've ridden the dragons tail a few times (Back before the speed cops got so interested) but much prefer the Cherahola skyway with the long sweepers and fewer crotch rockets.
Call me lazy....I was right there and passed it by It seemed regular roads were challenging enough!
All this talk about the Tail of the Dragon and no pics. Does anybody have pics from the photographers down there??
wvsporty - 12/29/2011 9:54 AM
All this talk about the Tail of the Dragon and no pics. Does anybody have pics from the photographers down there??
Here you go.
I did the Dragon last year on a 2005 TGB 150 Delivery scooter. It is not for the faint of heart!! I set a speed record--slowest rider to
ever make it down and back in one day! A group of us ride in that area around Bryson City, NC every summer. Only 3 hours from us.
We are making progress on the TGB R9 Cozy side car conversion and hope to do the Dragon on it this coming summer. May be the first
scooter guy to hack it.
