Is Deal's Gap over-rated?

I'm a newbie. Last October (on a Thursday) I rode Deal's Gap for the first time on a 2007 BMW K1200GT, and while I mostly enjoyed the experience, I was turned off by the heavy traffic (particularly oncoming traffic) as well as the recklessness of several motorcyclists who narrowly passed me over blind double-yellow lines at the risk of their lives and mine.

I'm glad that I successfully rode Deal's Gap, but is this fabled stretch of road over-rated? Are there roads in your neck of the woods that begin to come anywhere close to the Tail of the Dragon, but are uncongested? Here in Ohio, Rt. 536 (~12 miles long) is a contender in my opinion. (The Ohio Cousin of the 'Tail of the Dragon - Ohio's Route 536: Ohio Motorcycle Rides )

What local roads would you place in this category?

 

I'd have to ride it once to be able to tell one the diff, all though I have to say I too have wondered if there is more hype, sure does get a lot of press, but out here we have some mighty fine roads that sound as good, so.. guess I need to make a trip back there and find out myself.

 

Now if I was to post up all of my super secret local routes, then wouldn't they end up becoming just like Deal's Gap? :unsure: In case you don't know this, the LEO's do read the motorcycle forums on the internet looking for just this type of thread.

Here in this area of California we are lucky to have, arguably, the best motorcycle roads in the country. Did 130 mile short loop today and didn't see one LEO, another bike, and only about 20 cars. So my take is that Deal's Gap is way overrated.

 

Re>overrated dragon.

That's funny the dragon is in my back yard about 15 miles from my house. I like the ride but weekend days are out of the question for me unless it is about 6 or 7 on sunday. Another great road that is not as well traveled is the devil's triangle. It's not as tight but just as much fun. The problem with the dragon is these tourist come (no offense) and think they can "tame the dragon" and i get to sit at home and watch the news reports. another motorcyclist dies on the dragon. Hence all the THP officers.

Ride naked,, Its cooler!!!:ncb:

 

The times I've ridden Deal's Gap have been midweek with very little traffic. Weekends look like they can be a bit busy. I love it, the road surface is perfect, the curves are lovely, no police presence when we were there. I like it a lot. YMMV.

 

Went to Deal's Gap summer before last and stayed a week. I owned a Katana 600 at the time. It was by far the best vacation I've ever had! We were there in July and it was a bit crowded on the weekends, however, during the week it wasn't distracting. Me and a long time friend are planning biking over there again this coming summer and staying another week, This time tho I'll be riding a real motorcycle, my 6th gen pearl white VFR. The trip is still six months away but I'm getting anxious!!

 

We have several in AZ. Ever heard of the old 666 highway? It's been renamed the 191, but is famous for its tight turns and twisties on the 100 mile ride. Also, in southern AZ, we ride a short 26 mile road from I-19 to a small town called Arivaca. It's got a bunch of turns and elevation changes in a short distance. Fun road! Salt River Canyon east of Phoenix is also a blast albeit a very short run. Last, one of my personal favorites is Catalina highway up to Mt. Lemon just out of Tucson.

YouTube - Riding Arivaca

 

If you don't like po-po and crowds then yeah deal's gap is overrated on weekends.

But if you go during a slow time it's a blast. The fact there's usually a cameraman taking pictures is a bonus for fellow narcissists.

Here are some photos I bought from cameramen:




The only thing that I'm not a big fan of is how the road is just two lanes. I like it when there are more than 2 because you can really make some wild and fast curves going from one lane to the other.

As for crowds, I'd have to say it's up to you. Some people love going where the party's at and you won't be lonely often up there.

But that damn :mod: is a downer for sure.

 

I have had close MC friends ride the Dragon, one who used to do it all the time until he sold his sportbike and got a Harley.

Eddie (Harley owner) would come back to Delaware after a trip begging me to go with on his next run. Well after a couple years Eddie would return with horror stories of bad passes by motorcyclists and cars coming the other way! On top of that I would look at the Killboy website for shots of Eddie and see a load of people taking bad lines and general craziness. In addition, Eddie came back after one trip telling me about how someone threw a qt. of oil onto one of the turns!

My very good friend Jeff and his wife did a MC tour through that area and road the Dragon during the work week. Jeff came back and said its an awesome road, but you have to have a considerable amount of restraint becasue its a dream road but if you made a mistake the risk is high. Jeff said he wished that they would shut the road down for a couple months each year and let riders sign up and let you rip through it at your own risk. He said it a fun ride for sure.

I asked Jeff if you had a choice, 'track day' or a 'trip to the dragon' what would you do? Jeff smiled and said: "Easy, track day brother".

That settled it for me. However, if I am in the area I'd love to hang with other VFRW members and take a ride thru on a weekday.

So is it overrated? Based upon what I've heard "no", but its popularity has attracted alot of knuckleheads.


BZ

 

First of all, the Dragon isn't even close to my favorite road in the entire area. The Dragon is like a blonde who won't shut up. It's just too much hassle for a so-so ride. MOST riders don't have the concentration and/or skill to ride a road like that. Simple as that.

Second of all you've got to go when others won't be there. This year will be my 4th straight year going in April. Our first day this past year we rode the Dragon when it was snowing and also rode on the Cherohala with the onboard thermometer reading 22 degrees. Every day after that was absolute gorgeous! 70+ degrees and sunny. Most years we've had a mix of good days and bad days. Bad being either cool, raining or both. Still beats a road full of squids in July though! Keep in mind I also love riding in rain and cold so that in no way ruins my trip. That's just me though.

Take some time and explore roads down in Georgia also. Look for "Two wheels only" and Blood Mountain. There's a lot of things to see and do away from the Dragon and the Cherohala. For example, Route 28 heading south from the Dragon is a blast.

So to answer your question, no I don't think it's overrated, BUT, if my first experience was like yours with lots of traffic and other worries, I might feel the same as you. All I know is, the first time I rode the Cherohala I thought I was having a religous experience and I still enjoy it even though I've been on it over a dozen times by now.

Here we are at the end of the snow run. Unfortunately the snow isn't visible but you can tell by our celebration we made it through without issue.



Here's the 22 degree shot:



Bad conditions often make the best memories.

 

Big +1 to these comments from me, I've been there a few times. The road is great, but you gotta know when to go, or rather, when not to go.

 

I'd say that if you have no good riding in your own area Deal's Gap is likely to be a good destination trip.

Luckily for me there are some decent rides not to far. And there are some great roads up near Seb in the Catskills, some really nice roads north of Lake George, NY (a lot with fresh asphalt and LOTS of twists / elevation changes), Route 8 between Hague, NY (route 9N) and Wevertown, NY (route 28) is one of my fav's.

 

we go to to north georgia twice a year....and you practically cant find a bad road there....agree..blood mountain is a great ride..as is #60 and 180...deals is something to do once just to say you did it...because everyone will ask you........cherohala is my personal favorite...especially going east to west

 

I believe I rode on Route 8 this past June. I gotta' say this is one of my favorites if it is in fact the same road. We experienced very little traffic even on a Saturday during Americade. We ran it back and forth a couple times at least.

I'll be back in June of '09 to ride it again without question. Maybe we'll have to hook up for a run.

 

Definetly not overrated! The Dragon is cool to ride, although I agree about too much cop prescence sometimes, but there are so many awesome roads to ride up there, the whole area is amazing!

Also, being from FL makes almost any road with a turn unbelieveable.

And +1 on the photographers on the side of the road...



Myself on my old ZX-6R back in Oct 2007.

 

I love the gap. timing is definitly key I would love to ride with some of you guys next time ur in the area give me a shout can also show ya some lesser known road not too far away. I would love the idea of closing the road for a couple of months maybe march - October or somethin. johan2k08@breakthru.com or just pm me.

 

I rode the Dragon this past September. It was my first time. I'm no knee dragger, but it was a thrill anyway. I let a very skilled Duc rider by, and passed a half dozen cruisers, but most everyone was courteous.

A huge semi came roaring around one incredibly tight curve half way across the center line. It was a shorts threatening moment. Several cages did the same. There's little margin for error.

The LEOs were as thick as fleas, though, and put a damper on things for many of the riders. I heard that two bikes had a head-on the week before, a cruiser and a sport bike, and one of the riders was killed. Guess that happens a bit too often, which is a bit depressing and sobering.

There are a lot of other great roads around there, though. I found one (can't remember the route number) that I liked even better than the dragon. It was easily just as challenging, and there was hardly any traffic, which made it even better!

I will go back some time, but not for a while, although I'll be there in both the Spring and Fall with my wife for the Nascar races at Bristol (but not on my bike - hmmm, I should give that more thought).

I'm looking to tour the Maritime Provences this coming September. I'll meet up with my brother in Syracuse (V-Strom), and we'll continue from there. The Canucks are great, and it should be a great time!

 

We may have to take you up on that some spring/fall. Peggy and l love the area out there. We've been down in north Georgia, and up around Cherokee, and last year we were up around Boone, N. Carolina. All of that area is just super. We usually haul the bikes out on the fifth wheel and spend the time riding new roads. We've done Deal's Gap, Cherahola Skyway, Wolf Pen Gap road (where Peggy passed a couple of Harley riders while she was on her SilverWing scooter), War Woman Road, and many that have no names. And the area up around Boone is also great.

 

There are a lot of great roads around Deal's Gap that are a blast to ride. However if you are really looking to push it I think the Gap is one of the best places. That is only if you go at the right times during the week and never on the weekend. I go once a week during the summer, and have no problem with traffic or cops. Only saw two cops the entire summer (during the week). The road surface is always so clean, almost to the point that you don't have to make scouting runs. In my opinion it is not over rated, just over used at times.

 

I wouldn't say it's over-rated. I would say it's over-advertised & therefore over-used by idiots & assholes.

I have yet to ride a road, that is not is Europe, that is as challenging to ride correctly.

KC-10 FE out...
lane: :usa2: