Im taking my 03 to the dragon this week jun 30 - july 3rd.. was wondering if anyone has any insight to the dragon on the VFR and how they liked/disliked it.. i have been before but this is the first trip there on this bike so i was curious..
I've been to Deals Gap 6 times on my VFR & Hawk GT. It is definitely worth the trip. I have no issues with the bike itself since the Dragon is not a road that emphasizes top speed & high HP. It is VERY easy for me to leave the 600's in the dust. It is very challenging for me to try to keep up with the 1000's & it's almost always down to how good the rider is. If the 1000 is being piloted by a scrub, I can hang no problem. If Valentino Rossi is there on vacation, there is no way a VFR can keep up in that situation. Make sure your bike is in top shape before you leave. If you're still running the OEM tires, get rid of them. It was on the Dragon that I learned just how much Dunlop D204K's suck. Continental Road Attack's are Dragon tested & approved. I can offer these tips: 1) You ARE NOT a Moto GP champion. Don't try to act like one. Take your time time the first time you ride. Start out from the Resort & ride to the over-look, take a break, catch your breath & then ride to the lake. Many people have been killed on that road, don't be one of them. The first time around, budget 45 minutes for the 11 miles. 2) Try to avoid the weekends if at all possible. Lots of car & bike clubs show up on weekends & they act like total idiots. The last time I was there, the Nissan 350Z club was there & a few of these jackasses almost killed me. For some reason, the car drivers on that road like to cross the center line. 3) Wear your best gear. If you have to, buy stuff you don't have. You may be the best rider on the planet but if you round the blind corner & a tractor-trailer is in your lane, that is not the time to wish you were wearing full leathers. 4) If you aren't picky about hotel accomodations, the Resort should be just fine for you. They usually have a campfire going at night. 5) Don't forget about the other kick ass roads. The Blue Ridge Parkway, The Cherohala Scenic Skyway, the HellBender, The Great Smokey Mountain Parkway, etc. If you're interested, I can give you a route that takes all day & is about 310 miles. 6) If you trailer down, stay in Cherokee or Gatlinburg. The main reason is there is alot more in Cherokee or Gatlinburg compared to Robbinsville. It would then be a 1 hour drive from either town to the Dragon. 7) Wheeler's will fix anything you pay him too. Your WWII Sherman tank bust a track? Pay him enough & Wheeler will fix it. Don't hesitate to ask me anything else. KC-10 FE out... lane: :usa2:
thanks man the trip was awesome! i went down there 7/1 -7/3 which was tuesday thru thursday and stayed in marysville. i just missed the porche club of america so it wasnt too crowded. i saw only 2 cops the whole trip i guess they were just waiting for the 4th of july crowd and there really wasnt that many bikes there either.. i hit the dragon, skyway, hellbender, and smokey mt. parkway. but no matter where you go there its beautiful country. I rode down and used only a Castle Oxford Humpback tank bag, it held 4 changes of clothes and extra tools just in case.. and also now im sold on the Pilot Power 2cts and sargent seat for sure!!
