We get down to the Gap often - (11 trips this year) and always enjoy meeting other riders..

Anyone else here regulars there?

I've never been because I've been riding less than a year but I should try it out since I live in SC and it's not too far. What makes the Gap more popular than other roads?

Oh boy...you haven't heard of the Gap??? I don't have time to go into it, but i will say 318 turns in 11mi of mountain road. Need i say more? Just go here http://www.tailofthedragon.com/ for more info and to start planning your trip. :D

I've just gotten back into riding these past couple of months, but i usually go a few times a year with some friends from the Chapel Hill/Durham area of NC. The bummer is that i've just moved up to Missouri (which is where i bought my bike) so i don't think i'll be making it there riding anytime soon. But i've been up there quite a few times with my RX7, a friend who has a VW R32, and a few heavily modified Maximas. It's always a blast, but, frankly, would be a bit intimidating for me on a bike right now. I'd need to do a bit more riding before feeling ready to take the dragon on two wheels. 8)

What makes the Gap more popular than other roads?
I think it's all about maxing the number of turns per mile.

http://www.rhiannondaugherty.com/images/TODmapsm.gif

I'm new too, so I'm waiting until Spring. See you guys out there.

I've heard of it, just never gone.

Thre are lots of reasons the Gap is such a great place..

It's a great technical road, good surface, no intersecting roads, crosses the state line (if the LEO's are there you know if from the riders at either end), the store at the crossroads is a great place to hang out and people/bike watch, the area people are friendly and there are great rides a few minutes away in any direction, as well as some good places to eat! You can meet all kinds of riders having fun together.

Add to that how beautiful the area is, and it makes it pretty popular. I personally wouldn't mind it being a little less crowded, but overall it's a great place to be.

What's the weather like up there this time of year? Is there an "off season" or do people go year round?

What's the weather like up there this time of year? Is there an "off season" or do people go year round?

We occasionally get a decent riding day in the winter, and the crowds are way down because groups don't pre-plan trips in the off season.. Some of the best riding there is in winter,,, but the weather won't always let you.

But - the store is closed so the food and gas are a bit away from the gap (we just bring ours).

...But - the store is closed...
:shock:
Is this road in the middle of no where? I mean it does connect two places doesn't it? Yikes - good info to know. How far out from civilization is it?

...But - the store is closed...
:shock:
Is this road in the middle of no where? I mean it does connect two places doesn't it? Yikes - good info to know. How far out from civilization is it?

you can go 9 miles down route 28 and Gas up at Fontana village - the ride there is a good one, and you can eat or stay at Fontana.

Robbinsville is about 18 Miles down 129, and there's gas, food and lodging there as well, with the Best NC BBQ at SweetWater BBQ.

Other that those, it's quite a run to anywhere else, and we like it that way!

Yeah, it's what...about an hour to the Ashville suburbs? Something like that...mebbe a little more...but there are some little places along the way there and back, like PJ said.

Gosh, More and more I hear the more and more I wanna go. Plus now BBQ to boot! I love BBQ! Used to have a NCBBQ place down here and it was great, but think the idiots down here didn't get the point "Where's the sauce?" and so it went under. Humph. :(

Gosh, More and more I hear the more and more I wanna go. Plus now BBQ to boot! I love BBQ! Used to have a NCBBQ place down here and it was great, but think the idiots down here didn't get the point "Where's the sauce?" and so it went under. Humph. :(

I'll tell you what, next season as soon as it opens up, I'll go up there with you. I can't wait to go and nobody around here goes (that I know).

Gosh, More and more I hear the more and more I wanna go. Plus now BBQ to boot! I love BBQ! Used to have a NCBBQ place down here and it was great, but think the idiots down here didn't get the point "Where's the sauce?" and so it went under. Humph. :(

I'll tell you what, next season as soon as it opens up, I'll go up there with you. I can't wait to go and nobody around here goes (that I know).

If you two go, let me know. I'll run up there too. I'm only several hours from the Dragon.

We'll get together when it gets closer and try to make it a mini meetup... Coool beans!

Guys - if you guys go, plan early and reserve your rooms right at the crossroads, and Let Minx and I know - we're always up for meeting friends down there...

My wife of 32 years likes to mention our first date. We rode dragon on a Honda 250 Motosport. That was in 1975, about 20 years before it was known to the sport bike world. We took the loop from Gatlinburg around the Smokies thru the Dragon on to Cherokee and back. which is about 125 miles plus.

I was at Deals Gap four times this last year. I took the Cherohala Skyway two times that took me around the Dragon. I rode to Deals Gap from Gatlinburg last Sept. (The photo in my avatar was taken along the DealsGap route). I didn't catch up with any motorcycles or cars and no one caught up with me. There was a Harley rally in Cherokee that week so I did meet a few Hogs (10 or so) riding the opposite direction. I was a bit lucky to catch that window of low traffic.

If any rides are to be scheduled, avoid holidays, weekends and varoius rallies. You might check Dealsgap.com for possibilities. On the other hand, it's nice to stop at Deals Gap on busy days to watch the bikes come and go. I can rally up with anyone at about anytime, weather abiding.

About the weather. Around the end ot March the weather starts getting good enough to ride on a regular basis but not as a scheduled event because the weather can get cold and wet with some snow and snow flurries. By April, you can count on good riding times but rainy days can set in and depending how you get to the area, the mountain routes can get cold and if raining, down right cold. We very rarely have snow or even snow flurries in April. I love riding in April and May along country roads. You can see the scenery because the weeds and roadside vegation haven't grow up to block the view.

We'll get together when it gets closer and try to make it a mini meetup... Coool beans!

Sounds good to me.

Paige put some of our Dragon pics from this year online...



I hope the link work.. you might have to cut and paste..
http://www.fototime.com/ftweb/bin/ft.dll/pictures?
userid={C25B4338-C5D5-4301-84E5-996AD2B40C21}&
inv=FD699F3A0D0E9CD&userid={C25B4338-C5D5-4301-84E5-996AD2B40C21}&
inv=FD699F3A0D0E9CD&albumid={5EDCA45A-0411-42FB-BAF8-EB8318987B6E}

Some photos taken of my run to Deals Gap and back on Hwy129.

http://s116.photobucket.com/albums/o39/tomacana/DealsGap/

Paige put some of our Dragon pics from this year online...



I hope the link work.. you might have to cut and paste..


For long links like that you can always use http://tinyurl.com/ to make a smaller url for a long one to use on forums. ie: http://tinyurl.com/y35pmc

I got parts in today from Artfibras. Tail tidy and rear hugger'
Here's the pics

Also, I re-posted the link to my Deals Gap run last Saturday, Dec 16
http://www.photoreflect.com/scripts/prsm.dll?myphotos?a=348330

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o39/tomacana/TailTidy1.jpg
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o39/tomacana/TailTidy2.jpg

I just ordered my tail tidy from them too. Should be arriving soon. Can't wait to install it! Looks great from the pics.

You Deals Gap guys need to get together for a ride and take lots of pictures! Eh? :D

AleX,
It looks like we may have a few east coast riders heading this way in the spring. PJFZ1 makes more trips to the dragon than I do and I'm barely 40 miles of country roads away. I'm hoping to link up with different and visit and hopefully escort them back of the state.

There are plenty of photos to entice one on various Dragon links. The volumes of pictures are on the buy photo tabs. Thousands of photos in a week.
http://www.dealsgap.com/customers.htm
http://www.dragonslayerphotos.com/

:?: Anyone getting a ride to Deals Gap? I would like to hear about it and catch with your group coming thru or meet at the Deals Gap or Calderwood.

I don't plan to attend the Hoot or activities, butI was looking at the Honda Hoot Schedule. They have some fairly good destination rides, one of which is to the Cherohala Skyway. This route would probably loop thru along Hwy 129.
The Cumberland Gap ride could be good. I'm sure there is a lot of major highway as part of the route and that alone would deter me.

Like today for example. I was cutting weeds and tree sprouts. I had to break for lunch nad what could be better than a three hour tour. A three hour tour. Its about 35 miles to Frussies Deli in Knoxville, Tn. I took the 60 mile route along the back roads to get there and about 70 miles on the return trip. Left home at noon and returned by 3. Rested a bit and went back to cutting weeds. Pretty lame by this time.

Being that tis is a Deals Gap post. Lets post some arrivial times and incite others in the forum to tag up.

...Like today for example...
I do not find your continued taunting amusing... :lol:

My purchase this month is some soft luggage...
Then //maybe// a hugger and windscreen...
Then tires...
Then put the original sprockets back on...
Then you will be sorry... :wink: You will get NO yard work done!

:twisted: What, me taunt :?:

My wife of 32 years likes to mention our first date. We rode dragon on a Honda 250 Motosport. That was in 1975, about 20 years before it was known to the sport bike world. We took the loop from Gatlinburg around the Smokies thru the Dragon on to Cherokee and back. which is about 125 miles plus.



I remember the summer of '83, with a new Seca 550, getting off work at midnight in Knoxville and riding to Newfound Gap and back through Gatlinburg late at night with a few other bikes. Crazy.

The Dragon run was known to us then as "riding to Fontana".

The Dragon run was known to us then as "riding to Fontana".

Exactly. I have made the route a few times over the years and Hwy129 was just part of the trip. I worked for the Nat'l Park Service and used the Fontana route to get to the Twenty Mile Ranger Station and Hwy129 to get to to the Foothillls Parkway. I was without a motorcycle for years, so my trips were mostly in a van and sometimes a sedan.

Tom the best part is sitting there eating a burger and seeing a 18 wheeler pulling out of the pass :shock: :lol:

Hard to believe it WAS just a regular road, couldn't try any harder to get more curves in there... :clap

It sure is a good place to see bikes come and go. I've been lucky and not got behind a 16 wheeler. What gear did you ride in?. I ran mainly in 3rd and 4th. Or was, it whatever gear that seemed right. You can't really watch the tach and speedo.

I haven't ridden a lot in the last couple of weeks. Hot weather and thundershowers and deterred my day rides. Mary and I have taken a few long rides in the evening to have dinner.

Well, the hot weather in Tennessee finally broke and I've made three trips to Deal's Gap. I went today and met JohnnyG. He was riding the yellow 04 Hornet previously belonging to MotoGP. Nice bike, I like the rim tape.

I also met the PJFZ1 and Paige. A link to their home page and DealsGap photos below,,,,,
http://www.pjsparts.com/
and link to the photos sections for their Deals Gap photos.

So Alex, about next Wednesday or so, you can check Deals Gaps postings and you should be able to find us on Hwy129. Of course, PJFZ1 and that group are on FZ1's and a 650 Nighthawk with Mohawk trim on their helmets.

DAMN YOU ALL! :mrgreen:

:point :thumbsup

I live about 40 minutes from the Gap

I live just ouside Alcoa... I would like to think myself as a gap regular...

I live over in Nashville, and have friends that live near the Gap. Looking to make a trip over when it warms up