deals gap NC

Posted: Thu Jan 23, 2014 11:05 pm

looked at a area weather thing and it showed an average of 6" of rain in the area in the month of june.....is this for real ????...should we bring water wings ???? or am I reading this wrong.....although mother nature cant be controlled ...what is the normal weather like down there in June.????

Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2014 12:42 am

I have been to the area numerous times. I have stayed in Robbinsville at the Microtel and more recently in Franklin, NC. Franklin is a great town, lots of access to food AND ALCOHOL (not available in Robbinsville, dry county!!).

There is a Microtel in Franklin as well - and the best part, is you get to ride 28 to get to the Dragon, or you can run it in a southerly direction through Cashiers and into N.Georgia for a full day of amazing fun.

As for weather, bring rain gear just in case. It does get humid, but usually the weather moves quickly.

Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2014 3:56 am

One other comment if I may. Do not be to concerned about doing circle loops in your days riding, althought this is a very logical mode of touring the area. I hope that you will find (as we have) that turning around or back tracking the same road, that it presents in a very different set of challenges. Some roads we road up and down more then once just because they were so nice to ride.

Tony

Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2014 4:21 am

Quote:

stay away from the dragon on the weekends to many cops

Went down 3 years ago,, seemed like about 4 cops for every mile of road on the dragon.... Posted Speed limit 25 mhp,, 31 mph gets you a speeding ticket,, ask my riding buddy, I think he paid $121 fine, NOT for 31 mph over,, just for going 31 MPH in a 25 zone.

Took all the fun out of what was supposed to be a fun weekend of "spirited riding"

Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2014 4:35 pm

Yes - its always better to ride the Dragon in the middle of the week, and in the mid-morning. That being said, I've made many "spirited" runs on the Dragon on Saturday. Just depends on the traffic and the cop's priorities.

Of course, my "spirited" and someone else's may be totally different...... Cool

Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2014 5:15 pm

Speed limit on Dragon is 30. If you can maintain 30, you are doing well.

It is a ton of fun at just about any speed.

Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2014 11:03 pm

My favorite Gap photos (the CBX one from several years ago). No knee dragging for me!

Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2014 11:27 pm

Great pic of the big 6, well lit for the low sun.

Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2014 11:34 pm

I had the girlfriend take these, that's why they're fuzzy, lol

Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2014 1:42 am

Z, that beautiful pic of your X should be in the second book that Ian is putting together.

Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2014 2:47 am

Wow...great shots..can't wait....but can anyone tell me what the weather is like there in June ?
PS....love that shot of the fz1 and cbx

Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2014 4:13 am

Thanks! The weather in June will be warm, but the rain will be hit or miss. Sometimes, it will rain hard everyday, and sometimes, it may not rain for a week or two. Ya has to take what ya gets! Wink

Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2014 4:19 am

smurdoch wrote:

Z, that beautiful pic of your X should be in the second book that Ian is putting together.

Thanks! Its actually in Ian's first book.

Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2014 5:42 pm

Cherohala Skyway:

The Dragon:

The Devils Whip:

Weather: Notice the rain jacket in the last shot. It was not raining but the low clouds up on the mountain made for rather cool and damp riding. In fact it did not rain all day, but those kind of mornings can make for cool riding weather in June.

Below is a shot taken from the Hampton Inn parking lot in Gatlinburg. Again low cloud covers the mountains. Hey, why do they call them "The Smokies"? I tend to wear mesh gear on the upper body because I know it can and will be hot in TN, KT, NC. But the temperature can and will drop as you gain altitude in the mountains. From Telico Plains at 98F (near sea level) the temp dropped to about 65F when we hit 6000ft up on the Cherohala in Sept of 2007. It was like riding with the aircon on which was great.

I'd suggest rain gear for sure (don't leave home without it). and then use a system of layers that you can add or remove as needed to suit your temperature on the day. I use my rain jacket as a wind blocker to seal up the mesh gear. I also take a long sleeve turtle neck shirt as part of the back up plan.

Tony

Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2014 8:14 pm

Tony, like how you mounted VFR bags on your Bird.

Got a link to a thread on that?

Twinstar Joined: Dec 18, 2013 Posts: 257 Location: NC

Ah... I'd really like to get out and ride. Cold, cold cold!

Posted: Sun Jan 26, 2014 1:12 am

SEBSPEED wrote:

Tony, like how you mounted VFR bags on your Bird.

Got a link to a thread on that?

SEB,
Believe it or not..those are not VFR hardbags. Well they are and yet they are not. Yes they are the same design as the Honda OEM VFR bag but they are actually tagged as "CBR1100XX" on each bag. PM to follow with some details if you like.

Tony

Posted: Sun Jan 26, 2014 1:40 am

Ed,
As you can see from the pictures posted, there are no right hand corners or turns down south. After all, your in NASCAR land..."Go fast, turn left"!

Tony "just call me Bubba" Bagley

Posted: Sun Jan 26, 2014 2:09 am

that's ok Tony...i'll just flip my tires when I get home Laughing

Posted: Sun Jan 26, 2014 2:59 am

LOL! There are right handers, but you have to ride a dualsport bike! Laughing

Posted: Sun Jan 26, 2014 3:24 am

We from the Great White North "don't roll that way" Razz

Tony

Posted: Sun Jan 26, 2014 8:45 pm

Couple of tips on Dragon - almost all of it is in Tenn - so it will be Tenn cops that you will be looking for and they have to come from that end of the Dragon.
Start at the NC end and use that run as a sighting lap to get a look at it ( you'll never learn it all) and check for cops setting up. When you get down to the lake - turn around and have at it coming back if everything looked good going down. Weekdays are of course best.

LOTS of really good roads all around that area with hardly any traffic.

Have fun and keep F'n around!!

HACKSAW

Posted: Sun Jan 26, 2014 9:13 pm

SEBSPEED wrote:

Speed limit on Dragon is 30. If you can maintain 30, you are doing well.

It is a ton of fun at just about any speed.

SEB, I kind of wish you hadn't posted this pic; I'm going with Ed on this ride and taking my VFR. Now he's going to bust my ass until he sees me drag a knee....

Thanks guys for all the input!

Posted: Sun Jan 26, 2014 9:34 pm

In that case, I'll save the one where I'm almost dragging my saddlebag for later. Smile

Are you on vfrdiscussion.com?

Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 4:35 am

SEBSPEED wrote:

Are you on vfrdiscussion.com?

Yes

Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 5:58 pm

I saw a video of a guy on a Gold Wing going really fast through there.

He was being filmed by a very capable sport bike that was having a tough time keeping up.

Heavy grinding on both sides, lots of sparks!

Have Fun,

Toonces

Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 6:08 pm

was it yellow

That would have been Yellow Wolf, he is usually the one following with the camera and chewing up sport bikes

Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 6:27 pm

The guy filming yellow wolf was also on a Goldwing. Pretty capable full-dress boat.
Gabe

Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 11:02 pm

I have had the distinct pleasure of being chased up the Dragon by Rick on his 'wing, on camera.

Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2014 2:11 am

djhurayt wrote:

Spike,
Next time loop back around on 215, if your in the area you gotta hit it. For that matter check all the roads I have marked on that version of the link above. Let me know when you are in the area I have another version with a few special section of road that are a little less know about. Talk to Tattoo lately?

david

Miss me?????? Laughing

Yea I'm still around!!!!!!! We did ride 215. That's one of more favorite roads to ride....... Bar none!!!!!!

Hope all are well???????

Tattoo