I expect this Spring to be patrolled worse than usual (2 years ago the THP and NCHP alternated weekends.) I have heard of two accidents on the Dragon, one of them being air lifted. Weekdays are the only time I would ride it and enjoy it. If you are coming from the North, I would drive through Maryville on Hwy 321 towards Townsend and take the Foothills Parkway over to the Dragon. Alot of the locals take the Dragon to Robbinsville,NC to the Cherohalla Skyway and head down to Hwy 68 in Tellico Plains,TN and then back to Maryville. This is a great day trip!

You going to meet us up there Seeker?

Would love to meet up with you guys on the 18th and 19th but I won't know till the preceding weekend whether I will be in town or not. I will just have to play it by ear. Keep posting on here as the time grows near!

The cct went out on mine wednesday got an ape on order hopefully we can get it back in there early this week.

i checked the forcast for next monday, shows 40 percent chance of t-storms. 60 percent chance tuesday. fingers crossed-

Adams...I've been watchin too, may have to push into end of week. Don't book reservations yet...Justin will already be up the weekend prior, weather looks ok Sat/Sun.

Hello this is zozoom14 out of Charlotte NC a new rider to this site. I might have some time to make the ride. I will monitor the site for updates. If u think u know me then we might have had a ride to Rockingham for the MIROCK event some weeks ago.

Welcome zozoom14...another rider from Charlotte, NC. Do the proper intro under "Newbies" and it's about time - LOL

Okay cool. Yea one more ZX14 rider from the Queen City, QC. and thanks.

well, weather may or may not be a factor, but im gonna risk it anyway. with a baby coming, this may be the last ninja trip i will be able to take in a while, ,so im goin. rain shine, or hurricane. lol

I'm a ride or die type but them twisties r alot more fun dry. Got my Pirelli Angel ST's for the challenge rain or shine....

sounds good. we will make it fun- mama said a lil rain never hurt no one-

Latest weather report looks good...Anyone else trying to meetup with us speak up.

The 14 is ready to go got the cct in everything seems good. Please No rain tomorrow. Or I have to be here Monday. :(

Can't get off work this week. I hope the weather stays good for you guys and maybe next time I can make the ride!

So how did it go? I'm heading to the dragon and the devils triangle 4/25-4/27.

I didn't get to go may try to ride up this weekend also. My freinds went and had a blast. They said there was a few
small rock slides on the skyway but all in all perfect.

* Last updated by: justins07zx10 on 4/20/2011 @ 4:16 PM *

Did not make it. But I do hope all had a fun ride. So how was it Shogun1?

Met up with Adamsgeneral on the Dragon and had a great time. Rt28 aka Hellbinder is also a great ride to the Dragon. Ride report to follow with pics, still downloading. Checked this one off the bucket list by slaying the Dragon. A must if you are riding thru the area....

yes sir! those were some great roads! the best i have to encounter!

ride was great, went up last monday, came back the next day. all of the first day, there were no thp anywhere to be seen. i did see a few ncshp, but they were only in Robbinsville city limits. rode the skyway, and I must say that was quite a boring stretch, the tail was much better. hwy 28 was great also, the scenery cant be beat, and everyone is surprisingly friendly. i saw some crazy riders up there, and can see how things could get out of control. I was speeding quite frequently, but usually less than 10 over. i did see thp on tuesday, and i was in a sharp curve, and didnt slow down, but he didnt seem to care, because my "fast" is nothing like the locals fassssssst. the speed limit is 30. i didnt want much more than 40-45mph. im not a track racer, i do like curves, but im not pushing my limits with my nice ride, i have no desire to fall off a cliff either. so, all in all, there is great fun to be had, most people drive like they have sense. but the careless guys i saw on that stretch made me wonder how they are still alive. (the fastest things up there are supermotos) I did see a crash on Tuesday, was involving a cruiser. most cruisers have no business on that road. especially the ones who ride like crap. thats my little report, sorry if i got a little winded.

It's a blast down here. Ran the dragon 4 times and the cherohala skyway was just as good or better
No more chicken strips.... Well ok I'll admit to a little on the right side

It was blast!...had a few days to ride around in mountains, not just the Dragon. Took the Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP) over from Blowing Rock/Grandfather Mountain, NC. It was cool but highest posted speed limit was 55. I was able to push higher speeds in some areas but forest/trees were too close to the road and didn't want to chance something running out (was riding solo). If anyone is going to ride the BRP, I recommend staying at the Switzerland Inn (bike friendly & just outside Asheville, NC)) in a town called Little Switzerland with an exit right of the parkway; I used this as base camp. The owner Gary Jr. is a rider as well and provided plenty of information about the best area roads which included an awesome route closeby called Rt226A/226 aka the "Diamond Back" one minute from the Inn.

Rt226A/226 is a loop route with 190 mountain switchbacks in 12 miles IMO just as technical as the Dragon with less curves & no failsafe spots if you screwup. The Inn hosts several annual sport cars & bike rallys there just not as well known as the Dragon yet; nice spot for a ZX14 rally

Next morning took I40w to I74 (BRP too slow) to Rt28N aka "Moonshiner or Hellbender" over to the 129/Dragon to meetup with Adamsgeneral. Rt28 is a nice warmup to the Dragon with faster sweeping curves to open the bike up some. As soon as I arrive at the local Dragon hangout, someone on a Harley had wiped out and ambulance was coming to the scene (nothing too crazy but bumps, bruises & lost pride). Still I was like! Not going lie, seeing shit like that and haven't ridden the Dragon yet makes you think, then think twice ...Many a good rider have been broken by the tail but being the ride or die type guy that I am...got my mind right and slayed the Dragon.

* Last updated by: Shogun1 on 5/2/2011 @ 3:48 PM *

great pic, is that a full set of leathers? We just missed each other. I saw several busas but I was the only zx14 around on Friday.

Its only about 300 miles from my house. I will be going back

Thanks on the pic, professionally taken from the several photograghers setup at various turns there. Did you check for yours? On the leather, it's a mix-matched two piece which works & looks good together. I like the fact I can take the jacket off when stopped. Maybe next time we'll connect there...there a few guys that posted here that were looking go May/June.