| Author | Message | ||
     Vaxb |
I just read that a rider on an xb12 went down at deals gap. There were two wrecks at the same so the details are a little sketchy. Hope it was no one here! RIDE SAFE AND SMART! remember our bikes are better than 99.9% of us riding them, so it but you in over your head before you realize it | ||
| Typeone |
News clip from Tail of the Dragon.com JULY 22: BULLETIN - Tragedy Strikes the Dragon - Two riders lost their lives on the Dragon within 24 hours. David Workman age 48 of Alva, Fla, who had been riding with his 14 year old son on the back of his BMW had been reported missing on Thursday night. At 11 am Friday his son crawled to the roadway and summoned help. His father had run off the road at Rocket Corner and been killed. Another death occurred at about 1:15 pm Friday when 62 year old Jack Wolfe of Hagerstown Maryland ran off the road with his Buell just south of the Overlook. This should be a reminder to all riders how dangerous the Dragon can be. Please slow down and ride within your limits. | ||
| Eor |
Damn. | ||
| Rocketsprink |
2 riders killed within 24 hours. One on a BMW and he had his 14 year old son with him. Crashed Thursday and the kid was found on the road side 11am the next day. Crawled to the road from the woods. His Dad was dead. Poor kid. The other was a 62 year old man that went off by the Overlook on his Buell. Man that stinks. Our Group will be there the first week of August. That place is NOT THE PLACE to test your "Skills". That and there are so many drivers in cars that cross the yellow line, who knows if they were forced off the road or just riding too fast. I was forced off the road there last year, and believe me, most places you have no room for error. Let's hope there are no more! www.tailofthedragon.com has all the info. What a shame. | ||
| Rubdoggy |
Heads down for our fallen fellow riders. | ||
| Hammer71 |
Wow, can't imagine how that poor kid feels. Prayers for our fallen riders, families and that poor kid. | ||
| Newxb9er |
A buddy of mine was up camping in Yosimite. His girlfriend woke him up in the middle of the night because she heard screaming. He told her to go back to sleep because it was probably some drunk guy acting up. She persisted, and he kept saying no. Finally, she said she had to go to the bathroom, so now he was forced to get up. Well, after getting up, and walking closer to the screaming, he heard someone yelling for help. It's like 3am, and he walks closer and closer. Finds the guy trapped under his bike in the river. Buddy gets help, and when the paramedics come, they tell him that the guy was less than an hour from death of hypothermia! Broke his collar bone and leg. Guy lost control and went off the cliff somewhere around 9pm!! Crazy. | ||
| Cataract2 |
I plan on doing no and I mean no riding on those tight twisty roads at night when I'm up there. I've learned it's not fun trying to concentrate on tight roads while it's dark out. | ||
| Daveinm |
I agree! It's especially hard wearing contact's. | ||
| Firewhirl |
That place is NOT THE PLACE to test your "Skills". Okay so what is the purpose of riding the GAP? I hear so many people telling stories of how they rode the GAP in fast mode. I've never been there and do not know much about it except I hear enough stories of riders being killed. Is it a nice place to cruise but most people to ride in fast mode? Is that was is causing the deaths or is it really just a bad rode to ride on?} | ||
| Grndskpr |
I plan on doing no and I mean no riding on those tight twisty roads at night when I'm up there. Then you will miss out on one of the most exciting times of your life, it brings meaning to the word scary, you should also try it at midnight in the rain, on a Dyna, thats even more fun, i guess it depends on what you consider having fun, and what your risk tolerences are, mine are pretty high, i go as fast as i feel comfortable, i do my best to not cross the yellow line but it happens, and i think its the best place to build skills, you will find yourself a better rider after you have left there Is that was is causing the deaths or is it really just a bad rode to ride on? } Lots of things can cause deaths at the dragon, litter bikes have issues(this is second hand from a freind who wrecked there big time) they actually have to much HP, will lift a tire between turns, and not get it down in time to make the next turn, which as a rule comes up very fast Lack of concentration kills people, its not a sight seeing road and skill or lack there of, IE riding over your limits, if you dont know your limits, its no place to test them Enjoy your time down there, do the big loop, include the parkway, the gap, 370 i think its a long ride, but well worth it, go as fast as you fell comfortable, and enjoy it, its fun and i think i may be going back in october R | ||
| Ryker77 |
I've only driven the road in a car. My thoughts are that even at the speed limit it would be fun on a bike. I also would be very worried about cars, trucks, and RV's crossing the yellow line. Also the road doesn't offer good distance to view. If a slow car was just around the corner-- you'd be up there •••. | ||
| Xring |
It's not a bad road. I rode it twice (really 2-1/2 times) on Tuesday, July 19th. Not even once did I feel like I was over my head. In fact, didn't even see or hear anybody riding it in fast mode. There was a good mix of Harleys, touring bikes, sport bikes and a few trikes. This is not the place to test your skills...no public road is. Personally, I enjoyed riding the Blue Ridge Parkway more than Deal's Gap. Guess I'm getting old. Good luck, Bill | ||
| Tomd |
Hi, Far be it from me to preach about a place that I have never been to but... Public roads aren't the place to test your skills to the limits. I'll be the first one to admit that I have tested my skills on public roads from time to time and gotten away with it. That being said, I have also raced bikes and cars for the better part of 30 years, the track is a forgiving place, the street is not. Hay bails and run off areas are a lot easier on you and your head than a curb and there are no oncoming SUV's on a track. (hopefully) OK, enough time on my soap box, sorry, I have lost too many friends throughout the years to street racing. May they rest in peace. Tom | ||
| Nadz |
There's a "Dragon" in every state, just find it and you can avoid all the squids and Vipers at Deals Gap. Didn't you buy a Buell to be different? | ||
| Reepicheep |
You can refine your skills without "testing" them. My riding skills made a quantum leap after a weekend at the Gap and surrounding roads. The thing that helps you is that it is just turn after turn after turn, in all sorts of configurations (off camber, on camber, good sightlines, bad sigtlines, diminishing radius, constant, expanding radius, etc). Even the pavement surface changes substantially once you cross the state line. The ability to do so many turns in such rapid succession is just a perfect learning opportunity. The only thing you have to "test" is your ability to hold exactly the line you planned. Slow down or get better until you can hold that line exactly and with complete control, then start thinking about going faster. It's also cool because there are SO many bikers there on all sorts of different bikes. Lots of lines to follow and observe, people to chat with, and just cool sites to watch as you sit there resting. I think the fatalities are just from raw volume (SOOO many bikers there every weekend), and testostrone poisening (people at the gap trying to prove something). The actual gap is pretty nasty, as there are a TON of diminshing radius turns that will totally sucker you in. They start out insanely tight, and you figure "wow, thats an impossibly tight turn", and you go around the first bit at a good speed only to see an even TIGHTER completion to said curve up ahead. It's a perfect setup for a crash. I don't know that the litre bikes have much to do with it, unless it is beacuse those boats handle so heavily  It ain't really a horsepower thing, most mopeds can generate more then enough speed to kill you on any one of several sucker turns up there. I love it though, can't wait to go back. Just test yourself on keeping a perfect line, and adjust accordingly, always keeping a good fat margin. You will still experience some serious "seat clench" a couple times before you are done, but you will get through intact. | ||
| Grndskpr |
I don't know that the litre bikes have much to do with it, unless it is beacuse those boats handle so heavily I do, if you can come out of a turn, grab enuff throttle to pick up the front wheel, there are several turns that you just dont have the time to get the wheel down, this was the case with a freind who ended up with 3 broken ribs and a puctured lung, smoothness is the key at the gap, being smooth, and having smooth control I loved riding the gap at night, but i did need to follow some oen due to my lack of night vision, guess living in a large city will do it to you every time On another note, bring plenty of water, you can get dehidrated very quickly, and not even know it till your passed out early cause your so beat Again consider some of the other raods while you are there The road to fontana dam is great(28 past the gas station/deals gap aveture resort) 129 past the resort, and for fun, if its not to crowded try a loop on the dragon, start at the gas station, and at the look out pull a u turn and go back up with out stopping Great fun, also if you get a chance theres a general store on 28 past fontana(another great road over the mountian) stop off at the store and sign there awning, there trying hard to cater to bikes and very nice people I think i could go on and on, just have fun relax and enjoy, you will be going faster by the end of the trip, i would almost put money on it R | ||
| Cataract2 |
First road, the Gap, after that will be what I can get too. | ||
| Bryguy269 |
i was there last week, on wednesday i believe, a very fun road to ride, and you can see on the hairpin turns where people come into them too hot and skidmarks off the side of the cliff/hills, kind of makes you slow down and think about what you're doin. and don't worry about faster riders coming up behind you, it will more than likely happen, don't try to keep up if you aren't comfortable and anyone who rides this wonderful stretch of twists and turns will come out fine | ||
| Bomber |
nuther factor is that the Gap is just corner after corner after corner -- if you are any where near your personal limit, you're gonna run outa breathe -- concentration is one of the keys here there is, as Grounder sez, no where (sorry few wheres) that offer the room to loft a wheel and get it back down again in time to make the next corner -- folks that think they are hot shoes will either re-think their skill level or have their butts handed to em . . . . it's BIG fun, it can be big SAFE fun (day or night, wet or dry), but, as always, the biggest safety factor is your own right wrist like Bry sez, ride your own ride, let the passers do the passing, and enjoy yourself -- you'll go home a better rider with some BIG stories to tell Try some of the routes grounder mentions -- there's a buncha good riding to do in the area | ||
| Bcordb3 |
It seems a lot of folks want to blame the machine, not the man. It's easy ride within your limits (not the machines). Know the road. Know the conditions. Most of all enjoy the ride. God Bless the 2 guys who died recently. In particulary God help the boy who had to see his dod die. | ||
| Buells Rule! (Dyna in disguise) |
I don't know that the litre bikes have much to do with it, unless it is beacuse those boats handle so heavily Bad trolling effort  Hmm, when I was there in sept of 02 with Brag we had 7 XB's there & 5 of them crashed yet I dont recall any litre bikes wiping out that weekend. you should also try it at midnight in the rain, on a Dyna, thats even more fun, Rog, been there & done that..actually it was after midnight & in the fog, talk about a pants wetting ride. And that was my 1st time thru also. | ||
| Grndskpr |
Rog, been there & done that..actually it was after midnight & in the fog, talk about a pants wetting ride. And that was my 1st time thru also. It was so much fun, 2 Dynas and a Bandit, rained 3 of the 4 nights we were there, never got in before 11 each night, rain and the dragon, i have to admit i was going on the slow side, but funny to talk about now also following Bomber on the gap at night after deciding there was plenty of light left, we can make it down and back, ahhhh fun fun times I need to get back again, october looks good R | ||
| Kcfirebolt |
I posted this on the quick board earlier today. This might be a better place for it. My mother, who lives in Western North Carolina, saw this article in a local paper and says that the I-3 project is slated to run through and replace the Dragon. I can't get the website in the article to come up, so I can't confirm that this is a real possibility, but thought we might want to keep an eye on this if it develops. http://www.highlandsnews.com/articles/2005/07/19/news/01news.txt | ||
| Rocketsprink |
That's been the rumor for a while now. Problem is no way in hell are they going to let them straighten it out due to the fact it runs right along the National Forest boarder. Plus there are endangered animals in the are. Go to www.tailofthedragon.com It's right on the front page. Now if the would build a road elsewhere to alleviate the traffic, I'm all for that! | ||
| Kraven |
I live in the area. One of the biggest dangers, aside from Calamari on all sizes of bikes and in cars, are big transfer trucks (18 wheelers) going through there. Lots of people lose their lives there, but no matter how many people die, there's always someone ready to be the next dead guy at Deal's Gap. And, we locals think it's a real Pain In The ••• that people come here and treat our roads like a track. It endangers our family members and communities. Lots of throttle monkeys get their asses kicked around here every year for doing stupid things that they know better than to do. Of course, I know it won't stop. I just don't even go there anymore. There are better roads that are less populated/well known and more accessible to ride. And, there's always Road Atlanta and VIR. | ||
| Bomber |
Grounder alluded to this fun fact -- when yuo're out in the toolies, in a heavily forested area, when it decides to get dark, it get DARK, and in a hurry -- we went from "gee, it looks like the sun might be setting soon" to "middle of the freakin night and was that banjo I heard up in the hills" in what seemed like 5 minutes . . . . kraven -- I understand the feelings of the folks in the area -- I try, especially when there's traffic, to keep my pace way below the danger level (I'd rather have big fun and be able to come back than HUGE fun and never see the next day) I can also understand you're not going back, and I'm sorry the crowds have ruined a great place for you -- of course, other locals spreading motor oil in at the apexes might have taken some of the joy outa your riding experience too, yes? (insert smiley face here) | ||
| Lake_bueller |
I had my first taste of the Dragon in May of this year. During the course of 3-4 days, I think we totaled about 12 runs on the Gap. Without a douht, it's not someplace to be "joe racer". But with some good throttle control and patience, you'll get better in a hurry. But you MUST know your limits (both physical and mental). There was one run were I pulled into one of the turnoffs because I was mentally loosing my concentration. You have to know that it's happening or you will get hurt. That being said...see ya there in October | ||
| Grndskpr |
But you MUST know your limits (both physical and mental). Explain more please, pretzel boy R | ||
| Lake_bueller |
I felt fine while I was there. My back didn't give out until riding back from RA in the rain (sans suit  ) Sounds like we have a free use of a truck for the trip in October. Now I'm working on a trailer. | ||
| Kraven |
Bomber, You're absolutely right. | ||
| Court |
>>>>to keep my pace way below the danger level Public roads are very intolerant of those who fail to know this, one of life's simple lessons. I've seen WAY too many people riding at breakneck foolish speeds get bit then folks stand there, heads tilting like puppies seeing their first osciallating fan, saying "but he was a good rider". If he/she was blasting through a highly techinical ill-maintained, crowded, oft sabotauged public road, that statement immediately becomes quite hollow. Ride safe. Read it again. Ride Safe. These, particularly the two-up accidents where a bloomin' idiot takes in their hands the fate of an innocent, stir me. I still recall the guy with the cutie sitting on the pillow at a B.R.A.G. event who put the S-1 through the picket fence and nearly onto a front porch. Motorcycles are serious stuff. Court |
