Every motorcycle rider has a mental list of their favorite riding spots, a compilation usually dictated by teh sort of bike they ride. I’ve known stunt riders who were content to rip massive wheelies along city bridges and Florida causeways, while my cruiser-mounted friends swear by long, slightly curvy country lanes that challenge neither rider not machine too much. For many cafe racers I’ve shared the road with, post-ride talk inevitably turns towards the road known as Tail of The Dragon, or US Route 129 on the North Carolina/Tennessee border. This intimidating and skill-taxing piece of road is comprised of an incredible, improbably 129 turns in just 11 miles, and it’s enough to draw in riders from throughout North America and beyond. Most weekends, the Dragon is filled to capacity with motorcycles of every configuration, high-performance sports cars and anything else that’s fun to zip around corners with. Unfortunately, a great many commercial truckers are also utilizing the road as their GPS systems mistakenly direct them to Deal’s gap (as it’s commonly known) as a shortcut to nearby Gatlinburg, Tenn.
Having spent considerable time testing my own personal limits and that of several motorcycles on US 129, I can offer some sage advice to anyone seat on turning their wheels there in the near future. First off, try and schedule your visit to a weekday, not a weekend. There’s far fewer machines tearing up the tarmac on week days w=ich makes the road far safer the on Saturdays or Sundays. There are some seriously quick racers who congregate on US129 on weekends, and local photographers have shared plentiful images with cafe racer magazine of the disastrous results when too many decide to strafe the same apex at the same time.
Also, make sure your motorcycle and your body is in good enough condition to take on what’s easily one of the most challenging roadways in the country. The late motorcycle safety instructor Larry Grodsky once described the Tail of The Dragon as “not 318 turns, but the same two turns 159 times in very quick succession” and for food reason. The G-forces, vertigo and sheer physicality of the place can tire out even the fittest rider in no time flat. Make sure your tires are in top spec, there’s no oil leaks or loose bits on your ride before heading out and always, always be on the alert for other vehicles that ma over-cook a corner entry and wind up in your lane…
Also, use your noggin when riding this beast: There’s a well-chronicled Tree of Shame at the end of the road that’s filled with crash-damaged bits of many hundreds of bikes that have come to grief navigating these treacherous turns and you certainly don’t want to join this sad display. The bends tend to be so unforgivingly tight, staying in third gear and keeping speeds under 55 MPH is the smartest way to proceed.
To be honest, after several trips up and down the 11-mile length of Deal’s gap, I’ve frequently ventured further afield into the Great Smoky Mountains recreational area where I’ve discovered long, empty and very curvy mountain roads that were far superior to US 129. Despite all the risks and precautions, the Tail of the Dragon is America’s most popular motorcycle destination and for good reason- ne pass and you’ll never forget riding here.