K11 Owners Group

HoosierStu

I plan to visit my family in Tennessee this spring. I will make my daughter and our exchange student ride in the tiny backseats of my Tacoma pickup so that I can trailer the K11 down there.
We will be going to Cookeville TN. My wife and I then plan to drop off the kiddies with grandma and hit the road. It looks like the dragons tail is a bit farther than my wife will want to ride.
We might do two or three days of riding at 100-150 miles a day.

The question is, where should we go? I'm sure there is a ton of stuff on the internet regarding were to ride in TN, but I first wanted to check and see if any of you are familiar with this area.

[url][/url]
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"Still can't find 6th gear" 94 K1100LT

HoosierStu · Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 10:36 am Post subject:

Update.

I did the research and found that Deals Gap is only 131 miles from Mom's house. Now the questions is.

If I go to Deals Gap. Where should I ride for the day and where should I stay for a night coming and going.

Keep in mind that my wife won't doesn't like to do 300 mile days and we will be riding 130 miles to get there and back to granny's house.

[url][/url]
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"Still can't find 6th gear" 94 K1100LT

HoosierStu · Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 10:54 am Post subject:

I found this thread is good.
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=237773
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"Still can't find 6th gear" 94 K1100LT

Jim · Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 12:21 pm Post subject: lodging

Stu - here's one place you can stay: http://www.twowheelsonly.com/ There are probably others down that way.
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owrstrich · Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 12:22 pm Post subject:

look... dont go canoeing and you should be just fine...

and if you run into bobby trippe... i would quickly ride the other way...

owrstrich
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Off the grid · Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 12:23 pm Post subject:

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HoosierStu · Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 1:00 pm Post subject:

Two wheels looks cool but is too far south (about 100 miles south of Deals Gap).

I read some interesting advice on that thread I listed above.

Because of dangerous squid behavior...
1 Don't ride the Dragons Tail on the weekend
2 Ride it in the morning while the squids are still asleep

Since I am all about safety, that advice seems to make sence. So, perhaps we will ride to the north end (or close to it) the first day and then ride the Dragons Trail the next morning. Then cirlce back around to the north or south and spend another night and return to Mom's house the following day.
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"Still can't find 6th gear" 94 K1100LT

dave n · Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 7:53 pm Post subject: eastern tenn/western nc

http://www.cherohala.com

Take this route one way and deals gap going back.

This would be the scenic route - more enjoyable for passenger. Deals Gap would be more fun for the pilot.

Don't wait too late in the day looking for a room - lots of them in Robbinsville - lots of m/cycles too.

68 south from Tellico Plains TN. to Ducktown TN. and then west on 64/74 (paralels the Ocoee River - lots of whitewater & kayaks to watch) would be a good route to take too.
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HoosierStu · Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2007 9:42 am Post subject:

Hey, that looks like a winner. We will do this ride during the week.
I'll just hope for good weather.

Sounds like you have experience riding this area.
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"Still can't find 6th gear" 94 K1100LT

Flying Duck · Posted: Mon Dec 17, 2007 11:51 am Post subject:

Just about any road in the area of Deals Gap is good riding. Just go exploring....

Deal's Gap isn't all that thrilling IMO. However, since you're in the area, you gotta do it at least once in your life, right?

I rode it on a Sunday late in May. I went from TN to NC on 129 at around noon on Sunday. It was, as you'd exepct, a complete zoo. But it was interesting. After exploring NC for the afternoon, I came back through The Gap at around 6pm the same Sunday. There was hardly anyone there so I got a god run on the way back.
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HoosierStu · Posted: Mon Dec 17, 2007 12:01 pm Post subject:

I'm sure there are many great roads in the area. It seems true that the Dragon's Tail would be more appropriate on a solo run. My wife might find it a little nerve racking and tiring. Don't want that.

Perhaps we will just ride a two day loop east of Cookville and skip the Gap this time. However, it's true that I do need to experience it sometime.
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"Still can't find 6th gear" 94 K1100LT

Frank T · Brick Rider Joined: 25 Jun 2007 Posts: 26

I have ridden up to the Gap 4-5 times each year for the past 15 years. I have gotten to the point where I don't ride thru the Gap anymore, but it should be experienced at least once. It isn't as bad as most folks would lead you to believe. Ride it at whatever speed feels comfortable. The speed limit is 30mph and usually, during the summer on the weekends, it is heavily patroled. The roads around the Gap are a better ride in my opinion, just pick one (HY 28 is great), you can't go wrong. As to a place to stay...why not stay at the Deals Gap Resort. It is located at the intersection of 129 and 28. It is a bit rustic but it is an all motorcycle motel with lots of character. For a bit more comfort, there is Tapoca Lodge just three miles down the hill from the resort. Both place have a web site and it would be wise to make reservations.

Frank T
Decatur, AL

John Clauss · Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2007 9:30 am Post subject:

Deal's Gap has become THE destination, therefore avoid it. Seriously there are a TON of great roads in that part of the country, go find you own way and leave Deal's Gap to the kiddies and squids. I have done it several times, most recently last summer, which was horrible. Police everywhere, squids showing off for the killboy.com site, all sorts of craziness. Avoid it and you will be happier.
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