K11 Owners Group

zottgeek · Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 7:58 am Post subject: Blue Ridge Bike Tour

Hey Guys, looks like the gang want to do the blue ridge parkway for our TwistFest this year. None of us have been there before. Im looking for some suggestions on starting points and points of intrest. We will have 4 days to spend on the parkway. Ive been looking at maps and I must say this looks like its going to be a blast! I cant wait till June.
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Luv'n the Brick

93 K1100 LT
79 Suzuki GS 1000
82 Honda CM 250

Das Boot · Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 2:03 pm Post subject:

Zott,

I would try to go during the week and not the weekend, less traffic and less speed traps on the roads. There are a ton of nice off roads from the parkway that offer more techincal roads and even less traffic. In general, the roads are in very good condition, I prefer the Southern end of the Parkway from I77 Mount Airy, all the way South to the Smokies myself.
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Dom

Stoked Steve · Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 2:46 pm Post subject:

One quick note about the Blue Ridge Parkway, at least through Shenandoah National Park, the speed limit is 35 and is very tightly controlled. More of a scenic cruise than fun twisty riding.

There are a bunch of very twisty roads that lead up and down the mountains off to the sides of the actual Blue Ridge Parkway that are normal roads with higher speed limits and minimal enforcement, but in the park, they are tight.
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Steve
Virginia Beach, VA
93 K1100RS Mystic Red SOLD
12 Suzuki DL650A VStrom

zottgeek · Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 3:21 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the input. I'll keep the speed limit in mind. I found a strip of road in Tn. Looks like hwy 129. down by the NC boarder. Somebody told me that this srtetch is called "The Dragon". It starts @ Deals gap and runs north along the Great smoky Mountian national Park. Can anyone tell me more about this?
_________________
Luv'n the Brick

93 K1100 LT
79 Suzuki GS 1000
82 Honda CM 250

duckbubbles · Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 6:35 pm Post subject:

Flying Duck · Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 8:04 pm Post subject:

Look for this sign north of the Pisgah Campground - heading to the west.

Here's little video I shot coming back up it. (Yeah, my lines and shifts are a little sloppy but you try shooting video with a digital camera in your hand while riding twisties - that means riding one-handed and clutchless shifts. I don't do this anymore after a friend pointed out that it would eventually lead to my having an excellent crash video. Rolling Eyes

Video link: http://home.comcast.net/~dws_bmw5/bmw5album/bmw5wmv/bmw5_2180mvi.wmv

I headed off to MT Airy too and second that recommendation.

And if you see something that looks like a bowling ball in the road, it's a turtle! Shocked

(we don't have those in my neck of the woods.)

Just for kicks, I went back and moved this guy to the side of the road so he wouldn't get squashed..

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93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
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91 & 92 K75Ss
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Mystic Red · Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 9:56 pm Post subject:

A Box Turtle no less!
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Scott Hespelt, '94 K11LT
K11 OG #466

Off the grid · Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 10:09 pm Post subject:

Looks like a brick turtle to me.
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Bane of your existence since July 2006
2007 Triumph Tiger ABS. "Sabertooth"
2009 Husqvarna TE610. "The dirty Italian mistress"

Shoganai · Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 4:07 am Post subject:

Dragon smagon Cool

Go there if you must, get your “been there, done that” tee shirt at Deal’s Gap Motorcycle Resort and the little dragon sticker for your bike.

Go here http://www.tailofthedragon.com/ for info.

Know this, tractor trailer’s MUST cross the center line to run that road and many get “stuck” in the turns. (Hx lesson: A pair of riders rolled around a corner only to be clothes-lined by the flatbed stuck in the corner. Both survived with injuries) Many RV’s also cross the line. Not to mention squids riding beyond their skill.

My best advice is this, 1) NEVER ride it on a weekend, 2) Never, EVER ride beyond your sight distance. (BTW I’ve ridden it several times as it was the best road to get to better roads)

My first ever Ride Report.
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=87859

With that being said, let me direct your attention to a road that is FAR more technical, FAR less traveled, and WAY more fun to ride.

Take exit 443 off of I-40 to the Foothills Parkway.
Stay on it to 321.
Take a left on 321/32 then follow 32 when they part ways.
32 is THE road!
Stay on it to Mount Sterling. Go left to find I-40 again OR….
Take Mt. Sterling Rd. if you’re into some REAL adventure. Follow it to Harmon Den Rd. and take it.
Harmon Den Rd joins back up to I-40 at exit 7.

Ride with joy. Very Happy

_________________
1993 K1100RS aka The Shop Whore
1994 K1100RS aka Blue Streak

The long road is a rainbow and the pot of gold lies there.
So slip the chain and I'm off again,
You'll find me everywhere. I'm a Rover. - JT

Nana korobi ya oki

Steverino · Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 9:14 pm Post subject:

Dear, please try not to let out all of our secret stashes. 32 is much better than DG. As you go up the turns get tighter and tighter and tighter and tighter and tighter and tighter. An amazing road fer sure.

But it has too much traffic and cops are there all the time and the surface sucks and there is gravel in every corner and it is always wet and...

Twisted Evil

zottgeek · Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2008 3:43 pm Post subject:

Great info Exclamation

I'll be looking over the maps tonight!
thanks again. Smile

_________________
Luv'n the Brick

93 K1100 LT
79 Suzuki GS 1000
82 Honda CM 250

Shoganai · Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2008 7:31 pm Post subject:

Jim · Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2008 7:43 pm Post subject: good rides

Steverino - have no fear - your secret is safe with us. Well, almost...

Off the grid · Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2008 7:46 pm Post subject:

I just linked this thread to Google.

I kid, I kid.

/hugs Steve
_________________
Bane of your existence since July 2006
2007 Triumph Tiger ABS. "Sabertooth"
2009 Husqvarna TE610. "The dirty Italian mistress"

zottgeek · Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2008 9:08 pm Post subject:

I tell ya. After checking out the site http://www.tailofthedragon.com/index.html There is no way Im going to go there. Im not a big fan of cops anyway. The last thing I need is to see this kind of abuse of power. Im sure I'll find plenty of good roads else-where.
But thats just MHO.
_________________
Luv'n the Brick

93 K1100 LT
79 Suzuki GS 1000
82 Honda CM 250

old guy old bike · Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 10:59 pm Post subject:

Depending on how you are planning on getting to these good riding roads you just might want to try taking 250 through WV.
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1993 K1100LT
2003 K1200GT Gone but not forgotten
2014 Victory Crossraods

Steverino · Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2008 7:07 am Post subject:

250 out of Moundsville, WV at the Ohio line is always a good ride. I agree old guy.