on my way from michigan

[dadfcd@peoplepc.com]

Hi I Am On My Way From Michigan I Am Going To Gatlinburg .how Far And What Is The Best Way To Get There From Gatlinburg.also Is This Safe For A Modest Rider My Husband Wants To Ride This Real Bad,but I Have Reservations About It.i Have Ridden For At Least 30 Years But Not Much In The Curves, Mostly Trails And Michigan Roads.thanks Dawn!!;)HE WILL BE RIDING HIS 89 GOLDWING AND I HAVE A 04 650 V-STAR.

[khelton]

Very easy to get from GAtlinburg to Deals Gap and unless you plan on kneedragging it is quite safe..sorta like flyng, you hear about crashes but millions fly every day...you guys won't have any problem and will meet great people..and..will have ridden the fabled highway.

It's extremely easy to get to Deal's GAp- from Gatlinburg..just go through the NAtional park, beautiful ride by streams, cliffs, etc) to Townsend ( takes about 40 minutes). On the way stop at the Y, The Sinks, etc for photop.Go through quiet little Townseend ( Hwy 321) and take a left in The Foothllls PArkway. This will be a beautiful 25 minute drive atop a ridgeline w/ several scenic pulloffs. Foothils PArkway will deadend at Hwy 129, take a left and enjoy the ride...ride your own speed and rhythm. Approx 25 minutes later you will have safely arrived at Deal's Gap and you will have added a unique experience to your life. Give each other a smiling high five, go inside for a great burger, meet people and enjoy a good time.

[s2tbolt]

Well said Khelton,

+1 :)

[Paul Barnard]

I'm going out on a limb here. Judging from the bikes you ride I'm gonna guess that you are not into motorcycling for the sporting aspect of it. If that's the case, you'll probably find some of the other roads (Foothills Parkway, Cherohala Skyway, Blue Ridge Parkway, and Smoky Mountain Parkway) more enjoyable. That being said, definitely do the Gap. I enjoyed it more from a spectators standpoint than from a riders standpoint. Be sure to stop by the store to gas up, get a T-Shirt and visit with other riders. I enjoy walking the parking lot, looking at tags and striking up conversations.

[dadfcd@peoplepc.com]

HI GUYS, THANKS FOR RESPONDING, I APPRECIATE ALL THE POSITIVE INPUT, WHAT SPEED IS A SAFE SLOW SPEED TO TRAVEL IS 35-40?ALSO WHAT IS THE BEST DAY TO GO THROUGH THE WEEK?THANKS AND KEEP THE RUBBER SIDE DOWN!!!

DAWN:rolleyes:

[spaceflight101]

Hi, Dawn;
Let's take it nice and SLOW, like I did a few weeks ago...
First, you have to be able to be completely honest with yourself about your riding abilities.
Second, you have to know what the limitations of your machine are. Although there are videos out there showing it, riding a dresser through at hyperspeed is not a good thing. There are basic laws of physics to ponder, especially Newton's Second Law of Motion.
I read EVERYTHING about riding the Dragon from here, Killboy's site, and Dragon's site. There is no such thing as too much information here.
Now, I've been riding the winding roads of Western PA and West Virginia for the past 20 years, so I had a few expectations.
Still, I went through at a relatively sedate 30 mph or less. Killboy's photos show my Sportster with the kickstand about one inch off the tarmac, and my tires were feathered out to within 1/2 inch of their edges. That was the limits of my riding abilities. But then again, I had to ride it back home, some 600 miles. If you trailer, then you can make adjustments. But let me give you a tip...
The fast guys don't ride the latest plastic-and-carbon fiber wonder from the East, they ride "supermotards". What the heck is a "supermotard", you ask? Think of it as a dirt bike on steroids, with super-sticky street tires. There are a few locals who are truly artists with these things, and a rule of etiquette is that you should be in the right half of your lane when someone wants to pass you.
In short, you just have to respect the road, especially your first few times through it. Enjoy the trip, and be sure to let us know how you liked it. Riding the Cherohala first, then the Dragon is said by some to be the best way to enjoy it. It worked for me. We rode the loop on a Tuesday.

[dadfcd@peoplepc.com]

Hey Guys Thanks For All You Input I Made It Through The Dragon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!it Was Easier Than I Thought , But I Am Glad I Listened To All Of Your Suggestions, The Best One That Is Most Helpful While Riding The Mountains Is Look Where You Want To Go!!!another Person At Deals Gap Told Me To Watch The Trees , They Can Tell You Which Way The Road Turns Ahead.any Way We Made It And My 11 Year Old Daughter Truly Enjoyed And Wanted To Go Again, But I Must Admit The Stores Of All The Accidents Did Worry Me A Bit And I Didn't Want Anything To Happen To Her, Although She Was Riding With My Husband, It's The Other People I Worry About.

For Those First Timers I Suggest You Ride Some Of The Smokies Before You Go To Deals, Get Yourself Comfortable With The Mountains And The Curves Before You Tackle The Dragon, That Is What I Did And It Helped Me Alot!!

Thanks Dawn