the Ferret
Road warrior
Thread starter
This is sobering..but good ending
- Thread starter the Ferret
- Start date
huxley2_imp
Running like a top
Holy cow, what a story. Good read for all.
emptysea
Road warrior
I read this a few days ago and again just now. Didn't have the heart to watch/listen to his recording, though. I urge everyone to read this.
Ulvetanna_imp
Road warrior
That is sobering. That Dragon has got the worst reputation of any road in the country. North Carolina, then? Been hearing about this road for decades. We have our own deadly roads in my area, I guess every locale has one or two.The ferret_imp said:
The thing that separates The Dragon out from the rest is that it is a dead-end road, no? So it gets very congested, I understand. And is a magnet for all kinds of riders. On top of all that the scenery is beautiful and I would think there would be quite a few animals and other wildlife or sudden distractions.
I guess Pike's Peak could be in the same category.
Not saying don't ride these roads, but backing it down an extra notch is a good plan.
Of late I see "The Dragon" is now being touted as a place to introduce the latest sport bikes, as with Yamaha's FZ10. Getting busier all the time and now a real tourist attraction, with the Tee shirts and all.
redbirds_imp
Road warrior
US 129, The Dragon, at one time was little known to motorcyclists. I rode it a few times in the early 70's and recall few if any other motorcycles encountered. My last ride there was June 2015 and I will not ride it again; it's like playing Russian Roulette, one day that loaded chamber will align with the barrel. Too many people on bikes and sports cars use 129 as their personal playground and care little for the rights and safety of others. Riding within your limits and staying focused help but won't always allow a safe margin for the actions of others.
LongRanger_imp
Road warrior
Ulve, the Dragon isn't a dead-end road.
We have similar roads here that don't get the same attention from motorcyclists or drivers, but boy oh boy do they get congested with bicyclists.
I spent 15 years in San Diego. Two popular roads, Palomar and Ortega, see the same types of accidents as the Dragon. Lots of yahoos who think they know how to ride because they have a GSXR, wear racing leathers, and read "Twist of the Wrist." The locals aren't impressed.
We have similar roads here that don't get the same attention from motorcyclists or drivers, but boy oh boy do they get congested with bicyclists.
I spent 15 years in San Diego. Two popular roads, Palomar and Ortega, see the same types of accidents as the Dragon. Lots of yahoos who think they know how to ride because they have a GSXR, wear racing leathers, and read "Twist of the Wrist." The locals aren't impressed.
nhawk7504_imp
Been there
My brother rides there every year or two on his Multistrada. He goes in the Spring before the rush. As he says, if you miss a turn, you are off a cliff into the trees below. Riders should set up a fund to install some safety netting on the worst corners, or something. This guy was lucky that debris in the road made someone stop and look over the side. I think a Honda Grom is perfect for that road. Very little power so even if you are stupid fast you are only going 35.
Ulvetanna_imp
Road warrior
11 miles long and a huge tourist attraction. Of course this kind of thing is going to happen. I know nothing about the details of "The Dragon" other than it being mentioned to me a few times about 30 years ago. It did not sound like anything different than the roads I was already riding, except it was extremely congested. One curving road is about the same as another in general, the same kinds of challenges are to found anywhere.LongRanger_imp said:
At least they read TOTW. Better than nothing. Nothing wrong with gearing up all the way, either.
Agree but no one is going to do that except for a laugh. Over 300 turns, safety netting is not going to happen.nhawk7504_imp said:
I have a nice thick mental log of stories like this but that topic is just exhausted and exhausting. There are those riders who've crashed and those who are going to crash. That's motorcycling. We love it, we accept the risk, hopefully we work at getting better and better at it all the time.
the Ferret
Road warrior
Thread starter
Ulve google Killboy.com to see pics from the Dragon
Huge touristy place for not only bikes, but lots of cars hold their rallies there as well. It has the name, that's all, and all kinds of subset roads named after it, Back of the Dragon, Claw of the Dragon, etc. each trying to draw tourists.
All roads (racetracks too) are basically made up of straights, left curves and right curves of varying degrees and combinations, sometimes flat and sometimes angled up or down. It's why I never tire of riding the roads around here even though I ride them everyday... A left curve here is just like a left curve in North Carolina or California.
What makes places different for me is what is on the left and right sides of the road. In North Carolina or West VIrginia, it just might be a sheer drop off. The Dragon has lots of drop offs. Where riders get in trouble on the Dragon is they are not really accomplished at riding curves, especially when there are a lot of them, and they put a whole lot of them one right after another. They might make the first few, but one eventually suprises them and if they make it thru that one, they are really out of shape for the next one, and all the ones that follow. They never fully recover, and they refuse to pull over and regroup and eventually it bites them in the butt.
When I am teaching people to draw, it's the same thing.. Everything in nature is made up of straight lines and crooked lines. IF you can draw a straight line and if you can draw a crooked line, then you can draw anything as long as you can recognise the lines and repeat them.
Huge touristy place for not only bikes, but lots of cars hold their rallies there as well. It has the name, that's all, and all kinds of subset roads named after it, Back of the Dragon, Claw of the Dragon, etc. each trying to draw tourists.
All roads (racetracks too) are basically made up of straights, left curves and right curves of varying degrees and combinations, sometimes flat and sometimes angled up or down. It's why I never tire of riding the roads around here even though I ride them everyday... A left curve here is just like a left curve in North Carolina or California.
What makes places different for me is what is on the left and right sides of the road. In North Carolina or West VIrginia, it just might be a sheer drop off. The Dragon has lots of drop offs. Where riders get in trouble on the Dragon is they are not really accomplished at riding curves, especially when there are a lot of them, and they put a whole lot of them one right after another. They might make the first few, but one eventually suprises them and if they make it thru that one, they are really out of shape for the next one, and all the ones that follow. They never fully recover, and they refuse to pull over and regroup and eventually it bites them in the butt.
When I am teaching people to draw, it's the same thing.. Everything in nature is made up of straight lines and crooked lines. IF you can draw a straight line and if you can draw a crooked line, then you can draw anything as long as you can recognise the lines and repeat them.
I live about a 100 miles from there. I haven't ridden the road, nor will I. It's the people driving/riding the Dragon who make it so dangerous. Like other roads in the country, it has curves that draw photographers who are there because they know there will be a spectacular crash.
I know a lot of people who go regularly. They can have it.
I read the article yesterday, but couldn't bring myself to watch the video clip.
I know a lot of people who go regularly. They can have it.
I read the article yesterday, but couldn't bring myself to watch the video clip.
Ulvetanna_imp
Road warrior
Neither could I.MikeD_imp said:
I have been on the scene at too many such accidents and have lost too many riding buddies in just this way.
4 Paws_imp
Road warrior
Yeah, the road has become a zoo. I was in the neighborhood recently but avoided the road due to the traffic heading that way. Everyone really wanted to justify buying the T-shirt.
Honestly, on a Thursday morning there was a solid line of bikes as far as I could see heading over there so we went to the Cherahola Skyway and had it to ourselves.
Google dragon fail and you can see photos of an endless stream of tractor trailers trying to navigate the road as well as cars and bikes galore "driving like they are in Great Britton".
Honestly, on a Thursday morning there was a solid line of bikes as far as I could see heading over there so we went to the Cherahola Skyway and had it to ourselves.
Google dragon fail and you can see photos of an endless stream of tractor trailers trying to navigate the road as well as cars and bikes galore "driving like they are in Great Britton".
Ulvetanna_imp
Road warrior
Just visiting that road is asking for a bit more trouble than usual, from the evidence. Maybe there's some time of the week when it's empty? But you say there is all kinds of truck traffic; I just read that trucks over 30 feet are now banned, but still, if these corners are tight, that's a lot of truck.4 Paws_imp said:
I bet way more guys go ride this road than ever think about a track day in the beginner group. People willingly take on a great risk for the social experience and selfies, tee shirts and so on. It ain't about learning to ride better.
You get 35 riders max in the introductory track day group, all going the same direction, the track is 30-40 feet wide. All the bikes are inspected as well as safety gear. You can go as fast or as slow as you want.
An ambulance and even airlift are available instantly if someone has a serious accident.
So next time someone wants to say track days are dangerous I'll just think about Deal's Gap, where a guy flies off the road and no one even knows about it.
As I said I l have a very good log of such stories, why not share? Capo would know this turn; 1990, Squid's Leap, at Cloudburst Summit. Group of about eight of us, hauling the mail to Wrightwood. We pull over for a break, me and my buddy riding sweep. A guy is missing, but we didn't see anything. So we all charge back down the hill a few miles and some sharp-eyed guy spots him, 150 feet down, all busted up in the rocks. He missed the turn and shattered his bike against a tree, doing about 70 mph. He also shattered himself. We clambered down into the boulders and since I was First Responder-trained, I took his vitals whilst someone else called for help. Big old Sheriff's helicopter came in about an hour or so, one of those radial-engined jobs.
They got him out and he survived but I have no idea as to whether he ever was able to walk again let alone ride. He sustained a lot of bad injuries. But we did find him.
Going over the side in the middle of nowhere is a bad thing.
Well-said and perfectly true.The ferret_imp said:
When you make that first mistake, back off or park it.
I really have only one road I like any more, about 18 miles long, fantastic views if I want to pay attention, really nice turns, around 30-50 mph average speed. Do it both ways, I've got 35 miles of good riding in, even with whatever traffic I might encounter. It is always fun no matter what kind of bike I am riding.
If I want to go fast, I go as fast as I want on a racetrack.
4 Paws_imp
Road warrior
Lemmings.
Ulvetanna_imp
Road warrior
A guy's really got to ride his own ride.4 Paws_imp said:
Ulvetanna_imp
Road warrior
Racetracks are the same as you say. My favorite tracks have off-camber turns, dips, all kinds of different conditions to master, so when I get onto the street that stuff is familiar and easier to handle.The ferret_imp said:
Sam Mac_imp
Running like a top
I have not done a track day on a bike but I have spent many years as an instructor for many car clubs at Lime Rock, Watkins Glen, Mosport, Summit point and a few days at VIR. Most people at first think they are going racing, nothing could be farther from the truth. The objective is to teach proper skills. A track is generally a muck safer place for one to learn the limits of them selves and what ever it is that they are driving or riding.
I have not ridden the Dragon, not sure I have a burning desire to doo it. I'm more concerned that even if I don't screw up what about some star going the other way or behind me.
I have not ridden the Dragon, not sure I have a burning desire to doo it. I'm more concerned that even if I don't screw up what about some star going the other way or behind me.
ride4now_imp
Road warrior
Tough read... I didn't watch the video, the written words were enough. I've ridden the Dragon 3 times, twice on my Harley and once on my CB. It's 'ok'... like Ferret said, a turn is a turn regardless of where it is. The problem as also pointed out is that it seems to be a magnet for bikers and sports cars drivers. And many of them, trying to keep up with the pack, ride outside or above their skillset, and run a serious risk of getting in trouble. And because of the drop offs, the result can be deadly. This is one of the reasons I don't like riding with large groups, because of the tendency to feel like you need to 'keep up'. And on the Dragon you can't help but ride behind, or in front of, a large group. I might ride it again, but frankly I prefer the Skyway for great curvy riding in that area. It's not nearly as challenging and is also not nearly as crowded.
