Slayin "The Dragon"...

BillR · 09-07-2010, 05:58 PM

Well, more like toying with it... :P

Posted this over on the Skorpion site, thought you guys would enjoy also.
Anyone ever in this area, there're bike rental companies working now, so you could get in a ride pretty easily.

Made the 2nd annual "Bill's Dragon Run" on Monday. For some reason I put on my "ironbutt" pants and do these as day trips. 500 mile circuit.
I hit the Cherohala Skyway about 0930. 50 miles later, turn left at Robbinsvile, NC and head into the Tail of the Dragon...
Busy today (Labor Day holiday in the States). Rarely could get over 30-35 mph (posted limit is 30 :P )...did get a few 45mph curvies in though... :twisted:
The whole gamut of bikes...cruisers, dressers, motards, ADV tourers, and of course, the sport bikes...
We had 2 crashes about an hour apart. 1st was a Harley rider. I came up on that one, didn't see it happen. He's gonna have a BIG headache and black eye (most likely facial fractures) No bones sticking out...sent to the ED to get checked out...saw his friends at the store later and they said he would be OK.
2nd happened right in front of me. I'd been following a couple of Honda VTX's. We were stuck behind a minivan and didn't get over 25mph. Van pulled off, the lead VTX picked up some speed and planted his left hand foot board into the asphalt on an off camber turn. Slid right off into the ditch. Ego damaged, "Crashbars" actually did their job (other than holding highway pegs :16: ) Bent the left side a bit, we "nudged" (kicked :wink: ) it back into place and he was good to go. Turns out they were a couple on vacation, 1st time to ride this road...not a good thing to do... :roll:
I made 3 successful passes, no slips, runs or errors (well, once when I looked down at the road and started wide...CORRECTION :09: )
A few pictures for your enjoyment...action photos available when the guys sitting on the side of the road get them uploaded.
Example action pic from last year...
Bill R at the Dragon, October 2009
The guys website is actually "Killboy.com"... :07:
I took a few more, I'm going to arrange in a slide show and post a link.

My Favorite sign, just no safe place to pull off and get an "on the road" shot.

The entry to the Cherohala

Highest point on the Cherohala

Northern end of the Dragon

Chick, chick, chick... :oops:

and my knees, an intact bike, my pride...but I am "chicken" to push the Skorp to its limits on the street...they're way beyond my comfort zone.
I love these bikes...

Bill R

Weldangrind · 09-07-2010, 07:54 PM

Your bike looks great! How did it breathe at a mile high?

Totally envious of that riding area. That said, I'd still have my chicken strips too.

BillR · 09-07-2010, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Weldangrind

Your bike looks great! How did it breathe at a mile high?

Pretty well, as far as I was going to find out... :wink:
Plenty of oomph...no stumbles...no pops on the over-run. The MZs are jetted pretty rich.
The speed limit on Cherohala is 40mph and I didn't push much over 50.
They like to write tickets... :?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Weldandgrind

Totally envious of that riding area. That said, I'd still have my chicken strips too.

I only wish it were closer to home. Minimum 4hour trip to get there.
Take the "long" road and you get almost as many curvies :wink:
Bill R

SpudRider · 09-11-2010, 12:20 AM

Thanks for posting the nice ride report, Bill.

Your bike looks great! We eagerly await the additional photos.

Spud

TurboT · 09-11-2010, 04:20 AM

Thought I replied to this? Losing my mind.

Looks like a fun place to ride. Thanks for sharing! nice to see a road like that and not too many cars in the photos.

BillR · 09-11-2010, 07:31 AM

Busy day (Labor Day). I was behind a cruiser or a dresser on each pass in front of the camera, so no chance to "show off". I would pull off, count to 30, "No Traffic...Whoo Hoo :!: ", take off and boogie til I caught back up to the traffic...
Stopped at Wendy's for lunch...guy in front took a look and said, "You intend to be seen, huh?"

"Yep, I sure do...
"You'll figure it out... :wink:

Slide show of all the pics I made...

Me going thru the curves...don't "own" the photos yet, so just a link...
4 shots, click next
'Nother set, other direction. Check out the transition in the background...
3 more
My favorite, it really shows the paint...
Honda San Marino Red

MICRider · 09-11-2010, 08:09 AM

Awesome pics! Wish we had some roads like that around here

. The Skorpion is looking awesome, right in it's element.

Cheers,
Stew

Weldangrind · 09-11-2010, 12:36 PM

Nice shots! Do you intend to buy some?

Hard to miss that helmet.

BillR · 09-11-2010, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Weldangrind

Nice shots! Do you intend to buy some?
Hard to miss that helmet.

Yeah, I'll buy a few. There's 3 or 4 different shops that shoot the photos. Pick the ones you like and they'll load 'em on a CD.
I couldn't find a solid hi-vis jacket that wasn't $300, gonna get one, though...

Quote:

Originally Posted by MICrider

The Skorpion is looking awesome, right in it's element.

Yeah. Those roads are right where it is at home. I basically stuck it in 3rd and turned the throttle...

Bill R

MICRider · 09-11-2010, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillR

Quote:

Originally Posted by Weldangrind

Nice shots! Do you intend to buy some?
Hard to miss that helmet.

Yeah, I'll buy a few. There's 3 or 4 different shops that shoot the photos. Pick the ones you like and they'll load 'em on a CD.
I couldn't find a solid hi-vis jacket that wasn't $300, gonna get one, though...

Quote:

Originally Posted by MICrider

The Skorpion is looking awesome, right in it's element.

Yeah. Those roads are right where it is at home. I basically stuck it in 3rd and turned the throttle...

Bill R

Not sure if it is the style you are after but I bought a Tourmaster Transitions 2 jacket in High Viz yellow. I think it came to around $176 and had free shipping in the States. I had to pay shipping and customs and it still came in a little shy of $200. Love the jacket, though it's a little warm in hot weather. I truly believe it has saved my bacon a half a dozen times, best money I ever spent!

Cheers!
Stew

BillR · 09-12-2010, 06:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MICRider

Not sure if it is the style you are after but I bought a Tourmaster Transitions 2 jacket in High Viz yellow. I think it came to around $176 and had free shipping in the States. I had to pay shipping and customs and it still came in a little shy of $200. Love the jacket, though it's a little warm in hot weather. I truly believe it has saved my bacon a half a dozen times, best money I ever spent!
Cheers!
Stew

Hey, Stew.
When I bought the current jacket, I needed it "yesterday" and had a tight budget to replace all my equipment. I think the Scorpion Holeshot was just over $100, shipped.
I definitely like the 3/4 length jackets better. I had a Firt Gear Kilimanjaro, just like the Transitions 2. Have to revisit that soon...cold weather coming.
Bill

FastDoc · 09-13-2010, 11:58 AM

Great pics! Fun ride.

Lat time I ran that road was many years ago on my 1980 GS1100. What a rush! I ran it twice. Once for the adreniline and once for the view!

Don't sweat the chicken stripes. No shame in not crashing.... Plus depending on the shape of the tire on the rim, and the ground clearance of the bike, it may not eben be possible or safe to get rid of the stripes.

When I get a chance I'll look at The Wing's tires. I know I ground the pegs good in the turns this last trip and I may still have chicken stripes.

BillR · 09-14-2010, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FastDoc

Don't sweat the chicken stripes. No shame in not crashing.... Plus depending on the shape of the tire on the rim, and the ground clearance of the bike, it may not eben be possible or safe to get rid of the stripes.
When I get a chance I'll look at The Wing's tires. I know I ground the pegs good in the turns this last trip and I may still have chicken stripes.

Not sweatin' 'em at all.
I'll want leathers and a lot less traffic to go after them...

And due to the tire profile, I doubt seriously I could get the ones on the front tire. 8O
B

09-07-2010, 05:58 PM	#1
BillR Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 588	Slayin "The Dragon"... Well, more like toying with it... :P Posted this over on the Skorpion site, thought you guys would enjoy also. Anyone ever in this area, there're bike rental companies working now, so you could get in a ride pretty easily. Made the 2nd annual "Bill's Dragon Run" on Monday. For some reason I put on my "ironbutt" pants and do these as day trips. 500 mile circuit. I hit the Cherohala Skyway about 0930. 50 miles later, turn left at Robbinsvile, NC and head into the Tail of the Dragon... Busy today (Labor Day holiday in the States). Rarely could get over 30-35 mph (posted limit is 30 :P )...did get a few 45mph curvies in though... :twisted: The whole gamut of bikes...cruisers, dressers, motards, ADV tourers, and of course, the sport bikes... We had 2 crashes about an hour apart. 1st was a Harley rider. I came up on that one, didn't see it happen. He's gonna have a BIG headache and black eye (most likely facial fractures) No bones sticking out...sent to the ED to get checked out...saw his friends at the store later and they said he would be OK. 2nd happened right in front of me. I'd been following a couple of Honda VTX's. We were stuck behind a minivan and didn't get over 25mph. Van pulled off, the lead VTX picked up some speed and planted his left hand foot board into the asphalt on an off camber turn. Slid right off into the ditch. Ego damaged, "Crashbars" actually did their job (other than holding highway pegs :16: ) Bent the left side a bit, we "nudged" (kicked :wink: ) it back into place and he was good to go. Turns out they were a couple on vacation, 1st time to ride this road...not a good thing to do... :roll: I made 3 successful passes, no slips, runs or errors (well, once when I looked down at the road and started wide...CORRECTION :09: ) A few pictures for your enjoyment...action photos available when the guys sitting on the side of the road get them uploaded. Example action pic from last year... Bill R at the Dragon, October 2009 The guys website is actually "Killboy.com"... :07: I took a few more, I'm going to arrange in a slide show and post a link. My Favorite sign, just no safe place to pull off and get an "on the road" shot. The entry to the Cherohala Highest point on the Cherohala Northern end of the Dragon Chick, chick, chick... :oops: and my knees, an intact bike, my pride...but I am "chicken" to push the Skorp to its limits on the street...they're way beyond my comfort zone. I love these bikes... Bill R
	0

09-07-2010, 07:54 PM	#2
Weldangrind Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sardis, BC, Canada Posts: 25,977	Your bike looks great! How did it breathe at a mile high? Totally envious of that riding area. That said, I'd still have my chicken strips too. __________________ Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer
	0

09-11-2010, 12:20 AM	#4
SpudRider Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Idaho Posts: 25,054	Thanks for posting the nice ride report, Bill. Your bike looks great! We eagerly await the additional photos. Spud __________________ Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." Mark Twain 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894
	0

09-11-2010, 07:31 AM	#6
BillR Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 588	More pics... Busy day (Labor Day). I was behind a cruiser or a dresser on each pass in front of the camera, so no chance to "show off". I would pull off, count to 30, "No Traffic...Whoo Hoo :!: ", take off and boogie til I caught back up to the traffic... Stopped at Wendy's for lunch...guy in front took a look and said, "You intend to be seen, huh?" "Yep, I sure do... "You'll figure it out... :wink: Slide show of all the pics I made... Me going thru the curves...don't "own" the photos yet, so just a link... 4 shots, click next 'Nother set, other direction. Check out the transition in the background... 3 more My favorite, it really shows the paint... Honda San Marino Red
	0

09-11-2010, 12:36 PM	#8
Weldangrind Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sardis, BC, Canada Posts: 25,977	Nice shots! Do you intend to buy some? Hard to miss that helmet. __________________ Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer
	0

09-11-2010, 04:20 AM	#5
TurboT Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Surrey, B.C., Canada Posts: 2,185	Thought I replied to this? Losing my mind. Looks like a fun place to ride. Thanks for sharing! nice to see a road like that and not too many cars in the photos.
	0

09-11-2010, 08:09 AM	#7
MICRider Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 3,274	Awesome pics! Wish we had some roads like that around here . The Skorpion is looking awesome, right in it's element. Cheers, Stew
	0

09-13-2010, 11:58 AM	#12
FastDoc Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southeastern Washington desert Posts: 14,761	Great pics! Fun ride. Lat time I ran that road was many years ago on my 1980 GS1100. What a rush! I ran it twice. Once for the adreniline and once for the view! Don't sweat the chicken stripes. No shame in not crashing.... Plus depending on the shape of the tire on the rim, and the ground clearance of the bike, it may not eben be possible or safe to get rid of the stripes. When I get a chance I'll look at The Wing's tires. I know I ground the pegs good in the turns this last trip and I may still have chicken stripes. __________________ Happy to serve.
	0