Deal's Gap Trip

Wockman · 03-16-2007, 8:50 AM

Hi all, rain or shine I will be taking a trip to Deals Gap next week. I've lived in Alabama for years but for whatever reason never made the trip before now.

It's not my first road trip by a longshot, but it is my first trip with the XX.
I have my list of stuff to pack and the bike is mechanically ready to go, and aside from not taking candy from strangers, does anyone have a tips?

jcrich · 03-16-2007, 8:53 AM

Don't crash.

dunedain · 03-16-2007, 9:51 AM

Lay out all the shit you want to take and all the money you want to take.

Then....

Cut the shit in half and double the money.

I'm sure you got this covered but.....
Rain Gear.
Cold weather gear. It maybe spring but they are forcast snow for that area today. In the hills it can stay pretty cool.

Be safe.....enjoy the ride!

Wockman · 03-16-2007, 9:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcrich

Don't crash.

Thanks... thats on my list right above don't get a ticket.

Thanks mods for moving this thread to the correct place. Thats what I get for posting before I drink my morning coffee.

.

redxxrdr · 03-16-2007, 10:49 AM

Ride during the week if possible. Check with the locals about enforcement. They are saying 20 over will be tuff this year. Limit has been dropped to 30mph in the past few years.
Ride some of the other roads too. 28 towards Franklin has some nice stretches, as does The Cherahala (sp) Hwy.
Beautiful roads, good people. Shame I have to wait till June for my first trip.

ConqSoft · 03-16-2007, 10:51 AM

28 between the CROT and Franklin is a great road. We usually stay in Franklin when we go. If you take 28 all the way to Franklin, be sure to hit Ribs and BBQ Franklin and Waynesville NC at Fat Buddies

flblackbird · 03-16-2007, 11:54 AM

We're goin' up the last weekend in June

PJNXX · 03-16-2007, 12:09 PM

Wockman, why are you going there this time of year and not at a warmer time?

The riding conditions are less than ideal now, as Dunedain eluded to.

ConqSoft · 03-16-2007, 12:18 PM

Yeah, early April is usually the earliest I like to go.

Wockman · 03-16-2007, 12:37 PM

I've been watching the weather very closely. We might have to dodge the occasional rain cloud and it might get chilly up in the mountains. The Robbinsville NC forecast is calling for mid-40's at night and it is supposed to touch 70 during the day. I don't mind the cool weather, I have the proper gear. Cool weather keeps the squids away.

Right now we are planning to head up on Thursday, spend all day Friday out and about and then ride back on Saturday. I wanted to avoid the weekend traffic. I have the route planned with absolutely no interstate riding.

We have a room at the Two Wheel Inn. I couldn't resist the built in garages.

Depending on how the trip goes, I assume I'll plan another soon.

Silverbird · 03-16-2007, 12:40 PM

When we went the temp changed over 20 degrees from where we stayed in Pigeon Forge to the highest point along Deals Gap. Cherahala skyway is nice as well. Nice triple digit sweepers!

ConqSoft · 03-16-2007, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silverbird

Nice triple digit sweepers!

Only if you want to end up dead, in jail, or killing someone else...

dunedain · 03-16-2007, 3:52 PM

Oh, and there are some dry counties around there so you gotta plan if you a drinkin man.

Also, If you decide to gamble at the Harrah's in Cherokee just ride by it and throw your money in the street and keep ridin to save the time. Their paytables are tight.

ConqSoft · 03-16-2007, 3:54 PM

And they only have electronic games anyway.

If they're ever able to open a Poker Room, I'll be in trouble...

bartonmd · 03-16-2007, 4:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ConqSoft

Only if you want to end up dead, in jail, or killing someone else...

They are pretty good sweepers, but I'll tell ya...on the 'bird, there isn't much on that road that is really a tripple digit sweeper... I just rode all of that this week, and nope... I could see hitting tripple digit apex speeds on a SS bike, but not the 'bird... Sure, we were 2-up, but I did like 55-60mph the whole way and had a good time...

Mike

Venus97 · 03-16-2007, 9:38 PM

Hey Mike,

Glad you had a good time. The NC/TN/VA Mountains I think may offer some of the best roads on the East Coast. The BB is not a canyon carver, but will do it with comfort, style and class!

PJNXX · 03-17-2007, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Venus97

The NC/TN/VA Mountains I think may offer some of the best roads on the East Coast.

I attended the Honda Hoot in '97 and '98 with my old VFR. The roads are simply motorcycling paradise. I loved the road that went from Asheville up to Hot Springs, but I can't remember the name. One thing I learned from riding a lot of roads down there was to always be prepared for a decreasing radius turn. There are a lot of them. Several times I saw riders in front of me get caught unexpectedly by a DR turn and end up in the oncoming lane. Thank God there weren't cars coming the other way.

Wockman · 03-19-2007, 10:04 AM

Thanks for the input guys. I'm all for a "spirited" ride but I'll be taking it easy this trip. The guy I'm riding with has a Busa so I'll have to keep a slow pace so he can keep up

. Seriously I've read they the cops are 'cracking down' up in that area and I'm not trying to get a ticket or my butt thrown in jail. Besides I can do that here at home...

Weather.com forcast for Robbinsville on Friday shows partly cloudy, and a low of 46 and a high of 79 !! Sounds like perfect riding weather to me.

Thanks for the BBQ place tip Conq, I'll check it out.

I'll be sure to post up some pictures when I get back. Thanks

Wockman · 03-25-2007, 9:22 PM

We had a blast! The roads up there are unreal. We had perfect weather, met a lot of nice people, rode 1060 miles in three days.

We took a couple hundred picts but here are a few...
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b2...3hYctVu_fs.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b2...n/IMG_3851.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b2...n/IMG_3844.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b2...n/IMG_3965.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b2...n/IMG_3906.jpg

PJNXX · 03-26-2007, 9:48 AM

Nice pics. Looks like you had a great ride. The weather seemed beautiful.
How did you like those twisties?

Wockman · 03-26-2007, 10:00 AM

A few of the turns on the dragon were a bit tight to push the big bird around. I kind of wish I had my 919 to make a few runs. But I did manage to pass a few crusiers and I didn't get passed myself... The bike performed perfectly.

I think I enjoyed the "Hellbender 28" a bit more than the dragon. Traffic was lighter, it had some nice curves and was a bit more scenic.

flblackbird · 03-26-2007, 10:27 AM

Nice pics, can't wait till June...when I get to go

Pacman · 03-26-2007, 8:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wockman

A few of the turns on the dragon were a bit tight to push the big bird around. I kind of wish I had my 919 to make a few runs. But I did manage to pass a few crusiers and I didn't get passed myself... The bike performed perfectly.

I think I enjoyed the "Hellbender 28" a bit more than the dragon. Traffic was lighter, it had some nice curves and was a bit more scenic.

I´ve always thought the dragon is muchado about nothing. I went back in 99 on the Aprilia. Thought it´d been great to have an aprilia 50 but not on a BIG bike. I´ve been going to the area about two three times a year since then except for last year. Never went back to the dragon.