Rogue1
400+ Posts
How many of you have ridden The Tail of The Dragon on your trike? We had a trip planned this fall on my Ultra Limited, but traded it for the trike so now I'm not sure of that winding road on a trike.
Tail of The Dragon
- Thread starter Rogue1
- Start date
How many of you have ridden The Tail of The Dragon on your trike? We had a trip planned this fall on my Ultra Limited, but traded it for the trike so now I'm not sure of that winding road on a trike.
Rode the Dragon and several other good bike roads in that area on my trike. Lots of fun.
Have done it a few times. Last month with my 8 yr old grand daughter. 2 yrs ago with my 9 yr old grand daughter. A few other times with my wife. A lot of fun but there are better roads in the area
I never have on a trike, but twice on 2 wheels. The whole area is a blast. If your not confident for the dragon yet, it's a great ride through the Smokey Mountain National Park. The problem is, you want to stop every 1/2 mile for a picture.
Consider this though, after 318 curves in 11 miles on the Dragon, you will be a trike cornering expert!
orag:
Consider this though, after 318 curves in 11 miles on the Dragon, you will be a trike cornering expert!
orag:
I've done the Dragon a few times on 2 wheels and 3 wheels. Both are fun and completely different, but on the TG it's really a workout.
I do the BRP every year going home from Rolling Thunder. I'm not a "scenery type person so I don't stop every 1/2 mile for pictures - I'm just there for the ride. If I didn't go to the gym every other day, I'd hate to see how I would do on the twisties. It does take a lot of upper body strength.
I do the BRP every year going home from Rolling Thunder. I'm not a "scenery type person so I don't stop every 1/2 mile for pictures - I'm just there for the ride. If I didn't go to the gym every other day, I'd hate to see how I would do on the twisties. It does take a lot of upper body strength.
radismukes
2250+ Posts
Dale,
I have ridden the tail many times. If you are new to three remember your riding skills are not at the same level as on two. Some of the twisties on the tail sneak up on you. That is a great looking 2019 trike and we want you and it unscratched. Slow and safe my brother until you get comfortable with the trike.
Enjoy the trip!
I have ridden the tail many times. If you are new to three remember your riding skills are not at the same level as on two. Some of the twisties on the tail sneak up on you. That is a great looking 2019 trike and we want you and it unscratched. Slow and safe my brother until you get comfortable with the trike.
Enjoy the trip!
B
Burnerboy
I never have on a trike, but twice on 2 wheels. The whole area is a blast. If your not confident for the dragon yet, it's a great ride through the Smokey Mountain National Park. The problem is, you want to stop every 1/2 mile for a picture.
Consider this though, after 318 curves in 11 miles on the Dragon, you will be a trike cornering expert!
Wow! You just hit the nail on the head, with your commit here, Last year i rode it, I only had my trike for maybe one week and had already made & paid for my trip, and would lose my deposit if i didn't go....(I was very new to riding a trike, at the time and still was kinda uncomfortable riding it still, BUT I went, and your correct with your statement here, DID I LEARN FAST, on how to handle the turns...............That turned out to be the best ride of my life .......I had a wonderful time, and YES it did make me learn very fast on how to operate a three wheel'er instead of the two wheels that I was very used to.. BUT to answer your question: YES i had a great time/ and YES that "tree of shame" is true'ly there! Go and enjoy, and purchase that Tee shirt that says "I conquered the Dragon"
Ronnie
Lot of fun.... but there are lots of other roads around that are just as fun with better views and don’t have the tailgate traffic fighting for position like a nascar race. :wave4:
Have done it one 2 wheels 5 times and on 3 twice.
DO NOT ride over your head. You're going to get a good work out on the arms and shoulders but it is fun. And when you get finished you'll be trying to figure out how to install a 5 point harness seat belt to your trike. LoL!!
If you were raised on a ranch (as I was) and did a little bull riding you'll have no problems.
8~\o
DO NOT ride over your head. You're going to get a good work out on the arms and shoulders but it is fun. And when you get finished you'll be trying to figure out how to install a 5 point harness seat belt to your trike. LoL!!
If you were raised on a ranch (as I was) and did a little bull riding you'll have no problems.
8~\o
Many times and love it! Stable as a rock!
Different kind of fun. Take along a pair of tweezers to get you seat out of you bu&%. I had more fun on 3 than I did on 2 but like I said "a different feel"..
8~\o
Me and another Trike buddy went a couple of years ago along with a couple of two wheelers.
I am not a fast rider on turns so this entire route is something I took with extreme caution. It was fun and I am sure I will go again.
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I've ridden it a bunch of times on trikes, and even more (20+ times) on 2 wheels.
The Tri Glide is right at home on the Dragon, and is capable of handling the winding road better than a stock 2 wheel Harley.
On the TG, with the stock bars and rear suspension you will be working pretty hard thru the twisties. Having wider bars and a Lift Kit makes it easier to steer thru them.
Here's a video of Mary and I riding the Dragon on our TG-
Kevin
B
Burnerboy
Careful, the last time I conquered the Dragon, The police had set up multiple speed radar traps there , and every trap, they had many bikes pulled over... What a bummer
Ronnie
Ronnie
Kevin,
How do the wider bars help on the turns? Would this make you reach farther on the outside hand?
Thanks, Jerry
How do the wider bars help on the turns? Would this make you reach farther on the outside hand?
Thanks, Jerry
Minni Dragon
Here there is a 3mile twisty road on a cliffside of the Hudson River known as the Goat Trail. Runs from the Andsville circle to the Bear Mtn. Bridge. Problem is it’s rt6 and a very active road to the bridge. Never got to ride it thru with out having a treehugger in front of me. Got to count the turns next time on it.
Here there is a 3mile twisty road on a cliffside of the Hudson River known as the Goat Trail. Runs from the Andsville circle to the Bear Mtn. Bridge. Problem is it’s rt6 and a very active road to the bridge. Never got to ride it thru with out having a treehugger in front of me. Got to count the turns next time on it.
Kevin, where were you when I posted that I can take twisty roads (Dragon) just as fast if not faster than a 2 wheeler and just about everyone bit my head off saying I'm crazy that's impossible.
I tried to explain about the faster you go on 2 wheels the wider the turn radius you do or you have to slow down to stay in your lane. But it doesn't help. I'm not talking about a new trike rider, but someone with a few years experience and strength enough to push it. I rode with a few sport bikes here and there over the years and had no problem keeping up with them.
Unfortunately I went a little overboard last May and pushed too hard. One of life's learning experiences.
Kevin, I couldn't agree with you more. The TG is built for the Tail. AND it does corner a whole lot better than 2 wheelers. I proved that to my 2 wheel buddies at Sturgis a couple years back on Iron Mountain Road.
Ohhh and I have your lift kit and mini-apes.
8~\o
road trip suggestions
Hello Trikeman, i'm interested in finding put about some fun scenic roads to drive , please send me some suggestions based on your experience, thanks
Hello Trikeman, i'm interested in finding put about some fun scenic roads to drive , please send me some suggestions based on your experience, thanks
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Careful, the last time I conquered the Dragon, The police had set up multiple speed radar traps there , and every trap, they had many bikes pulled over... What a bummer
Ronnie
Yeah, knock on wood, have not had a problem so far.
With wider bars you have more leverage, so less effort is needed to turn the same distance.
Yes, in parking lots, where you may be turning the handlebars all the way it will make the reach further, but for riding, even in a sharp turn, I've never had to come close to turning the handlebars all the way.
Also, if you go wider, most of the time you will want to go taller also...this means the bars will be closer to you, and the reach will be reduced.
Check out "The Comfort Triangle" Report HERE.
Kevin, where were you when I posted that I can take twisty roads (Dragon) just as fast if not faster than a 2 wheeler and just about everyone bit my head off saying I'm crazy that's impossible.
I tried to explain about the faster you go on 2 wheels the wider the turn radius you do or you have to slow down to stay in your lane. But it doesn't help. I'm not talking about a new trike rider, but someone with a few years experience and strength enough to push it. I rode with a few sport bikes here and there over the years and had no problem keeping up with them.
Unfortunately I went a little overboard last May and pushed too hard. One of life's learning experiences.
I posted in a few of your threads when you were getting beat up. Yeah, until a 2 wheeler rides with an experienced Trike rider, it is hard for them to fathom how the TG or FW can out handle them in the twisties.
Yep! If you ever get the chance, I rode a road that is better than the Dragon, AND any of the roads surrounding the Dragon, a few months back. The very northernmost part of the 1 before it gets to the California Coast. It was amazing!
Here are a couple of screenshots of the map of the area...but if you go to google maps and zoom in, you can see all the turns.
btw, thanks for your biz, we appreciate it!
Kevin
The Dragon
Yup that was my year long plan , to ride the dragon. Thanks to HD , it never happened. Maybe next year , unless I’m in jail. Gota ride solo for now on, as not to interupt other comrades .
Yup that was my year long plan , to ride the dragon. Thanks to HD , it never happened. Maybe next year , unless I’m in jail. Gota ride solo for now on, as not to interupt other comrades .
ISP-FL
600+ Posts
Did Deals Gap (Dragon) 3 times. The first time on the TG last spring and the last two times last week. We have now moved on to the Snake, which is much longer and of course many more twisties. We will do the Back Of The Dragon before leaving this TN/VA area but with all the rain coming through now it will probably be Friday or Saturday.
We will probably be in this area again next fall but to be honest we will probably pass on doing the Tail Of The Dragon again. There are a lot of better mountain rides to do with much less traffic.
We will probably be in this area again next fall but to be honest we will probably pass on doing the Tail Of The Dragon again. There are a lot of better mountain rides to do with much less traffic.
Yeah, knock on wood, have not had a problem so far.
With wider bars you have more leverage, so less effort is needed to turn the same distance.
Yes, in parking lots, where you may be turning the handlebars all the way it will make the reach further, but for riding, even in a sharp turn, I've never had to come close to turning the handlebars all the way.
Also, if you go wider, most of the time you will want to go taller also...this means the bars will be closer to you, and the reach will be reduced.
Check out "The Comfort Triangle" Report HERE.
I posted in a few of your threads when you were getting beat up. Yeah, until a 2 wheeler rides with an experienced Trike rider, it is hard for them to fathom how the TG or FW can out handle them in the twisties.
Yep! If you ever get the chance, I rode a road that is better than the Dragon, AND any of the roads surrounding the Dragon, a few months back. The very northernmost part of the 1 before it gets to the California Coast. It was amazing!
Here are a couple of screenshots of the map of the area...but if you go to google maps and zoom in, you can see all the turns.
btw, thanks for your biz, we appreciate it!
Kevin
I have never been on the Dragon Tail and have only seen the photos and vids of it. I have always said that I know about a road that I bet would make the Dragon Tail look like a stroll in the park... And this is it... I have done it both directions several times now, and man it is a workout. Kevin,,, surprised you didn't make a u turn and do it again the other way!!! Ha Ha! Never seen a cop on it either! BUT!!!! Ya gotta be very aware of logging trucks instead. And those guys do not care how much road they take up. It is also pretty desolate out there so if you had a problem it would take a while for help to arrive. Gotta be very vigilant on that road. And eat your Wheaties before ya do it!
ISP-FL
600+ Posts
We did the Back Of The Dragon (starts in Marion VA) yesterday. It was only about 32 miles of twisties and I believe the maximum elevation we hit was under 4,000 feet, but it was still a much better ride than the Tail Of The Dragon.
I had just under 100 miles on my new ride when we started at Marion so I held back on pushing it a little. My two buddies on their 18's were patient and went along with a slower riding experience. The scenery was either much better on this ride or we were going slow enough to finally see most of it!
I had just under 100 miles on my new ride when we started at Marion so I held back on pushing it a little. My two buddies on their 18's were patient and went along with a slower riding experience. The scenery was either much better on this ride or we were going slow enough to finally see most of it!
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Heya Trent!
You were right!!! This road is head and shoulders better (and much longer) than the Dragon. What an adrenaline rush! Did not see any logging trucks on it, but had my eyes open. In many spots (dozens, if not hundreds) it is much tighter than the dragon, and with countless blind corners, so the going is much slower. But what a fantastic road!
Yeah, I wanted to do a U and ride it two more times. But the coast was calling!
What's this about Wheaties? You need a Lift kit and some wider handlebars, steering is much easier then.
We'll be back.
Kevin
Kevin,
What wider bars would you recommend? I am about 5' 9". I like the thought of going taller also.
Thanks, Jerry
Heya Trent!
You were right!!! This road is head and shoulders better (and much longer) than the Dragon. What an adrenaline rush! Did not see any logging trucks on it, but had my eyes open. In many spots (dozens, if not hundreds) it is much tighter than the dragon, and with countless blind corners, so the going is much slower. But what a fantastic road!
Yeah, I wanted to do a U and ride it two more times. But the coast was calling!
What's this about Wheaties? You need a Lift kit and some wider handlebars, steering is much easier then.
We'll be back.
Kevin
Got the lift kit! hmmm.. Dunno about the bars. Ridin' in all the curves around here and there does keep my forearms in pretty good shape. When ya come back we will be here!
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Hi Jerry,
Everyone has different ways of sitting, different arm length, different positions they are comfortable in.
I highly recommend following the directions in this Comfort Triangle LINK to find the perfect handlebar position for you.
Once you do, you can use a tape measure to find out how much further back, how much higher, and how much wider that perfect position is in relation to the factory grips.
Once you have those three numbers, you can go to your local HD shop or aftermarket shop and let them know. They have catalogs with hundreds of bars in them with measurements...and hopefully you will be able to find one that will put the grips in the right position for you.
DON'T let them talk you into a different grip position, just because it may be easier for them to sell you xyz bars, than to take the time to find some that will fit.
For myself, all it took was adding 9" of length to the factory bars to get the grips in my perfect position.
Kevin
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