Blueridge Parkway Run and Tail of the Dragon 4/13/19-4/14/19

[robert843]

Yes you read that header right I'm going to try and organize what is probably the first ever Jetboater.net land based gathering with no watercraft involved. After several conversations on here I have figured out many of you own motorcycles or fun cars as well. So in another thread @4x15mph started there seemed to be some interest in a possible group ride including cars and motorcycles. Him and I had a little conversation on the side and decided we would jump into this and plan one.

This trip will start in the Asheville NC area. We will start with a group meeting at 8am for breakfast at Another Broken Egg at Biltmore Park Town Square. At around 9am we will proceed to the highway 25 entrance to the Blue Ridge Parkway at mile marker 388. We will plan a gas stop just before entering. We will take the Blue Ridge Park Way to the end at mile marker 469 in Cherokee and grab fuel for the bikes one more time. We will depart Cherokee NC and head towards Robinsville NC which is about an hour away and grab lunch at The Hub restaurant. After departing The Hub we will make the short drive up to Deals Gap NC home of the world famous Tail of the Dragon which is a road with 318 turns in an 11 miles stretch. Motorcycle and car enthusiast from all over the US travel here to traverse this road. We will then make the hour return trip to Cherokee and spend the night and I will leave hotels to each individuals budget and choice there is a nice casino to hang out at that evening and we will probably try to plan a group dinner. The next morning we will depart Cherokee after breakfast around 9am and take the Highway 19 and Highway 23 route back towards Asheville this will bring us past the Wheels Through Time Motorcycle Museum I will plan to stop and visit any who wish to join are welcome for those who would prefer to get back to Asheville early to get a head start home may continue on. I will plan to grab lunch in Maggie Valley while there and then head back to the Biltmore area. I expect to be back in the Biltmore area around 3pm which should give most plenty of time to get home on Sunday and is you choose not to stop in Maggie Valley you could likely be back at the Biltmore by noon or earlier if needed. I will tag a few who showed interest in the prior thread but all are welcome to join.

Committed
@robert843 Ducati 848 EVO
@4x15mph Yamaha FZ8
@Andy S Cadillac Eldorado Convertible
@mrs843 Mazda Miata
@Neutron Yamaha FZ1
@rkluck Harley Davidson
@Amar Nanduri
Possibly joining
@BigAbe75
@Peelz
@Sbrown


Interested from other thread

@McMark @BigAbe75 @rkluck @swatski @Neutron @BigN8 @djetok @Peelz @tim h @veedubtek
@DieselCamel @Betik @2kwik4u @ToddW850 @njmr2fan

 

[Neutron]

I will check my work schedule. I only work every 3rd Saturday. So for now I am in till I can verify which Saturday in april i am working

 

[Sbrown]

Interested

 

[robert843]

For any one who doesn't own a trailer but wants to tow up I did learn the other day you can rent a motorcycle trailer from Uhaul for $14 a day. It was pretty nice too actually.

 

[Betik]

@Amar Nanduri

 

[Neutron]

Definitely off from work that weekend, I will be on my Yamaha FZ1

 

[Peelz]

rad idea!

Interested but I have to find out when the kids' club soccer season starts, I need to be there.... it was Mid April last year, so Id say put me down for 20/80 going. lol Really, the time it would take to ride TO NC from IA would be the issue here. I can take a couple days off, but difficult to take big chunks. If I go it would be a last minute saddle up and bail situation i think.

rickety 2002 BMW R1150R

@Neutron need to let me ride your FZ.

speaking of motorcycles, anyone see the bikes announced by Ducati and BMW? Panigale and 1000RR salivating.....ZERO tangible use for either of them, but want. so. badly.

 

[BigAbe75]

Sold my bike a couple years ago, but trying to get my brother to take us in his Dodge Challenger Hellcat.

 

[Amar Nanduri]

rad idea!

Interested but I have to find out when the kids' club soccer season starts, I need to be there.... it was Mid April last year, so Id say put me down for 20/80 going. lol Really, the time it would take to ride TO NC from IA would be the issue here. I can take a couple days off, but difficult to take big chunks. If I go it would be a last minute saddle up and bail situation i think.

rickety 2002 BMW R1150R

@Neutron need to let me ride your FZ.

speaking of motorcycles, anyone see the bikes announced by Ducati and BMW? Panigale and 1000RR salivating.....ZERO tangible use for either of them, but want. so. badly.

I am drooling

 

[Weeb]

Just be careful there’s no cell service on the dragon and lots of crashes and deaths.

 

[Betik]

Just be careful there’s no cell service on the dragon and lots of crashes and deaths.

can we please be careful on what is stated here; my wife monitors the threads that I am following

 

[Betik]

I am drooling

what are you drooling for ? didn't you just buy a bike from half way around the globe ? I dont think Anu will okay with second one. Especially a track bike

 

[Amar Nanduri]

what are you drooling for ? didn't you just buy a bike from half way around the globe ? I dont think Anu will okay with second one. Especially a track bike

Yep. She will break my leg first if I ever mention another bike.
Bikes are right now confined to same category as Babes... "can watch but cant touch" .

 

[Peelz]

Yep. She will break my leg first if I ever mention another bike.
Bikes are right now confined to same category as Babes... "can watch but cant touch" .

My wife, will usually not mind if I drool on bikes... drool on a babe, shed have an issue.

Actually, shes normally the one pushing me to get a new one... just not either of these.... Picture a long ride as pillion on these bikes lol My old back would snap in two.

R1200RT is probably the next machine.

 

[Weeb]

can we please be careful on what is stated here; my wife monitors the threads that I am following

Sorry lol. I just want you all to be safe. You might want to get an alias.

 

[robert843]

rad idea!

Interested but I have to find out when the kids' club soccer season starts, I need to be there.... it was Mid April last year, so Id say put me down for 20/80 going. lol Really, the time it would take to ride TO NC from IA would be the issue here. I can take a couple days off, but difficult to take big chunks. If I go it would be a last minute saddle up and bail situation i think.

rickety 2002 BMW R1150R

@Neutron need to let me ride your FZ.

speaking of motorcycles, anyone see the bikes announced by Ducati and BMW? Panigale and 1000RR salivating.....ZERO tangible use for either of them, but want. so. badly.

I never felt like my old GSXR's and Ninjas were uncomfortable so I never understood when people said the Ducati super sports were uncomfortable until owning one. You quickly realize there is a big difference between a true track oriented bike and a factory Jap super sport. These things are designed for your chin to be in the tank the whole time in any other seated position it is not comfortable for any period of time. Also the gearing on them is nuts which makes city riding and even a trip like we are discussing tough on them. the sweet spot on my bike is between 5k-8k rpms the problem is in first gear at 4K rpm I'm doing 40 mph which is going to make a trip like this a hot one because I will likely only ever use 1st and 2nd gear. The one thing I love is the sound my god does my bike sound sexy compared to a Jap super sport bike. Other then that though I would rather be on a GSXR 600 for trip like this then my bike. Hmm maybe I will buy another bike just for this trip.

 

[Neutron]

@robert843 is that a dry clutch or wet?
I always loved the sound of a Duc dry clutch. Very mean sounding.

I inherited a mint condition 73 Kawi H2 750 2 stroke. Now this thing is a fing screamer. Getting it shipped down here after the winter

 

[4x15mph]

@robert843 , thank you for taking the initiative and I hope we can get a good group out. It was 45 degrees here today and #IrodeToday. The uhaul is a great option at $14/day and I have done that a couple of times.

This will be a safe trip the way we do it.

Scott

 

[robert843]

@robert843 is that a dry clutch or wet?
I always loved the sound of a Duc dry clutch. Very mean sounding.

I inherited a mint condition 73 Kawi H2 750 2 stroke. Now this thing is a fing screamer. Getting it shipped down here after the winter

The 848 EVO has a wet clutch so I do miss that feature. Another disappointing missing feature is the quick shifter they gave the
848 EVO Course edition that feature in the model year right after mine. They make a dry clutch kit for my bike if I rode more I would probably switch it out. That's funny about the H2 as I just watched a video the other night about the 7 best sounding bikes and your old school triple cylinder H2 was on it.

 

[Neutron]

The 848 EVO has a wet clutch so I do miss that feature. Another disappointing missing feature is the quick shifter they gave the
848 EVO Course edition that feature in the model year right after mine. They make a dry clutch kit for my bike if I rode more I would probably switch it out. That's funny about the H2 as I just watched a video the other night about the 7 best sounding bikes and your old school triple cylinder H2 was on it.

Great video
Man that cbx1100 honda 6 cylinder is amazing sounding