I rode it the day before this ride. It is in another video when I rode the Tail, the Cherohala, and the mountain road to the Indian River campground. Perhaps the best day of riding in my life.
I love the Cherohala, also. I've ridden quite a few roads in N GA and W NC over the past 40 years. US19/129 over Neel's Gap (northbound) south of Blairsville GA is still my favorite. You do have to watch out for slow traffic, but most of it has a passing lane. Beware Johnny Law, also. My newest favorite is Wayah Road between US19/74 near Topton and Cartoogechaye, outside of Franklin. Although you need to watch for driveways along Nantahala Lake, Wayah Road doesn't carry much traffic. The asphalt is superb and it's as much fun westbound as it is eastbound. I believe that it's 24 miles. At least 3/4 of it is bada**.
Yes! I rode it the day before this video and it was great! check out Episode 7 in this series. I was having such a great time. Everyday seemed better than the last. Kind of like very beer tastes better! LOL. Thanks for watching ! link to Episode 7: ruclips.net/video/GLyupJ_HaFA/видео.html
come out to northern california, the back roads here go on for ever and ever. Hiway 36 west from red bluff to coast has it all. + its 160 miles long with every kind of corner you can imagine. The tightest hairpin to the smoothest fast sweepers, up and down hill, there are some great jumps. There are more back roads than one person can ride.
You're in my stomping grounds here, there is no "best" I am convinced of that! The Dragon, the Snake, the Rattler, Dragon's Back. and countless others are all equally good. I love the stretch of road from Elizabethton to Shady Valley you covered, just gorgeous. Yes, avoid any downtown of any city over 10,000 people unless you like stoplights. Hit me up before you come through again, I will give you some great routs to bypass Johnson City and Kingsport etc... and beware Morristown is as bad or worse. Ride on friends, great video.
Thank you! I agree that there is no "best." However, your entire region might be the BEST. I just got back from a great trip to the Dakotas and Montana. It was great, but the Appalachians have a volume of great roads that is second to none. I plan to come back, and I will reach out for advice. Thanks for watching!
@@tigercoward I'm doing Montana and Dakotas next summer. We hit Idaho and Western Montana a few years back but I haven't done Glacier etc.... and I have never done the Black Hills! Stay safe my brother, keep the rubber down the the videos coming.
The Rattler is epic and it’s on my list. I have to say it. Nothing, I mean nothing beats the Mae Hong Son loop in Northern Thailand. They build perfectly paved roads like rollercoasters. Grades and banks like you’ve never seen. They make the pavement red in the most extreme situations to warn you that they aren’t playing. You’ll never be the same after it.’
There is a section of road that heads north out of Helen, GA called the Unicoi Turnpike that has sections that are unlike anything I have seen elsewhere. It is like a twisty rollercoaster. I have never seen pavement so contorted. There are a number of spots that you can get some air........if you dare. Not me brother.
Rented a Kawi 650 in Chiang Mai, Thailand and drove to Pai.. When I asked what that ride is like I always say it makes the Tail of the Dragon look like the Tail of the Chicken. If you ever get the opportunity, go for it. Rent from Steve’s Big Bikes in town. Unforgettable
@@tigercoward I did enjoy it. I don’t get to ride near as much as I’d like. Working more now than I have in the last 50 years. Amazing. You did a great job videoing and editing.
The Snake (US 421) in Shady Valley is my favorite road in that area. You have to go the whole way from Mountain City to South Holston Lake. The store is only the halfway point. You actually passed it on your way to Damascus before you get to Backbon Rock.
Part of the fun of the Dragon is "the show". Seeing all the bikes and all the squids wheeling up the hill. It's a very frustrating road as it's typically very difficult to get a clean run. You were very close to what I believe is the best road in Tennessee/NC/Virginia area....US 421 "The Snake". It's in a much more remote area and not as busy as the Dragon. Shady Valley has a nice little store we like to stop at.
I like the Dragon a lot! It is a totally awesome road but very different than most others. I definitely don't live crowds, and if you watch my video on that day, you will laugh because it wasn't too busy at all. I rode a bit of 421, and it was awesome. You can see that in the 2nd half of my "Back in the Mountains video." It was amazing. The Snake is definitely on my "next time " list. Thanks for watching!
Take 321 out of Gatlinburg toward Cosby TN. Turn right on 32 in Cosby towards Mt Sterling. You are about to ride THE SIDEWINDER. This is the name I GAVE IT 10 YEARS AGO. The 11 miles of twisting turns tighter than the Dragon will be a must do ride from then on. You will love it.
I came over from NZ in 2014 and spent 5 weeks with my wife riding the Appalachians and all the states around that beautiful part of the country. I remember doing that road just because it looked good on the map. When we got to Hot Springs we filled up with gas looked at each other and said hell yeah. We turned around and did it again in reverse. Great road and great mix of scenery. Hard to call a favourite with so many good roads but the back of the dragon also sticks in my mind.
Thanks for watching! I agree that it is hard to pick a favourite. In my next video, I ride the Back of the Dragon, and it was just as good. I absolutely loved the Appalachian Mountains, roads, and states. I am much closer than you, so I plan on riding there again soon. Thanks again for tuning in. Ps. Riding in NZ has always been a dream of mine.
I like this video and road because it is not full of riders that think it is their own race track. We have been there are there and it is a fantastic place to ride.
Totally! Riding at my own pace, with no pressure from behind, is the way to go! I am riding a 600lb Adventure Bike, fully loaded with camping gear, etc. Having great sports bikes and super motos pretending that it is track day sucks. When you watch my day on the Tail of the Dragon, you will see three guys pass me. Lol. Thanks for watching!
Fines Creek to Hot Springs on 209 is the best part. It is a week from peak Fall color, so avoid it this month on Sat and Sun unless you wish to roll slow on a Goldwing. Above that anything in the Cumberland Gap is spectacular most of the year. Passed through the district this Sunday on my way home from the Yatkin Valley and Blowing Rock, NC to Blue Ridge, GA. Spectacular slow ride.
Thanks for the tip! It was beautiful in the spring, so I can imagine that it is beautiful at this time of year! What I can't imagine is it being busy. It was virtually empty in the spring and that was great! I am envious of you being there right now! I just got back from the Adirondacks and the roads weren't as spectacular as the Rattler, but the colours were amazing. I am editing those videos now-coming soon. Thanks for watching and supporting my channel! TC
There was a tractor trailer where you said no truck over 30ft. Great road, we in sw va have a lot of great roads.. I want to get down there. Been on Damascus roads, they are good..
Kentucky has The Rattlesnake - an attempt to market a very nice bit of twisty road through the woods to motorcyclists. It's the 39 miles of route 192 between Somerset and London. It's a very nice ride with the eastern portion in the Daniel Boone National Forest. Route 25 up from London also runs through the DBNF and is just as nice. Kentucky has a lot of great riding. I have my GPS avoid large roads and all of the smaller secondary roads are good to excellent. The Hillbilly Triangle is very good.
Great tips, thanks! We barely ventured into eastern Kentucky but I would like to see more. Next time! We rode 421 on what is part of the Daniel Boone loop. It was amazing. On the back end of our trip we found a map of the Appalachian Back Roads and I wish that I found it sooner. Thanks for the advice and thanks for watching! www.appalachianbackroads.com/
I live off of 91 and am always so surprised at how little people ride it. This whole area is wild. 19 out of Abingdon all the way to Blufield WV is a banger.
You are soooo right! I had a blast on this trip. Check out the other videos in the series, and you will see that I had an amazing time once I reached the end of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The BRP was beautiful, as I had expected. The surprise for me was how many amazing roads the were in your area! I am more than a little envious. Thanks for watching! TC
Ps. I rode down to Bluefield as well. Check out my West Virginia Mountain Roads vid! And the next one when we rode back on the same road because it was so good!
@williamjarvis3473 to be honest, I didn't know where I was most of the time. We just looked for the curviest roads on the map. We only knew that we were on the Rattler because we passed the sign. Lol.
@@tigercoward my comment was a reply to the the one about dogget mountain. You were definitely on the rattler, been there myself many times. Great video bro
Just back from a vacation on Sardinia. Never had so awesome and diverse roads, not even in the Alps. SS125, SP3, both in the mountains or the SP49 along the coast line are only a few examples. A rough road surface on many road stretches gives you the ultimate grip. But be aware, on smaller roads, there can be cattle, fresh cow pie or rocks around each corner.
My wife and I have rode on so many beautiful roads it's hard to pick just one to be my favorite. We've rode the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive probably twenty times and it is beautiful. Southrn West VIrginia is also beautiful, with scences on RT60, RT16 Summerville Lake, Hawk's Nest, New River Gorge. Rt 50 from Oakland Maryland going West to Grafton W.V. has views of the West Virginia Eastern mountians like Cheat Mountain, and not too far from Tucker COunty West Virginia which is one of my favorite places on earth, with Cannan Valley ski resort, Black Water Falls, and little towns like Davis, Parsons, St. George, we usually ride there once a year. But for me, Ohio is home and even in Ohio there are some fantastic motorcycyle roads, like ST RT 124 from Pomeroy, Ohio going East and following the Ohio River through little communities like Syracuse, Rcine, Portland, Long Bottom, Reedsville and then into Athens county where Hockingport is right on the River. At one point just below Long Bottom, Ohio you are riding on a ledge with a tall rock wall on one side and the Ohio River just a few feet away on the other. Also Hocking Hills is in Ohio where roads like St RT 374, 180, 664 Thompson Ridge and Big Pine Road are great motorcycle roads. Also in Ohio are St RT 78 from Nelsonville to McConnesville, ST RT 555. and many othres. I guess as long as I'm on a motorcycle I like just about any road. Ride safe and enjoy every journey.
Awesome! Thanks for the responses. I am from Ontario and have family in the South Western part of the province. I should ride more in Ohio. Thanks for the info. Thanks for watching!
We just got back from Maggie Valley area and agree. The Rattler was amazing! The tai of the dragon got us there but we discovered sooo many great roads
My brother and I rode the Rattler June 5th, great ride. A Steer (male cow) in a corner to the right was exicting😅. Then shortly after that, a rock (size of a basketball) coming bouncing across in front of me to the left. Awesome road. Going back 😂😂
Right on. We crossed over the Snake but didn't have time to ride it. These roads were brilliant! The Tail is an attraction but not what I had expected. Plus, it's too busy, and I went mid week in May. No complaints, it is just that there are so many better roads! What a great problem to have.
@glennhurst7659 I am glad that I have been to the Tail but not likely to do it again. However, there are so many great roads in this area that I will be back for sure! Thanks for watching!
Thanks for the tip. Embarrassingly, I know very little about Arkansas, is the riding there good? Obviously I loved the Rattler, but many have commented that I missed the best road in the area, the Snake. Check out my videos on The Back of the Dragon and the Tail of the Dragon for more ideas for great riding in the area. Thanks the comment and for watching! TC
@naturalforlife6741 I am more than a little jealous! You live in a beautiful part of the world with great motorcycling roads! You will see in my Back of the Dragon and Tail of the Dragon videos that I was having a great time! Thanks for watching! TC
So is the Skyline Drive! Especially right now! Almost like Freshly Paved roads right now too (I was on it mid. Sept. of 2023 for whoever might be seeing this years from now or something)
I have driven then Skyline Drive in the past, and it was great! But this year, it rained heavily when we rode it, so we didn't see much. The road surface was absolutely perfect. It's still a great ride, no matter the weather. Thanks for watching! TC
That's open to debate. I've been to the Dragon eight times, the Rattler four times and the Rattler isn't as grueling but what I find is that because the Dragon is non-stop, continuous extremely tight turns you can hardly stop focusing. The Rattler isn't as demanding but it will catch you off-guard because it seems a little less congested with turns.....and traffic. Try the Beaver Dam Rd up the mountain out of Canton, NC or 215 south from Bethel, NC. They're less known and just as fun . The Beaver Dam Rd has a surprise at the peak just when you get a nice view of the other side of the mountain. Hopefully there's no one coming the other way!!
So close to the snake (421) from Mountain City to Bristol TN/ VA and you missed it! Then, once past Bristol, a nice long cruise to Weber City, VA. My favorite ride by far.
Dude, Awesome video. I'm from Mtn. City TN. and I know these roads. They're great. I also agree to stay away from Johnson City. It's terrible. I live in Kingsport now and moved to get away from JC. Also Shady Valley near Damascus is a great place to see and ride too. Happy motoring!
My friend and I just took a week long camping and riding trip and rode 208 through hotsprings to 209 on our way to the south end of the blue ridge parkway. Excellent time! We actually came from Johnson City where we stayed the first night at a hotel. Another fun loop is when you hit little switzerland there is a loop they call the Diamonback. You take some switchback laden road straight down the mountain and another one back up. The one back up had a special charm because of the massive dumptrucks and semi's barreling down the other way and the same struggling back up too. A lot of the way up is two lanes so you have one to pass in. I remember being like 40 degrees leaned over passing a dumptruck, different kind of fun... Been home only a day but wish I could go back already. So much fun! As for what's better, the rattler or the dragon? As a piece of pavement I do think I like the dragon a little better. But if you go at the wrong time it's a real zoo, dangerous and hard to enjoy because of the traffic.
Awesome! I didn't get to Little Switzerland/Diamondback, but it is top of the list for next time. I am like you, I can't wait to go back! Thanks for watching! TC
Looking forward to doing the Rattler, US 209, and the MoonShiner 28. All that after I attempt the Devil's Triangle. I was warned that if I rode it I would never want to do it again. Sounds like my kind of road!
Johnson City is the best place for a twisty road enthusiast to spend a week. There's so many great twisty roads within an hour of that place, it's not even funny. I rode the rattler once there among several others but I've got West Virginia in my back yard so I don't necessarily need to go on vacation to scratch the twisty road itch.
I am more than a little jealous! You live in a beautiful area and an epic place to ride! This year, I am heading to South Dakota and the Black Hills in June. Then, in August, I am going north to James Bay and across the Trans Tiaga road in Northern Quebec. Both will be great trips, but I don't know if they will live up to my Appalachian Adventure! Thanks for watching!
Cool! I have never heard of the Moonshiner 28. I will definitely check it out. I was thinking of a trip back to the area next year . If I do, I will definitely ride that road. Thanks for the tip!
The Snake is in my neighborhood and it never gets old. For pure riding pleasure it can't be beat. Beartooth Highway and Iron Mountain Road are the best out west.
I always called it The Diamondback instead of The Rattler. But I've ridden both numerous times, and The Dragon is my favorite of the two. Just getting to The Dragon is fun as the roads leading there are also pretty awesome. Anyway, to each his own and glad you enjoyed some beautiful country. Always glad to see videos like this, so thanks.
Thanks, I had never heard of the Rattler until we passed the sign. We didn't really do much research on routes. We just headed to the Tail. After that, we just looked for the curviest roads on the map. Perhaps the surprise, or the lack of expectation, made it such a great experience. Either way, the roads around there are great, and I can't wait to come back! Thanks for watching! TC Ps. Your handle is Streaking Tiger. What are you riding?
I made that handle when I rode a 2005 Kawasaki Meanstreak 1600, but had 2 bikes after that ( 2006 Ninja 650R and then a 2007 Honda VFR800). I''m 73 yo and finally sold my VFR in March as I seldom rode it on long rides. I wanted ONE more ride to The Dragon, but never managed to get healthy enough to ride that far again.@@tigercoward
You should ride "The Snake" here in northeastern Tennessee. I rode it last weekend. 489 turns, 3 mountains, one valley. It's about 112 miles. The "best" part is a 37-mile stretch, but I enjoyed every last mile! And yes, your mom should wash your mouth out with soap. We live in Kingsport, just up the road from Johnson City, and I agree with you. Avoid it. It's yuppy-ville and full of college kids and lousy traffic. HOWEVER, if you like German food, you MUST stop by Freiberg's!! It's a pub/German restaurant, and it's the best!! Day after tomorrow, my wife and I are going to ride the "Green Loop. It's about 110 miles. Fun times!!
@tigercoward - You definitely will not regret it!! Be mindful of the turns in some areas. I saw two different riders go off the road and disappear into the woods and ditches.
Yeah, I agree, but I think that is the appeal for many, especially the sport bike guys. I liked it and I will ride it again, I just enjoyed some other roads more. Thanks for watching! TC
I loved it, and everyone says the Snake while you are in the area. I missed the Snake but that gives me another reason to go back! Thanks for watching!
You really need to get over to California and hit hwy 4, known as the snake. There are turns so sharp and steep that you can read your own license plate in the rear view mirror. That is my favorite hwy.
Route 33 - Virginia / West Virginia, see on Google map, worth to try, all way up to Spruce Knob 4863 (edit here number) ft elevation. P.S Visit motorcycle museum - Wheels Through Time, it's about 25 miles away from 209 route....ride safe ✌️
I rode the Tail of the Dragon and the Rattler in June, 2022, with my nephew as we headed from Nebraska to Fayetteville NC. I liked the Rattler better. We stayed in Maggie Valley to ride the Tail one day, then the Rattler the next day.
In Texas we have a motorcycle route called the Texas twisted sisters One of the roads is 335 there are three roads that curve around three little hills that pass for mountains in that area of Texas and the roads are quite twisty with s turns and retrogrades and inclines and declines and changing radius curves it's a lot of fun
@@tigercoward hey I forgot to mention a cool little tradition associated with the Texas 3 twisted sisters. Bring a small fist-sized or smaller rock with you and a permanent marker and when you get to the Northwest most corner of the route there's a ever-growing pile of rocks there with people's names and the date they were there on them. I guess it's kind of silly but it's something a little different fun to do if you ever take that route.
3:07 Hit Springs is a great little town, and the roads out of there are super fun as well!! 91 to 133 to 58 to 16 is an incredible bunch of riding!! Those roads are not nicknamed, but could be!! Of course, the intersection of 91 and 133 is at Shady Valley, home of the Snake, which I’ve seen you have been on, just incredible!! This past Thursday I rode from home, near 209 to The New River Gorge, and I made sure the ride up included all of those roads, perfect I tell ya!!
We didn't do a lot of planning when we were there. We just looked on maps for curvy roads and then rode them. We didn't know the Rattler was the Rattler until we saw the sign. Lol Next time, we will do a bit of planning and get more great roads in. That being said, every day was great. Thanks for watching.
Thanks for watching! This was my first, but certainly not my last time riding in that part of the world. Funny enough, we didn't know the road was called the Rattler until we passed the sign. We just picked it off of the map because it looked super twisty. We have another two weeks of riding in the trip, and we had some more great rides. Those videos will be coming soon. I will check out your channel. Thanks again for watching.
@northbysoutheast5439 I bet it does! Here is my advice learned from too many injuries and surgeries: The secret to optimal recovery is to follow doctors' advice, commit to physical therapy, and always keep a positive attitude. I wish you the speediest recovery and many happy days on two wheels!
@@tigercoward I’m paralyzed from arms down from a motorcycle accident 17 years ago where i lowsided my bike and slid off a cliff and broke 38 bones. 4 of those bones were in my back. Laid in a hospital doing physical therapy for 3 months. Built my first handicap accessible trike 4 years later and been riding ever since.
@darrenlingerfelt5879 That is an incredible journey! I am sorry to hear about your accident, and I am inspired by your commitment to riding! Thanks for tuning in to my channel!
I’ve ridden the Rattler twice in my life. I’ve ridden the Dragon at least twice per year over the last 10 years. I rode both 2 weeks ago. I like both. I just find the Rattler to have so many gentle sweepers that it has “less of a bite” than the Dragon. So many of those roads through the mountains are a blast. Did you ride 28 between Deals Gap and Fontana Dam?
The Rattler is ok, but don't think it's the best. My wife and I stayed at a great AirBnB in Hot Springs, NC for a week in July. There are several roads up there in that area that are comparable to the Rattler. It was our first time to this area and it was great to explore some different riding. SR-63 out of Ashville, NC terminates at the Rattler about 15 miles south of Hot Springs, so it made a nice loop.
Hi Bill, You are probably right. I rode so many great roads in that area during my trip. I had a great ride the day before (check out that video) and I was having such a great time that I may have been prone to some exaggerations! Nonetheless, I loved the Rattler! Thanks for watching. TC
To me the best part of the Rattler was having lunch at Ferguson Supply and listening to the owner, James Ferguson moonshine stories. Also taking pictures of my bike next to the Pink J. Plemmons Groceries and Feeds old gas station in Luck, NC. I agree that the Rattler is an amazing ride.
Those experiences would make it even better! Good on you! Had we done more research or preparation, we could have done something similar. Oh well, next time! We had a loose plan, which was to ride the Blue Ridge Parkway and go to the Tail. Everything after that was made up on the fly by looking for the curviest roads on the map. Sometimes, without the anticipation of a route being great, the lack of expectation can make a ride seem even better. Next time, I am going to do a bit more planning and add your suggestions to the route. Thanks for the feedback. Take care. TC
I went in for gas at Ferguson Supply, and ended up having lunch and chatting with Mr. Ferguson about his family pics, including a 50 year old pic in his office of people making/distilling moonshine. The owner of Ferguson Supply, James Ferguson, happens to be the Chairman of Southwestern Conservation Council and a local celebrity. Talking to him was like getting into a travel machine, and getting free 20th century history lesson. The man and his family have been involved in the community for over a hundred years. Tons of family pictures, awards, plaques and pictures of him with famous politicians decorate his office. This mom and pop store provides unparalleled family service, and the staff makes you feel welcome. @@tigercoward
@@tigercoward I went in for gas at Ferguson Supply, and ended up having lunch and chatting with Mr. Ferguson about his family pics, including a 50 year old pic in his office of people making/distilling moonshine. The owner of Ferguson Supply, James Ferguson, happens to be the Chairman of Southwestern Conservation Council and a local celebrity. Talking to him was like getting into a travel machine, and getting free 20th century history lesson. The man and his family have been involved in the community for over a hundred years. Tons of family pictures, awards, plaques and pictures of him with famous politicians decorate his office. This mom and pop store provides unparalleled family service, and the staff makes you feel welcome.
I ride the Rattler all the time it is a great road but you have to watch out for washed out stone from driveways and a lot of sticks and there s great food in Hot Springs
For my money, "The Snake" -- Hwy 421 out of Bristol, TN -- is as good as the Dragon without the circus atmosphere and danger inherent with so many people.
I only rode a portion of the 421 and it was great! The Snake is the top of my lost for the next time that I am down there. Ps. I am not critical of the Dragon it is just not my scene. The road is interesting but I didn’t like it as much as some others. Thanks for watching and supporting my videos. I truly appreciate it!
That’s a fun road and Hot Springs is a cool little town. But since I live in the general area and just off the BRP I’m extremely spoiled and do t really have a favorite road. I like them all for different reasons.
Nice! I am a little jealous, and I agree that that area has so many great roads that there is not one best road. I can't wait to come back! Thanks for watching!
I believe that the speed limit is 55, but there are not many areas where I got up to that. The corners and switchbacks are sometimes marked with recommended speeds, but they are quiet variable. I didn't set a trip tracker/computer, and I was never looking at the speedo, so I can't give you many details. Now that you mention it, I should have used an app to track the details. Thanks for the hint! Thanks for watching. TC
What people don't seem to understand about the dragon is that it has no intersecting roads except the one gravel one which is never used. That is the draw of the dragon, not having to worry about people pulling out of driveways or dogs running in to the street from yards. Nobody has ever tried to claim it's the best MC road of all time.
I agree with you about the intersecting roads. That is awesome! However, you are incorrect that "nobody claims it's the best". You simply google best motorcycle road in America and there are dozens of sites making that claim. For example: www.ejeas.com/best-motorcycle-roads-in-usa/ I loved my ride on the Dragon and I found the whole are to be littered with amazing roads. Thanks for watching!
@@tigercoward Yeah, I wouldn't go by any magazine article, they cater to fads and rumors. I'm talking about people in general don't consider it the best of all time. Heck, I found most of the roads leading up to the Blue Ridge Parkway to be way better in terms of general cruising roads, and also tons of others in the surrounding area but I wouldn't speed on many of them. The dragon is a road you can push your limits on with far less worry and that's where people start labeling what it's best for. Just like 28 is insanely amazing, but risky to be pushing any real speed on. 441 was insane if you can miss the traffic. Oh yeah, one more is 32 northeast of smokeys. It's paved on the KY side and goes to the top of the mountains. We blasted up that in our corvettes. Had to stop, open the hoods and let em all cool down before heading back.
I think that you are 100% correct. Plus, the best or even good is subjective. My favorite road so far is the Trans Labrador Highway. Not one that ranks high on many lists. I loved it for its isolation. People tend like to rank things and then debate them. Lol. At least we are not arguing about the best tires. Have a great afternoon, and I hope that you have great riding soon.
It's not the intersecting roads that are bad, it's people driving over their heads on the wrong side of a blind corner of highly publicized roads. ALL of the Appalations have killer roads. Find some AirBnB's. Get a DeLorme map and find the next days ride after the sun goes down. Hint. Try to get a fall ride in because the riding is sooo good, when you get home, even your best local roads will be boring the rest of the summer. Some of the best roads are found just getting lost...
@@jonmulack4226 We absolutely tore up all the remote backroads around there back in the day. One particular road twists itself all the way up to the NC border and turns to gravel which means it's barely driven and no traffic. We had to stop at the top, open our vette hoods and let everything cool off. Fun times! Most of the roads leading up and down from the Blueridge Parkway are also far better then parkway itself and it's ridiculous slow speed limit.
Thanks, John. I agree with you that Cape Breton is spectacular! I rode there last year, and I loved it. The views are great, and the road is fabulous. My favorite was up around Meat Cove! Check out this vid: ruclips.net/video/WquvAf-h7NM/видео.html I found the Appalachian Mountains have more variety roads to offer, and that makes it ideal for riding. But, exchange rate and the foodares better in Cape Breton! Thanks for watching.
Thanks for watching! As you can tell, I loved the Rattler. In my next video, I rode the Back of the Dragon and I loved that road too! This was spectacular part of the world to ride! Thanks again for watching.
i do like products / windshields from PUIG. But why is PUIG Logo always in your camera's perspective, near the center of the video screen? 😂 nice video.
Lol. I actually thought the same, so in my most recent videos, I replaced it with my own sticker. I probably should have asked Puig for a sponsorship! Thanks for watching.
I agree! On our ride down from Ontario, the deer risk was evident by the number of dead animals on the side of the road! On the Skyline Drive and on the Blue Ridge Pkwy, I had to brake hard to miss deer. I am not a good RUclipsr because I reached for the brake and not the record button. Lol. Thanks for watching! TC
What bike camera do you use, where can I find one and how much does it cost? I've been trying to shoot a video that shows what I see when riding and so far can't find one that does a stable video.
I am using a GoPro Hero 10. You can get a good deal on them now because the Hero 12 is out. I am using a RAM mount on the handle bar. Nothing fancy. This was new to me, and my settings were not great. My newer videos look much better. If you get a GoPro, check out Teapot One and his videos on settings. These are really easy to use.
I wonder what authority (government? magazines? sign-makers?) assigns names to twisty roads. When I first rode NC 209, it was referred to as the "Gambler," because it passed through the micro-towns of Trust, Luck and Bluff. Next time I rode it, I found it had been re-named the "Rattler," even though there is already a highway called the "Rattlesnake" in Kentucky (don't bother; it's just some high-speed sweepers you can ride fast on a touring bike). Who made that decision? Is there a Federal Standard saying that all twisty motorcycle roads must have reptilian and/or demonic names? Enquiring minds want to know! Next time you ride 209, plan a lunch stop at "Dave's 209," around the mid-point of the road. It's in a converted schoolhouse, great burgers and shakes to die for (or, perhaps, from). As for 209 vs the Dragon... they are two different things in my book. 209 has hills, curves, scenery, places to stop for a break, and the occasional straight stretch to let you get reoriented after the twisty parts. The Dragon has little scenery beyond the Dam Overlook, few major changes in elevation until you're just about done at the NC/TN border, and no place to stop (again, other than the Dam Overlook). It's just one tight turn after another with little or no time to regroup between leaving one turn and entering the next. As such, it's a different experience entirely.
Lol, I agree. There should be a registry of road names. It would be easier to find them. We didn't know that we were on the Rattler until we passed the sign. Generally, we just look for the curviest roads on the map and then ride them. Thanks for your tips, and thanks for watching! TC
Thanks for watching. My editing skills have grown since I did this video. The whole editing and mixing thing is new to me and an art that I have picked up since retirement. I hope that you will like some of my more recent videos. Be warned that I still use the same music just mixed differently I do appreciate your feedback, and I am honored that you took the time to help me out. Stay safe, have fun!
I agree, I like the more scenic roads. I do like the Tail of the dragon and ride it occasionally but I think it's over-rated compared to other roads around.
I am about 30 minutes from NC 209. Just can't rate it as high as the Dragon. After a hard rain you have to be very careful there. Rocks all over that road.
Nice call, Joe! I am jealous of where you live! We had the best time ever there. My next video is of our ride on the Back of the Dragon. That was awesome, too. The only thing that I didn't like about the Dragon was how many people were there. It is awesome, and that is why so many people are there! Lol I do think that Hot Springs is nicer than Deals Gap though. Thanks for watching. Ride safe
@@tigercoward I could have gotten you around Johnson City with hardly any red light stops. If you are ever in this area again I would love to show you some great roads nobody ever talks about.
@joebarnett683 Thanks, Joe! I will be back there one day, and I will take you up on that offer. On our way back, we just took out the map and looked for the roads that looked like they had the most curves. No tourist attractions, just great roads. I am glad that I rode some of the "named" roads, but next time, I would rather be on the roads less traveled.
great video, we just returned from riding the tail of the dragon and others in that area. can i ask you how large of a video file is this that you uploaded? i have several gopro videos i would like to upload but the files are huge. thanks in advance.
Thanks for watching Mike😄 I hope that you had as much fun as I did! This files for this video was 4.6 GB. It is not raw footage and is edited in Davinici Resolve (free version). When is is rendered for RUclips the file is compressed to 1080 and is significantly smaller than if uploading raw footage.
I am still pretty new at this. I first started editing in Video Editor in Windows and then graduated to Davinci. There are lots of good tutorials. This year I am messing around with the camera settings, and quite frankly, I think that it ruined some of my videos from The Tail of the Dragon Tour. I have since started using most of the settings recommended by Teapot One, the British moto vlogger. The only setting that is different from what he suggests is the frame speed. He mentioned what Itchy Boots was using and I thought that I would use the same as hers. These recommendations have made my most recent videos much better and easier to edit. Check out my most recent videos from Quebec and you will see the difference.
BTW I know that is more than you asked but I hope that you can learn from my mistakes and make your videos even better. Let me know when you post and I will watch them Take care, TC
I loved it. I have another video on that ride. I would say that it was as good a the Rattler. It was a lot of fun. There are so many great rides in that area!
@@tigercoward I Road it about four years ago and loved it ! It was on a Saturday and hardly no one on it that day I’m guessing it’s getting more popular now I hope it never gets as popular as the tail of the dragon I hear you only wanna go there during the week !
Personally I agree that it's a better ride than the Tail, especially with very little traffic! But best ever? Wouldn't say that. One of the best rides I've had was the Cherohala Skyway, got on at Tellico Plains, the two cars ahead of me both made the turn to Bald River Falls and from there all the way to 129 I had the road to myself!
Yeah, I liked the Cherohala, too! I just so much fun that day. Ride the Tail, then Cherohala, and then a crazy road down to the Indian River Campground. I think that I may have been spoiled by three great rides in one day, and one didn't stand out. In all, it was an amazing trip in an amazing part of the world! I will have to go back and ride them all again. Thanks for watching.
I have two, a '97 Daytona T595 (955cc), and an '02 T100 Bonneville, prefer the Daytona for road trips but I've done long days on both, both have been to NC and southern VA as well as PA (I'm in southern MD).
Devils triangle is better than both more challenging. Rattler is more enjoyable than dragon less Squids. Bottom line just ride them all fun has no qualifications. 😅
Having more than 400,000 miles on two wheels in the last 51 years, neither of these make the top 10. Certain areas such as the county roads surrounding the Lake of the Ozarks are superior rides, but I rate more on the ride than the towns. To each thier own.
Ultimately, that is the answer. They are different types of roads, and depending on how you want to ride, you will appreciate them differently. I was riding a fully loaded ADV bike, and I prefer less crowded touring roads. So I preferred the Rattler. I still enjoyed my ride on the Tail. Thanks for watching!
One of my favorites is Cherohala Skyway
Yes, it was very nice!
I rode it the day before this ride.
It is in another video when I rode the Tail, the Cherohala, and the mountain road to the Indian River campground. Perhaps the best day of riding in my life.
I love the Cherohala, also. I've ridden quite a few roads in N GA and W NC over the past 40 years. US19/129 over Neel's Gap (northbound) south of Blairsville GA is still my favorite. You do have to watch out for slow traffic, but most of it has a passing lane. Beware Johnny Law, also. My newest favorite is Wayah Road between US19/74 near Topton and Cartoogechaye, outside of Franklin. Although you need to watch for driveways along Nantahala Lake, Wayah Road doesn't carry much traffic. The asphalt is superb and it's as much fun westbound as it is eastbound. I believe that it's 24 miles. At least 3/4 of it is bada**.
Great tips!
I will have to add those to my list of roads to ride next time!
Thanks for watching!
I live and ride the twisties of WV where ven the interstates are like this...."AAALLLLMOOOST Heaven, West Viirginiia..."
Yes, heaven!
I've got the same gen1 klr as in your opening montage. Love it.
I always liked that bike. I have always said that it is the bike that I am most likely to own again.
Thanks for the comment and for watching!
Completely agree
Thanks!
Look up the Unicoi Turnpike for a real 2 wheel adventure. Starts at TN 68 and ends in NC near Murphy
Yes!
I rode it the day before this video and it was great!
check out Episode 7 in this series. I was having such a great time. Everyday seemed better than the last. Kind of like very beer tastes better! LOL.
Thanks for watching !
link to Episode 7:
ruclips.net/video/GLyupJ_HaFA/видео.html
come out to northern california, the back roads here go on for ever and ever.
Hiway 36 west from red bluff to coast has it all. + its 160 miles long with every kind of corner you can imagine.
The tightest hairpin to the smoothest fast sweepers, up and down hill, there are some great jumps.
There are more back roads than one person can ride.
California is definitely on the list in the next year or two!
I will look up Hwy 36! Thanks for the tip.
Also, thanks for watching!
You're in my stomping grounds here, there is no "best" I am convinced of that! The Dragon, the Snake, the Rattler, Dragon's Back. and countless others are all equally good. I love the stretch of road from Elizabethton to Shady Valley you covered, just gorgeous. Yes, avoid any downtown of any city over 10,000 people unless you like stoplights. Hit me up before you come through again, I will give you some great routs to bypass Johnson City and Kingsport etc... and beware Morristown is as bad or worse. Ride on friends, great video.
Thank you!
I agree that there is no "best." However, your entire region might be the BEST. I just got back from a great trip to the Dakotas and Montana. It was great, but the Appalachians have a volume of great roads that is second to none.
I plan to come back, and I will reach out for advice.
Thanks for watching!
@@tigercoward I'm doing Montana and Dakotas next summer. We hit Idaho and Western Montana a few years back but I haven't done Glacier etc.... and I have never done the Black Hills! Stay safe my brother, keep the rubber down the the videos coming.
@@lrh411 I will do a video series on this trip, too.
You can see my blog on Facebook under Tiger Coward.
We had a brilliant time!
Have fun, stay safe.
Ps The Beartooth Pass is as good as everyone says. Well worth it, and Red Lodge is a great town to stop in!
The Rattler is epic and it’s on my list. I have to say it. Nothing, I mean nothing beats the Mae Hong Son loop in Northern Thailand. They build perfectly paved roads like rollercoasters. Grades and banks like you’ve never seen. They make the pavement red in the most extreme situations to warn you that they aren’t playing. You’ll never be the same after it.’
Wow.
I would love to ride that!
Thanks for watching.
that sounds like a blast! hopefully you have footage to share them!
There is a section of road that heads north out of Helen, GA called the Unicoi Turnpike that has sections that are unlike anything I have seen elsewhere. It is like a twisty rollercoaster. I have never seen pavement so contorted. There are a number of spots that you can get some air........if you dare. Not me brother.
I didn't make it that far south but I will add this to my "next time " list!
Thanks for watching
this is like the perfect song for this kinda ride.
Thanks.
The music is by Billy and The Devil.
He is a friend of me and a great guy.
You can follow him on Spotify.
Rented a Kawi 650 in Chiang Mai, Thailand and drove to Pai.. When I asked what that ride is like I always say it makes the Tail of the Dragon look like the Tail of the Chicken. If you ever get the opportunity, go for it. Rent from Steve’s Big Bikes in town. Unforgettable
That sounds amazing!
Thanks for watching.
Thanks for putting this on my list!
You are welcome!
I hope that you enjoy it as much as I did!
Thanks for watching!
TC
@@tigercoward I did enjoy it. I don’t get to ride near as much as I’d like. Working more now than I have in the last 50 years. Amazing.
You did a great job videoing and editing.
@@BlssedToBeFree Thanks!
That means a lot to me.
The Snake (US 421) in Shady Valley is my favorite road in that area. You have to go the whole way from Mountain City to South Holston Lake. The store is only the halfway point. You actually passed it on your way to Damascus before you get to Backbon Rock.
Yeah, we stopped at the store but it was getting too late to ride the Snake. It is definitely on the " next time list "!
Thanks for watching!
TC
Part of the fun of the Dragon is "the show". Seeing all the bikes and all the squids wheeling up the hill. It's a very frustrating road as it's typically very difficult to get a clean run.
You were very close to what I believe is the best road in Tennessee/NC/Virginia area....US 421 "The Snake". It's in a much more remote area and not as busy as the Dragon. Shady Valley has a nice little store we like to stop at.
I like the Dragon a lot!
It is a totally awesome road but very different than most others.
I definitely don't live crowds, and if you watch my video on that day, you will laugh because it wasn't too busy at all.
I rode a bit of 421, and it was awesome. You can see that in the 2nd half of my "Back in the Mountains video." It was amazing.
The Snake is definitely on my "next time " list.
Thanks for watching!
Take 321 out of Gatlinburg toward Cosby TN. Turn right on 32 in Cosby towards Mt Sterling. You are about to ride THE SIDEWINDER. This is the name I GAVE IT 10 YEARS AGO. The 11 miles of twisting turns tighter than the Dragon will be a must do ride from then on. You will love it.
Cool!
I will ride the Sidewinder when I next there!
Thank you for the advice, and thanks for naming a road! Epic!
TC
I came over from NZ in 2014 and spent 5 weeks with my wife riding the Appalachians and all the states around that beautiful part of the country. I remember doing that road just because it looked good on the map. When we got to Hot Springs we filled up with gas looked at each other and said hell yeah. We turned around and did it again in reverse. Great road and great mix of scenery.
Hard to call a favourite with so many good roads but the back of the dragon also sticks in my mind.
Thanks for watching!
I agree that it is hard to pick a favourite.
In my next video, I ride the Back of the Dragon, and it was just as good.
I absolutely loved the Appalachian Mountains, roads, and states. I am much closer than you, so I plan on riding there again soon.
Thanks again for tuning in.
Ps. Riding in NZ has always been a dream of mine.
Have you ridden the old Russell road in Northland, NZ? Over 70ks of tight up and down bends.
The Dragon, Deals Gap is 6 Flags, Disney World. A tourist trap. Lots of great alternatives.
That is how I felt!
Thanks for watching!
@@tigercoward Great video. Keep it going!
@stevestowell-virtue3781 Thanks, Steve.
I like this video and road because it is not full of riders that think it is their own race track. We have been there are there and it is a fantastic place to ride.
Totally! Riding at my own pace, with no pressure from behind, is the way to go!
I am riding a 600lb Adventure Bike, fully loaded with camping gear, etc. Having great sports bikes and super motos pretending that it is track day sucks.
When you watch my day on the Tail of the Dragon, you will see three guys pass me. Lol.
Thanks for watching!
Fines Creek to Hot Springs on 209 is the best part. It is a week from peak Fall color, so avoid it this month on Sat and Sun unless you wish to roll slow on a Goldwing.
Above that anything in the Cumberland Gap is spectacular most of the year.
Passed through the district this Sunday on my way home from the Yatkin Valley and Blowing Rock, NC to Blue Ridge, GA.
Spectacular slow ride.
Thanks for the tip!
It was beautiful in the spring, so I can imagine that it is beautiful at this time of year!
What I can't imagine is it being busy. It was virtually empty in the spring and that was great!
I am envious of you being there right now!
I just got back from the Adirondacks and the roads weren't as spectacular as the Rattler, but the colours were amazing. I am editing those videos now-coming soon.
Thanks for watching and supporting my channel!
TC
There was a tractor trailer where you said no truck over 30ft. Great road, we in sw va have a lot of great roads.. I want to get down there. Been on Damascus roads, they are good..
There are so many amazing roads there. I can't wait to go back!
Thanks for watching!
The smart ones know an incredible road and they never tell
😀
I figured that having a famous nickname, sign, and website, The Rattler was not a secret. Lol.
Thanks for watching!
TC
Glad you enjoyed my neck of the woods, Damascus.
YES! I absolutely loved it. I can't wait to come back. I am also a little envious of you! Lol.
Thanks for watching!
TC
Thanks for the video. It looks like a fun trip. 😀👍
Thanks.
It was an absolutely fantastic time. I highly recommend this area for a moto vacation!
Ps. Thanks for watching!
@@tigercoward I do the Dragon when I can but some place a little less traveled would be nice.
Kentucky has The Rattlesnake - an attempt to market a very nice bit of twisty road through the woods to motorcyclists. It's the 39 miles of route 192 between Somerset and London. It's a very nice ride with the eastern portion in the Daniel Boone National Forest. Route 25 up from London also runs through the DBNF and is just as nice. Kentucky has a lot of great riding. I have my GPS avoid large roads and all of the smaller secondary roads are good to excellent. The Hillbilly Triangle is very good.
Great tips, thanks!
We barely ventured into eastern Kentucky but I would like to see more. Next time!
We rode 421 on what is part of the Daniel Boone loop. It was amazing.
On the back end of our trip we found a map of the Appalachian Back Roads and I wish that I found it sooner.
Thanks for the advice and thanks for watching!
www.appalachianbackroads.com/
I live off of 91 and am always so surprised at how little people ride it. This whole area is wild. 19 out of Abingdon all the way to Blufield WV is a banger.
You are soooo right!
I had a blast on this trip. Check out the other videos in the series, and you will see that I had an amazing time once I reached the end of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
The BRP was beautiful, as I had expected. The surprise for me was how many amazing roads the were in your area!
I am more than a little envious.
Thanks for watching!
TC
Ps. I rode down to Bluefield as well. Check out my West Virginia Mountain Roads vid! And the next one when we rode back on the same road because it was so good!
I like doggit mountain to spring creek and then to Del Rio tennessee as my favorite ride...nice video!
Thanks for the tips. They will go on my "next time" list. I am truly looking forward to next time.
Thanks for watching!
I believe that's highway 63 to 209 beautiful highway especially the long valley to the top. Looks like the Alps or somewhere like it.
@williamjarvis3473 to be honest, I didn't know where I was most of the time. We just looked for the curviest roads on the map.
We only knew that we were on the Rattler because we passed the sign. Lol.
@@tigercoward my comment was a reply to the the one about dogget mountain. You were definitely on the rattler, been there myself many times. Great video bro
@williamjarvis3473 Got it. Thanks for watching!😀
There is absolutely NO comparison between the Dragon & the Rattler! The Rattler has it HANDS DOWN! Great curves and FANTASTIC scenery!
That's how I felt.
Thanks for watching !
TC
Just back from a vacation on Sardinia. Never had so awesome and diverse roads, not even in the Alps. SS125, SP3, both in the mountains or the SP49 along the coast line are only a few examples. A rough road surface on many road stretches gives you the ultimate grip.
But be aware, on smaller roads, there can be cattle, fresh cow pie or rocks around each corner.
Nice, it sounds like you had an awesome trip.
What's next(
My wife and I have rode on so many beautiful roads it's hard to pick just one to be my favorite. We've rode the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive probably twenty times and it is beautiful. Southrn West VIrginia is also beautiful, with scences on RT60, RT16 Summerville Lake, Hawk's Nest, New River Gorge. Rt 50 from Oakland Maryland going West to Grafton W.V. has views of the West Virginia Eastern mountians like Cheat Mountain, and not too far from Tucker COunty West Virginia which is one of my favorite places on earth, with Cannan Valley ski resort, Black Water Falls, and little towns like Davis, Parsons, St. George, we usually ride there once a year.
But for me, Ohio is home and even in Ohio there are some fantastic motorcycyle roads, like ST RT 124 from Pomeroy, Ohio going East and following the Ohio River through little communities like Syracuse, Rcine, Portland, Long Bottom, Reedsville and then into Athens county where Hockingport is right on the River. At one point just below Long Bottom, Ohio you are riding on a ledge with a tall rock wall on one side and the Ohio River just a few feet away on the other.
Also Hocking Hills is in Ohio where roads like St RT 374, 180, 664 Thompson Ridge and Big Pine Road are great motorcycle roads. Also in Ohio are St RT 78 from Nelsonville to McConnesville, ST RT 555. and many othres.
I guess as long as I'm on a motorcycle I like just about any road. Ride safe and enjoy every journey.
Awesome!
Thanks for the responses. I am from Ontario and have family in the South Western part of the province. I should ride more in Ohio.
Thanks for the info.
Thanks for watching!
Loved the vlog bro!
Thanks, your feedback means more than you will ever know!
Thanks for tuning in.
We just got back from Maggie Valley area and agree. The Rattler was amazing! The tai of the dragon got us there but we discovered sooo many great roads
I felt the same way!
Thanks for watching!
It's a great ride! But Blood mountain 129 is a blast!
Thanks
I will have to add that to my list for next time!
Thanks for watching!
My parents live just outside the Rattler and I have been on it a few times with a couple corvettes I own. Always a fun time and a great road.
Nice, I am jealous!
Thanks for watching.
My brother and I rode the Rattler June 5th, great ride. A Steer (male cow) in a corner to the right was exicting😅. Then shortly after that, a rock (size of a basketball) coming bouncing across in front of me to the left. Awesome road. Going back 😂😂
Wow!
There is too much excitement there!
I am glad that you are safe!
I can't wait to go back there myself.
Did you ride the Back of the Dragon?
Very nice video
Thank you!
And thanks for watching!
YESSIR!!! Damascus, 91, 401(the snake), 58, 16(back of the dragon)... real roads that you CANNOT sleep through!!! You can have the tail!!!
Right on. We crossed over the Snake but didn't have time to ride it.
These roads were brilliant!
The Tail is an attraction but not what I had expected. Plus, it's too busy, and I went mid week in May.
No complaints, it is just that there are so many better roads!
What a great problem to have.
@tigercoward yes it is, a wonderful problem...
rode these and many more. the tail is over rated and over crowded...IMO
@glennhurst7659 I am glad that I have been to the Tail but not likely to do it again. However, there are so many great roads in this area that I will be back for sure!
Thanks for watching!
Mad Maps….they help. Picked up my first at The Dragon. They give choices. Good maps
Dave - Enjoying these videos including the background music (but I find the lyrics mostly downers). What a trip!
Thanks,
The music has a dark side, mostly about escape. I think that is appropriate because I ride to escape.
Anyhow, thanks for watching!
We just got back from riding the Pigs Tail in Arkansas. Very good ride. A lot of curves. We are going to check out the Rattler on our next adventure.
Thanks for the tip.
Embarrassingly, I know very little about Arkansas, is the riding there good?
Obviously I loved the Rattler, but many have commented that I missed the best road in the area, the Snake.
Check out my videos on The Back of the Dragon and the Tail of the Dragon for more ideas for great riding in the area.
Thanks the comment and for watching!
TC
I live in Ky. and have been to the Dragon a lot.@@tigercoward
@naturalforlife6741 I am more than a little jealous!
You live in a beautiful part of the world with great motorcycling roads!
You will see in my Back of the Dragon and Tail of the Dragon videos that I was having a great time!
Thanks for watching!
TC
So is the Skyline Drive! Especially right now! Almost like Freshly Paved roads right now too (I was on it mid. Sept. of 2023 for whoever might be seeing this years from now or something)
I have driven then Skyline Drive in the past, and it was great! But this year, it rained heavily when we rode it, so we didn't see much. The road surface was absolutely perfect. It's still a great ride, no matter the weather.
Thanks for watching!
TC
That's open to debate. I've been to the Dragon eight times, the Rattler four times and the Rattler isn't as grueling but what I find is that because the Dragon is non-stop, continuous extremely tight turns you can hardly stop focusing. The Rattler isn't as demanding but it will catch you off-guard because it seems a little less congested with turns.....and traffic.
Try the Beaver Dam Rd up the mountain out of Canton, NC or 215 south from Bethel, NC.
They're less known and just as fun . The Beaver Dam Rd has a surprise at the peak just when you get a nice view of the other side of the mountain. Hopefully there's no one coming the other way!!
Great analysis!
I totally agree.
I will have to check out the Beaver Dam.
Thanks for watching!
Awesome video
Thank you!
And thanks for watching!
229A…the diamond back at Little Switzerland is epic. I like better than the Dragon
Thanks.
Unfortunately, I missed that on and Little Switzerland.
They are on my "next time list".
Thanks for watching.
So close to the snake (421) from Mountain City to Bristol TN/ VA and you missed it! Then, once past Bristol, a nice long cruise to Weber City, VA. My favorite ride by far.
I know, eh! Lol.
We passed the store and learned about it, but it was late in the afternoon.
Gives me a great reason to come back!
Dude, Awesome video. I'm from Mtn. City TN. and I know these roads. They're great. I also agree to stay away from Johnson City. It's terrible. I live in Kingsport now and moved to get away from JC. Also Shady Valley near Damascus is a great place to see and ride too. Happy motoring!
Thanks, and LOL.
I am envious that you live in such a beautiful place!
Thanks for watching!
My friend and I just took a week long camping and riding trip and rode 208 through hotsprings to 209 on our way to the south end of the blue ridge parkway. Excellent time! We actually came from Johnson City where we stayed the first night at a hotel.
Another fun loop is when you hit little switzerland there is a loop they call the Diamonback. You take some switchback laden road straight down the mountain and another one back up. The one back up had a special charm because of the massive dumptrucks and semi's barreling down the other way and the same struggling back up too. A lot of the way up is two lanes so you have one to pass in. I remember being like 40 degrees leaned over passing a dumptruck, different kind of fun...
Been home only a day but wish I could go back already. So much fun!
As for what's better, the rattler or the dragon? As a piece of pavement I do think I like the dragon a little better. But if you go at the wrong time it's a real zoo, dangerous and hard to enjoy because of the traffic.
Awesome!
I didn't get to Little Switzerland/Diamondback, but it is top of the list for next time.
I am like you, I can't wait to go back!
Thanks for watching!
TC
been there your right it is the perfect road
Thanks!
It was an amazing day and a great trip!
Thanks for watching.
Thanks for the video I'm going
I hope that you love it as much as I did.
Looking forward to doing the Rattler, US 209, and the MoonShiner 28. All that after I attempt the Devil's Triangle. I was warned that if I rode it I would never want to do it again. Sounds like my kind of road!
Nice, I hope that you enjoy it as much as I did.
I don't know about the Devil's Triangle. I will have to check it out.
Thanks for watching.
Johnson City is the best place for a twisty road enthusiast to spend a week.
There's so many great twisty roads within an hour of that place, it's not even funny.
I rode the rattler once there among several others but I've got West Virginia in my back yard so I don't necessarily need to go on vacation to scratch the twisty road itch.
I am more than a little jealous!
You live in a beautiful area and an epic place to ride!
This year, I am heading to South Dakota and the Black Hills in June. Then, in August, I am going north to James Bay and across the Trans Tiaga road in Northern Quebec.
Both will be great trips, but I don't know if they will live up to my Appalachian Adventure!
Thanks for watching!
I've never ridden the Rattler, but thus far, my favorite is Moonshiner 28.
Cool! I have never heard of the Moonshiner 28. I will definitely check it out.
I was thinking of a trip back to the area next year . If I do, I will definitely ride that road.
Thanks for the tip!
The Snake is in my neighborhood and it never gets old. For pure riding pleasure it can't be beat.
Beartooth Highway and Iron Mountain Road are the best out west.
Totally jealous!
I hope to come back thay way again soon!
Thanks for watching.
Hmmmm Hwy 12 in Utah.
I always called it The Diamondback instead of The Rattler. But I've ridden both numerous times, and The Dragon is my favorite of the two. Just getting to The Dragon is fun as the roads leading there are also pretty awesome. Anyway, to each his own and glad you enjoyed some beautiful country. Always glad to see videos like this, so thanks.
Thanks, I had never heard of the Rattler until we passed the sign. We didn't really do much research on routes. We just headed to the Tail. After that, we just looked for the curviest roads on the map.
Perhaps the surprise, or the lack of expectation, made it such a great experience. Either way, the roads around there are great, and I can't wait to come back!
Thanks for watching!
TC
Ps. Your handle is Streaking Tiger. What are you riding?
I made that handle when I rode a 2005 Kawasaki Meanstreak 1600, but had 2 bikes after that ( 2006 Ninja 650R and then a 2007 Honda VFR800). I''m 73 yo and finally sold my VFR in March as I seldom rode it on long rides. I wanted ONE more ride to The Dragon, but never managed to get healthy enough to ride that far again.@@tigercoward
@@ClemsonTiger75 Got it! I thought perhaps you were another Triumph Tiger rider.
I am sorry to hear about your health. My best wishes for good health!
Diamondback is 226A out of Little Switzerland
Agreed. I thought that was what he was describing. I never heard of the Rattler.@@bradgroom8231
You should ride "The Snake" here in northeastern Tennessee. I rode it last weekend. 489 turns, 3 mountains, one valley. It's about 112 miles. The "best" part is a 37-mile stretch, but I enjoyed every last mile! And yes, your mom should wash your mouth out with soap.
We live in Kingsport, just up the road from Johnson City, and I agree with you. Avoid it. It's yuppy-ville and full of college kids and lousy traffic. HOWEVER, if you like German food, you MUST stop by Freiberg's!! It's a pub/German restaurant, and it's the best!!
Day after tomorrow, my wife and I are going to ride the "Green Loop. It's about 110 miles. Fun times!!
Thanks, we crossed over the Snake but didn't ride it. It is definitely on my "next time" list.
I can't wait to come back.
Thanks for watching!
@tigercoward - You definitely will not regret it!! Be mindful of the turns in some areas. I saw two different riders go off the road and disappear into the woods and ditches.
The Back of The Dragon is quite challenging.
Yeah, I agree, but I think that is the appeal for many, especially the sport bike guys.
I liked it and I will ride it again, I just enjoyed some other roads more.
Thanks for watching!
TC
Never been on the Rattler. Have to put it on my list
I loved it, and everyone says the Snake while you are in the area.
I missed the Snake but that gives me another reason to go back!
Thanks for watching!
You really need to get over to California and hit hwy 4, known as the snake. There are turns so sharp and steep that you can read your own license plate in the rear view mirror. That is my favorite hwy.
Lol.
I would love to come to California! Maybe in 26. It is just so far away.
Thanks for watching!
Loved riding rt 58 rode it from rt 11 to hillsville also if ya like veiws ride little creek highway rt 601 nice ride there
Thanks!
I will add them to my "next time" list.
Thanks for watching!
1:04 I live very close to 209, I ride it often, on my 2012 VStrom, and my 2010 Goldwing, such a fun road!!!
I am more than a little jealous!
The roads are so awesome there.
I am looking forward to coming back and riding there again.
Thanks for watching!
@@tigercoward don’t be jealous, just c’mon back whenever you can!!
@@Motoramblings 😁
Route 33 - Virginia / West Virginia, see on Google map, worth to try, all way up to Spruce Knob 4863 (edit here number) ft elevation. P.S Visit motorcycle museum - Wheels Through Time, it's about 25 miles away from 209 route....ride safe ✌️
Great tip!
Thanks for that and thanks for watching!
TC
Your twisties are so gentle with such good surfaces. I dare you to come to the Philippines and try to ride our twisties.
Lol.
If I get to the Philippines, I will call on you to show the best twisties!
Thanks for watching!
@@tigercoward I confess that I'm jealous. Our twisties are difficult to ride and not so pleasurable.
Great hwy with lots of turns and climbs: NC 151 just outside of Ashville and up to the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Thanks for the suggestion!
I have begun a list for my next visit and I will add NC151 to it.
Thanks for watching!
I rode the Tail of the Dragon and the Rattler in June, 2022, with my nephew as we headed from Nebraska to Fayetteville NC. I
liked the Rattler better. We stayed in Maggie Valley to ride the Tail one day, then the Rattler the next day.
Cool!
You must be the coolest uncle ever!
I would love to ride these roads with my son.
Thanks for watching.
In Texas we have a motorcycle route called the Texas twisted sisters One of the roads is 335 there are three roads that curve around three little hills that pass for mountains in that area of Texas and the roads are quite twisty with s turns and retrogrades and inclines and declines and changing radius curves it's a lot of fun
I haven't been as far west as Texas, but when I do, that will be on my list.
Thanks for the recommendation and for watching!
TC
@@tigercoward hey I forgot to mention a cool little tradition associated with the Texas 3 twisted sisters. Bring a small fist-sized or smaller rock with you and a permanent marker and when you get to the Northwest most corner of the route there's a ever-growing pile of rocks there with people's names and the date they were there on them. I guess it's kind of silly but it's something a little different fun to do if you ever take that route.
That is awesome!
I will do that for sure.
I love it
3:07 Hit Springs is a great little town, and the roads out of there are super fun as well!! 91 to 133 to 58 to 16 is an incredible bunch of riding!! Those roads are not nicknamed, but could be!! Of course, the intersection of 91 and 133 is at Shady Valley, home of the Snake, which I’ve seen you have been on, just incredible!! This past Thursday I rode from home, near 209 to The New River Gorge, and I made sure the ride up included all of those roads, perfect I tell ya!!
We didn't do a lot of planning when we were there. We just looked on maps for curvy roads and then rode them.
We didn't know the Rattler was the Rattler until we saw the sign. Lol
Next time, we will do a bit of planning and get more great roads in.
That being said, every day was great.
Thanks for watching.
New subscriber here.
I get most of the content I use on my channel from Ga and NC, but I’ve never rode the Rattler. I’ll have to add it to my list. 😎👍
Thanks for watching!
This was my first, but certainly not my last time riding in that part of the world.
Funny enough, we didn't know the road was called the Rattler until we passed the sign. We just picked it off of the map because it looked super twisty.
We have another two weeks of riding in the trip, and we had some more great rides. Those videos will be coming soon.
I will check out your channel.
Thanks again for watching.
@@tigercoward
Yesterday was my 1st day back riding since my surgery 3 months ago and it felt great to be back out in the wind.
@northbysoutheast5439 I bet it does!
Here is my advice learned from too many injuries and surgeries:
The secret to optimal recovery is to follow doctors' advice, commit to physical therapy, and always keep a positive attitude.
I wish you the speediest recovery and many happy days on two wheels!
@@tigercoward
I’m paralyzed from arms down from a motorcycle accident 17 years ago where i lowsided my bike and slid off a cliff and broke 38 bones. 4 of those bones were in my back. Laid in a hospital doing physical therapy for 3 months. Built my first handicap accessible trike 4 years later and been riding ever since.
@darrenlingerfelt5879
That is an incredible journey!
I am sorry to hear about your accident, and I am inspired by your commitment to riding!
Thanks for tuning in to my channel!
This road kicks AZZ I agree. Way better than dragon
I know, eh!
Thanks for watching.
There are so many great roads in this area.
I’ve ridden the Rattler twice in my life. I’ve ridden the Dragon at least twice per year over the last 10 years. I rode both 2 weeks ago. I like both. I just find the Rattler to have so many gentle sweepers that it has “less of a bite” than the Dragon. So many of those roads through the mountains are a blast. Did you ride 28 between Deals Gap and Fontana Dam?
Thanks, that is a good description of the differences.
I had such a great time there that I would love to come back soon.
Thanks for watching.
Ssshhhhhhh
LOL. I though because the Road had a nickname, sign, and a website, That I wasn't giving up any secrets. LOL
Thanks for watching!
The Rattler is ok, but don't think it's the best. My wife and I stayed at a great AirBnB in Hot Springs, NC for a week in July. There are several roads up there in that area that are comparable to the Rattler. It was our first time to this area and it was great to explore some different riding. SR-63 out of Ashville, NC terminates at the Rattler about 15 miles south of Hot Springs, so it made a nice loop.
Hi Bill,
You are probably right. I rode so many great roads in that area during my trip. I had a great ride the day before (check out that video) and I was having such a great time that I may have been prone to some exaggerations! Nonetheless, I loved the Rattler!
Thanks for watching.
TC
To me the best part of the Rattler was having lunch at Ferguson Supply and listening to the owner, James Ferguson moonshine stories. Also taking pictures of my bike next to the Pink J. Plemmons Groceries and Feeds old gas station in Luck, NC. I agree that the Rattler is an amazing ride.
Those experiences would make it even better! Good on you!
Had we done more research or preparation, we could have done something similar. Oh well, next time!
We had a loose plan, which was to ride the Blue Ridge Parkway and go to the Tail. Everything after that was made up on the fly by looking for the curviest roads on the map.
Sometimes, without the anticipation of a route being great, the lack of expectation can make a ride seem even better.
Next time, I am going to do a bit more planning and add your suggestions to the route.
Thanks for the feedback.
Take care.
TC
I went in for gas at Ferguson Supply, and ended up having lunch and chatting with Mr. Ferguson about his family pics, including a 50 year old pic in his office of people making/distilling moonshine. The owner of Ferguson Supply, James Ferguson, happens to be the Chairman of Southwestern Conservation Council and a local celebrity.
Talking to him was like getting into a travel machine, and getting free 20th century history lesson. The man and his family have been involved in the community for over a hundred years. Tons of family pictures, awards, plaques and pictures of him with famous politicians decorate his office. This mom and pop store provides unparalleled family service, and the staff makes you feel welcome.
@@tigercoward
@@tigercoward I went in for gas at Ferguson Supply, and ended up having lunch and chatting with Mr. Ferguson about his family pics, including a 50 year old pic in his office of people making/distilling moonshine. The owner of Ferguson Supply, James Ferguson, happens to be the Chairman of Southwestern Conservation Council and a local celebrity.
Talking to him was like getting into a travel machine, and getting free 20th century history lesson. The man and his family have been involved in the community for over a hundred years. Tons of family pictures, awards, plaques and pictures of him with famous politicians decorate his office. This mom and pop store provides unparalleled family service, and the staff makes you feel welcome.
I ride the Rattler all the time it is a great road but you have to watch out for washed out stone from driveways and a lot of sticks and there s great food in Hot Springs
That is a good heads up.
Thanks
For my money, "The Snake" -- Hwy 421 out of Bristol, TN -- is as good as the Dragon without the circus atmosphere and danger inherent with so many people.
I only rode a portion of the 421 and it was great! The Snake is the top of my lost for the next time that I am down there.
Ps. I am not critical of the Dragon it is just not my scene. The road is interesting but I didn’t like it as much as some others.
Thanks for watching and supporting my videos. I truly appreciate it!
That’s a fun road and Hot Springs is a cool little town. But since I live in the general area and just off the BRP I’m extremely spoiled and do t really have a favorite road. I like them all for different reasons.
Nice!
I am a little jealous, and I agree that that area has so many great roads that there is not one best road.
I can't wait to come back!
Thanks for watching!
What is the speed limit on the rattler? What was the actual average speed you observed.
I believe that the speed limit is 55, but there are not many areas where I got up to that. The corners and switchbacks are sometimes marked with recommended speeds, but they are quiet variable.
I didn't set a trip tracker/computer, and I was never looking at the speedo, so I can't give you many details.
Now that you mention it, I should have used an app to track the details.
Thanks for the hint!
Thanks for watching.
TC
Wolf Mountain feels like you teleported out west
These roads were fantastic!
Unfortunately, I haven't ridden out west, but I hope to change that over the next few years.
What people don't seem to understand about the dragon is that it has no intersecting roads except the one gravel one which is never used. That is the draw of the dragon, not having to worry about people pulling out of driveways or dogs running in to the street from yards. Nobody has ever tried to claim it's the best MC road of all time.
I agree with you about the intersecting roads. That is awesome!
However, you are incorrect that "nobody claims it's the best". You simply google best motorcycle road in America and there are dozens of sites making that claim.
For example:
www.ejeas.com/best-motorcycle-roads-in-usa/
I loved my ride on the Dragon and I found the whole are to be littered with amazing roads.
Thanks for watching!
@@tigercoward Yeah, I wouldn't go by any magazine article, they cater to fads and rumors. I'm talking about people in general don't consider it the best of all time. Heck, I found most of the roads leading up to the Blue Ridge Parkway to be way better in terms of general cruising roads, and also tons of others in the surrounding area but I wouldn't speed on many of them. The dragon is a road you can push your limits on with far less worry and that's where people start labeling what it's best for. Just like 28 is insanely amazing, but risky to be pushing any real speed on. 441 was insane if you can miss the traffic. Oh yeah, one more is 32 northeast of smokeys. It's paved on the KY side and goes to the top of the mountains. We blasted up that in our corvettes. Had to stop, open the hoods and let em all cool down before heading back.
I think that you are 100% correct.
Plus, the best or even good is subjective. My favorite road so far is the Trans Labrador Highway. Not one that ranks high on many lists. I loved it for its isolation.
People tend like to rank things and then debate them. Lol. At least we are not arguing about the best tires.
Have a great afternoon, and I hope that you have great riding soon.
It's not the intersecting roads that are bad, it's people driving over their heads on the wrong side of a blind corner of highly publicized roads. ALL of the Appalations have killer roads. Find some AirBnB's. Get a DeLorme map and find the next days ride after the sun goes down. Hint. Try to get a fall ride in because the riding is sooo good, when you get home, even your best local roads will be boring the rest of the summer. Some of the best roads are found just getting lost...
@@jonmulack4226 We absolutely tore up all the remote backroads around there back in the day. One particular road twists itself all the way up to the NC border and turns to gravel which means it's barely driven and no traffic. We had to stop at the top, open our vette hoods and let everything cool off. Fun times!
Most of the roads leading up and down from the Blueridge Parkway are also far better then parkway itself and it's ridiculous slow speed limit.
try the Cape Bretton loop in Nova Scotia
Thanks, John.
I agree with you that Cape Breton is spectacular! I rode there last year, and I loved it. The views are great, and the road is fabulous. My favorite was up around Meat Cove!
Check out this vid:
ruclips.net/video/WquvAf-h7NM/видео.html
I found the Appalachian Mountains have more variety roads to offer, and that makes it ideal for riding.
But, exchange rate and the foodares better in Cape Breton!
Thanks for watching.
"That was F***in Awesome!"
It was!
209 is a good road. One of my faves. I agree, better than 129
Thanks for watching!
As you can tell, I loved the Rattler.
In my next video, I rode the Back of the Dragon and I loved that road too!
This was spectacular part of the world to ride!
Thanks again for watching.
@@tigercoward Yup, the “Back” , 16 from Marion to Tazewell is another goodie.
i do like products / windshields from PUIG. But why is PUIG Logo always in your camera's perspective, near the center of the video screen?
😂
nice video.
Lol.
I actually thought the same, so in my most recent videos, I replaced it with my own sticker.
I probably should have asked Puig for a sponsorship!
Thanks for watching.
I want ride the road where I never see one damn deer the whole ride! It’s getting almost impossible these days!
I agree!
On our ride down from Ontario, the deer risk was evident by the number of dead animals on the side of the road!
On the Skyline Drive and on the Blue Ridge Pkwy, I had to brake hard to miss deer.
I am not a good RUclipsr because I reached for the brake and not the record button. Lol.
Thanks for watching!
TC
I'll put the rattler on my list
I loved it!
I would love to hear your opinion.
Thanks for watching.
SHHHHHH!
😃
What bike camera do you use, where can I find one and how much does it cost? I've been trying to shoot a video that shows what I see when riding and so far can't find one that does a stable video.
I am using a GoPro Hero 10. You can get a good deal on them now because the Hero 12 is out.
I am using a RAM mount on the handle bar. Nothing fancy.
This was new to me, and my settings were not great. My newer videos look much better.
If you get a GoPro, check out Teapot One and his videos on settings.
These are really easy to use.
Gotta be careful lots of sand and gravel from the driveways
Thanks Rayray!
That is good advice for anywhere.
Thanks for watching!
What are you riding?
Tiger 1200
I wonder what authority (government? magazines? sign-makers?) assigns names to twisty roads. When I first rode NC 209, it was referred to as the "Gambler," because it passed through the micro-towns of Trust, Luck and Bluff. Next time I rode it, I found it had been re-named the "Rattler," even though there is already a highway called the "Rattlesnake" in Kentucky (don't bother; it's just some high-speed sweepers you can ride fast on a touring bike). Who made that decision? Is there a Federal Standard saying that all twisty motorcycle roads must have reptilian and/or demonic names? Enquiring minds want to know!
Next time you ride 209, plan a lunch stop at "Dave's 209," around the mid-point of the road. It's in a converted schoolhouse, great burgers and shakes to die for (or, perhaps, from).
As for 209 vs the Dragon... they are two different things in my book. 209 has hills, curves, scenery, places to stop for a break, and the occasional straight stretch to let you get reoriented after the twisty parts. The Dragon has little scenery beyond the Dam Overlook, few major changes in elevation until you're just about done at the NC/TN border, and no place to stop (again, other than the Dam Overlook). It's just one tight turn after another with little or no time to regroup between leaving one turn and entering the next. As such, it's a different experience entirely.
Lol, I agree. There should be a registry of road names. It would be easier to find them.
We didn't know that we were on the Rattler until we passed the sign. Generally, we just look for the curviest roads on the map and then ride them.
Thanks for your tips, and thanks for watching!
TC
Thanks for the vid, but your loud music mix is distracting and difficult
Thanks for watching.
My editing skills have grown since I did this video. The whole editing and mixing thing is new to me and an art that I have picked up since retirement.
I hope that you will like some of my more recent videos. Be warned that I still use the same music just mixed differently
I do appreciate your feedback, and I am honored that you took the time to help me out.
Stay safe, have fun!
I agree, I like the more scenic roads. I do like the Tail of the dragon and ride it occasionally but I think it's over-rated compared to other roads around.
Thanks.
There are so many great roads in that area! I flee lucky that I got to spend some time on them!
Thanks for watching.
TC
I am about 30 minutes from NC 209. Just can't rate it as high as the Dragon. After a hard rain you have to be very careful there. Rocks all over that road.
Nice call, Joe!
I am jealous of where you live! We had the best time ever there.
My next video is of our ride on the Back of the Dragon. That was awesome, too.
The only thing that I didn't like about the Dragon was how many people were there. It is awesome, and that is why so many people are there! Lol
I do think that Hot Springs is nicer than Deals Gap though.
Thanks for watching.
Ride safe
@@tigercoward I could have gotten you around Johnson City with hardly any red light stops. If you are ever in this area again I would love to show you some great roads nobody ever talks about.
@joebarnett683 Thanks, Joe!
I will be back there one day, and I will take you up on that offer.
On our way back, we just took out the map and looked for the roads that looked like they had the most curves. No tourist attractions, just great roads.
I am glad that I rode some of the "named" roads, but next time, I would rather be on the roads less traveled.
Hot Springs is now a town of the past, after the 2024 flood.
OH NO!
So many of the places that we rode on this trip were affected this year (2024)
2-3 people die there yearly, and that don’t even come close to the amount of injuries, insurance claims, etc
How does that compare to the frequency and severity of injuries on the Tail?
great video, we just returned from riding the tail of the dragon and others in that area. can i ask you how large of a video file is this that you uploaded? i have several gopro videos i would like to upload but the files are huge. thanks in advance.
Thanks for watching Mike😄
I hope that you had as much fun as I did!
This files for this video was 4.6 GB.
It is not raw footage and is edited in Davinici Resolve (free version). When is is rendered for RUclips the file is compressed to 1080 and is significantly smaller than if uploading raw footage.
I am still pretty new at this. I first started editing in Video Editor in Windows and then graduated to Davinci. There are lots of good tutorials.
This year I am messing around with the camera settings, and quite frankly, I think that it ruined some of my videos from The Tail of the Dragon Tour. I have since started using most of the settings recommended by Teapot One, the British moto vlogger. The only setting that is different from what he suggests is the frame speed. He mentioned what Itchy Boots was using and I thought that I would use the same as hers.
These recommendations have made my most recent videos much better and easier to edit. Check out my most recent videos from Quebec and you will see the difference.
BTW I know that is more than you asked but I hope that you can learn from my mistakes and make your videos even better.
Let me know when you post and I will watch them
Take care,
TC
Thanks so much TC for everything. yes we have a fabulous time. @@tigercoward
What did you think of the Back of the Dragon
I loved it.
I have another video on that ride. I would say that it was as good a the Rattler. It was a lot of fun. There are so many great rides in that area!
Are you heading there?
Check this out:
ruclips.net/video/I_zHz_Ve3D4/видео.html
@@tigercoward I Road it about four years ago and loved it ! It was on a Saturday and hardly no one on it that day I’m guessing it’s getting more popular now I hope it never gets as popular as the tail of the dragon I hear you only wanna go there during the week !
We rode it on a sunny Saturday in May, and it wasn't bust at all. We were surprised.
Personally I agree that it's a better ride than the Tail, especially with very little traffic! But best ever? Wouldn't say that. One of the best rides I've had was the Cherohala Skyway, got on at Tellico Plains, the two cars ahead of me both made the turn to Bald River Falls and from there all the way to 129 I had the road to myself!
Yeah, I liked the Cherohala, too!
I just so much fun that day. Ride the Tail, then Cherohala, and then a crazy road down to the Indian River Campground.
I think that I may have been spoiled by three great rides in one day, and one didn't stand out.
In all, it was an amazing trip in an amazing part of the world!
I will have to go back and ride them all again.
Thanks for watching.
Ps. Which Triumph do you ride?
I have two, a '97 Daytona T595 (955cc), and an '02 T100 Bonneville, prefer the Daytona for road trips but I've done long days on both, both have been to NC and southern VA as well as PA (I'm in southern MD).
@@triumphrider9796 nice!
The best road ever is the one I live on !
Is that a lovely statement about home, or do you live on a great moto road?
Ps. I believe that there is no place like home!
The Triple Nickel (555) in Ohio is better & more challenging than the dragon.
Thanks for the recommendation!
I don't know this road, but I am going to check it out. It is certainly a lot closer for me.
Thanks for watching!
TC
Devils triangle is better than both more challenging. Rattler is more enjoyable than dragon less Squids.
Bottom line just ride them all fun has no qualifications. 😅
Nice!
I loved every road in this area. I will add the Triangle to the list for next time.
Thanks for watching!
Having more than 400,000 miles on two wheels in the last 51 years, neither of these make the top 10. Certain areas such as the county roads surrounding the Lake of the Ozarks are superior rides, but I rate more on the ride than the towns. To each thier own.
I haven't been to the Ozarks, but with your review, it seems that I should head there soon.
Thanks for watching!
TC
I’m not a biker. This is more of a GT car road than a sports car road like deals gap.
Ultimately, that is the answer. They are different types of roads, and depending on how you want to ride, you will appreciate them differently.
I was riding a fully loaded ADV bike, and I prefer less crowded touring roads. So I preferred the Rattler.
I still enjoyed my ride on the Tail.
Thanks for watching!