Etiquette in the twisties?

[lethe]

At a place like the Gap, I'll hang behind the slower rider a safe distance for a few corners until I feel they probably have noticed me and then I shoot by if I see a chance giving them room.
The other roads down there like Cherahola and my favorite Rt 28, passing is easier although I'll admit to doing some dumb ones.
Up here, there are far more safe places to pass as the roads aren't quite as tight.

[Timmy Tucker]

Well, I'm gonna go ahead and say it. Way. Over. Rated.

Don't get me wrong, I had a blast, but I was expecting more I guess. And it was apparently pirate day at the Gap Store. Thought I had missed a turn and ended up at Sturgis.

Didn't hit Cherahola, but followed 28 to 74 to 441 back to Gatlinburg. Now that was a balls-out riot till we hit the construction on 74 or 441 (don't remember which). Lots of traffic and loose sandy debris on the road. Topped off by some make the beast with two backsbucket in a Mazda Tribute driving 15-20 mph the whole god damn way from Cherokee to Gatlinburg. 

[lethe]

Well, I'm gonna go ahead and say it. Way. Over. Rated.

Don't get me wrong, I had a blast, but I was expecting more I guess. And it was apparently pirate day at the Gap Store. Thought I had missed a turn and ended up at Sturgis.

Didn't hit Cherahola, but followed 28 to 74 to 441 back to Gatlinburg. Now that was a balls-out riot till we hit the construction on 74 or 441 (don't remember which). Lots of traffic and loose sandy debris on the road. Topped off by some make the beast with two backsbucket in a Mazda Tribute driving 15-20 mph the whole god damn way from Cherokee to Gatlinburg. 

I agree.
When we go down there I'll hit the dragon at daybreak, come back eat breakfast and then we go do a 200-300 mile day. Hit the dragon again at the very end of the day when we get back.

[herm]

i hope the DB who passed me on the inside of a tight corner a couple years ago is reading this...

[DoubleEagle]

That's a shame TT, all this and then you get let down more or less.

That's the way it is w. a lot of things.

People make things out to be so great , we get hyped up and then it can never live up to our expectations.

That's life. at least you can say you rode the " Dragon . "

I don't know what people find so interesting about going from one sharp turn to another...slowly.

Please , ...give me a road where my Suspension and my riding skills at speed are challenged...not just how good I can turn slowly. ( 45mph is slow ) back and forth.

Dolph   

[Artful]

Well, I'm gonna go ahead and say it. Way. Over. Rated.

Don't get me wrong, I had a blast, but I was expecting more I guess. And it was apparently pirate day at the Gap Store. Thought I had missed a turn and ended up at Sturgis.

Didn't hit Cherahola, but followed 28 to 74 to 441 back to Gatlinburg. Now that was a balls-out riot till we hit the construction on 74 or 441 (don't remember which). Lots of traffic and loose sandy debris on the road. Topped off by some make the beast with two backsbucket in a Mazda Tribute driving 15-20 mph the whole god damn way from Cherokee to Gatlinburg. 

It's always pirate day there. You stop there for BBQ sammiches, bottled water, and emergency fuel, period. You went all the way there then skipped the Skyway? You missed literally the best part. High speed, sweeping turns, great road surface, scenic pulloffs, and I've never seen a cop on it other than if there's a crash. The Dragon is fun for what it is, and if you get aggressive on it it can be a lot of fun, but in terms of roads built for motorcycles.... Skyway or bust.

[Kopfjager]

I don't know what people find so interesting about going from one sharp turn to another...slowly.

Yeah, learning how to use those big brakes is a pain in the ass.      SQUID

[DoubleEagle]

Yeah, learning how to use those big brakes is a pain in the ass.      SQUID

I find it more stimulating using the throttle rather than the brakes !

Dolph     [moto]

[lethe]

I find it more stimulating using the throttle rather than the brakes !

Dolph     [moto]

the problem is that your bikes are too fast, getting a slow bike like mine to hustle through there is more fun
I had to park it the one day down there when I was actually drifting the bike through some of the corners on 28.
A 620 should not be able to do that.
Riding like that was well past what I should be doing and if I rode any more that day I would've eventually pushed too far.

[Statler]

Let's try to wrangle this one back in to the topic. 

But it's a great reminder that advice and opinions here are worth what you paid for them.   


My passes depend on the road, but I do try to think of what my pass would be like to a rider who is new and still has to process things like thinking how to properly blip a downshift and where to look, so their attention is pretty tapped just by being out there, let alone worrying about people behind him/her. 

And as rare as I ever have road rage, if someone pulled a doubleeagle blowby within reaching distance of a new rider with whom i'm riding, my first reaction would be to catch them and have a.... Discussion.   

It's pretty easy to leave some room when passing a bike.   You know where is realy good practice for judging distance and speed and bike control?   The track.   My street passes got safer, shorter in time, further away.  Blah blah blah rant blather. 

[Timmy Tucker]

That's a shame TT, all this and then you get let down more or less.

It wasn't really a let down, it just didn't meet up to the hype, if that makes sense. Mostly surprised that people travel from all over the country to ride it. I travelled roads like that all the time when I lived in VA and there are several roads just as fun that are within an hour of my house. I'm sure I'd appreciate it more if I had the skills to be aggressive on a technical road like that.

And my objectivity may be slightly hampered by the fact that I did almost 11 hours on a stock seat.   

[Timmy Tucker]

...You know where is realy good practice for judging distance and speed and bike control?   The track.   My street passes got safer, shorter in time, further away.  Blah blah blah rant blather. 

I want to do a track day so bad I can't stand it, just to be able to work on my skills in a safe environment. Like I said before, I'm sloooooooooooooow. (the pics from yesterday show it too  ) But I'm really not willing to push myself much harder on the street at this point.

[DoubleEagle]

I want to do a track day so bad I can't stand it, just to be able to work on my skills in a safe environment. Like I said before, I'm sloooooooooooooow. (the pics from yesterday show it too  ) But I'm really not willing to push myself much harder on the street at this point.

Everyone is slow when they 1st start out ..or they end up in the ditch like I did .

The best way to learn and get faster is to go to the track ...so I keep hearing and reading.

I have done it a little different and paid a heavy price ..but I think I finally got there.

I wouldn't suggest my way.

I taught myself to be a scratch golfer ( scratch meaning no handicap, meaning I averaged par on my rounds ). Back in the late '70s.

Everybody said I needed to take a lot of lessons from the Professional teachers to be able to become a scratch player.

But because of my stubborness , I did it by practicing, reading and playing almost 7 days a week for several years.

Dedication and obsession can take you a long way.

You have to WANT it and have the OBSESSION to be a good rider.

You need to study what the great riders know and learn from them and put it in to practice.

Just going out and riding aimlessly won't make you a good rider or a faster rider.

I did it my way. You should do a track day ..because you are not ME .

I'm one of the more unusual people you would ever meet ..and I don't necessaryily mean that in a good way.

Dolph       

[Preisker]

Just like with women, the fantasy is always better than the reality, and although I've never been there, I have not doubt the
"Dragon" is the same thing.   Personally, I wouldn't go there.   Way too much yahoo factor going on.

But as far as passing goes, if I'm coming up on someone, I give them a load of room, I don't want them running into me, or startling them into crashing or something.   And if I don't know someone, I don't bump into them either (some guys I ride with will come up and rub on you, leaving tire tracks on your pipe and what not, or stepping on your shifter or brake, it used to bug me, sort of freak me out, but now I do it back, I think it makes you ride better).

Hold your line, and don't try to race people.   And don't worry about what they are doing behind you.

[DoubleEagle]

Just like with women, the fantasy is always better than the reality, and although I've never been there, I have not doubt the
"Dragon" is the same thing. Personally, I wouldn't go there.   Way too much yahoo factor going on.

But as far as passing goes, if I'm coming up on someone, I give them a load of room, I don't want them running into me, or startling them into crashing or something.   And if I don't know someone, I don't bump into them either (some guys I ride with will come up and rub on you, leaving tire tracks on your pipe and what not, or stepping on your shifter or brake, it used to bug me, sort of freak me out, but now I do it back, I think it makes you ride better).

Hold your line, and don't try to race people.   And don't worry about what they are doing behind you.

I can't condone any of the riding antics you have mentioned above.

I never mess w. another bike or rider ....I make sure the rider in front of me knows I'm behind them..and when it's safe I make a quick pass out wide of them .

If the " Dragon " was 20 miles away I'm sure I would have to ride it at least once to see what it was like.

Although my preference would be and is what I ride , low traffic, technical roads w. a few short straights .

The " Dragon  " sounds like a ride at an Amusement Park.

Get in line and follow the leader.

Often when I ride during the week , I can go over 100 miles and not come upon another motorcycle.

Kind a feels like my own private set of roads.

Dolph      [moto]