Deal's Gap

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CYBORG
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Re: Deal's Gap

#16

Post by CYBORG »

RAT wrote:Best to take the guy who 'invented' the whole idea ....

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Re: Deal's Gap

#17

Post by pidjones »

It's just a road. Very curvy, no curves off-camber or surprise tighten-up on the way through. Just a LOT of curves. And, no intersecting roads or drives. Not many other roads - good or not - can say that. On one side, you have a mountain and GSMNP, on the other an 80' drop and Alcoa Aluminum/TVA property. It's that drop-off that kills most. I like it best on those golden January/February days that it gets up around 60F and the salt has washed off the road.
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Lucien Harpress
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Re: Deal's Gap

#18

Post by Lucien Harpress »

There is a couple layers to it. As a road, any in the area will get you to the same place. It's a SUPER-pretty area all around, with a really nice mix of challenging twisties and scenic byways no matter which direction you go. And Deal's Gap does have a bit of the "Overbuilt-Commercialization" thing going on that makes it real easy to spend more money than you've got.

But the people who frequent it are part of the experience too. It's that same vibe you get from bike shows and swap meets- a huge group of people who all share a common interest, all gathered for a common purpose. It's not for everyone, but it IS a fun experience.
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Re: Deal's Gap

#19

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pidjones wrote:It's just a road. Very curvy, no curves off-camber or surprise tighten-up on the way through. Just a LOT of curves. And, no intersecting roads or drives. Not many other roads - good or not - can say that. On one side, you have a mountain and GSMNP, on the other an 80' drop and Alcoa Aluminum/TVA property. It's that drop-off that kills most. I like it best on those golden January/February days that it gets up around 60F and the salt has washed off the road.
Yep, I only go a few times during the summer when it's crowded and the cops are out monitoring the herd and when I do go its mostly so I can check out the constant bike show in the parking lot and eat at the diner. It also is a part of my favorite loop here which is from my house up to foothills parkway>>US129 through the Gap>>>28 to Bryson City NC and then to Cherokee>>441 through the Smoky Mtn Park to Townsend>>321 back to the Foothills Parkway and home. About 150 miles and great scenery and roads all the way. I usually stop in Bryson City or Cherokee to eat as I have favorite eateries in both places.

It's also part of my route to Road Atlanta for the MotoAmerica races every year as I can jump on US 129 8 miles from my house and it eventually ends within a few miles of the race course near Atlanta, avoiding the Interstate completely.

So, you and the others are right when you say that US129 and Deals Gap is just a road and there are plenty of others around here that are easily as good. But the Dragon, overpopulated and overpopular as it is, is a great road when you can have it to yourself...like I had on Wednesday. And, it's only about 20 miles from my house after all.
Last edited by Chris in TN on Fri Mar 06, 2020 7:48 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: Deal's Gap

#20

Post by CYBORG »

When I lived there I often rode the road five or six times a day....but seldom on weekends
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Re: Deal's Gap

#21

Post by Chris in TN »

CYBORG wrote:When I lived there I often rode the road five or six times a day....but seldom on weekends
Tuesday or Wednesday mornings for me. Up on the hill before 0900 and stop at the overlook to ask about cops and get the "LEO Weather Report" before launching. Playtime is over by noon at the latest.


Also from Wednesday:

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Re: Deal's Gap

#22

Post by CYBORG »

Good plan. I also liked it better in the or early spring when there were few leaves on the trees. Just rode from the overlook to the store. Never did the lower warm up section to the overlook
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Re: Deal's Gap

#23

Post by pidjones »

Eating at the Gap is like watching a free floor show. Everyone is enjoying their passion and you see people and bikes that you've never seen before. When I was teaching, if there wasn't a class I'd pretty much do a reverse of the loop Chris describes, calling my boss when I got a cell in Cherokee to tell him that I was trapped in the left lane going past Dutchtown and couldn't turn around until I got to Cherokee. But the best part of the loop is Little River/Fishing Creek road from Townsend to Sugarlands Visitor Center.
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1976 Yamaha RD400c
1978 GL1000 with '75 engine - the Hunley
Ex 1978 GL1000
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Re: Deal's Gap

#24

Post by Chris in TN »

pidjones wrote:Eating at the Gap is like watching a free floor show. Everyone is enjoying their passion and you see people and bikes that you've never seen before. When I was teaching, if there wasn't a class I'd pretty much do a reverse of the loop Chris describes, calling my boss when I got a cell in Cherokee to tell him that I was trapped in the left lane going past Dutchtown and couldn't turn around until I got to Cherokee. But the best part of the loop is Little River/Fishing Creek road from Townsend to Sugarlands Visitor Center.
Pid,

Sounds like we need to get synched and go in the same direction on our looping! :)

I've been riding the old and new Foothills Pkwy sections to Wears Valley and taking 321 towards Townsend. After about 1/4 mile from the Pkwy turn left on to Line Springs Rd heading towards the park. It turns into Wear Cove Gap Rd when it crosses into the Park and after a mile or so intersects the Little River Rd about halfway between Sugarlands and Townsend. I like using it to loop back to Townsend and then back on the old section Foothills Pkwy to Happy Valley Rd and then home. From my house it makes about a 65 mile (about an hour and 45 minutes) loop. The Wear Cove Gap Rd isn't well known and makes a useful "back door" into the park that connects the Foothills Pkwy at Wears Valley to the Little River Rd.

Take care buddy,
Chris
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Re: Deal's Gap

#25

Post by pidjones »

Metcaf Bottoms was the first way I rode into the park when I got my '06. Actually had never been on the part of Little River toward Townsend until I was on a ride and the ride leader got fed up with a guy that was going so slow that we were holding up Winebegos. He asked if I knew the rest of the way into Townsend and I said that I had it on GPS and could follow that. So he had me lead the group the rest of the way. We had stopped just past Metcaf Bottoms. Once I learned the rest, the only time I;ve been over Line Springs was last summer when I led a friend on her Spyder over the new part of Foothills and then over Line Springs and on to Cades Cove (honestly the first time I've ever been to Cades Cove, and maybe the last).
"Love 'em all.... let God sort 'em out!"
Ex 2006 GL1800 - the Black Pearl SOLD! to make room for:
2021 Can-Am Spyder RT Limited Dark Chalk Metallic
1975 Red GL1000 project - ex Pistol Pete project
1972 Triumph T150V Trident rescue - finished and FOR SALE!
1976 Yamaha RD400c
1978 GL1000 with '75 engine - the Hunley
Ex 1978 GL1000
Ex 1979 GL1000
Ex '79 CB750F rat bike
Ex '86 SEi
Ex '77 GL1000
Ex '76 RD400
Ex '72 Penton 125 set up for flat track
Ex '73 RD250
Ex '68 TR6C - chopped
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Re: Deal's Gap

#26

Post by rcmatt007 »

I recall coming back down the rogue river years ago that it was my left toe that scrapped the asphalt first
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Re: Deal's Gap

#27

Post by desertrefugee »

Interesting you should mention that Rodger. I actually use my feet as “curb feelers” of sorts I’m getting a little frisky in the twisties. Discovered that by accident on the 78GL. Works pretty well - Especially since that bike is lowered about an inch on all Four corners.
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Re: Deal's Gap

#28

Post by Chris in TN »

Yesterday's announcement by the newly formed Granham County (North Carolina) Emergency Committee that US129, Highway 28 and the Cherohala Skyway would be closed to all but local citizens and commercial traffic indefinately pretty much means that even lonely social distancing motorcycle fun are off the menu there. Here's hoping the worst case scenarios pass us all by and that soon enough we'll all be shooting to be on Killboys weekly highlights again.

Image

Sorry it's not the Wing but I'll try to make the highlights with the GL Thou this year. :) But here's another Honda I like on the Dragon:

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Re: Deal's Gap

#29

Post by 77Gowing »

I'll be completely forthright and come clean. The idea of the dragons tail scares me. I'm very timid with curves and hard lean overs. I understand the physics but find that the chicken comes out of me when I ride. So with this in mind what should I do to practice before I venture there.
There is a state park no two miles away that has some good assortment of curves. But how to start?
"Less is More" Anonymous

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Re: Deal's Gap

#30

Post by CYBORG »

T he Dragon is different then most curvy roads. As no two roads are the same. You have to learn each one on its own. And you learn them by riding them over. I have taken many a first time riders to the hospital, and pulled their bikes up from the drop off on the side of the road. One only needs to look at the tree of shame to understand the danger of over confidence. If you are not sure you can do it, don't. If you must practice, do it when there is very little traffic. Do it a couple of times a week for a year or so. And don't look at the scenery. Pay attention to the road, and yard by yard know where the best line for the curve is. And know how to recognize the correct line. It's ten miles from the overlook to the resort. And it can be a long ten miles if you don't know what you are doing. And if you get out of sync with the road, stop and start over.
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