Tail of the Dragon

ScooterMagoo

ScooterMagoo

XS650 Addict
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Algoma, Wisconsin
Last weekend, I was on my way back home from Florida, and I had planned on stopping at the Tail of the Dragon. I unloaded in Bryson City NC and drove the 40 miles to Deals Gap and took my bike through the Tail of the Dragon. It was exciting to say the least. I was approached by many enthusiasts with tons of questions. The XS guys knew exactly what it was right away, the others, not so much. What a blast. Here are some photos.
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The asshole tailgating you in that Mustang needed a lesson in manners, preferably one delivered with the aid of a blunt object. That kind of thing, along with road hogging hog riders, has gotten worse by the year, and it's ruined 129 for me. Glad you were able to enjoy it in spite of the morons.
 
grizld1 said:
The asshole tailgating you in that Mustang needed a lesson in manners, preferably one delivered with the aid of a blunt object. That kind of thing, along with road hogging hog riders, has gotten worse by the year, and it's ruined 129 for me. Glad you were able to enjoy it in spite of the morons.
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Yeah, he was a bit too close. I wasn't going fast enough for him. I eventually pulled off out of courtesy. It wasn't too crowded that day, and everyone stayed in their lane. It was good.
 
Are you liking it? I have the chi-asian knock-off and for night riding am really enjoying it.
 
I love it! The light output is insane. The only thing I didn't like about it at first was more of a fitment issue. Not that it didn't fit, but I didn't like the way it's stuck out of the headlight bucket about three quarter of an inch. I ended up turning down a large aluminum ring to set it back in the housing so the lens is flush with the housing. It was a lot of dicking around, but the outcome was exactly what I wanted. Pictures:
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Your photographer has spent some time behind a camera!

Lots of Eastern Redbud still out, but most has already turned to leaves... Redbud blossoms are often accompanied by a mist of snow....

Your LED headlight, is it available in a normal halogen footprint to retrofit a regular shell?
 
That Road looks allot like the one from Bakersfield California to Highway 1.... there is also great twisties in the calastoga mountians from Santa Rosa to clear lake..... fantastic curves, lousie drivers ! not something you can enjoy that much anymore ... due to the flipping cars !
the best I've found is on the calif. coast on HW 1 there is enough room there to dodge idiots .... and it's much faster .
.....
my Uncle and I made a coast run on the 1970's on our bikes it was a memerable trip ! we had one close call a Mercadies brod sliding all 4 wheels around a corner and he was half on our side..... we both stuck to the outside edge of the lane and made it by him but it was too close for cumfort!
.... that is my kind of riding... I love the corners !
... great looking bike ! Congrats !
Bob..........
 
xjwmx said:
Your photographer has spent some time behind a camera!

Lots of Eastern Redbud still out, but most has already turned to leaves... Redbud blossoms are often accompanied by a mist of snow....

Your LED headlight, is it available in a normal halogen footprint to retrofit a regular shell?
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There are several photographers throughout the 11 miles. The three I saw are Killboy.com, 129Slayer.com, and 129photos.com. They are all pros and are using pro lenses.
In reference to the LED, the answer is "yes". It is manufactured to the par 56 standard. I had used it for a short period of time in my stock headlight bucket. It took about 5 minutes to swap it out.
 
Hard to control one of those on a technical road, Dude; you're as likely to hit the photographer as the asshole. A tip from the Bad Old Days: ever see what happens when you toss a couple of golf balls or half a handful of 1/4" ball bearings on the road? The sinner behind you gets religion real fast.

Scooter, that's beautiful work!
 
grizld1 said:
Hard to control one of those on a technical road, Dude; you're as likely to hit the photographer as the asshole. A tip from the Bad Old Days: ever see what happens when you toss a couple of golf balls or half a handful of 1/4" ball bearings on the road? The sinner behind you gets religion real fast.

Scooter, that's beautiful work!
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Golf balls ! I love it. Those bright orange ones would be perfect.
 
weekendrider said:
Golf balls or ball bearings could be attributed to you by LEO's. But old scuffed up lug nuts, that is just road debris.
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Rusty lugs nuts!
I've got a load of those.
Next time I get out on the road, I'll be as ready as Sean Connery was in his Aston Martin V8 Vantage, which dumped oil and tire spikes at the flip of a switch.

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That Mustang behind you was the first thing I noticed. Thats why I'm not to keen on ever doing Deals Gap. Gotta watch out for the people coming at you (over the line) also. I was hit 5 years ago by a guy on a ST1300 in a curve he could not control. We have several runs in Idaho(not saying where) that are 20-30 miles of nothing but curves with no traffic so I will stay here.
 

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