Triumph Dragon Raid 2015: Day 1 – The Mile High Legend

Posted on October 2, 2015 by MotoADVR

MotoADVR_MondayMorningEven after a long ride the day prior, I was chomping at the bit to get out on the road, yet rapidly reminded that they don’t call them the “Smoky Mountains” for nothing. While not the case all year, the fog can be pretty thick into the later morning hours in this part of the country, especially if you’re planning a ride at elevation. As much as I like running in the fog, riding a motorcycle in the fog sucks. The upside, I had plenty of time to get a hearty breakfast from the Iron Horse, and get my gear set for the day.

Being labor day, there were still a few stragglers hanging around the Iron Horse from the holiday weekend, but by this point it was predominantly just the Triumph faithful. While the Dragon Raid is a “rally”, most rides are typically just a group of folks that decide on a given destination the evening prior, and often at breakfast the morning of. Still having virtually no idea how to get from “A” to “B” without GPS down this way, I was purely along for the ride. As previously mentioned, staying at the Iron Horse offers great roads right out of the gate; a couple guys suggested that we go ride the Cherohala Skyway over to Tellico Plains (TN) and around. The Cherohala, an item on my Moto Bucket List, runs from Robbinsville along NC-143 and TN-165 into Tellico Plains; from the lodge that means you get the chance to pick up some great sections of NC-28 “The Hellbender” in the process. This being day one, several of the boys were itching to get a quick run across the Tail of the Dragon (US-129) on the way, myself included. Chasing my buddies on their Ducati’s (isn’t this a Triumph Rally?), Lola’s physical limitations became evident  (Lola is the bike’s name, and no I’m not a fan of scraping pegs; it’s often the precursor to the crash). Winding up NC-28 toward Deal’s gap, the Speedmaster was nimble enough to keep up with my buddies’ sport bikes (thanks for taking pity on the cruiser guy), as most of the curves are marked 25 MPH and up, but once past Deal’s Gap, all bets were off.

On the Dragon I was rapidly reminded of how boring the roads are in Ohio. Having not been through such technical curves in a year, I was “taking it easy”, telling myself that I still had 5 more riding days ahead of me, including 400 miles home. The Dragon is exhilarating and somewhat nerve racking all at the same time; mind you, this is coming from a guy who’s ridden it all of about six times up to this point; still not enough to remember any of the curves. My biggest concern riding in the mountains is that decreasing radius turn that always manages to sneak up on you, especially downhill. Keeping that in mind, I tried to save a little “extra”. Settling into the limitations of my ride, we hadn’t made it as far west as “Gravity Cavity” before I noticed a couple of my buddies ripping past me the opposite direction. Turning around in one of the pull-offs, I later found out that the road was closed for an accident up ahead. While the rest of the week was “relatively” uneventful for the Triumph rally, this is probably a good lesson for first timers at Deal’s Gap, it was mid-morning labor day weekend, day 1 on the Dragon for most of us, and the Dragon was closed due to an accident.

MotoADVR_DealsGapMotoResortAfter twisting back down the Dragon, we stopped at Deal’s Gap Motorcycle Resort to take a break. For first time visitors to The Dragon, folks looking for keepsakes can find patches, stickers, T-shirts and whatnot at the resort gift shop. Fuel is also available at Deal’s Gap, one of the few places in these parts.MotoADVR_TreeOfShame The Dragon’s Den Pub & Grill is also a convenient place to grab lunch for riders spending the afternoon in the local area. Across the street from the resort is Tail of the Dragon T-shirt Shack; visitors can purchase other stickers and patches, and get photos with the big dragon statue. Killboy.com also rents and sells GoPro cameras and gear from the T-shirt shack for folks looking to document their visit. As previously mentioned (in the YouTube video), Killboy was the first to set up photo “booths” in the curves along the Dragon. As a side note, Killboy.com is also a sponsor of the Triumph Dragon Raid, but more on that later.

After a short break, we were back down NC-28 toward NC-143 into Robbinsville. Unbeknownst to me, once west of Robbinsville I was actually on the Cherohala Skyway. It’s kind of funny thinking back, there I am, riding along, admiring the curves and the view, but trying to save the GoPro battery for the “main event”. MotoADVR_CheraholaSkywayWe finally stopped at an overlook for a break, and I asked “are we on the Skyway?”, having been riding the Skyway for like the past 20 miles. While I felt somewhat goofy for asking, the Skyway isn’t marked clearly like the Blue Ridge Parkway. I had an inkling that we were at least close as I unmistakably noticed the temperature dropping with elevation. I admit, the Skyway was not how I envisioned it, I expected vast scenic views of the mountains around each curve, similar to US-441 through Newfound Gap. I didn’t realize until writing this that the Cherohala Skyway is just a name for a State route, which wouldn’t be maintained nearly as well as federal routes that are lined with more popular tourist destinations like Gatlinburg. That aside, from a motorcyclists point of view, the Skyway is excellent; unlike the Dragon, the Skyway is mostly long sweepers through the trees. The speed limit is also 45, which is significantly higher than the Dragon, but still somewhat slow for the riding conditions in my opinion.

MotoADVR_KrambonzMenuAt the far side of the Skyway we stopped in Tellico Plains (TN) for lunch. Again, just along for the ride, one stop was just as good as another, but being a “Foodie”, KramBonz BBQ was right on par with my expectations. A small mom and pop place, we were pushing capacity just after lunch hour when we rolled up about 8 motorcycles deep.MotoADVR_KramBonzBrisket Fortunately, the weather was nice, so we took up some of the outdoor seating. The menu was quaint, which suited me just fine. At most places, if there’s fried pickles or hot dogs on the menu, I order it; if I’m at a BBQ joint, I have to try the brisket. The Brisket with Texas toast (and side salad) may appear like typical diner fare; sitting just down the aisle from the smoker, I knew I was in for authentic southern barbecue, and the tender brisket was just that.

Across the street we stopped at the Tellico Motorcycle Outfitters. No sooner than I had a patch in my hand, a buddy stuck his head in the door and said we’d better hustle unless we wanted to get wet. Last year’s raid still fresh in my mind, I zipped the jacket vents shut and prepped for battle. My buddy Andy suggested we skirt around Tennessee route 360 and back up the Dragon to the Iron Horse, while my other buddies scrambled back across the Skyway. Not getting wet and going somewhere new sounded a lot better to me, so TN-360 it was (in the end I sweltered but we never got wet; the boys on the Skyway got soaked).
Smoky mountain backroads are incredible; riding 360 I was again reminded of how boring Dayton roads are. While gravel driveways and Sunday drivers are legitimate concerns when twisting along state routes like 360, it was yet another good road. 360 dumped us off at US-411 for a hot second before taking a shortcut across TN-72 to US-129 just before the bottom of the Dragon at Tabcat bridge.

MotoADVR_DragonOverlookAlong the Dragon we stopped at the overlook for the obligatory group photo. Just as we were pulling in I flipped down the inner tinted visor on my helmet, breaking off the thumb slider. I moved the bike about 5 feet and combed over the parking area for ten minutes… never found the broken part. Flustered at my carelessness I wiped the recently splattered butterfly guts off my GoPro, but didn’t fuss with putting in a fresh battery.
MotoADVR_KillboyDragonMondayFrustration aside, I finally got my first good run across the Dragon I’d been waiting all year for (Killboy.com photo shown). There were a few damp spots here and there but in general it was spirited riding across the Dragon, back through the “Hellbender” NC-28, and finally to the Lodge for dinner, good beer, and maybe a cigar.

Day 1:

146 (ish) miles

1 item checked off the bucket list

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Triumph Dragon Raid 2015: How the Beast got its name

Posted on September 30, 2015 by MotoADVR

For folks that hadn’t already figured it out, the Triumph “Dragon Raid” is named after the prime location where it takes place. While I took it for granted that it might be common knowledge among motorsports enthusiasts, for folks that don’t already know, the “Tail of the Dragon” is a stretch of U.S. Route 129 just south of Maryville, Tennessee, that runs to Deal’s Gap, North Carolina. Running through the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, this 11 mile stretch of road has 318 curves with virtually no intersections, and no residential properties along the roadway. While I personally think of it as Motorcycle Mecca east of the Mississippi, it’s without a doubt a prime motorsports tourist destination. I could go on and on about the thrill and danger involved, but the Travel Channel has already covered most of the details in the YouTube video below.

Note: This YouTube video was published in 2012; as of this year, semi-tractor trailers are banned from this section of US-129 in Tennessee. However that does not mean they always obey the law.

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Triumph Dragon Raid 2015: The Iron Horse Motorcycle Lodge

Posted on September 30, 2015 by MotoADVR

MotoADVR_IronHorseLodgeBeyond spending a week in the Smoky Mountains, enjoying some of the best roads east of the Mississippi River, staying at the Iron Horse Motorcycle Lodge is also one of the highlights of my annual vacation. Nestled in the Stecoah Valley off North Carolina State Route 28 (NC-28), the Iron Horse sits just off one of the prime twisty roads, right in the heart of Appalachia. Waking up each morning I was blessed with a beautiful view of mountains, just as the fog lifted off the valley floor.

The Iron Horse provides a variety of lodging options depending on your preference. For last minute arrivals, camping accommodations are almost always available. Primitive camping, at just $15 a night, offers outdoorsy guests various tent locations adjacent to the creek that runs down the center of the property. MotoADVR_IHcreekCamping guest have full access to the lodge’s clean and well stocked shower house, connected to lodge’s main building. When Uncle Sam was signing my paychecks, I certainly spent a fair amount of time sleeping on the ground, camping at the Iron Horse is far from bivouacking for folks that aren’t in touch with their outdoorsy side. I could be wrong, but I’m pretty confident that the tent camping “pads” are actually planted with Bermuda grass; I felt like I was camping on the golf course last year. For campers not looking to completely “rough it” camp sites with 110 volt electric hookups are available with reservation. Guests looking for budget reservations but prefer hard walls can book a stay in one of the two bunk houses. As the name would imply, the bunk houses have Spartan accommodations, twin beds, linens, towels, and full access to the shower houses at the main lodge. At just $30 a night, I had originally planned on staying in the bunk house for several nights this year until cabin slot opened up.

MotoADVR_IH_LonestarFolks looking for more plush accommodations can choose from various cabins on the property, ranging from semi-private, 2 bedroom – shared bathroom, to larger private cabins with bedrooms including full bath and common area.  Cabin accommodations range from ~$80 a night, $1,300 weekly, or $2,300 weekly rates depending upon size and location. This year I spent the week in the downstairs space of the Lone Star cabin ($1,300 weekly + taxes & fees). The Lone Star shares the same rustic theme as the rest of the Iron Horse grounds, but well adorned with comfortable furniture in the common area, and large balcony outfitted with rocking chairs to enjoy the morning mountain air. Without a cliché description about the softness of the towels and the hints of cedar, take my word for it, the cabin arrangements are affordable and relaxing. Having been waterlogged the year prior, this year it was reassuring to come back to a dry cabin and unwind after riding each day.

MotoADVR_IH_MealTicketThe main lodge includes a gift shop for folks looking for various stickers, t-shirts, bottle openers, and other Smoky Mountain keepsakes. The downstairs section of the common room of the main lodge is outfitted with numerous tables and chairs for breakfast and dinner meals, or just socializing throughout the day. As I just mentioned, the lodge also has a full service kitchen serving breakfast and dinner. Meals are affordable, under $10 depending upon your choices, and typically served daily (the kitchen staff was given a day off during the week for labor day this year).MotoADVR_IH_CommonArea The kitchen staff is extremely friendly, knowing my name by the second meal, and the food is well worth the price you pay. The upstairs portion of the common room is an activity area, including board games, playing cards, oversized Jenga, shuffle board, puzzles, and probably more than I’ve noticed. The activity area is a nice place to get away and read, or hang out with friends on a rainy day. Stepping through another door from the activity area is home theater outfitted with projection screen, plush sofas, and recliners. MotoADVR_IH_GameRoomAdmittedly, I’ve not watched a movie in the theater, but I have soaked up some of the air conditioning while my phone charged and I tried to dry out after a wet ride. Rumor has it that the theater is a good escape when you’re tent is being barraged by an overnight thunderstorm. The main lodge provides significant covered MotoADVR_IH_Theater1motorcycle parking for folks worried about waking up to a wet seat from the morning MotoADVR_IH_Theater2dew; as do most of the cabins. The far end of the main lodge also has a motorcycle ramp available for folks that decide to load their bikes into the back of the truck for the long ride down. Adjacent for the ramp, compressed air is also available; this year I actually witnessed a tire being plugged right at the lodge. MotoADVR_IHlodgeFirePitTowels or rags for wiping down your bike can also be provided on request. Passing through the common area, out back there is a fire pit, and a veranda well stocked with rocking chairs for visitors to lounge after supper. The fire pit area is lined with gravel and fenced along the creek’s edge, outfitted with tables and chairs for overflow seating at dinner time, or just a place for folks to have beers.

MotoADVR_DragonRaidSatudayTactically positioned between the Tail of the Dragon, the Cherohala Skyway, and the Blue Ridge Parkway, visitors to the lodge have the ability to spend all day riding without concern for groceries and whatnot. Beyond the excellent location and the friendly staff, for me, the best part of staying at the lodge is that I can feasibly pack everything I need for a week on the bike, once at the lodge all I need to worry about it stopping for gas and where to ride next.

more at www.ironhorsenc.com

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(YouTube Video from Killboy.com)

MotoADVR_IHfog

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Metzeler ME 888 Marathon Ultra: Taking it further

Posted on September 28, 2015 by MotoADVR

MotoADVR_888onStandA few months back I wrote about changing out my front tire from the Metzeler ME 880 to the new ME 888 Marathon Ultra. This year’s trip to the Dragon Raid had a few casualties, my rear ME 888 that I mounted last year (just prior to my first Dragon Raid) was one of them. The trusty 888 took a licking and got me home, but it was time for retirement shortly thereafter. Like both of my ME 880 tires, the new 888 “ultras” have amazing tread life. This rear tire was the was the first I’ve replaced, but after 19,000 hard miles, it was time. Looking over the profile I still think that I could have got more miles if I didn’t spend so much time commuting to work on the freeway.

MotoADVR_888treadread several reviews where guys have complained about the handling in wet conditions; from my experience I think that has a lot to do with individual comfort, taste, and throttle discipline. I have experienced the rear tire breaking loose in the rain; more often than not because I got on the throttle too soon after executing a turn. The 888 that I just replaced took me through “The Tail of the Dragon” (US-129) no less than three times in the rain with no issues. If guys are looking to ride in the rain the exact same way they ride when it’s dry, then yes, these tires could probably use a bit more grip. In my opinion, any traction issues I’ve experienced in the rain have been 99% my fault, not the a result of poor performance from the tire. Riding year round, I’ve experience zero issues with grip in dry conditions, whatsoever.

MotoADVR_Dragon129RainAt any rate, I’m officially on my third rear motorcycle tire (ever), so I won’t claim to be the expert on tires; but I will say that if Metzeler doesn’t have a reputation for longevity, they should. The ME 880 and 888’s have both tracked true and provided reasonable surface feedback for a cruiser tire. I don’t deny that there are better, stickier, and cheaper tires, but the Marathon series tires are worth the money; and in my opinion are the best at their intended purpose.

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Triumph Dragon Raid 2015: Day 0 – Southbound (Part 2)

Posted on September 25, 2015 by MotoADVR

Continued from Triumph Dragon Raid 2015: Day 0 – Southbound (part 1)

When word made its way around the office that my “big trip” to the Dragon Raid this year was upon me, most folks told me to be careful, especially during Labor Day traffic. I appreciated the kind words, and told most folks that I planned on taking a route that would provide for as much solitude as possible for the duration of the trip down. That statement proved to be pretty true until we passed the Nada Tunnel and arrived at the Shell station in Slade, Kentucky, for gas. As I just mentioned, Red River Gorge is loaded with good motorcycle roads, moreover is a huge camping and hiking destination; the Slade Shell station is the only operating gas station for miles, and it was obvious on Labor Day weekend. Sweltering in the afternoon sun, Jon suggested we make a break for the next station down the line.

Fortunately, the five gallon tank on the Speedmaster had enough to spare so Jon and I could continue south to the next station near Beattyville; at which point I was reminded just how “remote” certain parts of Eastern Kentucky can be. I typically “pay at the pump”, especially when riding a motorcycle, considering the convenience. As one can expect, credit card readers become less and less available as you venture into the mountains. This random station on the side of KY-11 was the first of many I would encounter in the following days. While inconvenient, there’s something to be said for walking into a filling station and talking with the locals. Stepping through the door I was politely greeted with a southern twang that I affectionately appreciate in this part of the world. Standing in line I noticed several elderly locals sitting around talking like old friends, something you definitely don’t see very often in Dayton, Ohio, a reminder of how things used to be.

Back on Kentucky Route 11 I caught more views of other Red River Gorge destinations that I didn’t realize existed further south of the Red River, including various restaurants and Torrent Falls climbing adventure. I’ve got big hopes for a weekend trip back down this way perhaps later this season, or next summer at a minimum, there’s just too many good roads and local fare to pass up.

Not long after leaving the more touristy sections of KY-11, Jon and I found ourselves enjoying the curvy Kentucky backroads to ourselves. We didn’t see another soul for miles; I actually found myself thinking: “this might be a really crappy place to break down.” Despite how much I was enjoying the solitude on the roadway, at a given intersection a pickup truck pulled out in front of us. It was bound to happen, at some point I was going to find myself stuck behind a car, unable to pass for miles; however that’s not at all how things turned out. After a couple miles I began to realize I was almost struggling to keep up with this obviously local driver in the “red pickup”; before long I actually thought to myself “hell, I’ll fallow this guy to the Tennessee line!”. I mention that because it almost never happens to me, more often than not, you and your riding buddies are clipping along and grandma pulls out in front of you in her Buick sedan. Despite horse power and experience, traffic conditions (and laws…) prevent you from getting around the land yacht. Fortunately, not this day, thank you Mr. Red Pickup, way to break the stereotype; never underestimate the local’s ability to absolutely rip it when they want to.

Ninety more miles down the road, another gas stop in Barbourville, Kentucky, where we merged onto US-25E. A stark contrast from the secluded twisty two-lane of KY-11, US-25E is a four-lane highway that would take us through most of Tennessee. Despite being a “highway”, 25E is actually a really nice ride, with steep changes in elevation, big sweepers, great views of the mountains, not to mention the tunnel. Cumberland Gap Tunnel is another notable landmark worth seeing. I posted video of the tunnel from my ad-hoc trip this spring, but for those who don’t know, the tunnel along 25E is a 4,600 foot, four-lane, dual-tube tunnel, bored through the mountain connecting Middleboro, Kentucky, to Cumberland Gap, Tennessee. While 25E doesn’t pass through Virginia, I’m told the nearby connecting two-lane roads where the three states converge at Cumberland Gap is well worth exploring on two wheels.

Routing from Dayton to Deal’s Gap almost always leaves you with one compromise, how to get around Gatlinburg, Tennessee? I hate tourist traps. As of today, I have never been to a tourist trap as drawn out as the Pigeon Forge – Gatlinburg run along US-441. That being the case, you’re basically limited to biting the bullet and running through 441, taking the west pass through Knoxville and across US-129 (The Dragon) or the east route along Interstate 40. Normally I’m the first person to say that riding on the interstate sucks, but I know of at least two exceptions: I-77 through West Virginia, and I-40 through the Pigeon River Gorge. While I personally feel that 77 through West Virginia is probably the twistiest section of interstate this side of the Mississippi River, 40 presents some steep competition. Gassing up in Newport just off 25E, and already considerably east of Knoxville, we were obviously taking I-40 through the gorge and into Maggie Valley, North Carolina. Similar to the filling station in Kentucky, the locals were extremely friendly, especially as we joked about the “impending weather”. Up to this point, Jon and I had remained completely dry, but after studying the radar, I was doubtful that trend would continue through this last leg. Jon insisted that we’d successfully dodge the storms as we swept wide along I-40 and back west along US-74 toward the lodge. With fresh memories of last year’s monsoon, I battened down the hatches and prepared for the worst; so much so I asked Jon take the lead with his waterproof Garmin.

Getting off the freeway, eleven hours in, we were finally on the home stretch, US-19 through Maggie valley and Cherokee, then a hot skip across US-74, and finally North Carolina Route 28 into Stecoah to the Lodge. To Jon’s credit, I counted about 12 rain drops on my visor, a good lesson in optimism. I snapped a few photos along US-19. Unlike the Gatlinburg corridor, it’s very obvious that the tourist destinations of yesteryear have closed; many having fallen into disrepair. In the following days I was often reminded that Americans don’t “road trip” anymore, which is a shame, there’s so much nature to see down this way.

Pulling into the Lodge I felt a mix of relief, disappointment, and excitement. I was looking forward to getting the dead weight off the back of the bike so I could really carve into the twisties, yet disappointed that the riding day was over.

Day 0:

11.5 Hours

4 States

4 Tunnels

474 Miles

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Triumph Dragon Raid 2015: Day 0 – Southbound (Part 1)

Posted on September 22, 2015 by MotoADVR

For no apparent reason whatsoever, my eyes snapped open at 4 AM Sunday morning (9/6/15). I shouldn’t say for no reason, it’s without a doubt excitement about one of the longest motorcycle rides I’ll take all year. Certainly, the goal was to reach Stecoah, NC, before sundown, but the truth was that the road was the true destination.
Some riders are planners, other fly by the seat of their pants; I admit, I want to be the latter, but I’m quite obviously the former. Spending 8 days on the motorcycle, including the 400 mile trip down, I wrote out an extensive packing list for everything I would need for the trip. PackingListA couple good buddies of mine were putting me up for the week, so fortunately the tent could stay home, but after being waterlogged at last year’s rally, as I’m writing this I, realize I over packed a bit (I may write some “lessons learned” later).

MotoADVR_LoadedSpeedmasterIn the wee morning hours I began loading the bike with all of my farkles and gear. My Saddlemen BR3400 Sissy Bar Bag would really earn its stripes in the following days; loaded for bear, including an extensive tool kit, I was glad I got up early after I realized how difficult it was going to be to mount such a heavy load on the pillion seat. I’m known to put the tail bag on the bike for longer day-trips; it’s convenient to have ample space to put things, and it pays off to have a good backrest. That being said, normally I don’t bother using the side straps that go under the pillion seat, but for this trip, it was necessary to keep from overtaxing the sissy bar strap.

Finally loaded up, I headed over to pick up my Dad who was joining me for the first few legs of the trip, and then down toward Lebanon to meet my riding buddy Jon who was joining me for the long haul. September can be an interesting time to ride in southern Ohio, this particular Sunday morning was not unlike others where the day began at a foggy 60 degrees, but the temperatures would climb to over 80 before day’s end. Sweeping through some local twisties on OH-123 I snapped a few photos as the Sun began burning the fog off the southern Ohio pastures.

I spent several afternoons this summer planning this route, knowing that September would eventually arrive. As always, the trick is hitting all the sights and twisty roads while still reaching the destination before sundown. That challenge unfortunately forced me to remove a few sections from southern Ohio (I.e. OH-763), leaving me to take US-68 to the Ohio River. Crossing the suspension bridge near Aberdeen, it was quick jaunt through Maysville, KY, over to KY-11. From KY-11 it was virtually the identical route I mentioned earlier this summer; KY-11 to KY-1106, bypassing Mt. Sterling, then to KY-36 down to US-460 in Frenchburg. In Frenchburg I said bye to my Dad as he headed over to see my Grandmother as Jon and I headed further south the Red River Gorge. Taking US-460 east for just a few miles I was reminded that “progress” typically means taking beautiful, twisty, two-lane roads and expanding them to straight four-lane highways. Fortunately, we arrived at KY-77, one of the big “destination” roads I’ve been chomping at the bit to ride for months now. KY-77 runs from US-460 to KY-11 near Slade, KY, including large sections of Daniel Boone National Forest. Almost from go, KY-77 sweeps tightly through eastern Kentucky farms. 77 is one of several roads on this route that just beg you to lean hard and pin the throttle, but with gravel driveways and blind curves hidden by crests in the hills, you need have some throttle discipline to keep the shiny side up.


MotoADVR_RedRiverGorgeApproaching the Red River, we turned east on KY-715, twisting through Red River Gorge toward Sky Bridge. Sky Bridge has been somewhat of an annual destination for me the past few years, considering we were already headed south toward 11, there was no way I was going to pass up a few photos. If I hadn’t mentioned previously, there are a myriad of good motorcycle roads in and around Red River Gorge; moreover, Natural Bridge is also another must-see destination. While Natural Bridge probably has better scenery, it requires a one-mile mountain hike, or an $11 ski lift ride to see, neither of which are typically conducive to motorcyclists on a schedule (or dressed for a 400 mile ride expecting rain).MotoADVR_SkyBridge That being the case, Sky Bridge is probably five miles, as a crow flies, from Natural Bridge, and you get a twisty ride up KY-715, so that’s a win-win. Parking in the lot at the Sky Bridge overlook, it’s about a 350 yard walk to another natural arch carved into the limestone cliffs of Red River Gorge.

With a long ride still ahead of us, I snapped a few photos of the gorge, then headed back down the mountain the way we came on KY-715. Back at KY-77, we headed south through the Nada Tunnel. Like Sky Bridge, Nada Tunnel is another significant destination in the gorge. Sometimes referred to the “Gateway to Red River Gorge”, the Nada Tunnel is a one-lane tunnel blasted through a limestone cliff of the gorge for rail traffic by loggers back in 1911. Subsequently open to pedestrian and automobile traffic, this 900 foot, unlit, tunnel offers a shortcut through the gorge cliff faces. A word to the wise motorcyclist, it’s easier to see traffic when headed south through the tunnel. Waiting at the yield sign, one can see through the tunnel for traffic headed your way when looking south, however  traffic on the south side of the tunnel has to creep up and look past the tunnel walls, and subsequently back up if traffic is headed through. Thus, turn your high-beams on, and be liberal with horn use as necessary when passing through the tunnel on a motorcycle.

To Be Continued…

MotoADVR_SkyBridgeTop Moto_ADVR_AberdeenBridge

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Triumph Dragon Raid 2015 : The Preview

Posted on September 18, 2015 by MotoADVR

MotoADVR_DragonRaidSatudayLast week I vacationed in one of the best motorcycle destinations in the country. After shooting over 5,000 photos, and checking off two items from my moto bucket list, I’m now beginning the mammoth task of cataloging and writing about this year’s Triumph Dragon Raid in Stecoah, North Carolina.

MotoADVR_DragonNext11MilesSince 2008, the Dayton chapter of the Rider’s Association of Triumph (RAT Pack) host’s an Annual Triumph Rally at the Iron Horse Motorcycle Lodge in Stecoah. Held just 25 miles East of Deal’s Gap, it goes without saying that the Tail of the Dragon (US 129) is just one of many great destinations you can visit during the Raid.

At any rate, I thought I’d put up some teaser photos while I attempt to remember all of the details of my 1,650 miles of motorcycle bliss last week.

Triumph Dragon Raid 2015: Day 0 – Southbound (Part 1)

Triumph Dragon Raid 2015: Day 0 –  Southbound (Part 2)

Triumph Dragon Raid 2015: Day 1 – The Mile High Legend

Triumph Dragon Raid 2015: Day 2 – Tigers Across the Blue Ridge

Triumph Dragon Raid 2015: Day 3 – Paddling the Nantahala River

Triumph Dragon Raid 2015: Day 4 – Wayah Road, Moonshiner 28, and a wet Dragon

Triumph Dragon Raid 2015: Day 5 – More Twisties, Oskar Blues Brewery, and the BRP

Triumph Dragon Raid 2015: Day 6 – Bridal Veil Falls and the Saturday Night Party

Triumph Dragon Raid 2015: Day 7 – The Long Ride Home

Triumph Dragon Raid 2015: The Iron Horse Motorcycle Lodge

Triumph Dragon Raid 2015: How the Beast got its name

2016 Triumph Dragon Raid

MotoADVR_BlueRidgeHiPoint

MotoADVR_SkyBridge

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2015 Victory Vegas: First Impressions

Posted on September 17, 2015 by MotoADVR

A few weeks back the local Victory Motorcycle dealer in New Carlisle was holding another demo event. MotoADVR_VictoryVegasCloseFortunately it was a “slower” Friday, so I stopped in to take another American motorcycle for a spin. At the last demo truck event I focused on the new Victory Gunner, while at the same time riding a few of their touring models; this time I was hoping to try something new. Arriving at the dealership, I noticed a shiny red bike parked off to the side near the registration tent. For 2015, Victory has lathered glittery candied red paint on the newest edition of the “Vegas” cruiser. Based purely on looks, I expected that the Vegas would be very similar to the Gunner, but perhaps with slightly less lean angle with the more “slammed” cruiser stance, and somewhat fickle handling with the skinny front tire.

MotoADVR_VegasPegsI arrived at the dealership just as the next demo ride was leaving, so I took a few moments to comb over the bike and take some closer photos. I’ve never seen a Victory with a matched-color frame before; they’ve all been the typical matte black up until now. Checking out the front end of the bike, and the forward controls, I was impressed to see that the foot levers seems a bit “tighter” than usual; I find that the levers on the touring models wobble quite a bit. Because of the contrasting frame color, I noticed the oil cooler tucked in low on the frame, for whatever reason, that didn’t stand out to me on the other Victory bikes I’ve ridden. MotoADVR_VegasOilCoolerMy Speedmaster also has an oil cooler, which is no gripe from my perspective, but the contrasting color does draw attention to it, something buyers should consider if they’re overly “traditional”. While Henry Ford and I typically agree, “you can have it in any color, as long as it’s black”, I admit the candied “sunset” red looked really hot sparkling in the afternoon sun.

The Vegas demo model came fitted with a tall windshield. MotoADVR_VictoryShieldWhile I gladly snapped photos of the bike with the shield mounted, I felt it better to remove it for the demo ride. I figured the shield would probably spoil any decent photos I could snag, combined with the fact I like to “feel” the wind on my face shield. Removing the shield wasn’t much hassle, there are keyed locks on either side of the fork mounts that “pop” once in the unlocked position. The tricky part is lifting up while simultaneously stretching the mounts out over the fork locks to pull the shield off. Most of the “easy-off” shields I’ve dealt with before now are simple “unclick” and lift up assemblies. The Victory shield is still lockable, and functional, I’m just concerned about scratching the chrome mountings when pulling it off.
Taking a closer look at the bike I realized this Vegas was mounted with Dunlop shoes.MotoADVR_VictoryVegasSide Perhaps they have all been fitted with Dunlop, but I hadn’t noticed before now. Truth be told, I have no beef with Dunlop, but as far as cruisers are concerned, most of my buddies have very few nice things to say about Dunlop tires. I had previously noticed the “big-wheel” front rim on the Vegas, but upon closer inspection, I realized it was a 21 inch wheel. My Speedmaster has a 15 inch rear, and a 19 inch front, a 21 inch front seems enormous to me, but that’s kind of the “thing” with baggers these days (I’ll pass thanks…). The rims on the Vegas are also two-tone black machined aluminum. The rims look great, but again, similar to my Speedmaster, they’re a hassle to keep clean.

Out on the road, the Vegas was extremely similar to its Gunner stable mate. Also fitted with Stage 1 exhaust, the 106 Cubic Inch Freedom V-twin sounds fantastic.

As previously mentioned, the cam noise is a bit obvious, a possible turn off for seasoned Harley riders. After riding the stock touring models, I am convinced that a Stage 1 exhaust is a must-have accessory if you’re looking for the full experience of the 106 engine; I’m not a proponent of “loud pipes save lives”, in this case it’s more about feeling the power difference, and the Victory Stage 1 kit is not obnoxious. As with the Gunner, the engine does not like winding out past 4400 RPMs, despite what the stat sheets may claim (peak HP around 5000+ I believe), the frustrated vibration from the engine is unmistakable.

Considering I was only in the saddle for a short twenty minute ride, it’s probably not fair to judge the factory seat, but it was at least adequate for what little time it was occupied. The same goes for the suspension, it certainly appeared plush on the northern Dayton backroads, and was also more comfortable than the harsh rear suspension on my stock Triumph. At 5’10”, 185, I would say I’m probably the cookie-cutter male motorcycle occupant from a manufacturers standpoint; that being said, most of the Victory motorcycles I’ve ridden offer extremely relaxed ergos (I can’t even reach the touring highway bars). As such, I’ve yet to decide on which rider triangle I prefer, the sportier Speedmaster (drag bars), or the swept back, relaxed position of the Vegas. With better suspension, the reclined cruiser position isn’t disagreeable, but it really depends on how “sporty” you want to get in the twisties.

All in all, the Vegas is essentially another flavor of the Victory “cruiser” line.MotoADVR_VictoryVegasWtruck I’m not going to claim to be an expert, but Victory is undoubtedly sharing as many parts as possible on all three classes of their bikes, with only minor changes in trim and accessories from what I can tell. Still, I have to give Victory props for diametrically opposing the staple American motorcycle brand in engine architecture and overall fit and finish. I also appreciate the 6 gear transmission, gear indicator on the speedometer, belt drive, and unequivocally the unlimited demo rides I’ve had each summer. Similar to the Gunner, if you’re in the market for a big bore cruiser, are looking for bobber/chopper like styling, and want to go against the “norm” the new 2015 Vegas is a viable option.

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Motorcycle Gear Review: Olympia 734 Digital Protector Gloves

Posted on September 10, 2015 by MotoADVR

P1010397I recently retired my trusty Olympia summer riding gloves. To Olympia’s credit, it had nothing to do with the gloves themselves, simply that I wanted to upgrade to a set of touch screen summer gloves. I’ve mentioned in the past that I tend to lean toward ATGATT, but admittedly my gear has been diligently collected over time. After purchasing a reliable armored riding jacket, the Olympia 734 Digital Protector Gloves were my next purchase.

For summer riding I tend to lean toward short cuff gloves; always (nearly) fitted with riding jacket and pants, at some point there is a trade-off regarding heat that has to be made, so short gloves become the go-to for me as a daily commuter. MotoADVR_Olmypia734glovesThe back face of the 734 is Nylon, with rubberized vents/armor mid-digit on the finders. A love-hate feature on these gloves is the “carbon” knuckle protection (reviews say carbon, I have a feeling it’s plastic; but it’s still added protection); considering I ride a cruiser, I imagine other casual city riders probably won’t be a fan of the “carbon fiber” aggressive styling of the knuckle protection, but in my case I like it. The palm face of the glove is full leather, which is a must for protection in my opinion. When I first started riding I often wore Mechanix gloves in the summer, which I assume would last about as long as standard denim in a crash, especially if the rider reaches down to brace the fall. At any rate, I like the double stitched reinforced palm, including the gel pads, which was a real surprise. I have another set of “budget” gauntlet gloves I wear in the early spring and fall which also have gel inserts in the contact surfaces of the palm; I personally feel like they dull my ability to feel the grips, but that may be a personal preference. That being said, the Olympia gel inserts are completely benign. The wrist closure is a single Velcro connection, which is the only part showing wear after two years; this flaw is not Olympia’s fault, I used to fold over the wrist band when I first started riding, which wore out the elastic band and Velcro, normal intended use will not cause this problem.

One of the things I like most about these gloves is that you actually have some limited touch screen capability. I don’t put my phone up on my RAM X-grip bar mount a lot, but when I do it’s convenient to check the phone at stops without taking my gloves off. The Olympia 734’s are not touch screen gloves be design, but on warm days and with a little finesse they’ll work in a jam. The reflective piping on the back of the hand is another plus from my perspective; I use hand signals in conjunction with turn signals, knowing that cars probably don’t see my stock turn signals very well. Having the reflective piping is a plus when night riding, hoping that other drivers will see my hand more clearly when I’m motioning that I’m coming over.

The only thing I can really fault these gloves with is reduced protection. The nylon backing is undoubtedly better than many other summer weight gloves, however I wanted to raise the bar a little but with full leather construction on the new set of gloves (Icon Pursuit – touch screen). Overall the gloves vent really well on hot days, so I never felt like my hands were stuck in a sauna at stop lights. The dexterity and “feel” of the controls through the glove is excellent.

At the time of my purchase, I was looking for a lightweight summer glove, but a set that was full fingered and still provided sufficient protection in the event of an “off”. My local Triumph Dealer recommended the Olympia 734, and I bought them on the spot. $50, and after two years and 32,000 miles, I would recommend these gloves to anyone.

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Pubs and Street Eats 9: Food Truck of the Undead – Zombie Dogz Dayton

Posted on September 3, 2015 by MotoADVR

I typically find myself fleeing in the opposite direction of whatever is popular (can the IPA fad end already…), MotoADVR_ZombieDogzTruckbut when it comes to food trucks, I can’t get enough! I’ve truthfully been chasing Zombie Dogz all summer. I rolled up to one of their events back in May, but the line was so long I sadly didn’t have time to wait. As it turns out, Despite all of my searching, Zombie Dogz actually came to me; the HR department at my office decided to book Zombie Dogz for a private lunch for the whole company.

MotoADVR_ZombieDogzMenuSo what’s so exciting about this Zombie Dogz place? Road food with bacon, and more bacon! Zombie Dogz serves “gourmet”, all-beef franks on what I would call hoagie-style buns. So it’s another cylindrical street meat joint… but what’s so bad about that? Having finally sampled the menu, I feel it’s fair to say that the food matches the expectation. The All-American hot dog, sprinkled with ample amounts of condiments (especially bacon…) served up with chips and a soda; as they say, the ultimate answer to the cookie-cutter fast food joint.

MotoADVR_ZD_NibblerAfter perusing the menu, I could not resist ordering the “Nibbler”; Muenster cheese, chunky pieces of bacon, homemade chili with onions, and a few stripes of mustard. I was impressed with the all-beef franks,  I’m normally more of a pork sausage kind of guy, the beef frank was a nice change. Unable to let down you, my beloved followers, I was compelled to try the “Gem City Slasher” as well. The Slasher is served with Guacamole, cilantro, sour creme, and more of those delicious chunks of bacon. MotoADVR_ZD_GemCitySlasherThe Slasher would also be a sweet win, however I can’t stand sour cream, and sadly didn’t see it on the description when I ordered it. Fortunately, a spoon came to the rescue, after scraping the sour cream aside, I enjoyed an otherwise excellent hot dog. I’ll warn you, these aren’t your Gold Star Chili sized coneys, these are full sized beef franks, so taking down two at a sitting was a serious undertaking.

Be advised, their menu changes with each event, as does their location; ZombieDogsStickersso, if you’re looking to pin down their truck, head over to their undead website, and follow their updates on Facebook. I feel it probably safe to say that Zombie Dogz is probably “The” most popular food truck in Dayton, so when you’re headed over to grab some grub, plan ahead and leave early; however everyone tells me that the line moves really fast, which I believe to be true based on what little bit I have seen.

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