I live near the blue ridge bout 20 miles away they get crazy. If there are any tips i would like to know them too as I am not as experienced but can ride, actually practicing for the license. Have rode dirtbikes alot, not the same I know. I think I will save the mountains for another day but the Parkway is just a skip and jump from here and can't wait. Good luck on your ride.

 

You may be tempted to push it a bit coming down the mountain. Take it slow. 70% braking done with front, 30% with rear.

 

-Stay in your lane, stay in your lane, stay in your lane! I rode mountains for 9 hours yesterday, (LOL @ the dragon) and that rule always applies.

-Don't go too fast down the mountain, keep the speed down, most people I've seen get into trouble were going downhill and couldn't slow down enough before a curve.

-There will be something in the road, and it will be right where you need to put your tires, and it will surprise you. Be mentally ready for that and remember your training an you'll be all right (yesterday for me it was little pine cones. -was exciting)

-Take it easy through the corners until you are comfortable. Taking a sharp climbing or descending turn is a lot different than on flat land.

 

-Stay in your lane, stay in your lane, stay in your lane!

And I'll add to that - "Stay in your lane."

Anyway, Dragon Slaying aside, where you really must stay in your lane to avoid causing grief to yourself and others, let alone getting a picture of you crossing over the yellow line posted on Killboy's site, where posters can berate you....

The Blue Ridge Parkway is only 45MPH and although there are curves and hills, there aren't a lot of super-challenging switchbacks and such, would be a good place to get some hill practice in, not to mention one heck of a nice ride.

 

Isn't there an extremely winding road there (Smokeys) with a tree at the bottom of the run, that has parts from peoples bikes hanging on it from people who crashed. And they hang a part of their bikes on the tree as a tradition or something?

 

Here in Colorado where we have a few mountains, one wants to stay away from the shoulders which tend to have sand/gravel on them from rain. Also, you need to watch for sand/gravel that can get washed into curves. Cars coming from the other direction tend to drift into your lane - - be watchful. Don't push your speed because you never know what is around a blind curve.

 

Read David Houghs book Proficient Motorcycling and More Proficient Motorcycling - great advice and circumstantial awareness presented that is an easy read.

Basically watch out for diminisihing radius turns. Look through your turns and alway look WHERE you want the bike to go - especially while turing. Take you eye off the turn and you will find yourself riding toward where you are looking. Keep your head level to the road when in a turn (all this is in the book and basic MC riding knowledge).

Take left turns wide and right turns near the center but not so you will clip a car cutting a corner over the center line, it will help you see further around the corners so you can see gravel, deer, stopped vehicles, bicyclists etc. in mid corner.

If you think you have gone into a curve too hot - do NOT look for a place to bail off the side of the road or that is what you will do and almost certanly end in a crash. Look through the turn and push on the inside bar harder (you will probably be able to corner better than you think and the bike will probably have more to give than your experience lets you realize.

But bailing and crashing is a gimme - riding it out until you crash is only a maybe.....don't crash intentionally (in other words).

Don't ride beyond your sight line (don't rider faster than you can see to stop). Easy to do on long fast sweeping turns. Fun too - but..... not the prudent thing to do.

Scan for Deer and brake hard if safe to do so when you see them - every time you cut your speed in half you reduce the force it takes to stop by 4 times (ie it will hurt 4 time less to hit a dear at 25mph than it would to hit the same dear at 50)

Talking to an EMT that worked the BRP one day she was saying that most bike crashes on the Blue Ridge Parkway are heavy cruisers. Which I found unbelievable - but don't doubt it - hard parts to drag occassionally - lowered bikes even more so nothing like jacking a rear wheel up in a curve......get to know your clearances and rid accordingly.

 

don't crash intentionally

100,000 times, THIS with diminishing radius!

Ride the thing to the ground if you have to. Never let go, always lean harder.

 

That is the tree of shame. It is at the Tail of the Dragon. I seem to remember it is at a kinda low end motel.

==Isn't there an extremely winding road there (Smokeys) with a tree at the bottom of the run, that has parts from peoples bikes hanging on it from people who crashed. And they hang a part of their bikes on the tree as a tradition or something?

 

Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap, motorcycle and sport car two lane tourism serving Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap, Cherohala Skyway, Moonshiner28, Devils Triangle, and Six Gap North Georgia.

 

Let's make this easy....look (turn head) into the corners even those going up or down; outside of the turn/curve to the inside BUT not getting too close to center line.

Experienced rider, eh???? Just shakin' my head about this statement.

Bullzeyet

 

Bullzeyet,

Yes,I did say experienced. I had my first bike whenI was stationed in Guam. riding a bike on the wet coral roads over there were very tricky, but I managed to get 4000 miles accident free. I have had a few bikes since that. 1981 Honda Gold Wing, a 2000 Vstar classic an 1998 victory and now my 2001 Shadow Sabre.. I have rode in the mountains on the highways but not on the small mountain roads. So yes I would say I am experienced.

 

:shock: Move to Kansas. :-D

 

Them Flint hills are pretty scary! Lol!

 

Watch for wet foliage , my ABS light came on last time I drove my truck down the Smokeys. Guess the road was damp under those shaded trees.

 

By their nature, mountain roads have lots of curves and people who enjoy riding them. What I would add to all the good advice given already is to ride well below your limit when going through the curves. You never know what to expect and you want to have enough reserve to be able to take evasive action when necessary. If you ride the curves at your limit, you've got no margin for error and sooner or later you will go over the limit. I know, I've seen a number of mountain riders who have and it isn't pretty.

sanoke

 

By their nature, mountain roads have lots of curves and people who enjoy riding them. What I would add to all the good advice given already is to ride well below your limit when going through the curves. You never know what to expect and you want to have enough reserve to be able to take evasive action when necessary. If you ride the curves at your limit, you've got no margin for error and sooner or later you will go over the limit. I know, I've seen a number of mountain riders who have and it isn't pretty.

sanoke

If you decide to ignore all the above advice you better ride with one of these, you will need it.

Martin

 

any tips on proper braking down hills on steeper grades?

 

Controlled!

Use a combination of gearing and braking, allow the brakes time to cool..meaning don"t ride them, if you are riding them slow down, brake fade is not your friend going down hill.. I know from personal experience.

In fact if you are planning lot's of miles, get those brakes tuned up first. Make use of the slow lane that is usually provided on grades until you get a feel of your bike and your own input and reactions. Some would call me a nanny , so be it, but in the mountains I mainly adhere to the slow and steady rule . Not only is there an abundance of hazards, but there is an abundance of beauty

I like to stop often and take it all in

 

Pink is your color Dave.

 

thanks for the advice, Dave.

 

One other thing, ride or sightsee but not at the same time.

 

Let me know how the ride is on the Smokey Mtn Parkway. I plan to trailer the bike up there soon (Still too much of noob to ride the 550+ miles to get to Sevierville). Look forward to riding parkway from Gatlinburg to Cherokee. Did it in a car and loved it, now want to experience it on the bikes. Plan to eat at the "Best Italian Cafe" in Gatlinburg after the ride. They have the best calzones! Thanks.

 

I'll stand by my comment. BIG road riding (Interstates/State roads) in the mountains is nowhere near the quality of riding experience one needs to ride on the secondary roads that led up to the Parkway or Skyline drive. Or if one wants to ride those near this area. The speed going "up" the mountain is much easier to control than going down....except for those off-camber tight uphill, 250-270 degree turns. And those hard downhill off-camber tight turns are not easy.......they take practise and lot's of it. That's why you see many riders going up/down these type roads many, many times in a few hour time period. These type roads have few guard rails or none at all...and one see's a lot of tall tree tops in these areas as it's a long way down from the edge of the road to the bottom of the mountain.

One does not have to do this type of riding at or near limits of ones bike or their own experience. But a thoughtful and instructional use of your riding these roads is a plus for experience...no matter who or what.

Bullzeyet

 

I agree Bullzeyet, thats why I posted what I did for you folks to give me some tips and thanks for you tips.. I will start on short trips on not so tigth roads and work my way up to the other roads..

 

You are wise to have asked. You've gotten lots of good advice. But nothing beats experience. Don't be shy, just go ride the mountain roads and enjoy it!

Happy Trails!
sanoke

PS - Take some pics when you have a mind to. I'm sure your mountains are just as pretty as mine.

 

Sanoke, I plan on mounting my video camera to my bike.