Options to get to deals gap.

Luckily ill be doing a track school in June so I should learn from the so called pros.
Listen to your instructors, not every random joe on GTAM.

Read/Watch Twist of the Wrist II.

+1

OP you have no clue what your missing out. Deals Gap, IMO is overrated, and Skyline Drive + BRP are just soo good.
Different stroke for different folks. I found BRP pretty boring.
 
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OP, this is all opinion and your appreciation of Deal's Gap will depend on what kind of riding you like to do.
Blue Ridge Parkway: Long, sweeping curves. Majestic vistas, breaktaking views. Not generally ridden by squids. Frequented by large packs of slow moving Harleys, Goldwings and minivans. You can easily do 25% above the posted speed limit and be happy.

Deals gap: you know that *one* hairpin turn on Forks of the credit? the one that you will ride 2 hours for, to hit ONE curve on ****** pavement. yeah? deal's gap is 318 turns in 11 miles. the longest straightaway is about 200m. if you ride a sport bike and you like to go fast and you like to almost die on every corner and you dream about good corners on good pavement and you like watching people do wheelies up a hill then Deal's Gap is the place for you. Deals gap is a road to be mastered. It will scare the **** out of you the first time through and you will say "Yep, that 30mph speed limit is just about right". and after you clean out your underwear you will turn around and go the other way and you'll say "Wow, its a totally different road going in the other direction". You'll probably cross the double yellow a few times and if you're lucky you won't be hit head on by a car. If you can manage to stay on your side of the double yellow you'll eventually start to know all the corners and you will anticipate them, and you will be excited and then you won't be able to get enough of it and you will dream of selling everything you own in Ontario and moving your whole life down there. You will meet Rob Seneker and his friend Casper who ride ****** bikes from the 80s and RX-7s, they can do the gap end to end in 9 minutes and they are older than death. You'll see them come up in your rearview and you will think to yourself "Pfftt. old man, you're not faster than me" and then before you know it you just got passed by some old guy. THAT'S when you realize you suck as a rider and need to up your game. and if you dedicate yourself to learning every curve on that road and when to brake and when to gas it and how far to lean over you will become a very good rider and will live to go down there as often as you can. Say hi to Ben, Zee and Killboy for me.
 
Deals gap in the rain is also great. Everyone with half a brain or a hangover stays inside while you get the road to yourself. The key to surviving is to be smoooooooooooooth.
 
Lolz talk about run on sentences.

Op I loved deals gap but I've never done a track day before.

I stayed at the best western at cades coves and IMO it was a good location. Great rooms and very accommodating to bikers. It wasn't hard to drive to and is surrounded by twisties. Foothills parkways, DG, smoky mountains and pigeon forge is close too!!!


@newman

I've watched twist the wrist maybe like 3 times now. I'm always learning new things i missed but they are right I should tuck my foot in and keep my outer leg pressed against the bike. Pictures help me see my form.
 
Different stroke for different folks. I found BRP pretty boring.

And I was bored at Deals Gap actually, being stuck behind slow ppl really sucks. I'd pull over for 5mins to wait for clearance, only to catch up with them again, and be stuck again.

On BRP, I would see a human being every 30mins or so lol, so that was much better =)
 
If you're going to trailer to Deals Gap, try to avoid towing on the Dragon itself. From Toronto, your GPS will route you through US129, and coming from TN crossing into NC, you will be a rolling hazard to all the bikers making the Dragon run, not to mention how frustrated and nervous you'll be trying to negotiate the tight turns and hairpins.

Tip: put Waynesville as a waypoint between TO and Deals Gap. It should route you through I40 at Knoxville That way you approach it from the east. It's a bit of a detour but it's mostly Interstate and it'll get you there the same time (if not a little quicker) and a lot safer.
 
When are you planning on heading down there?

We were looking for people to fill a trailer to head down there in June.

we have 2-3 people looking to head down
 
Can't see any reason why a Miata shouldn't be able to tow 2 motorcycles...

pjJsF89.jpg
 
Lot of information to consider, thanks all for the advised. I am weighing my options and heading down on the 15th of June. CANT WAIT !
 
we have 2-3 people looking to head down

What dates?
We were planning on June 23 leaving.

As for towing on the dragon, ive done it every year going down. It is fun, but your brakes it does take a toll on your brakes.
We normally get in late at night so we dont see any bikes, or we leave bright and early so there isnt much traffic at all.
 
What dates?
We were planning on June 23 leaving.

As for towing on the dragon, ive done it every year going down. It is fun, but your brakes it does take a toll on your brakes.
We normally get in late at night so we dont see any bikes, or we leave bright and early so there isnt much traffic at all.

Pm me details Chris! depending on how long you are going for I may be able to swing it off work.
 
Was looking at heading down on 14th after work or the 15th. Time already booked off work =/

What dates?
We were planning on June 23 leaving.

As for towing on the dragon, ive done it every year going down. It is fun, but your brakes it does take a toll on your brakes.
We normally get in late at night so we dont see any bikes, or we leave bright and early so there isnt much traffic at all.
 
I found a nice light trailer (300 lbs) Plus the two bikes we were looking at about 1200lbs. I don't think I'm going to have an issue if I go this rout.

Claimed 2000lb tow rating for Mazda 3?

I towed that much with my Mazda 3 to Mosport last year....I could almost hear it crying going up the hills, never did it again lol
 
Hey Guys,

I have planned a small trip to Deals GAP next months and don't have a method of getting the bikes down via trailer. I only drive a Mazda 3 and don't want to compromise my car towing a trailer since its not recommended by the dealer or service guide.

At this point attendance of the parties is still in the air. We have myself and another fully committed and potentially two other. Rather not ride down so we can actually enjoy ourselves while we are down there.

I am trying to source the cheapest rental options available to me and I am sure some of you have been in this situation at one point or another. Any assistance is greatly appreciated :)

Thanks all.

When i had to move acrosd canada u haul quoted me $5000 for a 14' cube, gasoline engine for a 7 day period. I rented a 22ft. New turbo diesel international with hydraulic brakes from PENSKE in bellingham washington and returned it to buffalo ny. 11 days rental, unlimited mileage for $1300. Try usa rental places, you'll be surprised.
 
I've towed my Goldwing behind my toyota echo FWIW. That said why not ride down? If you hustle on I75 you can be at the gap by noon the second day and then lollygag coming home.

The dragon is indeed intense but it's only 11 miles long. The BRP on the other hand is 250 miles of easy peezy Some of the best riding IMHO is riding up and down the mountain to get to the Blue ridge.

All that said you can be in PA before noon the first day and the riding there comes awful close to what you can find much further south.
 
Not yet home but almost, we had a fun weekend at the tail of dragon.
Keep Safe
 
my 1992 jetta made 59 hp, and towed a pair of sportbikes to and from Deals Gap many times.
Get a hitch. A light trailer and 2 bikes doesn't put any more stress on your car's drivetrain than taking 3 or 4 fat dudes in your car....and even less stress on the rest of the car than the fat dudes, becasue the load on the trailer has it's own suspension....the fat dudes would be taxing the car's suspension.
 
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my 1992 jetta made 59 hp, and towed a pair of sportbikes to and from Deals Gap many times.
Get a hitch. A light trailer and 2 bikes doesn't put any more stress on your car's drivetrain than taking 3 or 4 fat dudes in your car....and even less stress on the rest of the car than the fat dudes, becasue the load on the trailer has it's own suspension....the fat dudes would be taxing the car's suspension.

Wtf hahahahahaha
But true lol.
 
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