Four days of curves and fall colors

[klaviator]

I'm planning on giving the tires on my Sport City a workout this coming Monday through Wednesday as I head up into the mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee. I'm planning on riding some of the twistiest roads in the country including the section of 421 known as the "snake". Hopefully the leaves will be changing colors too.

Anyone else going to be in that area?

I'll try to take some pics and do a ride report sometime after I get back.

[Brooktown Geezer]

Sounds like a great ride, Klav...take plenty of pics for us!

[Scootard]

Oh yeah Klaviator, Scooterchick and I are in (electronically). We are scooting OK at present, and will be around here TX and VA until early November. Will be following with interest.

[gumshoe4]

Hey Klav...pictures, please...

[rv-rick]

Gotta have pictures.

[damasovi]

Originally Posted by rv-rick

Gotta have pictures.

in case it is not clear, favor de tomar muchas fotografías!!! lol!!! many pics and have a great time amigo!

Damasovi

[johnyrrr]

Never heard of the snake (421) hows it compare to 129 or Cherahola Shyway?

[klaviator]

Originally Posted by johnyrrr

Never heard of the snake (421) hows it compare to 129 or Cherahola Shyway?

I rode it once about 15 years ago so I don't really remember it. A friend rode it back in June and said it's now his favorite twisty road. I'll give you my opinion after I ride it. I'll be leaving in an hour or so and won't have computer access until I get back Wednsday evening. After that i plan on heading back out on a dual sport ride so the ride report will have to wait but I do plan on taking lots of pics and doing a report.

[Dabears]

Man, have fun!

[gumshoe4]

I don't know , Klav. Maybe you should make the trip on a real motorcycle. Everyone knows you can't tour on a scooter....

[klaviator]

I made it back last night. Four days, Four states and about a thousand miles. I'm headed back out in the morning for 2 and a half days of dual sport riding and I have a lot to do so the ride report will have to wait. Here's a few pics out of the 150 I took:

I made it to Shady Valley, the location of the "Snake"



.



So, what was the Snake like?



Since someone asked how the Snake compared to 129, I rode to Deal's Gap.



A little "adventure" riding.



And one last pic for now.

[maddiedog]

Cool! So... How was the snake compared to Deal's Gap? I've ridden the gap a few times, so I need to know.

[DandyDoug]

I have ridden both Deals Gap and the Snake , my opinion;

The road at Deals Gap is a bit more technical, but shorter.

The Snake is a much nicer ride for a longer period of time with several sections as technical as the Gap.

The better side of it is when you get to what is usually termed the end of the Snake at Shady Valley , you can get on 58 and ride toward Damascus, VA. and have as much fun with less traffic and usually fewer squids or LEO's .

[klaviator]

Originally Posted by maddiedog

Cool! So... How was the snake compared to Deal's Gap? I've ridden the gap a few times, so I need to know.

They are both great roads.......when you can ride them without a lot of traffic and a lot of LEO presence. That's not so easy to do at Deal's Gap during the normal riding season. But I'll ignore that and just compare the roads.

I'm not sure exactly what the Snake is. From what I understand, it's three different sections of road: 421 over the mountain North of Shady Valley, 421 over the mountain south of Shady Valley, and 91 over the mountain Southeast of Shady valley. Overall, none of these sections is as tight as Deal's Gap. Deal's Gap is 11 miles of nearly non-stop curves. Each of the two sections of 421 are around 6-7 miles of curves with a fair number of straights. There are a few tight Hairpins but most of the curves are more medium speed. 421 has much more of a grade than Deal's Gap with a greater elevation change. 421 may be more difficult to ride well than 129 due to more speed changes going form curve to straight to curve. On the other hand, the straight on 421 give you a little chance to relax. The curvy section of 91 is only around 3 miles long. 133 goes Northeast to Damascas but I don't think it is considered part of the Snake. It's a nice ride through a valley with lots of medium to high speed sweepers.

Both Deal's Gap and Shady Valley are surrounded by great roads in every direction. From what I could see, the Snake hasn't become nearly the tourist attraction that Deal's Gap has so you don't have to deal with as much traffic. On the other hand, go to Deal's Gap and you will meet people from all over the country.

One thing both roads have in common is that they both have places for riders to hang out, get something to eat, and buy T-shirts and stickers so that the world can know that they slew the "Dragon" or the "Snake". There are countless great roads in the area, many are tighter and more challenging than either of these roads but without all the traffic. There are also many more scenic roads for those who prefer scenery over curves.

Another shot of 421 South of Shady Valley. IMO, this was the best of the three sections.



Here's a Hairpin on 421 North of Shady Valley. As you can see there is a straight on each side of the hairpin. On 129, one curve often leads directly into another.

[DandyDoug]

The things i do not like about the Dragon are the proliferation of racer wanna be's who have no clue and are often in your lane on the wrong side of the road in a blind corner ( SQUIDS )

If you feel you must ride the Dragon, I suggest you do it in the middle of the week, and still be aware that the local LEO's make a big part of their budget, looking for you and even the smallest indescretion.

If you do have an incident , be assured it will be costly for the helicopter ride as the region is remote and services are far away.

I personally avoid the place as there are so many better roads to ride and so much less chance of meeting up with some moron in my lane at an insane angle or speed they have no business attempting.