Riding North Carolina, TN and VA

y'all have me dying to go explore it now... I too have never ridden much dirt over that way. I did the first bit of the SM500 a few months back, but it got late on us and we were staying at Kickstand so had to get back. Definitely on my list for next year for sure.

So as mentioned above, I had a pretty awesome time riding around one of my favorite areas. I still can't get over how beautiful the weather was. It was absolutely perfect. I was also pleasantly surprised by the lack of people, mostly just hunters. I also didn't expect there to be as much fall foliage left. It was nice to have that color while still thin enough to get amazing views. I cannot wait to get back there.

How those Ö’s treating you @Amphib?

Absolute game changer.....worth every penny. I had no idea how bad it was before. Now, the confidence level is so much higher, I'm more relaxed not having to focus so hard on every line. They eat it all up. My riding style has completely changed. On the pavement, they're so planted..... The bike finally handles like I imagine it was intended. I can't recommend them enough.

Great riding with you as well Josh and Bert. Sorry I had to cut out, but the wife was pleasantly surprised I came home early! Your DR hauls butt Josh don't change a thing! I will be calling Rick @ Cogents very soon so he can help my suspension out on the ol' DR. There is so much to explore around Tellico, that's why I stayed the whole week at The Farmhouse Inn with Kyle instead of doing the SM500. In my opinion you can see so much more and explore tons of backroad jewels instead of keeping to a schedule like the SM500. When I did the SM500 a few years ago, I had to haul ass through so much cool stuff that I would have liked to explore a little more. The Farmhouse is the perfect place to set up camp and ride all of Kyle's loops he has made.

Can’t beat good suspension. I have Ohlins on all 4 bikes I ride. Servicing can be expensive, but it’s the price to ride with the best suspension.

Yep, they even make a 900 pound bagger feel light on it’s feet.

Thanks Mike, I had a blast. Hopefully we get to do it again. You saved me some money as well, I always appreciate that!

I hate that the road was closed down. It was one of my favorites to ride in the SW part of Virginia.

Great colors in all of you guy pictures. I’m in central flatland North Carolina.

Last week I was up on Curtis Creek road and stopped to check out if FS1188 was still closed. At this point I would call it ungated… looks like at some point the rain came through and washed out the gate which is laying in a heap beside the trail. There is still the big tank trap there and the picture doesn’t do it justice for how deep the hole is, but it looks like there is a narrow ridable line. I didn’t check it out since I was by myself and it was getting late, and it is likely that it is closed at the HWY 80 side, and it is likely that the trail is blocked somewhere else down the mountain.


It is a fun little road, very tight and technical, it would be nice if they opened it back up for real.

Still looking for info if this road is truely open right now. Anybody knows?

Not sure how strict your enforcement is over there, but in the Nat'l Forests in Alabama, even if the gate is open, it doesn't mean the road is. I know of some riders who got busted for going though a simliar open gate and got fined. The ranger said he could even confiscate the bikes if he was so inclined.
According to what I have been told, you can only ride on the roads listed as open on the most current list from the local ranger station.

The National Forest service websites in NC are very, very bad on updating thier website for road closures.

I googled @mhr650 pictured location from the most recent tag and my results said it was Stony Fork and the gate looks open in his pic. I’m not familiar with it, just trying to help

https://advrider.com/f/threads/western-nc-tag-o-rama.914529/page-131

Rangers can be pricks. They get paid to play in the woods & we get fined for it.

Where was this one taken?

Congratulations on your new machine, it looks like fun!

Just rode down it Friday evening. Open and the road is in very good shape.

It was interesting, 70 degrees in Old Fort, 42 at Craggy Gardens…glad I brought my warm gloves with me.