Helmutt

Our first ever Killboy screenshot A few overlooks

Loaded down and ready for the morning haul

No good reasoning as to why the wife and I waited all these years to take in Deals Gap and it's surrounding routes, but now that we have, it's abundantly clear why it's such a well loved area. The riding there is second to none that I've ever experienced, aside only to track time. Not to mention the awe inspiring views. I spent the first half of last week tuning up the truck, the bike, and overhauling my trailer so the wife and I could trust in it all for this trip. Met up with Granda080 and Oldschoolsdime92 at an eagerly early 345am Thursday morning. We reached the Dragon right about noon to sunny skies and perfect weather conditions, so I got to enjoy driving it first on our way to check into our cabin at Ironhorse Motorcycle Resort in Robbinsville ( for anyone curious, it's a great place to stay, well ran, good people, and plentiful amenities ). Once we got unpacked, unloaded the bikes, and suited up, we went right for Rt129. Took a parade lap the first pass in heavier than expected traffic, but a couple hours later we got a fairly clean run at it and really dug in at a much better pace. I like the Dragon, it's tight and technical turns bring exhilaratingly quick transitions, one after another, in an almost neverending succession. But, I honestly enjoyed a lot of the other routes we'd ridden the following day a bit more. Rt28 is a lot of fun, and better suited for the long gearing of my ZX14. Cherohala is a big favorite too. Even Foothills Pkway was enjoyable as a nice, easy ride of long sweeping turns and sweet overlooks. Friday, we rode an awesome twisty route from NC, to TN, down to northern Georgia, and back. I believe we have Pauly to thank for the coordinates? Blood Mtn was a blast. The beautiful elevation changes where most every corner is so sweetly banked, easily enabling extraordinary entry speeds that eventually shear away at your front tire until it's down to nothing, making you stop at the nearest dealer who gladly helped get me in and out at just over an hour. So, I nod my head with huge props to Union Powersports in Blairsville, GA and their excellent service of a last minute customer. The ultimate culprit was a less than credible tire gauge that had lied it's ass off prior to us leaving the house. Their mechanic showed me the true pressure was at about 22psi, semi-hot. So ambient pressure that morning was likely sub 20psi, but the janky gauge had read around 32-34ish. Needless to say, that turd of a tool went into the garbage to be replaced with an accurate instrument. Sadly, less than 5 minutes after we left the dealer is when the worst part happened. Torrential downpour. For the entire trip back to Ironhorse. I'd wager it was similar to what Noah experienced when the Earth flooded. Water was filling our boots, soaking our buttcracks, and running behind our helmet's visors, rendering us all virtually blind but for what was barely within our headlamp's range. We aren't fair weather riders, we've been caught in the rain before, no big deal. But this storm seemed to follow our every move with a non-stop dumping of buckets, thunder, and lightning. But why stop? Once you're soaked and out in the middle of who-the-fuck-knows, embrace the hate and mush on. Took us over 3 hours to journey back from just outside Blairsville to Ironhorse. We got to see Bridal Veil Falls for all of 3 seconds as we rode past it, Oldschool pointed up, we all looked, wife and I chuckled to one another over our Sena coms that the rain was coming down harder than the falls were, and kept riding. I'm just happy I didn't have to limp it through that storm on a bald front tire in the twisty hills, or I may not be here today to tell this little tale of conquering adversity. Albeit somewhat mild adversity, 'twas still a dangerous mission. Saturday morning we all decided not to ride since the forecast showed rain all day, our gear was still soaked, and our pruned hands and feet had just dried out. So after breakfast we headed into Maggie Valley's famed Wheels Through Time Museum. Awesome place to visit for those that haven't been. There's a ton of history on display in that building, and quite a bit of it still runs. The owner fired up a few pieces to boast his handy work, pretty impressive to see something over a century old start right up and run. Nabbed some lunch before heading back to the cabin. Wife and I went to the Gap store for some keepsakes and took a spin for a bit to take in some more scenery before we packed up to ready our jettison the following morning. Got back to the homestead about 5pm today. Glad to say none of us went down, and we all had the best time. Looking forward to the next trip down there. Pics to follow

Welcome. I'm an hour south of you. Not a lot of members hailing from the NW Ohio area, so apparently the riding sucks up there? My wife and I try to host a meet and greet in Dayton every year, but that's probably a good 2 hr hike for you. If I could plot a decent ride route to Lima, I'd like to try Beer Barrel Pizza - heard good things about it

I've seen tires from a buddy's Gap trip and the sides were gone. I'll be running my street tire set as there's plenty of side meat since my commuting and backroading are primarily upright.

Welcome.

Welcome and congrats on upgrading from scooter life. Like those old Magnas

Meh, use a proper weight rated strap at the top and then pair off of that to either side so you only need to release 1 strap. No swinging that way. Of course, it would be ideal to strap over some sort of cam to slowly lower the bike back down instead of a quick drop, but one wouldn't need to hike the bike more than a few inches anyway

Got these installed last weekend in the wife's Scorpion R410, and my Bell Star. Haven't ridden with them yet since nobody will turn the water off outside, but we sat around the living room in our lids checking out the functions and pairing them up. Great sound quality, and seem like they'll get plenty loud enough to hear over my megaphone exhaust. Cant wait to get some street time on these to see what we've been missing all these years. Price is right when ordering through RD, folks.

PM price please

Sweet trip. Want to hit a trackday at Barber someday. Small group of us SW ORs are heading to the Gap next week for 4 days. Will be mine and the wife's maiden voyage there. Hope the weather is as nice for us as it was for you guys.

That's inexpensively inventive. Might have to invest in that handy little rig

Welcome. Mid Ohio is THE best track/facility in the state, imho. Virtually world class. Fairly technical, some decent elevation changes, and lengthy backstraight. They host they're own trackdays, and the staff is nothing short of stellar. Never ridden it wet, but I completely believe that it's slick in the rain just watching the pro's fight for adhesion. There are a lot of saavy folk here to get your trackday questions answered

Do tell

Congrats on the improved relocation. Scenery looks like an awe inspiring change of pace from SWOhio.

I'd love to hit his compound once I get a grip on riding my sumo at least somewhat competently. Met him at MidO, cool guy and agreed he's a hell of a rider

I'm a northern Piqua resident. I have a couple small routes that aren't too bad, but they're stuck between some long boring sections of straight flatness. Hit me up, I'll show ya what I know

Surfed 'em online, but that's an expensive upgrade just for a supplemental fuel source. Think I'd rather tote a few small bottles on longer rides so I dont have to invest in another tank and seat

I've ran out of gas once. 2 days ago on the sumo. I thanked baby Jesus for the reserve option on the petcock all the way to the nearest station. 75 miles to a tank is severely anemic. Without a low fuel indicator, and varying mpg's pending my right wrist, I may consider a spare fuel cell of some sort for it.

I know a guy that made his own hemp oil. Couldn't smell pot, couldn't really taste pot too much either, but I only hit it once and swear I didn't inhale

I've been using a standard setup ( Aspire EDC tank and eGo-c batt's 2600mah ) for over a year now. No ill effects so far, and my lungs have cleared out quite a bit ( smoked 27 years with the last 6 being menthols ) and the money spent is far less than a pack a day used to cost me. I like the fact I dont stink like an ashtray anymore, and can carry my vape into most anywhere and use it freely ( within reason ). in short, I'm a believer

Got a response from IMS and it's good news... "Jason, The tent camping permit serves as a parking pass for the vehicle, so you do not need to purchase a car permit as well. Thanks, TICKET OFFICE INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY 4790 West 16th St | Indianapolis, IN 46222 P 317-492-6700 | TF 800-822-4639"

Downtown Troy Little York Tavern? Boooo. The food isn't as good as Poe Ave/Little York Rd, and the last time my band played there they threatened to shut the show down if we didn't turn the amps down. I'm disliking the new venue choice

Damnit. I was lucky enough to have dodged Brown's pansi in panties pani shot last fall until now....so, neg rep for him

Thanks man, and I'd seen that as well but coined it an assumption. Once I get confirmation email back from IMS, I'll chime in for others to know as well