Sad...Riders killed on Trikes on "The Dragon"

[skuuter]

Last Monday, July 4th, and Indiana Couple crashed Their Trike on The Dragon, killing one, severely injuring the Other. Exactly one week later, yesterday, Gary Odenback was killed, and His Wife Cathy severely injured when They flipped Their Harley Trike three times in the middle of a sharp right hander......Please, Please Folks, try to keep it safe out there. The roads down in this Area are some of the most scenic, and fun in the USA, but a slight lapse of concentration can make them some of the most deadly and dangerous.

Of my many, many years of leading thousands of miles of Motorcycle Rides here, fatigue brought on by continuous, non-ending curves has more times than not, been the culprit. Having spent my life riding the endless twisty roads of Tennessee, North Carolina, and surrounding States, we "Locals" are used to this as the norm. Any road I turn on after leaving my House will be twisty, hilly, and/or mountainous.

Folks visit here to ride the "Legendary Twisties" from flatter, straighter, less demanding States, then find Themselves over Their heads in the Mountains as fatigue starts to set in. So many of Our Best Roads are without shoulders, and without places to stop and take a rest until You get to the next Town. Look at Your maps, and plan accordingly.

There have been other Motorcycle deaths and injuries here also this year on The Dragon and other so-called "Hot Spots"...most, like every year are Visitors. We want all of You to have Fun here and want to come back, so play it safe, and like other things, use Our "can be tiring" roads in moderation. There is always next year to try out one or two You missed on the first Trip.....THANKS, skuuter.........

[Ed Hobgood]

Trikes are just like anything else, "they do have their limits". Trikes are great and riding them are fun but we all need to be safe and enjoy the ride. Know your trike but know what your riding limits are also. I've seen several time when I have pushed my limits and usually I get a slap on the helmet from the wife. You will see on most of my post "ride safe and have fun" .

[Shimpy]

I've ridden there many years (always in October) from where I live in Florida and it seems that once flat landers get into the mountains it's a race to see how fast you can run the twisties. Many riders feel they have to "keep up" with everyone and ride over their heads. We usually broke up into 2 groups, the fast riders and the half fast riders. I quit going mainly because I didn't enjoy white knuckle riding as I'd rather enjoy the scenery. I've never rode the mountains on a trike though, only on 2 wheels.

[Dockem]

The "Tree of Shame" is decorated by parts off of bikes -

the hard way!

[CrystalPistol]

Been up & down quite a few times in the 70s - up into the '00s .... it's a old crooked road with a high danger potential ... made more dangerous by many of those who ride it like it's their own race track. I've ridden it on 2, 3, & 4 wheels and likely for the last time unless I really just "need to" to get someplace as I can recall several who almost collected me in the wreck they almost had. Checked in to the motel once, went to room, it stunk horribly ..... went back to office and got a refund and left.

Then .... there was that 53' long SWIFT tractor trailer with a long nose cab, about 72 feet long .....

[Marc H]

Been up & down quite a few times in the 70s - up into the '00s .... it's a old crooked road with a high danger potential ... made more dangerous by many of those who ride it like it's their own race track. I've ridden it on 2, 3, & 4 wheels and likely for the last time unless I really just "need to" to get someplace as I can recall several who almost collected me in the wreck they almost had. Checked in to the motel once, went to room, it stunk horribly ..... went back to office and got a refund and left.

Then .... there was that 53' long SWIFT tractor trailer with a long nose cab, about 72 feet long .....

I'm in agreement with you.I have to need to be on it to go.It just doesn't appeal to me and there are much better roads in the area.

[mhgoldwing]

I led a group of riders across the Dragon in April. Most had not ridden it before; a few had. We had a driver's meeting before we left the motel that morning and although we live and ride in the Arkansas twisties every day, I cautioned them to stay alert and save the highway gawking for later. It had stormed the night before and the Dragon was still wet and had a fair amount of debris strung around from high winds. Kept the pace reasonable and we all survived and had a great time in the process.<br />
<br />
We see the same problems here in Arkansas when the newbee flatlanders show up. They don't know what they don't know. And we lose a few every year.

[MikeyTX]

Sadly, same issue here in TX There are several places on the Three Twisted Sisters that will cause death or severe injury. There are still many places in TX that are open range.

[FRR]

I've ridden the Gap several times...Never saw a bit of scenery. Too busy navigating the road. LOL

[BillyGA]

My motto is Ride your own Ride.


Be safe everyone

[rhino 2]

Just about every other day... And especially on Mondays' '' In the morning news paper's police blotter there will be reports of Motorcyclists killed in bike crashes... Last week one went off the road and hit a tree...The other hit a bridge abutment .. Both single vehicle accidents....Things happen quick on a bike..

Like i said many times before... If Motorcycles never existed and were just invented last week' They would be Outlawed by this week...

[MikeyTX]

Sadly, the tail has gained popularity such that there is now a very narrow window in which to ride it and not be swarmed by fools. Four, two or, three wheel.

[Shimpy]

' In the morning news paper's police blotter there will be reports of Motorcyclists killed in bike crashes... Last week one went off the road and hit a tree...The other hit a bridge abutment .. Both single vehicle accidents....Things happen quick on a bike..

That was Dick Meyer of The Villages Florida who went off the road and hit a tree......after swerving to miss a car. He had last fall converted his bike to a trike after well over 500,000 miles on wings and an Iron Butt rider. This happened on I 65 in Alabama. There will be many of us down here in Florida who will miss him.

[rhino 2]

That was Dick Meyer of The Villages Florida who went off the road and hit a tree......after swerving to miss a car. He had last fall converted his bike to a trike after well over 500,000 miles on wings and an Iron Butt rider. This happened on I 65 in Alabama. There will be many of us down here in Florida who will miss him.

Coincidence...The guy i read about went off the road on a bike, And hit a tree...
Rt 78 in New Jersey..