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I'm not sure if everyone knows about this area, but I figured most would since it's very popular around here and I also saw it featured on the Speed channel. The Tail of the Dragon is (I would guess) the most intense part with 300+ curves in 11 miles. I haven't started riding yet so I'm not going to be taking a stab at this for quite awhile, but I was wondering how long someone should be riding before they try a road this challenging? I know a lot depends on the maturity and skills of the rider but what would a ballpark estimate be?

If you're smart enough to control your speed you can do it within your first 300miles. Speed and lack of skill to maneuver and read the curves at speed is what will make or break you pretty easy.

That said, I'm still fairly green at riding and within my first several hundred miles I was up on mountain switchbacks and decreasing radius descents, (speeds were 30-40kms). What kept me in control was being in the right gear and the right speed for all maneuvers. Basically, take it all cautious because you don't know what's through the corner.

The easiest way to know is go slow and don't out ride your comfort zone where ever you are riding. Everything is going to be a bit scary or nervous the first time you do it on the bike.

The speed limit is 30 MPH (although a lot of folks go much faster) and the turns are TIGHT.

Anyone with a couple thousand miles should be able to handle it, however, build up your endurance before you try it.

We rode for 2 days ending up at the Dragon about 5pm. We were tired and had been rained on all day. By the time we got to the end, it was just too long. I thought it would never end.

The next day, all was good.

As long as you've gotten your riding down OK and know how to look through and handle turns you should be OK.

Your biggest issue would probably be getting nervous as some squid comes up behind you or towards you and losing concetration on your riding. That or target fixation.

But if you take it easy, stay relaxed and hit it at an "off time" you would probably enjoy it.

When you do get around to it, remember not to psyche yourself out - in the end, it's just another road. If you ride your own ride you'll be fine.

Be kind, if you see a tractor trailer behind you, speed up and warn as many riders as you can.

If you're riding the dragon and you see ANY biker giving ANY signal to slow down, then SLOW DOWN, and pull over if you can. Give it a few minutes but meeting a tractor trailer coming over the line mid turn is NO FUN.

I've had some experience in my car(05 evo) on the dragon and its alot of fun but wow please don't go up there and push yourself to the limit. I've seen alot of bikes go off the edge up there with people luckily walking away from it. Another tip is to ride during the week and not the weekend if you plan to. Its alot less crowded and theres always people driving the speed limit b/c its used alot of times as a through road.

Have Fun! Keep it safe.

I hope to do this in the spring! I will definetly go in the middle of the week, in the middle of the day.

You can go on the weekends, too.

Just do a few trips early in the morning before the partiers get up. Then go do the Cherohala Skyway and ride back down the Dragon at about 5pm when the partiers are headed back to the barn. (That is what I did.)

Word on the street as of late is that it's blown up and swarming with cops. Ride at your own risk.

The skyway is FULL of cops, really that whole area is really heavy in cops b/c theres been alot of bad accidents around that area due to some crazy people.

Def. ride at your own risk