The rider gets into the turn riding above his skill level, straightens up in the deepest part of the curve, looks at the side of the mountain, and rides into the side of the mountain.
The way he was leaning into or should I say away from the turns, you could tell it was only a matter of time before he crashed. Combination of fear and riding above your skill level will get you every time.
I'm glad he was okay. From the beginning of the video, it's apparent that he was trying to ride _way_ outside his skill level. Trying to keep pace with other, more skilled, riders is a huge reason why more inexperienced riders crash. Ride your own ride, and don't worry about what other riders are doing.
gosh, do you even ride bikes? No one will be able to park their bikes on that spot, their bikes will just fall to the right side if they try to leave them on kick-stands. They asked if harley rider needs help and then moved to the closest spot where they can leave their bikes on kick-stands.
If the Harley guy just let this guy pass him. This wouldn’t have happen. He started feeling like he was being when this guy catches up to him. Harleys don’t have the same lean angle as sport bikes. I ride a 2020 street glide.
@@user-mb4xy2cz3t If it was me and the guy was in real trouble I'd have made a U-turn and parked on the sidestand alongside him facing the other way,. I ride a Suzuki M1800R. Time matters if you're wedged under 350kg of hot metal.
I discovered that road in 1975. They didn't call it the dragon and the speed limit was 55. Reminded me of West Virginia's State Highways, except most roads in WV are nicely banked. Still, I wrote to Road Rider magazine to recommend it to anyone going to the Smokies. I don't think I'll go back - too many other roads...
I’ve been racing motorcycles all my life and I’m 62 now and never could understand why guys like that try to go fast on a road that has a reputation of crashing
I am older than you. They go fast because that road is the disneyworld of great motorcycle roads for riding a fast sportbike. and its the end of the road for those riding a tractor.
@@taterlysaladman9377 ...you sir, are a horses ass. Yes, i said horses ass. To many things here worth noting that went wrong from the start. This road is known for people breaking the law. As such, the police are there always to catch those that do. The idiot filming was almost close enough to riding his ass, to catch a wiff of the toilet paper he last used. Someone riding my ass like that, i'll pull over, slow down, and wave them around. It's not how fast you go, but, in making the trip. You want to go fast, go ahead. But, when i get down the road, and find you laying in a ditch, I'll still be nice enough to stop and give you a hand. I want the pleasure of the trip, not laying in a ditch. Speed kills. It's just that easy. Please be kind, use good judgement, and realize not everyone looks for speed in getting somewhere. Scottishxpride, Texas.
Drove by the 30 MPH sign like a boss and the Go Pro is very clear soooooooo this should be a good wreck to watch and learn from! What could possibly go wrong speeding on narrow roads and limited sight lines with traffic in the opposite direction?!
Ive been going to the dragon for years. I love the place. Ive never seen even so much as an argument at CROT or any other place. Everyone is there for the same thing and its great. That being said there are those that tend to ride beyond their capabilities. Ive seen both baggers and sport bikes do this. So please stay in your own lane! And for the Harley Davidson parade division that seems to always be at the dragon these days I would ask that if your going to ride at parade speed then at least dont leave 20 at a time. Its annoying. You can actually ride it by yourself ya know. And hells bells pick up the pace just a little or pick another rode to ride. I literally have video of bicycles out running a herd of Harleys up hill on the dragon. OK thats just sad right there.
Worst problem of HD riders. Riding about 5 feet apart at maybe 30 mph. Not leaving room between you to allow others to pass, is just being assholes. You block the road like bicycle boys. You know what you are doing. Just stop or ride on some interstate highway.
@@taterlysaladman9377 I was riding to Mammoth Cave in Kentucky a couple of years ago when we, my wife was my pillion, encountered a group of maybe 20 plus Harleys clogging a narrow state highway. They were blocking and were well aware of it as I saw them actively block people from passing. I got up close to them on my FJR and passed the first cluster putting myself in between and before they realized I was in their midst I passed the rest of them. I don't know if they had novices with them or what the situation was but what I did wasn't reckless they were going between 35 & 45 mph on roads designed for much faster speeds. It gives everyone else on motorcycles a negative image. Not everyone who rides HD is that way but there's enough of them to create that image so that they get lampooned, most notably by "South Park."
I've ridden the dragon four times on a Road King, V-Strom 1000, ST1100, and a V-Star 1300. All; the big cruisers have limited cornering clearance, but I think this rider just was scared to lean over any more. Good to learn to brake before the turn.
The problem is not the road or is reputation ,is that some riders shouldn't ride at the dragon ( if you aren't I experience rider ) that road is not for beginners or average rider ( if you aren't respect the speed limit) at the dragon there is room for mistakes , I can say that because I have being going there for the last 10 years usually in May ,July and September, some of the local are a fast rider the best way is to let them go by, just be careful over there, be safe and enjoy one of the most great road in the country.
He was wide on every curve prior to going off. This curve wasn’t even that tight of a radius. He exited wide in the preceding right bend which put him off line on entry to the left, and he was sitting straight up on the bike. 90% of these types of crashes are riders not looking far enough ahead into the turn.
I stop on that corner to smoke cigars and watch folks. The dragon is fun but you just can't get in over your head. Better to go slow and save the embarrassment of wrecking or worse hurting someone.
@@malcom59 No, he just needs to learn how to ride a bike. He failed to understand "counter steer." Push left, go left, push right go right. When he tried to stay out of the ditch he tried to steer the bike to the left making it turn right straight toward the ditch. Turning left is the same as pushing with the right grip, thereby causing the bike to go right.
stupid is as stupid does. unfortunately HD riders clog up the whole dragon most weekends. usually about 5 feet apart, with half of them not knowing shit about how to ride a motorcycle, but they live to clog the dragon and get the slayer tshirt.
Read thru a lot of the comments, and a few things occur to me...1) the reason to watch a vid like this is to learn; if you just want carnage, there are better sights for that (they have clickbait thumbnails) 2) many have made certain stretches of road infamous, identified by equally descriptive names: the Dragon...the Snake...realize any older road/byway that follows a river, ridge line, or ascends/descends a pass is going to be epic. When you fail to anticipate roads of such caliber are everywhere (perhaps around the next corner) you become complacent, and will be caught unawares. 3) don't blame the equipment, the tires, the roadway. It is best to assume an accident is rider error (yes, even if you are hit) as to think otherwise implies we've nothing to learn from the experience...hit gravel? Should have seen/anticipated it. Got sideswiped? Should have anticipated, yielded or gotten out of harms way, etc. I ride a 2002 FZ1 running Shinko Ravens (infamously cheap tires) and I do almost no "slab time" (my favorite roads are paved backwoods logging and BLM roads)...the road surface is generally chip-n-seal/poorly maintained asphalt, they often contain debris, and site lines are generally un maintained (at best). One can ride a very brisk pace on such roads if one has the skill, focus, and enough experience...although a full bagger is likely going to be a handful in such conditions which then begs the question: why ride it there at all? Part of being a "good rider" is knowing your skill level, your bikes capabilities, and the limitations of both. Perhaps trying to fulfill a bucket list isn't what riding is about. And for those who lost a friend/loved one to a motorcycle accident, I am sorry for your loss, but one must realize that it is a dangerous pastime. One should never forget that, and if that had not occurred prior, perhaps one should not have been riding in the first place. Before you accuse me of being a heartless troll realize I lost my father to a motorcycle accident. He was coming up out of Lakeview, Or, traveling to the "Sound of Thunder" when he lost control of his cruiser at a significant rate of speed. He was also wearing one of those POS "Skid Lids" (and let's just say it wasn't an 'open casket'). He had a lifetime of riding experience. Was it bad judgement? Road debris? Mechanical issue? No one will ever know now. The only thing we can learn from such is that life is dangerous: it will kill you in the end. Mitigate your time as best as you see fit. For me, death goes hand in hand with life. It can be sudden, even tragic, but don't fool yourself that it isn't always looking over your shoulder...I ride because it is part/parcel of life for me (approaching 50yrs in the saddle). I've had friends die, I've had family die, but I will continue to ride until I cannot anymore...but that is a choice that everyone must make for themselves.
He was watching ACE their in his mirror when he needed to be total focus on the RD . Ace was overtaking shame ...biggest hazard on the road is other bikers .
Ace had nothing to do with it. Harley riders expect faster riders on roads like this. Just back it off, stay in the right half of the lane, and wave the faster traffic on when safe. Harleys are great bikes as long as they are ridden within their limitations.
It really looked like he was leaning his body OUT of the turns, forcing his bike to have to lean even further in. At some point that approach straight up failed. What always surprises me is when people crash on the NON-tight corners. Just fix on that wall of dirt and go for a visit. Look THROUGH the turn. The bike knows where it IS. You need to know where it is GOING.
I'm guessing it did it all Wrong the years I rode my 1981 Lowrider from 1981-2000. I wasn't riding fast like my asshole was on fire. I liked to tour and enjoy the Scenery, not Guess at what the Blurry was.
I have a friend who likes to clean ditches...He'd always come out the other side though. Pulling branches and weeds out of his bike while going down the road.
I ride a Softail Deluxe, and have no desire to challenge it on something like the Dragon. That's what God made sportsbikes for. Harleys ain't sportsbikes.
It's not a problem if you ride within your limits, and the bike's limits. I just rode it on my Road Glide Ultra... no problem. Rode it 5 times in 2 days. It's not magic, it's just a road. Ride within your bike's limitations.
@@andrewjackson9698 if you are going less than 45 or 50 in some parts, you might be holding up the folks that should be on the dragon. this creates the problem between the oil and the water. harleys are the slowly moving oil, and sport bikes are the water. The dragon is a very sporty road. It's just not very good for tractors or trailers
I've been on the Dragon 6 times, 3 times with my Road King and then 3 times with my Street Glide. Like any challenging road, ride within your capabilities and respect those who want to pass you. It's just a road.
@@taterlysaladman9377 I had exactly two sportbikes pass in the 5 times I rode it. Nobody was being held up..I eased over and waved them on, and they passed quickly and safely. I had to slow down a little bit behind cars a couple of times, just like on any other winding road. This is not a racetrack for squids, it's a public road. Respect it and ride it safely...it's a blast. I probably averaged 40 to 45 mph, but I was watching the road, not the speedometer...
I'm taking my Can Am F3S Roadster this year. I'm getting old and three wheels with stability control is way more relaxing for me. No way I'm riding my 850lb motorcycle. Stay safe y'all.
He didn't know how to counter steer or he would've easily made that corner. Looks like he froze up at the last minute and just drove straight off the road.
He should have called it quits when he bought a tractor. Not made for sporting. Don't drive your wheelchair out on the Indy 500 track. It's not for you.
I stopped riding, lost a friend (mother of 2) afew days ago 2 weeks ago my buddy got side swiped broke ribs pretty beat up but ok. Done, to many careless driver's im taking up fishin. Both accidents on fort st. in Michigan couple miles apart. Be careful
When I hit a curve like that sometimes I'll drag my rear brake very lightly it helps when your cornering and squat your bike to handle the curve better
Actually it's the opposite. Gently applying the front brake will suppress the forks providing additional traction, but only at the beginning of the curve. Applying the rear brakes will not make the bike "squat" as you say.
I hear you. Life comes at you fast. Being impaired is not the way to ride, but maybe it hurts less while you're laying there. Kind of pre-game for the crash. Ride safe out there.
If the dude's under his bike, you stop *right there* hit your 4-ways and get the f*******g bike off of him! You don't screw around looking for the perfect parking spot. "You alright? Yeah, gimme a hand I'm stuck!" Proceeds to follow the other boardhead to the far side of the road.
Harley (cruiser) riders who crash thinking they can ride like a sports bike rider, are no worse than a sports bike rider who thinks he/she is an undiscovered Moto GP hero 😬
Old Pilots Saying... First And Foremost Fly The Plane! Same With Bike ... Don't let some ass hole push you past your limits! Peace ... Duane Cole...Great Pilot had a few beers with him at a fly - in in Wisconsin. ;-)))
You shouldn't be doing a lot of shit you do. Tracks are run by idiots and they let young punks pass on the inside. And charge you $300 or more and have inspection at 7 AM. I am still on the shitter at 7. Fuk that.
I watch many american videos and one thing that stands out if the incorrect road positioning for cornering.. at the beginning of the video I thought the guy filming was the guy about to crash,, he was hitting the apex far too early due to not taking a wide position. Then the Harley left the road because of the exact same thing.. if you exit wide then you fucked up the entry… anyway,, you are all on the wrong side of the road
old guys crack me up. Joe ; hey John lets go buy a couple Harleys and go riding. John ; I don't know how to ride. Joe; nothing to it, like riding a bicycle. John'; I'm in, let's go . Route 66 is nice, flat and straight. Joe; oh no, that is boring let's do the Tail of the Dragon.
Watched this several times, the Harley was not that much off the line as what the sport bike was following him, would bet a sandwich the Harley guy felt the sport bike breathing down on him and was wondering how in the hell an MC that cost 1/3 of what he paid is fixing to eat his lunch and was focused on his mirror instead of the curve he straightened out and ran off of.
Hysterical ! Some idiot decides his " Hardly Able-son" is a performance bike ? LOL ! Yeah, i put sticky tires on my dump truck but for some reason it didn't work out. My advice if you want to take a corner on 2 wheels ? Sell your " Hardley Ableson " & your leather vest, take a bath & buy a Honda. or a Suzuki or an Anything !
