This year I had the opportunity to
"Ride the Dragon" at Deal's Gap on the V-Max. I spent most of the week prior
to leaving putting the ole V-Max back together as she has been stripped
down for some time while I played with the NOS and fuel injection project.
I took off the solid front wheel I purchased from RMS because it keeps
warping rotors and handles like a turd in the wind. Larry Goodwin and I departed for the Gap on Thursday in my RV and arrived
late that night. After running a "mini gap" thru the campground to get my RV
up a hill and parked on a cliff, we retired for the
evening.
Friday morning Larry and I rode out early
and grabbed a bite. We then rode over to Sylva and took some pictures at
the court house. After riding through town and turning a few heads with
the rumble, we rode up to the Cross Roads of America. Having just missed
everyone else that went to breakfast, we mingled with a few others and
decided to go on down the Gap. I had ridden the Gap on my Venture with the
wife on the back, but cranking down the twisties on the V-Max just seems
to get the heart pumping a little more than average. Add to the fact the
curves was covered in cow shit from some farmer "goin' to the
market". We had a BMW fly around us and nearly high sided when he ran
into a long streak of cow shit in a switch-back.
Saturday we met up with the
group and after a detailed meeting on "don't push yourself" and
"ride within your skills and the limits of your bike", and
"we will not leave you", we went the opposite direction
of the Gap. I rode as "tail dragger" to ensure nobody was left
behind and to video some of the ride. That evening we met up for the VMOA dinner and we was
missing several members as some stayed behind to help get the Busa out of
the woods. A good example of the membership of this club.
At the first stop we was reminded to
go easy and watch out for loose gravel. Well, we still had 3 V-Maxes go
down in one turn and one Busa in another. I think all of them
happened at 25mph or less. All in all, the injuries where
minor to both the bikes and the persons riding them. After the accidents,
the ride back was a slow go. The main worry was not the bikes or riders,
but the road. The gravel is unforgiving when you don't see it coming up in
the next turn.
Sunday we loaded up the bikes and headed for
home. I enjoyed the trip and seen some extremely beautiful country. The
weather this trip was outstanding. I met several members that do not have the
opportunity to make it to some of my regions rides. I hated that some bikes went
down but I was glad that no one was seriously injured. Been there, done that,
and got the t-shirt.
