Small Scooters are only good for riding around town.

[big blue]

Just lovely pics Klav, you really do give your scoots the trial by fire!

[klaviator]

In case you are wondering what goes on at the dragon, here are a few taken by US129 Photos, the same people who took the pic of me that I posted.



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Yes, it is a bit of a circus.  I was there during the week when it's not nearly as crazy as on weekends.

[klaviator]

Finishing up with my ride.

I headed out again, rode a few miles and my spark plug cap came off again.  So I pulled over and fixed it.



After that I didn't trust it anymore so I headed back to the campground.  I rode the 70 or so miles to the campground with no problems.  The next day I headed home.

A pic of my campsite. 



I rode a total of about 600 miles.  As I type this my Odo is at nearly 5700 miles. 

I replaced the Spark plug cap and spark plug.  It runs fine now but I think in the future I'll carry carry a spare cap when I go on trip.  They are only around 5 bucks so it's cheap insurance.

[Stig / Major Tom]

Have you checked the valves yet?
Interested in your photos of that, and maybe the troublesome air filter removal.
Stig

[klaviator]

Have you checked the valves yet?
Interested in your photos of that, and maybe the troublesome air filter removal.
Stig

I have checked the valves.  I didn't really document it.  Access to the valves was pretty complicated as a lot of bodywork had to be removed.  All valves were right on at around 1000 miles.   I will need to check the valves again in the near future.  I'll try to do a better job of documenting it.  I don't do videos but I'll try to take some pics.

[dan v.]

Great pics!  That is such a great area to ride - I just realized that it has been over six years now that you gave me the confidence to head down there to ride the 125's.  Scooting the mountain roads is FUN!  Anybody thinking about it - just do it.  Speed limits are pretty low, and there is hours of riding and exploring to do. 

Hope to meet up with you again and do some more exploring and picture taking.

[klaviator]

Great pics!  That is such a great area to ride - I just realized that it has been over six years now that you gave me the confidence to head down there to ride the 125's.  Scooting the mountain roads is FUN!  Anybody thinking about it - just do it.  Speed limits are pretty low, and there is hours of riding and exploring to do. 

Hope to meet up with you again and do some more exploring and picture taking.

Six years?  Whats the story behind that?  I know you came down and rode with me in August but you didn't tell me about six years ago.

As for doing it again in the future, I'm planning on doing another Maggie Valley ride next summer.  You interested in a ride the second half of October?

[john grinsel]

I live near the area covered, ride it more than a few times a year but never on Sunday----too many trailer bikers that could kill you.

Now on riding small scooters=fun!   Problem is US right now, any scooters hardly anybody really rides. Helix boom days---Scoot Tours, Eurika Springs, just about everybody rode in=fun and something to talk about---people came from CA and the east coast.....and then the trailer bikers came.   Fun for me, watching them fall all over themselves in gravel parking lot in motel parking area when they unloaded their scooters.  I remember one (older to me at the time) guy who rode in from MD loudly complaining about the wimps who didn't ride in.   Later we learned many trailer bikers were camped down the road and  while they did ride to the assembly area----were afraid of the truth

[klaviator]

I live near the area covered, ride it more than a few times a year but never on Sunday----too many trailer bikers that could kill you.

Now on riding small scooters=fun!   Problem is US right now, any scooters hardly anybody really rides. Helix boom days---Scoot Tours, Eurika Springs, just about everybody rode in=fun and something to talk about---people came from CA and the east coast.....and then the trailer bikers came.   Fun for me, watching them fall all over themselves in gravel parking lot in motel parking area when they unloaded their scooters.  I remember one (older to me at the time) guy who rode in from MD loudly complaining about the wimps who didn't ride in.   Later we learned many trailer bikers were camped down the road and  while they did ride to the assembly area----were afraid of the truth

I am one of those people who occasionally trailer, or on my case, truck my bikes places.  I trucked my scooter to Tellico Plains on this last trip.  It saved time and allowed me to take my big tent, air mattress and other camping stuff.  I was also able to do the hot part of my trip in air conditioning.  I still am on track to ride over 15,000 miles this year. 

In the past I have been able to do some great rides that I could only do by trucking my bike. 

[john grinsel]

But what fun is a truck?

[klaviator]

But what fun is a truck?

It's not fun.  It allows me to have more fun on the bike.  I'd much rather be out riding twisty, scenic mountain roads than droning along on boring roads. 

I used to be one of those people who looked down at those who trailered their bikes but eventually I wised up.  I realize that there are those who trailer their bikes and hardly ride them.  I  use my truck to allow me to ride more or to substitute high quality riding for boring riding.  I just don't enjoy droning along on straight, flat and boring roads for long distances. 

Then there are those times when the weather is such that I am glad to be in the truck.

[klaviator]

The original photographer who started taking pictures and selling them at Deal's Gap is Killboy.  He has become pretty famous and photographs more than just bikes at the dragon.  He has other photographers working for him now.  Every week they post a bunch of highlights.  I made his highlights page around 8 years ago on my Super 8.  I made it again last week.



Looking through his highlights I saw that i wasn't the only one out have fun on a small scooter.

[Stig / Major Tom]

Had to laugh.
That guy is really going to be disappointed if he doesn't go into the trees!
Riders in the Philippines all wear Johnny Bench style catcher's gear on their legs.

Stig

[dan v.]

Win, in 2013 I had posted on ADV about taking scoots to "dragon land".  You replied, and gave me the rundown.  My wife and I went to stayed in Tellico and Townsend - rode for three days.  Hit all the area roads and had a blast.

A couple of years later, after Amerivespa Memphis, a friend and I spent a couple days in the area.

Would love to do it again in a couple of weeks, but have been all wrapped up a home renovation project that will probably take me through October before the next project is started.  Perhaps in the spring.