Riding The Back Of The Dragon

Riding the Back of the Dragon. Along with ‪@TyFromTennessee‬ @BtheRiderPA @Petes1800 @HarleyDayRider @Patrick Orvis and @The Real Jackieboy we rode a great route near Tazewell, Virginia called the Back of the Dragon. The Back of the Dragon has 438 curves and 32 miles that covers three mountain ranges. It is a must for motorcyclists to check this out and ride Route 16. Stop by the amazing Back of the Dragon Welcome Center in Tazewell too. Join me as I ride my Harley Davidson Pan America Special through these great motorcycle roads in Virginia.
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[@BoDean52]

Great video and glad HDR the responsible one was there

[@Broncoride]

He keeps us in check.

[@Motoramblings]

Back of the Dragon is such a great road! To me it’s like combining The Tail of Dragon, and the Cherohala Skyway. Some areas are very technical, while others are gentle sweepers with great views!! I personally love riding the Tail of the Dragon, it’s a great way to test myself through some very technically challenging sections. Just my opinion, I feel like I can improve my riding by treating myself as often as I can… I enjoyed the ride along!! Be well, Patrick

[@Broncoride]

Tail isn’t bad. I just prefer a mix. There are so many roads that have that, especially this one. I’m glad I was able to hit them both on this trip.

[@soujrnr]

I live just south of there. If you like that ride, you should check out the "Hungry Mother" ride. It encompasses the BOTD, The Snake, and the Widow Maker!! Thanks for sharing! I've been in 49 states, and this part of the country offers the best I've experienced! Granted, what people like in a ride is subjective, but I like all the opportunities here in the southeast! Ride safe, ride well, and ride often!! As for the FAIL of the Dragon, it's a novelty. Ride it once and done, in my opinion. There are countless rides that are so much better. Be well!

[@Broncoride]

Agree on the Tail. I’ve been on it several times and it’s just ok. The Snake is awesome.

[@MotoMengy]

I also feel the BACK of the Dragon is a much better road than the TAIL of the Dragon. It's just so much more fun and scenic to ride on. One of my absolute favorite roads on the East Coast.

[@Broncoride]

You just summed it up perfectly.

[@TyFromTennessee]

Such a great ride. I can't wait to go back soon! Man, it looks like you're flying on that gravel road at the end.

[@Broncoride]

We were going a little fast. It was pretty easy until we got to the switchbacks.

[@PinksAdventures]

Whooo!...love me some twisties!...looked like a fun road forsure!...stay safe...ride safe!😎👍🤙👍🤙🇨🇦

[@Broncoride]

Hell yes it was!

[@kelbob00]

It’s pretty awesome. First did it in 2017 and just did it again two weeks ago. Very enjoyable.

[@Broncoride]

Very underrated road. One of the best on the East coast.

[@HarleyDayRider]

Great video! I am glad I kept you safe. Glad we could all ride those roads together. Ride Safe

[@Broncoride]

You ride very well. Just having fun with you. Glad you kept us grounded more. Lol

[@triumphrider9796]

That stuff is kudzu, it's invasive as hell. Hungry Mother State Park is actually to the left at that overlook, you go by it just before the Marion end. That spot is much nicer now with the new paved parking and the graffiti cleaned up with the new wall there. I'm not sure where the "official" start point is in that direction, but I consider it to be that sweeping right-hander into the first real uphill section; it's rather a different ride going the other direction (as I did on my first ride there), you have a number of right-handers with rock walls on the inside and they're essentially blind, and of course that last curve becomes a sweeping downhill left. Fun both ways, I think it's a bit better going the way you did here. Try it at dawn some time, great scenery with fog in the valleys. And then you have the rest of the day for other roads, like 80 over to Breaks Interstate Park, or down to The Snake, etc.

[@kenchasser4376]

This video doesn’t do the ride much justice. Would have been nice to see the rock walled, blind curves. Kudzu corner was unique. I hope Tazewell and Marion grow with the business that route 16 is going to get. I ride Skyline, BRP and surrounding byways all the time and feel that BOTD is a great ride overall.

[@Broncoride]

I agree. I didn’t capture that on video. Met the gentleman who started it all. What a great guy who is passionate about this road.

[@wordsmithgmxch]

Listen to the man! Going over the first crest from Hungry Mother (if you don't stop at the overlook), you start going down right at the apex of the curve, while the radius tightens. And that's the introduction to an -- um, interesting -- descent with sweeping RH curves and really tight LH ones. Your speed will -- must -- vary: don't get lulled by the sweeps, clobbered by the tights. Going back south, you've still gotta watch it, but going uphill, braking isn't as much of a problem. The road engineer wasn't a nasty bastard: it has to do with the way he had to fit his road into the geology.

[@deelzridesandadventrues]

That is one if my favorite rides and I add more mileage and scenery with it. Tazwell, Va is only about 20 miles away from me. I know you and everyone enjoys that ride..

[@Broncoride]

You are very blessed to live in such an incredible area for riding.

[@BootsandJeansRiders]

Never ridden the Back of The Dragon but from the looks of it...It looks like an amazing ride, I love it. Just looked it up and that's our kind of riding. Hopefully we cn make it this year.

[@Petesmotoadventure]

What are you waiting for. Plenty of camping around there. Just saying.

[@Broncoride]

You’ll love it guys. This vid showed some cool parts, but there are many more on this road.

[@samsimpkins9576]

I rode the back 6 times so far never gets boring

[@Broncoride]

Nice!!

[@BootsandJeansRiders]

Ok ok ok...I know this is backwards but I had to come back to this video. Because...We finally rode it this year. We were there in October and the fall colors were popping. Would ride it again in a heartbeat.

[@Broncoride]

That’s awesome. Such an incredible road

[@motorcycleden]

I agree, this is much better than the Tail of the Dragon. Like you said it's absolutely beautiful there. We've ridden it once but will definitely ride it again.

[@Broncoride]

Exactly my friend

[@BtheRiderPA]

Great Video as always! Great day riding with everyone can wait to do it again next year.

[@Broncoride]

Seems like this has become a yearly stop. Well worth it.

[@BtheRiderPA]

@@Broncoride Can't wait to do the Snake an some other routes next year

[@bobnelson2499]

It was a great meet-up for sure and the rides were kick-A__. I look forward to next year. Be well sir.

[@Broncoride]

Sorry we didn’t get a chance to ride together.

[@bluebikegirl8548]

Very pretty scenery!

[@Broncoride]

Yes it was. Scenery was amazing, especially the first part.

[@MotoByChance]

That is a beautiful road! Will have to add it to the list of rides I plan to make when I come home for a trip next year.

[@Broncoride]

Let us know when you get close to coming back to the States.

[@Petesmotoadventure]

Such a great ride. Harley Day Rider definitely kept us from going full on dummy.

[@Broncoride]

Full on dummy, nice.

[@dennishardy4402]

I came over from NZ a few years ago and spent 5wks riding the states around here. Did this first on the way to riding the deals gap dragon and cherahola skyway not knowing this was called back of dragon. I thought this was a more enjoyable ride and detoured on the way back to do it again.😀

[@Broncoride]

It’s a great road. There are many great roads out in that area.

[@johngilbert1047]

Hwy 16 runs from just south of Charlotte to the Ohio River in WV. It winds its way thru lots of mountains in NC, up thru VA and the Back of the Dragon, and hundreds of miles of backwoods mountain country in WV. I’m hoping to ride it all next year, we figure it will take 2 solid days.

[@Broncoride]

Very lucky to have all these great roads within several hours of me. Can’t complain.

[@ron5184]

Going to try and fit this road in on my home at the end of September.

[@Broncoride]

It’s definitely worth it.

[@Viper6-MotoVlogger]

Fun ride for sure 👍

[@Broncoride]

It definitely was my friend.

[@robertwedden5761]

you were near VA. 91 on adv bike wow try it you will smile

[@Broncoride]

I definitely will. Thanks.

[@JunkyardDadski]

I'll be looking to do this next year!

[@Broncoride]

It’s a great ride!

[@Americanmotorcycleexperience]

Rad!!!

[@jpbsv]

We ride from montreal, canada to eastern tenesee every year to slay the dragon. May 19th this year... the adventure continues!

[@Broncoride]

Back of the Dragon is about 3 hours from Tail. Both are fun, but I prefer the Back.

[@randymcnaught5583]

Will be down there from Ontario, Canada in late May 2023. Will be based out of Mt. AIRY NC

[@Broncoride]

It’s a great ride.

[@shockley7500]

I hear some say it starts in Tazewell and some say it starts in Marion . Do you think it matters?

[@Broncoride]

I don’t think it matters. The welcome center is in Tazewell, so that’s where more people say it starts there.

[@gitrdone574]

How are the twisties on the off road tires?

[@Broncoride]

They did very well. Not as good as 80/20, but still held the corners very well.

[@sS-fs8pn]

Anyone have recommendations from Richmond VA to the Back of Dragon, whether to run N-S or S-N from Marion to Tazwell? Wanna do at least 2 nights to not rush later this month.

[@Broncoride]

I’ve done both. I prefer starting in Marion though. Both ways are good but I like coming down the mountain into Tazewell.

[@RollingAintEasy247]

How are cops on back of the dragon ? Few or pretty strict ?

[@Broncoride]

Personally haven’t seen one in the multiple times I’ve rode it. I’ve seen them in downtown Tazewell though.

[@RollingAintEasy247]

@Broncoride awesome. Taking a trip there tomorrow first time. I'm not a speed demon, but probably cruise 10 mph over.

[@Broncoride]

@@RollingAintEasy247 it’s a great road and I hope you enjoy. Hit the welcome center in Tazewell.

[@darrenlingerfelt5879]

👍

[@anthonywebb269]

Cutzoo….. it’s usually pronounced this way around this area

[@Broncoride]

Yes, had to learn the right way to say it.

[@Kornholeeoo]

Kudzu. Like kud zoo.

[@Broncoride]

Finally learned how to say it.

[@TwoWheelsLangley]

Kud Zoo, spelled Kudzu.

[@Broncoride]

Finally learned how to say it