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Hi All....Me and a friend of mine are taking the rest of the week off and heading out from the North Atlanta area to ride the Blue Ridge Parkway. This will be my first long trip with my 04 '50R and I'm so pysched. I've taken a few 175 mile day hops up to the North Georgia mountains , but this will be my 1st multi-day trip on the Beakster and can't wait. Hopefully the weather will hold out and we won't get too wet. I've never done the Blue Ridge before so any advice / tips are greatly appreciated. The plan is to ride the BRP Wednsday and Thursday and run home on I- 81, 77 then I-85 on Friday. I'll hopefully get some good photo's which I'll share when I get back.
Tim

TimH wrote: I've never done the Blue Ridge before so any advice / tips are greatly appreciated. Tim

Watch your speed. There are lots of unmarked police cars patrolling, and they have no sense of humor.

jb

Speed limits strictly enforced. Federal magistrate court. $500-1000 fines. Heavily patrolled in NC, less heavily in VA. All Parkway workers are responsible for reporting speeding and presence of sport bikers to patrols...they use radio comms extensively to trap you. So take heed. 45 mph. A steady, constant 50 mph is okay and can be challenging if you do not cut throttle in corners... well engineered road, so that is possible. Skyline Drive section from Waynesboro to Front Royal is 35 mph; also strictly enforced.

Best times are early mornings, mid week, so you have that going for you.

In Virginia, breakfast or lunch at Mabry Mill (near NC line at US 58 ) or Otter Creek (at James River Crossing MP 64 and US 501) is nice. My favorite section is from VA 24 or US 460 near Roanoke up and across Peaks of Otter then back down to James River, back up to Bluff Mountain and across the high ridges to Wintergreen (Reed's Gap). Side trips on VA 43 and VA 56 are worthwhile either direction. US 60 east to Amherst and dinner at the Briar Patch Restaurant (BUS 29 South to end of town).

Personally, I'd say when you get to US 250 (end of BRP start of Skyline) turn back. But another 60 miles gets you to VA 211, Thornton Gap - good riding either direction.

For your return, consider using US 340 and US 11 south, then US 52 south into NC as much as you can afford. Not too much slower than I-81 and very traffic free. But go around Roanoke on the Interstate.

I anchor the north end at US 33. If you need any help from US 60 north to your turn around spot, you can call. PM for contact data.

Have loads of fun.

56

I just came down from US 460 on the Parkway yesterday. The weather was clear and not too many folks out there yesterday. I easily cruised along at about 51-52 with no problems. I had to exit at Meadows of Dan just south of Mabry Mill mentioned above. Willville Motorcycle Campgound is a short distance on 58 west from that exit. From there I rode US 58 all the way west to Abingdon. There is a nice 'challenging' section of 58 from Volney over to Damascus which will wake you up. It did me.

IMO the Parkway is best experienced when you have so much time you can easily stop for naps on the grass along the way.

Boxer wrote:IMO the Parkway is best experienced when you have so much time you can easily stop for naps on the grass along the way.

I second that notion. If you have time, there are a number of fun/challenging roads leading to/from the Parkway worth exploring like Route 43 down to Buchanan, VA. It's a clinic on downhill cornering.

Boxer wrote: I had to exit at Meadows of Dan just south of Mabry Mill mentioned above.

Boxer...you still lookin' for a certain Ranger? ...or is it the buckwheat pancakes?



jb

Boxer...you still lookin' for a certain Ranger?

I thought about her as I passed Rocky Knob, but then quickly dismissed an extemporaneous reunion. I didn't want to get beat up by Machew!

If your looking for a place to stay, there is only one hotel/motel on the Blue Ridge itself - The Pisgah Inn. Its not the best place or the cheapest place but the views from the balconies and patios can't be beat. Park your bike, grab a beer and a cigar - put your feet up on the railing and just look out at the blue mountains. It's located south of Asheville - it's been a while since I've been there so I can't give you exact directions.

Have a great ride

rogreenx
r1150r
r1150rt

Just got back from a 2500 mile in-law visit/BRP fest. Rode the BRP. Unfortunately I had a miserable, fogbound, tire puncture, etc day that forced me off on the way down but I got to SOuth Georgia fast after a metzler switch in South Carolina.

Anyway the trip back was cool. Started the BRP at the very bottom. The real challenge on the BRP (I was time challenged, so had no time for roadside naps) is to run the parkway at a nice clip (45-50.) Keeping this clip up is the best way to enjoy the parkway and challenge yourself in the cool twistys up there. Don't speed; A, its illegal, B. Its inconsiderate and C. onthe stretch south of Asheville you could find yourself in over your head.

Anyway, I kept up a brisk 45 MPH pace, kept my speed up in the turns (be a little careful of slow moving Winnebagos and post-teens in Mini-Coopers violating the one lane per customer rule.) and super-bad enjoyed myself. It was the best solo ride I've ever made. I met new friends and had fun and enjoyed both spectacular weather and no (really, no significant) traffic on my second day north. This is probably the best road I know of to familiarize yourself with a motorcycle. Enjoy every moment.

I cross under the Parkway in Asheville twice daily. I also avoid it as much as possible but did some miles on it this weekend, meeting friends at Pisgah Inn for breakfast Sunday morning.

As has been stated, the speed limit is enforced and due to abuse by some Deal's Gap types, motorcycles are looked at more intensely. I am used to the twisties and have trouble keeping it within 10 miles of the limit, which is one reason I avoid it! The other is tourist traffic but if you ride it during the week, this should not be an issue.

Try to hit some side roads off the Parkway for fun and games! Lots of chances to do some side roads and come back to the Parkway. Look at the 215 and 276 roads south of Asheville for some fun diversion! And the Highway 80 and 226A loop toward Marion off the Parkway north of Asheville would not disappoint!

Sounds beautiful. Have fun and post some pics after a safe return.

I live in Roanoke, and feel ashamed that I hardly ever ride the parkway. My wife and I go out for 100 mile loops every now and then, up to Floyd on the parkway, then Route 8 to Christiansburg and 460 back home. It makes for a nice spin.

People come from the world over to ride in my backyard, and I dream of Australia and Ireland. I suppose it's human nature.

I spent many miles on the BRP on my Honda CL350 when I was in law school in Lexington VA many years ago. Used to ride down to Roanoke on it to see my future wife at Hollins College. Don't recall much LEO presence in those days --

Watch your gas on the BRP the gas stations have all been closed. If you stop at Willville Motorcycle Campground Rt58 near Mabry Mill they have hand outs on the bulletin board that show what exits have gas and how far it is from the parkway. I took one and then lost it before I got home. I'll be back in the fall I hope they still have them.
If anyone stops there see if you can post one on the board.

+1 for the Pisgah Inn. It is located just north of Balsam Gap, or NC 276 Exit.

RB

Good Morning All.....
Ok .. We didn't make it all the way to VA. We rode up to Cherokee from the ATL area...got drenched a few times on the way up......rode the BRP to Asheville.....Stayed in Asheville overnight and rode back on Thursday.....got drenched a few times on the way back...My riding partner wasn't up to continuing so we decided to make it a 2 day trip... 500 miles total for the 2 days...Oh Well....
The Parkway is totally unbelievable......Cherohala Skyway is very nice ....but..The Blue Ridge is ridiculously coool...It's like the best road you've ever been on....and it just keeps on going....Probably try again in the early fall.
Very Good ride....and great experience....I did, however come to realize this......The stock seat ( low) is good for 1 hour of solid riding...then I've got to get off for 10 mins....then good for another hour.....I'm looking at a Sargent aftermarket front seat .......Reviews on here seem positive.....
Also , did my 1st valve adjustment on Friday.....Took about 2 hours for this first pass. Used the "Oilhead Valve Adjustment for Dummies" procedure.....Excellent.....and the bike runs like a sewing machine again......I do have some pic's to post......just don't have'm here with me today at work......
Tim