Awesome ride, & video ! Can't wait to get to do it myself .

@MOTOBLADE

6 жыл бұрын

Jeremee Gartner Thanks for watching bro. You will have so much fun. It's a great ride.

Been riding 40 years and for the life of me, can’t understand why people pull in the clutch during the curve. Always gear down before you get to the curve and use the power of the motor to pull you through it.

@mrvwbug4423

5 жыл бұрын

Rev matching also helps. Clutch dragging is a great way to have a back tire step out on you if the road is a little wet or even just hit a spot with a little less traction.

Like the fact you ride safe. Good stuff and enjoyable to watch. Thanks

@MOTOBLADE

6 жыл бұрын

Nathan McIvor Always ride safe! So glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching!

The only thing that makes Deal's Gap a dangerous place to ride is the idiot factor, people that think it's their private race track, other than that it's a nice place for a drive.

@MOTOBLADE

6 жыл бұрын

lrac rellim Exactly my thoughts!

You have to try the route through the mountain from Oaxaca to Huatulco

@MOTOBLADE

2 жыл бұрын

I'd love too if I still lived down there. In Vermont now. Bikes are put away for the winter and there's snow and ice on the ground in the mountains where I live. Maybe I will get the bike back down to TN someday!

The Dragon is a fun ride. The times I have gone it was the middle of the week when it is a little less crowded. The Skyway is also a fun ride. One day I want to make the loop like you did. 72 is a fun ride from 411 to 129 as well. I typically go 321 to the Foothills Parkway over to 129.

Shame you didn't do a walk around of the bike at the scenic overlook.

@MOTOBLADE

5 жыл бұрын

Wasn't the point of this video. I have other videos where I go over the Chief in more detail.

this is one of my favorite rides and at the 30 mph speed limit any bike doit! Deals Gap Resort is a must stop

@MOTOBLADE

4 жыл бұрын

One of my favorites as well. I miss living close by. I could go every weekend. Thanks for watching!

This bike is amazing. Really want to learn how to ride because of this bike. Also nice video

@MOTOBLADE

6 жыл бұрын

Eddie Su Thank you! It's great to fall in love with a bike and that's what gets you into riding. There's nothing else like it. Go ride one! You won't be sorry! Also take the MSF course :)

Hey, is it possible to add Hard Saddle Bags & Trunk to Chief Dark Horse

Love the time of year. Even though it was a Saturday, you seem to have low traffic. I went in July, and there were accidents and crowds.

@MOTOBLADE

5 жыл бұрын

Fall is even worse from what I've heard. But the prettiest time to visit.

Awesome thanks

@MOTOBLADE

2 жыл бұрын

Glad you liked it! Thanks for watching!

Nice and easy, great video brother.

@MOTOBLADE

Жыл бұрын

Thank you! I miss TN. Used to live 45 mins from the dragon, but I haven't been there in almost 5 years now.

Hello from Monterrey, México. I have just bought a 2016 Indian Chief Dark Horse, very awesome bike. May I ask you where did buy your windshield and saddlebags? Indian shop directly?? I heard they are very expensive. What would be your customize aftermarket suggestions on these accessories? Thanks for your advice.

@MOTOBLADE

4 жыл бұрын

My windshield and saddlebags were both Indian brand, direct from the dealership. I would recommend Indian brand for the windshield. If you are looking for less expensive but still high quality bags, Viking Bags has some nice leather choices that feature locks and extra accessories. They cost much less than Indian, but they are not quick detach like the Indian bags. Hope that helps! Thank you for watching, and congratulations on your new bike! Ride safe brother!

Is that a Memphis shades windshield? It looks so good on the dark horse!

@MOTOBLADE

Жыл бұрын

That is the Indian quick release windshield. 11" version I believe. Has the Indian logo embossed on the front. Was a great windshield when I had that bike!

@robertmitts9181

Жыл бұрын

That low mph turns is due that they are short switch backs in the road. Going too fast in the short switch backs would make it almost impossible to make the turns, which I'm sure many have crashed, or they would not have put up the signs.

Do you think you made the right choice to go with the dark horse on this journey than the valcan s? a good ride a good watch.

@MOTOBLADE

6 жыл бұрын

Juwon Adejuwon Didn't really have a choice since I traded the Vulcan :) But yeah I think I enjoyed it more. I was very comfortable on the 5 hour round trip ride to get there and had plenty of power and lean angle to take on the dragon in a fun way. Never scraped once and I was leaning hard in some of those turns. It was a good experience on the new bike for practicing my limits for sure.

Enjoyed the ride-a-long.

@MOTOBLADE

5 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

I could definitely suggest some things that will make roads like that less scary and more comfortable. Learn to rev match, it will really help make downshifts much smoother coming into turns. Also do your downshifting before you start the turn, do not grab the clutch mid-turn, just let off the throttle going into the turn and smoothly roll onto the throttle at the apex. Don't be afraid to shift down into 1st for the tightest turns, the thunderstoke is actually quite smooth down there (based on my own person experience riding several of the big Indians). The same riding techniques that the sportbike guys use to go fast also work on a cruiser just to make twisty roads a smoother and more enjoyable experience at the slower pace of a cruiser.

Love your new bike! How does it handle compared to your Vulcan? To me it looks like it was fun and IMHO that’s all that matters!😀😀😀👍👍👍

@MOTOBLADE

6 жыл бұрын

It was A LOT of fun! Vulcan S can lean a little further and since it's smaller it might have been a little easier to maneuver, but only by a bit. The Dark Horse handled like a dream and it was so powerful and leaned so far. I never scraped once and I was leaning far enough I was hanging on :)

Love how the bike just calmly purs along ... oh hai sports bikes ... bai sport bikes ... pur pur pur ...

@MOTOBLADE

5 жыл бұрын

I know! My bike is just steady and consistent. My new chieftain is the same way.

I have the same bike . I bought mine in Nov. Of 2017. I have put over 5000 miles on it so far. I really love the dark horse. I get some many comments out on the road for its looks. It rides to a dream ,plenty of power. It is heavier than my Honda VTX 1300cc , but once you get moving it is well balanced. Funny hearing your purchase story . I bought mine used with 975 miles ,2016 year model. Glad to see someone else with the same bike . Be safe and enjoy.

@MOTOBLADE

6 жыл бұрын

I get so many comments as well! Usually the Harley guys coming over to take a look. Very well balanced and yeah, the power is great. Ride safe brother!

@josepharnold3737

6 жыл бұрын

One more thing ,check out the heat sheild from Captain Itch. He does great work and I think he is from your area.

Not sure we will ride this one next week with our cruisers.

@MOTOBLADE

5 жыл бұрын

You can ride anything on the dragon, just take your time, don't try to go at other people's paces. If they want to pass you, let them. Just go slow and enjoy your time and you'll be fine.

Indians are so smooth.

@MOTOBLADE

4 жыл бұрын

They really are. Fantastic bikes.

Ps: very nice bike!

@MOTOBLADE

5 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

Are you Countersteering? You do not appear to be doing so.

@MOTOBLADE

5 жыл бұрын

Absolutely I am counter steering. Hard to tell in the video, but I am. It's one of the most fun parts of riding for me.

I didn't think it was all that dangerous. I can understand why it might be if you exceed the posted speed limit or if there's junk in the road. Or someone else does something stupid like coming over the center line. Or if you're distracted. Or if the road was wet. I'd hate that. But the speed limit is pretty reasonably slow. If the weather's good and you pay attention, it wasn't that bad. I thought getting TO the Dragon was just as challenging... up through Cherokee and all. All the concentration is the reason I didn't really dig the Dragon. I didn't hate it. It was good to get it out of the way like a rite of passage. But.. meh.. I don't want to think that hard. Now.. I think it was the foothills parkway??.. MUCH more to my liking.

@MOTOBLADE

6 жыл бұрын

Chris Lonsberry yes! Foothills parkway and cherohala skyway are both great! The dragon was dangerous because a lot of people were exceeding the limit and I saw many guys coming over the center line in their turns. They feel like it's their personal speedway. I'd do it again, but I definitely enjoy Cherohala skyway better :)

@michaelbuxton9611

5 жыл бұрын

i just road it friday the 10th and it poured buckets. i had to be extra careful in the corners. was a riding a 250r ninja.

@michaelbuxton9611

5 жыл бұрын

MOTOBLADE hwy 28 leading up the dragon has lots of twisties too.check it on g maps

If you take your time it will be a nice ride but you do not take your time on it you will pay the price on the tale of the dragon

@MOTOBLADE

6 жыл бұрын

94 stang Preach! It is great taking your time. Lots of fun. But people go flying through there and make it a dangerous place for everyone when they cross the middle line

@94stang84

6 жыл бұрын

MOTOBLADE. I like the video some day I will ride tail of the dragon I'm saving my 💰 for a Bike

@MOTOBLADE

6 жыл бұрын

94 stang Yeah man! Get yourself a bike. You won't regret it so much fun.

I'll bet you have never scraped your floorboards on that bike :-) It's cool that you are enjoying the scenery but come on :-)

@MOTOBLADE

6 жыл бұрын

I have only scraped them once since I made that video and only once due to bottoming out on a bump with the suspension in a turn. Otherwise, no scrapes. I can get pretty darn low for the size of this bike. Now, I am also not pushing it like a sport bike :)

@cruiserjohn3790

6 жыл бұрын

What's the lean angle on that bike? No you can not compare it to a sport bike..That would be be bad..or end bad hehe I have only been riding for a little more then two years now and I too ride a cruiser. I don't like sport bikes. Yeah some of them look cool but I would never have one. In the beginning when i started scraping I was like shit what was that hehe