It's that time of year again, time to mark you calendars for maybe the most fun ride of the year, the annual XROG ride in and around the Great Smoky Mountains. Many pixels have been shared on this forum about this ride over the years but it could all be summed up as great rides with great folks on great roads. For those who haven't been, the roads in Eastern Tennessee, Western North Carolina, and Northern Georgia are among the best in the US and we'll have some folks who know them like the back of their hands.
We've ridden in snow, rain, sun, and everything in between although the last couple of years have been really great, weather wise.
This is a really welcoming group and we would love for you to join us!
Where is it?
We stay in Waynesville NC at the Oak Park Inn and ride out from there. We hit legendary roads like the Tail of the Dragon, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and the Cherohala Skyway and many other lesser known but often better(!) roads in North Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee with occasional stops at places like the Wheels Through Time Museum in nearby Maggie Valley. It is an absolutely beautiful part of the country with great riding.
When is it?
The weekend before Memorial Day. Some folks come early, some stay late but the most of us will be there from Thursday to Sunday, May 18th-21st. There is no set time you need to be there, come for the whole time or ride with us for a day, you'll still have fun!
Who should attend?
Everybody that reads this post! If you're into this forum, you're welcome, no exceptions. We've had all levels of riders and folks that have ridden with us long after they've sold their XRs
Yup, new (used) motor and all. I got rained on pretty hard on my shake down ride, but everything seems to be working well so far 🤞
Will we see you on the east coast ride and at Lima this year?
East Coast no unless I drive down in the car. ( XR still for sale)
Lima is a maybe, lot of things going on this year.
Glad to hear you are up and running, never did hear what happened.
I will know next week. Money and time not an issue. It all depends where i have to go the following weekend. If it's close i will probably make it. Had to cancel last year as i had to leave the following Wednesday on a 1200 mile trip. I promise i won't come to the XR1200 meetup this year on a BMW.
One of the better experiences on the ride is the Oak Park Inn and the restaurants in Waynesville within walking distance. It's a great place for hanging out and socializing(and eating). The motel is reasonably priced for the dates and the location near a tourist area. Probably one of the last motels in the country not ran by the Patel family.
Old dog speaks the truth, the Oak Park Inn may not be the plushest accommodations but it's definitely 'home'. Good times with good folks.
Looks like we'll have a decent crowd this year
Going:
Purplehaze
Chipmaker
Nosupes4u
**acy300
Jarhead
Poolpawpaw
Horosho
Backindasaddle
Seamus
Phaedrus
Purplehaze's buddy Jay (he rode with us in 2021 - see East Coast XROG ride, May 20-23 2021)
Maybe:
Old Dog
Sadwingsragn
Fast XR
Fast XR's unidentified riding buddy #1
Fast XR's unidentified riding buddy #2
JoeP
I'm coming if nothing happens, either on the XR or the Beemer, worse case scenario on a Road Glide. I plan on booking a room there for TH-FRI-SAT with the plan of showing up Thursday evening. I had not rode the XR since late last summer so i've been out cleaning and fixing for the last two days. It's good to go and probably in better shape than i am.
This year might be a big one from the looks of it so far. You don't have to have an XR1200 to show up. We're all good fellows. I came on a big BMW last year due to some neck problems. It's going to be way more fun than the BMW MOA national rally i attended last summer in Springfield MO. I had suspected that might not be a good idea but i always wanted to go to one to see what it was like. I would like to report it was about 4450 guys dressed in the gray and black BMW adventure rider "uniform" and about 50 old lumpy women.
Oh poor you, life is so hard. LOL
Have fun and be safe no matter what you take.
Of course you could take both and let Racy ride the one and switch over to to the one you want at the time.
If she will trade. LOL
Wish I was going to be there.
Unfortunately, I am not going to be able to make it this year. My daughters 1st birthday is that week and we ended up having a bunch of family decide to fly the weekend of the meetup.
Look forward to joining in the next ride in this neck of the woods though!
I'm not saying to count me out yet but it is definitely going to be a big fat maybe as i'm dealing with some ongoing cervical vertabrae problems. Had an MRI done yesterday so maybe they can diagnose the problem and do something like an injection before then. No way i could deal with the XR on those roads, probably not the Dyna or Road Glide either. If i do come it will be on the BMW as there's nothing like an old crippled guy on a 160 MPH motorcycle. Going to get the Beemer out and ride a couple hundred miles one day to see what happens.
man I cant believe I'm going to miss it again I've been looking forward to this all year and am having surgery on my right hand may 9th and wont be recovered soon enough ,well always next year , you all have a great ride in my back yard .
man I cant believe I'm going to miss it again I've been looking forward to this all year and am having surgery on my right hand may 9th and wont be recovered soon enough ,well always next year , you all have a great ride in my back yard . View attachment 255163
Hate to hear about the surgery, but your welcome to join us for dinner in Waynesville.
Mark me down as Bitter & Twisted that I'm going to miss another of these great events. The small matter of distance, you see. Although I'm actually in Jerusalem, Israel as we speak but hey, Jerusalem, Melbourne, it's the same difference. Have fun guys and post up plenty of pics.
I don’t think he is going to make it for the party, but he is planning on coming down soon after with a belated birthday present for her. At least that’s what I am telling my wife 😄
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
XR1200 Owners Group
387.3K posts
7.5K members
Since 2009
A forum community dedicated to Harley Davidson XR1200 owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about performance, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more!