This is a run of Deals Gap from the Overlook to the Crossroads of time.

Here's exactly what's going on in this video:


The ride starts out with me quickly short shifting to 4th gear then back down to 3rd when the turns start. The RPM in 3rd is in the 3-4k range - or about 40mph.

In the "long" straights at about 1:25 in the video I get up to about 60mph. I then use the brakes for the first time and downshift to 1st gear. Why? Because it SOUNDS better. It's most definitely not faster.

In 1st gear I keep the engine rpm in the 5-7k range shifting to 2nd at about 8k. That means my speed ranges from 30-50mph.

I used the brakes again at 2:15.

At 3:15 I approached another rider and did not close on him when he slowed suddenly due to the crashed bike on the side. I slowed down and made sure the rider was alright and had help there. As there were already three riders stopped to help him I did not stop to add to the confusion.

At 4:33 I make sure my brakes work and downshift to 1st. I follow that with a nice wheelie down an empty straight. No clutch, just throttle well timed with picking the bike up out of the turn. Fun. Something different than just turning left to right. Like the sound thing, it makes the video more... interesting to watch. The speed here tops out at about 65mph, the top of 1st gear.

Brakes still worked at 4:51 and again at 5:18.

At 5:25 I made a critical mistake and touched the double yellow line. I'm not being sarcastic here. I consider that running off the road. It's hard to tell from the camera's viewpoint but I know I did it.

Brake check again at 5:56. They worked.

At 6:15 I caught up to a black truck which I quickly passed. I approached this truck in 2nd gear at about 5k rpm. The passenger on the cruiser going the other way gave the universal sign to slow down. As that could mean anything was ahead, I headed her warning.

At 7:20 you can barely see two bikes pulled off to the side of the road on the left. What you can't see is a third bike in the ditch. Again, the rider was up and OK and had two friends there to help him so I went on.

I used 2nd gear from 4:47 until 7:26 when I passed the two cars. After passing the cars, the speed is up to about 75mph then I slow down to general speed I was using earlier in the video.

The brakes worked at 7:46 and again at 7:56 when I downshift once again to 1st.

As soon as I saw the car at 8:00 I shifted to 2nd.* Why? Because I know the effect a bike at high rpm can have on people.* I use it purposely for effect in the video or for going fast on the track.

At 8:30 I downshift to 1st at about 3k rpm and begin my pass on the car. I, not the camera, had a clear line of sight all the way to the top of the hill and had been looking to the top of the hill prior to entering the right hand turn.

At 8:59 I shifted into 2nd gear with RPMs at about 5k.

Brakes worked at 9:17.

At 9:12, I saw the other motorcyclist. From 9:23 on I carefully evaluate his riding. I see that he's going into the turns too fast for his skills, turning in too early, making several major steering inputs, leaning against the bike and hitting the gas hard exiting the turns. In other words, he's dangerous.

While behind him I shift to 2nd gear and give him space so I don't spook him anymore than he's spooking himself.* At 10:33 I downshift to 1st to prepare to pass but I just didn't have the line of sight needed for the acceleration he's using.

From that point on, I'm just waiting for a clear line of sight. That guy was riding beyond his skills.

At 11:07, I passed him. Because I'm aware that some people have a competitive spirit in them and he might try to keep up with me I decided to get out of Dodge - fast. At 11:11, the real fast riding begins with a top speed of about 100mph.

And at 11:44, I made another mistake. I again touched the double yellow line. This time I went over to the left line.

The pavement changes at 12:05 which signifies I just crossed into North Carolina and the end of Deals Gap.

Greg Gorman