Hey Matt! This is Ana, the rider from DC. We met on Wednesday! Took your advice and went to Lake Elsinore via Ortega Hwy and it was awesome! Thank you for the suggestion! It was so nice to meet you!
@@MattLaidlaw you will love the museum!!!Also, if you need/want routes, maggievalleyrides site has gpx files and tons of info. There’s also some really cool gravel routes on there if you bring your PanAm.
I have ridden in 30 of the lower 48 states. I haven’t been out west, so I’ve never been to a Laidlaw dealership. I will say that Smoky Mountain H-D has won me over as the best dealership in the Country (so far). A ton of options to look at in the regular store. Then they have The Shed which gets hopping and some really good food trucks show up. What really won me over though was the customer service. One couple in our group was involved in a crash. Smoky Mountain H-D not only has a guy that is their “Crash Specialist”. But they took care of everything in such a timely manner it was amazing. None of my local dealerships even come close to this level of customer service.
Did this trip 2 years ago from California. Was awesome. Flying on the tail of the dragon and through hills of Tennessee and the entire Blueridge hwy, then down to New Orleans and back home. 7000 miles of awesomeness.
As expected a terrific video. Appreciate that you mention the good and the bad (traffic, crowds). So many great places to ride and I really enjoy that you take us along with you and your crew!
Thank you, Matt, for the great views and many memories. My wife and I were married in Tennessee in 1973. Still going strong! I’ll watch this, again, with her later on. I’m sure she’ll love it. I have the same leather H-S jacket and get so many compliments about it.
Thanks Matt for taking us along, stayed at same hotel in Nashville and drove over to Gatlinburg too , wished I had the bike though. I commend yall for riding rentals with shorter handle bars, I couldn’t do it without 14” bars,, I feel unsafe riding. We went by Boswells, the one in Knoxville HD too and Smokey Mountain HD, we bought HD shirts from 4 different dealers there in Eastern Tn, beautiful state. TC and keep filming bro!
Damn, amazing, best I've seen and I've seen lots. Terrific camera, editing and narrative work! Thank you! Going on 77 years old but this inspires me to go out on my 2009 Ultra and smell the roses more often here in the countryside of Southern California. Thanks again!
Glad to see you're out riding again. Tennessee is a great place to ride, and I've ridden in many of the places you're in, and watching your videos brings me back to those places👍
Welcome to our playground, Matt. One correction though: not one of the best motorcycling areas in North America. One of the best... in the entire world!
YESSSS 🙌🏼 What a great start to my weekend, a new Matt Laidlaw Productions video, featuring a part of the beautiful U S of A, that I’ve dreamed of riding someday ☺️. Time to grab a cup of coffee, close my office door and take a vicarious dream ride/trip with Matt and his special crew for this adventure 👍🏼
Great information for Boswells, I did not know they rented. I live about two hours to the north and that's a heartbeat away 😃 Ohh yeah thanks for the ride along 👊 I had to even improvise with my desk top fan so I had the wind blowing through my hair 🦅
Matt, as a U.K. watcher of your channel, this drop is outstanding, looking forward to the next one. Awesome scenery, wow, I appreciate it. Thank you. 👍 Simon ✌U.K.🇬🇧
Matt!! you do a really good job on your videos. My family went to TN a few months ago and Had lunch at Boswells !! you should take to your family & seeing about a eatery at your place, That will make it a destination ride. Just think of all the money you'll be printing !! just FOOD for thought 😄
The road you called fighting creek road is just a short section of " little river gorge road" that runs from sugarlands vistor center to Townsend. I have ridden every road in your video and almost every route in the smokeys. I live in Calhoun county Alabama and i do day trips to the area quite often. A little secret about the leaves changing, they are usually in full color the week after Halloween, but don't tell anyone. 😉 The first time i rode the dragon was 1979 before it became famous. Great video.
When I was 17 my dad let me go with him to the Dragon tail from Indiana on my 750 Shadow and I may or may not have had my MC endorsement. He said if I had my clothes packed and bike loaded in the camper in 15 minutes I could go, think I had it all done in 5. Haha. Good times.
Looked like a great time. We've been through those places multiple times over the years. That spot by the river where all the roots are sticking out of the ground was pretty cool. There's a trail that goes way back into the bush that was pretty fun. Don't trip on those roots. I almost did a header into the river...lol Always a great time down there. Maybe someday you can make it up to my neck of the woods and do a Great Lakes tour. You won't regret it.
Looks like y'all found all my favorite roads around Murvul (Maryville). Good decision to wait until Monday for the Dragon. Looking forward to the next episode(s).
Just watched your video, I live here in the smokies. Watch your stuff all the time. Could Of helped with roads, places to stay and stay away from. October is the busiest times of the year here. Lived my life in So-Cal and left Ca in early 2021. Riding a 2024 road glide CVO now I bought from Smokey Mtn HD. Humbly I say this area of the country is the best motorcycle riding in the country, and I’ve ridden in every state of the continental US. And yeah, for fall colors you need late October. Keep up the great work.
What an incredible edit my man! I live in Knox and have been riding these exact roads, it’s absolutely stunning here right! Cant wait to catch the rest of this series.
Great video and cant wait to see the next. My brother and I went down the Smoky's in June to ride, we put about 700 miles on in 3 days. We stayed in Maggie Valley and couldn't ask for a better place to stay. Can't wait to go back and check out more roads someday. Maybe it will be to pickup the 36' Knucklehead raffle bike from Wheels Through Time.
Hey Matt , I love your Videos, you do a real good job ! My family & I were at Boswells earlier this year , we had lunch there , pretty freaking cool ! You need to talk to your Family about doing one at your place. That way it will be a destination ride!! Be like printing Money Baby
We visited the Smoky Mountains from the U.K. about 10 years ago and rented Harley Davidsons direct from the HD dealer in Maryville. The riding and the area was spectacular and Smokey Mountain HD were brilliant too! Thank you for Your video, it brought back so many special memories for me, can’t wait to see you tackle the ‘Tail of the Dragon’ in part 2! I remember it was quite tricky on a big Harley with loads of luggage and a pillion passenger!
And yet another one for my Laidlaw’s riding recommendations playlist I hope to do someday with my wife when the kids are older. Really appreciate the time you take to capture your routes, stops, recommendations, the map overlays with narrations etc. Love all of it man! Thank you! 😎
Enjoyed the video! Been in Tennessee for seven years (Transplant from Cali) we make it a point to never get on the Interstates! You can go anywhere in Tennessee and never touch one! The great riding starts almost immediately, Bubba did you right!
Hey Matt glad to see you got to visit our part of the world. It's a really beautiful area although as you know the traffic can be a bear at times. Smokey Mountain HD is a one of a kind place. As always enjoyed your video and looking forward to part 2. We have a timeshare in Gatlinburg and are headed that way the end of December, sadly no bike riding.
I loved it. The traffic wasn't bad except for Gatlinburg which was worse than LA traffic. We got stuck on the 441 one day because of an accident but other than that it wasn't bad.
My wife and I love the smoky mountains and visit them at least once a year,living only 300 miles west of there...makes a tennessee guy feel good to hear a fellow rider from California enjoying our little slice of heaven!! Thanks for another great ride along with you!! Keep her tween the ditches!
We have some good riding over here in the hills man and glad you enjoyed it! One day, we hope to come out west and do the PCH. I enjoyed hearing the "If you aren't blaring country music and hangin a gun off your hip, ya probly aint from round here"!
Crockett's Breakfast Camp is a Must! Get your ass up early and don't miss out on the best breakfast in Gatlinburg! Born and raised in Tennessee! When you say Lebanon, it's "Lebnen". When you say Maryville, you don't use the "Y" or the "i" in 'ville. Kinda like "Marevull". Awesome video! Take your Butt's back in the Fall! It's the best time. Stay in Townsend then ride to Gatlinburg. Later...
Thanks for the info! I’ll have to check out the breakfast camp. Thanks for the pronunciation guide. Also we were there in the fall. I do want to come back again though.
Thanks for the video of all those places and rides I sometimes take for granted and call my home and stomping grounds. When I can do a day ride and hit some of the roads you mentioned it's so easy to forget to appreciate it properly. One of my favorites is to hit some local back roads and hit Cherohala and the Dragon and back home. Be safe, have fun.
Enjoyed your video! Glad you are impressed with the area. We live in NE Indiana and have been visiting the Smoky Mountain area for a number of years. After several years in Gatlinburg, we discovered Maggie Valley, NC on the south side and have been staying there. Less traffic but still a nice mountain town and close to most of the biking roads. Enjoy!
Great episode! My parents live about an hour from the Dragon and everywhere you ride out there is exceptional. Love two-wheeling in that area. Safe travels!
Matt, SO glad yall didn't take I-40 all the way and took the back roads... it's awesome. Hope yall were able to route around some of the massive damage from Hurricane Helene!! Been terrible in Western NC and East TN! Tell the Dragon hello for this old man....... ride safe man and enjoy!!
Looks beautiful, thoughrly enjoy your travel videos, gives me more incentive to do it myself, and appreciate the added information on places that I would like to see, thank you!
Hey Matt, I live in Chicago and have just over 1200 miles on my Harley sportster.. big time rookie .. but man you inspire me so much!!!!… can’t wait to gain your experience and for time to go by and enjoy my motorcycling journeys… THANK YOU for the quality content rarely found!! ✌🏼😎
I take it as a huge compliment when people say I inspire them. Thank you. Enjoy the ride man. Get a tight friend group and progressively do longer and longer rides. 🤙🏼 enjoy man.
That was 100% awesome. Great narration, video, and whoever did the video editing.. slow clap..very professional. You just made a bucket list ride for everyone that has not been there.
East TN native here, have been watching your content for several years! Always great content, appreciate you highlighting the area. Next time out, check out The Devils Triangle … mid-point ends at Brushy Mtn State Penitentiary …
One of the main differences between the Harley-Davidson experience and other motorcycle companies is the expertise and enthusiasm for our sport you can get from Harley dealers. Thanks for sharing the great trip advice from Bubba Bowell and the Smoky Mountain Harley staff.
Matt just got done watching your video on the smoky mountains. I’ve done that right many of times just keep up the good work on the videos there’s nobody better than you. I’m also the one that reached out for my Mustang seat after watching your glacier national Park just keep up the good work there’s nobody better than you.
@ hey Matt, if you ever wanted to take a trip to Michigan for like two or three days, I could take you up to Copper Harbor, and do the tunnel of trees. I guarantee you’d like it. Plus, you would have a choice of a 2024 road glide or a 2020 street glide or a softail custom.
I'm sure this is already on your list but when in Maggie Valley NC you HAVE to go by Wheels Through Time and visit with Matt and his staff. GREAT people and they know their vintage Harley's. Such a cool museum.
I ride to Eastern Tennessee/Western North Carolina every year from Texas, and you can see why. Stunningly beautiful. Always make Maggie Valley my base of operations.
Nice Run Matt! you passed right by my second home in Wears Valley (we have a home on top of the mountain you came over after the wooden bridge at Metcalf Bottoms). The leaves are about 2 weeks late this year. Still beautiful on any day. Great video, safe travels!
This is a great drop, Matt. Super cool footage of the Ozone Falls. Love TN. I am a former CA resident and have ridden TN several times. Absolutely great riding, for sure. I do agree with the Gatlinburg opinion. I stayed in Pigeon Forge, it was bad. Can't wait for part 2. You threw me off with the stache. Thought this trip was last year. 😁
My group stayed in Tellico Plains it was awesome. Catch the Cherohala Skyway every morning. Not central to a lot of roads more east, but you're not in bumper to bumper traffic every time you jump on the bike.
Yea, I am going to do it that way next time I visit. Gatlinburg is not the way to go for motorcyclists. Also, they didn't like me splitting lanes there 😁
MATT! I’m stoked that you’re able to enjoy this part of country! I love East Tennessee and could ride these roads for the rest of my life. I’m sorry that you can’t ride the Blue Ridge Parkway, but that means you have to come back.
Always get stoked when I get a notification you have a new video out! That whole region is just amazing for riding. Actually the dragon is low on the list of roads I would do again. It was cool once. As you say the issue with some of those nice riding areas is that a lot of other people know about them also and can get really really busy. Deadwood was that was that way when I went over there so I just took a shuttle there from Lead to hang out. But that’s an amazing area and can’t wait for the next episode!
So nice the dealership give you tips on the nicest route to take especially due to the catastrophic flooding and weather conditions recently plagued by the area …
I rode that area with our riding group first week of July. I know why everyone goes there in September. It was HOT. It was good to get up on the parkway to cool down. I see your sporting a mustache, slippery slope to a beard 😂😂😂
In the Fall has to be the best time to ride there, the beautiful foliage with cooler temps and endless curves, friendly people good food, glad you guys had fun, enjoyed the video✌️
Laidlaw Docu Series Inc! A Sundance Film Festival’s new Independent Film award winner! (Hey it could be) Excellent job Boswell’s! Excellent job again Matt. The knack for a great storyline is your niche. 🙏🏻
I was diggin that Deadwood music about half way through the video. I was so stoked to watch this video! You are out in my neck of the woods. I’m in Atlanta but we ride up in the mountains when we can. Mostly, north GA moutains but you’ve give me some great ideas for vacation road trip. Thanks brother!
Just hit the foothill parkway few yrs ago with some family. We took the left at the intersection and rode the dragon though. One of the best memories I've ever made ripping those roads with family on bikes and the wife on back with me. Can't lie I was super intimidated when we first pulled up to main lookout at the dragon. Definitely broke any insecurities I had about riding with a passenger
You don’t grow if you don’t challenge yourself right? I just tell people to ride within their ability level and it will help you avoid 95% of accidents.
Took the family to Tennessee in the first part of June this year. Gatlinburg was crazy then, too. We did a similar trip. Nashville really isn't our scene, but we got to see the Opry and all the bars. We spent several days in Gatlinburg. Driving around the area was so beautiful. Being in California, there are plenty of great roads to ride. But getting to see Tennessee. I can't wait to go back on do those roads on a bike.
Awesome post, I don’t know how you keep coming up with fresh interesting content but I really appreciate it. In England it’s getting dark early now so to see that lovely warm weather, blue skies and dry country roads is great. 😊
Great video. I live in indiana , so it's only a few hours to the smokey Mountains have been there on the bike and car Many, many times. 2007 I owned Honda gold wing.We went to the smokies on vacation in the car. We rented a 2006 ultra classic from smoky mountain Harley Davidson, knew very little about Harley Davidson had no desire to own one. After the 24 hours on the ultra I was never satisfied with the gold wing ever again, sold the gold wing and Bought a 2006 ultra. It now has 129000 miles on it and still going strong. You Have a great channel with great content. Thank you for what you do. Be careful, ride safe.
Great segment, nicely done with a great soundtrack and great video too…I have never done the Harley rental thing but as I live in Connecticut it seems like a good option to have so as not to have a really long trip and then enjoy the area…something I will consider doing.. and I appreciate your interaction with the community(like me) that make comments and ask questions and you actually take the time to respond! Thanks 👍🏼
I live in Maryville and enjoyed seeing you hit all the roads and pullouts that are part of my regular routine rides. I would recommend staying in Townsend over Gatlinburg for the ease of traffic concerns and look forward to the next chapter of yall's adventure.
Hit the Cherohala and tail of the dragon 2 weeks back- heading back in another week or so to KO moonshiner & New Found Gap- benefits to living round these parts 💪🏿💪🏿
Great video and ya fall time riding is the best here in up state NY we have some great riding also the Adirondack mountains are amazing but we hope to make it down to Tennessee to
You lucky dudes, enjoy the rides, miles, and mountains. You are riding through the most beautiful parts of the US. Don't forget to ride through "Tuggles Gap" and "Fancy Gap" in SW Virginia on the Blue Ridge PKWY. Cheers!
I'm glad you liked cookeville, this is where i live. Next time you come to Upper cumberland, you need to hit me up. i will show you a beautiful countryside to ride in. Lots of stipping places, great roads and excellent people.
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Hey Matt! This is Ana, the rider from DC. We met on Wednesday! Took your advice and went to Lake Elsinore via Ortega Hwy and it was awesome! Thank you for the suggestion! It was so nice to meet you!
Ortega Hwy is amazing! If you continue east from Lake Elsinore on 74, you end up in Palm Springs. Also a great ride!
Hi Ana! Glad you enjoyed it! Ortega is a fun road! Thanks for stopping by to say hi.
Maggie Valley is the place to stay in that area. The quiet side of the smokies & centrally located to all the best riding.
💯 Konkur
I'm gonna stay there next time and check out wheels through time. It was closed when I was there.
@MattLaidlaw wheels through time is an all day event for a motorcycle enthusiast like yourself IMHO
@@MattLaidlaw you will love the museum!!!Also, if you need/want routes, maggievalleyrides site has gpx files and tons of info. There’s also some really cool gravel routes on there if you bring your PanAm.
I have ridden in 30 of the lower 48 states. I haven’t been out west, so I’ve never been to a Laidlaw dealership. I will say that Smoky Mountain H-D has won me over as the best dealership in the Country (so far). A ton of options to look at in the regular store. Then they have The Shed which gets hopping and some really good food trucks show up. What really won me over though was the customer service. One couple in our group was involved in a crash. Smoky Mountain H-D not only has a guy that is their “Crash Specialist”. But they took care of everything in such a timely manner it was amazing. None of my local dealerships even come close to this level of customer service.
Take me back! I left my heart in Tennessee! ❤
Did this trip 2 years ago from California. Was awesome. Flying on the tail of the dragon and through hills of Tennessee and the entire Blueridge hwy, then down to New Orleans and back home. 7000 miles of awesomeness.
I am fortunate enough to live on the outskirts of the Smokies. The history and beauty of these mountains never ceases to amaze me.
You live in a great spot to be a motorcyclist!
As expected a terrific video. Appreciate that you mention the good and the bad (traffic, crowds). So many great places to ride and I really enjoy that you take us along with you and your crew!
Thanks for taking us with you on your trip to Tennessee and it looks like you guys had a blast! Take care ride safe!
DL
Thank you, Matt, for the great views and many memories. My wife and I were married in Tennessee in 1973. Still going strong! I’ll watch this, again, with her later on. I’m sure she’ll love it.
I have the same leather H-S jacket and get so many compliments about it.
Thanks Matt for taking us along, stayed at same hotel in Nashville and drove over to Gatlinburg too , wished I had the bike though. I commend yall for riding rentals with shorter handle bars, I couldn’t do it without 14” bars,, I feel unsafe riding. We went by Boswells, the one in Knoxville HD too and Smokey Mountain HD, we bought HD shirts from 4 different dealers there in Eastern Tn, beautiful state. TC and keep filming bro!
Damn, amazing, best I've seen and I've seen lots. Terrific camera, editing and narrative work! Thank you! Going on 77 years old but this inspires me to go out on my 2009 Ultra and smell the roses more often here in the countryside of Southern California. Thanks again!
Thank you! Thanks for watching!
Glad to see you're out riding again. Tennessee is a great place to ride, and I've ridden in many of the places you're in, and watching your videos brings me back to those places👍
Welcome to our playground, Matt. One correction though: not one of the best motorcycling areas in North America. One of the best... in the entire world!
True!! I stand corrected.
Rich Dunn, you are correct sir! Lived here all my life, and ridden this stretch many times! ✌☮
YESSSS 🙌🏼 What a great start to my weekend, a new Matt Laidlaw Productions video, featuring a part of the beautiful U S of A, that I’ve dreamed of riding someday ☺️. Time to grab a cup of coffee, close my office door and take a vicarious dream ride/trip with Matt and his special crew for this adventure 👍🏼
Haha best compliment I can receive. Thanks for watching. I appreciate the comment
@ You’re welcome 👊🏼
Great information for Boswells, I did not know they rented. I live about two hours to the north and that's a heartbeat away 😃
Ohh yeah thanks for the ride along 👊 I had to even improvise with my desk top fan so I had the wind blowing through my hair 🦅
Thanks for taking us along 🤓😎🏍💨💨💨💨💨👍🏻🇨🇦🍻
Matt, as a U.K. watcher of your channel, this drop is outstanding, looking forward to the next one. Awesome scenery, wow, I appreciate it. Thank you. 👍 Simon ✌U.K.🇬🇧
Matt!! you do a really good job on your videos. My family went to TN a few months ago and Had lunch at Boswells !!
you should take to your family & seeing about a eatery at your place, That will make it a destination ride. Just think of all the money you'll be printing !!
just FOOD for thought 😄
Matt! Welcome to my home, my road glide from you is now home in Knoxville. You hit the nail on the head, one of the best riding areas in America.
Yea, you live in a great place for riding.
Enjoy the Road Glide!!
The road you called fighting creek road is just a short section of " little river gorge road" that runs from sugarlands vistor center to Townsend. I have ridden every road in your video and almost every route in the smokeys. I live in Calhoun county Alabama and i do day trips to the area quite often. A little secret about the leaves changing, they are usually in full color the week after Halloween, but don't tell anyone. 😉 The first time i rode the dragon was 1979 before it became famous. Great video.
Thanks for the info!
When I was 17 my dad let me go with him to the Dragon tail from Indiana on my 750 Shadow and I may or may not have had my MC endorsement. He said if I had my clothes packed and bike loaded in the camper in 15 minutes I could go, think I had it all done in 5. Haha. Good times.
Looked like a great time. We've been through those places multiple times over the years. That spot by the river where all the roots are sticking out of the ground was pretty cool. There's a trail that goes way back into the bush that was pretty fun. Don't trip on those roots. I almost did a header into the river...lol Always a great time down there. Maybe someday you can make it up to my neck of the woods and do a Great Lakes tour. You won't regret it.
Looks like y'all found all my favorite roads around Murvul (Maryville). Good decision to wait until Monday for the Dragon. Looking forward to the next episode(s).
Just watched your video, I live here in the smokies. Watch your stuff all the time. Could Of helped with roads, places to stay and stay away from. October is the busiest times of the year here. Lived my life in So-Cal and left Ca in early 2021. Riding a 2024 road glide CVO now I bought from Smokey Mtn HD. Humbly I say this area of the country is the best motorcycle riding in the country, and I’ve ridden in every state of the continental US. And yeah, for fall colors you need late October. Keep up the great work.
I believe it. The whole area is amazing to ride. I’ll be back one day. There’s a lot more for me to check out
What an incredible edit my man! I live in Knox and have been riding these exact roads, it’s absolutely stunning here right! Cant wait to catch the rest of this series.
Thank you!
Outstanding!! Grew up riding there, in Washington State now. The food is soooo good.
Great video and cant wait to see the next. My brother and I went down the Smoky's in June to ride, we put about 700 miles on in 3 days. We stayed in Maggie Valley and couldn't ask for a better place to stay. Can't wait to go back and check out more roads someday. Maybe it will be to pickup the 36' Knucklehead raffle bike from Wheels Through Time.
Hey Matt , I love your Videos, you do a real good job !
My family & I were at Boswells earlier this year , we had lunch there , pretty freaking cool ! You need to talk to your Family about doing one at your place. That way it will be a destination ride!! Be like printing Money Baby
We visited the Smoky Mountains from the U.K. about 10 years ago and rented Harley Davidsons direct from the HD dealer in Maryville.
The riding and the area was spectacular and Smokey Mountain HD were brilliant too!
Thank you for Your video, it brought back so many special memories for me, can’t wait to see you tackle the ‘Tail of the Dragon’ in part 2! I remember it was quite tricky on a big Harley with loads of luggage and a pillion passenger!
I'm from Brazil and I really enjoy these roles in the USA. A show...
The US has some amazing riding.
And yet another one for my Laidlaw’s riding recommendations playlist I hope to do someday with my wife when the kids are older. Really appreciate the time you take to capture your routes, stops, recommendations, the map overlays with narrations etc. Love all of it man! Thank you! 😎
Add it to the list. 👍🏼
Thanks for watching. I enjoy making them.
Matt your intro brought a tear to my eye. One day it will be my turn. -Scott from the OC.
Then my job is done. Haha.
Get out there man.
Welcome to my part of the country. So glad you enjoyed it and. Great video
Enjoyed the video! Been in Tennessee for seven years (Transplant from Cali) we make it a point to never get on the Interstates! You can go anywhere in Tennessee and never touch one! The great riding starts almost immediately, Bubba did you right!
TN is a magical place. Awesome riding
Hey Matt glad to see you got to visit our part of the world. It's a really beautiful area although as you know the traffic can be a bear at times. Smokey Mountain HD is a one of a kind place. As always enjoyed your video and looking forward to part 2. We have a timeshare in Gatlinburg and are headed that way the end of December, sadly no bike riding.
I loved it. The traffic wasn't bad except for Gatlinburg which was worse than LA traffic. We got stuck on the 441 one day because of an accident but other than that it wasn't bad.
Blessed with great weather. Glad you were able to get to this side of the country.
It was a a dream ride come true.
My wife and I love the smoky mountains and visit them at least once a year,living only 300 miles west of there...makes a tennessee guy feel good to hear a fellow rider from California enjoying our little slice of heaven!! Thanks for another great ride along with you!! Keep her tween the ditches!
We have some good riding over here in the hills man and glad you enjoyed it! One day, we hope to come out west and do the PCH. I enjoyed hearing the "If you aren't blaring country music and hangin a gun off your hip, ya probly aint from round here"!
Crockett's Breakfast Camp is a Must! Get your ass up early and don't miss out on the best breakfast in Gatlinburg! Born and raised in Tennessee! When you say Lebanon, it's "Lebnen". When you say Maryville, you don't use the "Y" or the "i" in 'ville. Kinda like "Marevull". Awesome video! Take your Butt's back in the Fall! It's the best time. Stay in Townsend then ride to Gatlinburg. Later...
Thanks for the info! I’ll have to check out the breakfast camp. Thanks for the pronunciation guide. Also we were there in the fall. I do want to come back again though.
Thanks for the video of all those places and rides I sometimes take for granted and call my home and stomping grounds. When I can do a day ride and hit some of the roads you mentioned it's so easy to forget to appreciate it properly. One of my favorites is to hit some local back roads and hit Cherohala and the Dragon and back home. Be safe, have fun.
Welcome to the Eastern United States. I hope you guys had a great time and thank you for the video.
We had a blast, thanks!
Enjoyed your video! Glad you are impressed with the area. We live in NE Indiana and have been visiting the Smoky Mountain area for a number of years. After several years in Gatlinburg, we discovered Maggie Valley, NC on the south side and have been staying there. Less traffic but still a nice mountain town and close to most of the biking roads. Enjoy!
I've heard a lot of good thinks about Maggie Valley. I'm gonna stay there next time.
Great episode! My parents live about an hour from the Dragon and everywhere you ride out there is exceptional. Love two-wheeling in that area. Safe travels!
Matt, SO glad yall didn't take I-40 all the way and took the back roads... it's awesome. Hope yall were able to route around some of the massive damage from Hurricane Helene!! Been terrible in Western NC and East TN! Tell the Dragon hello for this old man....... ride safe man and enjoy!!
Yea the back roads were fun. We didn’t go east enough to hit the damaged areas of the 40.
So glad yall got to experience this area. The smell is amazing and it heals me everything I ride there !!!
It's an awesome place
Looks beautiful, thoughrly enjoy your travel videos, gives me more incentive to do it myself, and appreciate the added information on places that I would like to see, thank you!
Awesome, Matt. Reminds me of the northern part of the Germans Alps :-) Cheers from Munich, Germany
Hey Matt, I live in Chicago and have just over 1200 miles on my Harley sportster.. big time rookie .. but man you inspire me so much!!!!… can’t wait to gain your experience and for time to go by and enjoy my motorcycling journeys… THANK YOU for the quality content rarely found!! ✌🏼😎
I take it as a huge compliment when people say I inspire them. Thank you. Enjoy the ride man. Get a tight friend group and progressively do longer and longer rides. 🤙🏼 enjoy man.
Hands down the best moto vlogger! The cinematics are second to none mate keep it up ⚡️⚡️
Thank you!! Thanks for watching.
That was 100% awesome. Great narration, video, and whoever did the video editing.. slow clap..very professional. You just made a bucket list ride for everyone that has not been there.
East TN native here, have been watching your content for several years! Always great content, appreciate you highlighting the area. Next time out, check out The Devils Triangle … mid-point ends at Brushy Mtn State Penitentiary …
Thank you. I would like to come back. I’ll add that to the list.
One of the main differences between the Harley-Davidson experience and other motorcycle companies is the expertise and enthusiasm for our sport you can get from Harley dealers. Thanks for sharing the great trip advice from Bubba Bowell and the Smoky Mountain Harley staff.
Matt just got done watching your video on the smoky mountains. I’ve done that right many of times just keep up the good work on the videos there’s nobody better than you. I’m also the one that reached out for my Mustang seat after watching your glacier national Park just keep up the good work there’s nobody better than you.
Thanks James. The smoky Mtns is such a good riding area. Hopefully the Mustang is treating you well. 🤙🏼
@ hey Matt, if you ever wanted to take a trip to Michigan for like two or three days, I could take you up to Copper Harbor, and do the tunnel of trees. I guarantee you’d like it. Plus, you would have a choice of a 2024 road glide or a 2020 street glide or a softail custom.
Good see you visited east Tennessee Worst Time of the year but most beautiful Gatlinburg is crazy busy in October . Welcome to the area
Stoked for this, dude! Foothills Parkway is such an amazing road. Looking forward to the remaining episodes.
Wow...what amazing roads! Great vid, Matt!!
I'm sure this is already on your list but when in Maggie Valley NC you HAVE to go by Wheels Through Time and visit with Matt and his staff. GREAT people and they know their vintage Harley's. Such a cool museum.
I wanted to but they were closed! Next time.
I ride to Eastern Tennessee/Western North Carolina every year from Texas, and you can see why. Stunningly beautiful. Always make Maggie Valley my base of operations.
Nice Run Matt! you passed right by my second home in Wears Valley (we have a home on top of the mountain you came over after the wooden bridge at Metcalf Bottoms). The leaves are about 2 weeks late this year. Still beautiful on any day. Great video, safe travels!
This is a great drop, Matt. Super cool footage of the Ozone Falls. Love TN. I am a former CA resident and have ridden TN several times. Absolutely great riding, for sure. I do agree with the Gatlinburg opinion. I stayed in Pigeon Forge, it was bad. Can't wait for part 2. You threw me off with the stache. Thought this trip was last year. 😁
Wow I love this video so many roads to take
Thank you Matt..... keep em comin
My group stayed in Tellico Plains it was awesome. Catch the Cherohala Skyway every morning. Not central to a lot of roads more east, but you're not in bumper to bumper traffic every time you jump on the bike.
Yea, I am going to do it that way next time I visit. Gatlinburg is not the way to go for motorcyclists. Also, they didn't like me splitting lanes there 😁
Great video Matt, awesome scenery and looks well worth a visit. One for the bucket list 😉👍
Thanks whiskey. It was a fun one. Well worth the effort to get out there.
MATT! I’m stoked that you’re able to enjoy this part of country! I love East Tennessee and could ride these roads for the rest of my life. I’m sorry that you can’t ride the Blue Ridge Parkway, but that means you have to come back.
Always get stoked when I get a notification you have a new video out! That whole region is just amazing for riding. Actually the dragon is low on the list of roads I would do again. It was cool once. As you say the issue with some of those nice riding areas is that a lot of other people know about them also and can get really really busy. Deadwood was that was that way when I went over there so I just took a shuttle there from Lead to hang out. But that’s an amazing area and can’t wait for the next episode!
Yea, the dragon has a whole business community around it. That place is kinda wild. We hit it on the perfect day though
@@mickeygaines007 Like some popular lakes, best to hit em on the weekdays
So nice the dealership give you tips on the nicest route to take especially due to the catastrophic flooding and weather conditions recently plagued by the area …
Yea, Bubba was super helpful
Hey Matt , amazing video beautiful areas, huge fan of yours keep up the great work….🙏🏻
Thank you sir. 🤙🏼 I don’t plan on stopping. Ever. Till I die.
This was so much fun to watch. Taking motorcycle rides all across USA’s scenic roads is on my bucket list!! ❤✌️
I was there in September 2024 and rented a street glide for two weeks, it was my best holiday ever, this is an incredibly beautiful area
Wow nice. Yea, you can ride here for a long time and never get bored
100% want to ride there but this is as close as I may ever get. Thank goodness I found your channel 🤠
Glad you could at least experience it vicariously
I rode that area with our riding group first week of July. I know why everyone goes there in September. It was HOT. It was good to get up on the parkway to cool down.
I see your sporting a mustache, slippery slope to a beard 😂😂😂
I hear fall is the best time out there. I'm sure a beard is gonna make a come back one day
In the Fall has to be the best time to ride there, the beautiful foliage with cooler temps and endless curves, friendly people good food, glad you guys had fun, enjoyed the video✌️
Laidlaw Docu Series Inc! A Sundance Film Festival’s new Independent Film award winner! (Hey it could be) Excellent job Boswell’s! Excellent job again Matt. The knack for a great storyline is your niche. 🙏🏻
Glad you made it to our part of the world! I ride the area often - I agree, it is a terrific motorcycle destination!!!
I was diggin that Deadwood music about half way through the video. I was so stoked to watch this video! You are out in my neck of the woods. I’m in Atlanta but we ride up in the mountains when we can. Mostly, north GA moutains but you’ve give me some great ideas for vacation road trip. Thanks brother!
Glad you enjoyed it. Yea, shoot up for a ride. The Smokies is such a good riding spot.
This reminds me of a Full Throttle Hog video! Very nice!
Just hit the foothill parkway few yrs ago with some family. We took the left at the intersection and rode the dragon though. One of the best memories I've ever made ripping those roads with family on bikes and the wife on back with me. Can't lie I was super intimidated when we first pulled up to main lookout at the dragon. Definitely broke any insecurities I had about riding with a passenger
You don’t grow if you don’t challenge yourself right?
I just tell people to ride within their ability level and it will help you avoid 95% of accidents.
Took the family to Tennessee in the first part of June this year. Gatlinburg was crazy then, too. We did a similar trip. Nashville really isn't our scene, but we got to see the Opry and all the bars. We spent several days in Gatlinburg. Driving around the area was so beautiful. Being in California, there are plenty of great roads to ride. But getting to see Tennessee. I can't wait to go back on do those roads on a bike.
Tennessee is a special place, especially for riding motorcycles. Not gonna do the gatlinburg thing again 🥴
Awesome post, I don’t know how you keep coming up with fresh interesting content but I really appreciate it. In England it’s getting dark early now so to see that lovely warm weather, blue skies and dry country roads is great. 😊
Great video.
I live in indiana , so it's only a few hours to the smokey Mountains have been there on the bike and car Many, many times. 2007 I owned Honda gold wing.We went to the smokies on vacation in the car. We rented a 2006 ultra classic from smoky mountain Harley Davidson, knew very little about Harley Davidson had no desire to own one.
After the 24 hours on the ultra I was never satisfied with the gold wing ever again, sold the gold wing and Bought a 2006 ultra.
It now has 129000 miles on it and still going strong.
You Have a great channel with great content. Thank you for what you do.
Be careful, ride safe.
You found it! So lucky to call SMHD my home dealer.
Great dealer! You got a good riding spot.
@@MattLaidlaw You betcha! Shiny side up!
Great segment, nicely done with a great soundtrack and great video too…I have never done the Harley rental thing but as I live in Connecticut it seems like a good option to have so as not to have a really long trip and then enjoy the area…something I will consider doing.. and I appreciate your interaction with the community(like me) that make comments and ask questions and you actually take the time to respond! Thanks 👍🏼
For me I don't want to burn 3 long days getting out there and getting back. It's worth the time and effort savings to just fly and rent.
Many Eagle Riders locations to rent from. Done business with them a few times and great experience.
I live in Maryville and enjoyed seeing you hit all the roads and pullouts that are part of my regular routine rides. I would recommend staying in Townsend over Gatlinburg for the ease of traffic concerns and look forward to the next chapter of yall's adventure.
Yes sir! That would be one of the places I’d consider for next time. Thanks for the comment.
Thanks for summing this up. I was there this past Sept after they repaved the Tail and the roads and scenery are AMAZING!!!
The roads were perfectly smooth!
Fantastic video! You inspire me to make more content and ride more motorcycles
Best time of the year for driving the Appalachians.
Hit the Cherohala and tail of the dragon 2 weeks back- heading back in another week or so to KO moonshiner & New Found Gap- benefits to living round these parts 💪🏿💪🏿
@@afrocansoul Those Two Roads are coming up in the next episode
What another great video Matt. Hope you enjoyed your stay here in the great state of Tennessee.
I loved it. My wife and I are in love with Tennessee.
Thank you for your videos- they just calm me down and now that the stash is back, I know everything will be ok no matter what happens.
😅 The stash is a reassuring thing. Haha. Thanks man
Absolutely love your videos!!! This is a ride me and my friends were talking about doing sometime and seeing this video just was over the top!
Great video and ya fall time riding is the best here in up state NY we have some great riding also the Adirondack mountains are amazing but we hope to make it down to Tennessee to
I've heard good things about the Adirondacks. Maybe a future trip
You lucky dudes, enjoy the rides, miles, and mountains. You are riding through the most beautiful parts of the US. Don't forget to ride through "Tuggles Gap" and "Fancy Gap" in SW Virginia on the Blue Ridge PKWY. Cheers!
Great riding in the Smokies. Thanks for sharing your experience with us 😊
Thanks for checking it out
Great video. Love that area
So jealous! I’m in New England. Trying to wrangle some friends to ride down there next season!
Nice ride
So awesome that yall came here, can’t way to visit your dealership.
Swing by🤙🏼
Matt, your intro dialogue to this video was pure poetry man. Oh man are you good? I haven’t even finished the video yet and I had to leave a comment.😊
This means a lot man. Thank you. !
I'm glad you liked cookeville, this is where i live. Next time you come to Upper cumberland, you need to hit me up. i will show you a beautiful countryside to ride in. Lots of stipping places, great roads and excellent people.
The Matt-stache returns!!!
Yes sir
Need to ride Back Of The Dragon in VA between Tazwell and Marion. Lots of other great roads through VA into WVA.