Top : Kudzu Curve , one of the many named curves and corners on the 32-mile Back of the Dragon , comes by its name honestly , with hillsides covered in the creeping vine that has all but taken over parts of the South . Above : Back of the Dragon climbs over three mountain ranges .
The BOTD route works its way up and over three mountain ranges , and it is full of exhilarating , winding curves of all shapes , sizes , and types . Of the 438 curves , some have names like Kudzu Curve , Cliff Hanger , Zero Gravity Curve , First ( and Second ) Dragon Slalom , Lazy Dragon , and a series of them named after a dragon ’ s head , elbow , wing , and knee .
Some of the large , sweeping curves can be ridden at 55 mph , but be prepared to get on the brakes as many others are blind or tighten up and are signposted at 15 or 25 mph . After enjoying the backand- forth slaloms , tight switchbacks , and fast sweepers , I arrived in Marion , where SR- 16 ends at U . S . Route 11 .
Taking the BOTD back north provides an entirely new ride . I found myself weaving through turns on one mountain , then riding straight through rolling farmland with beautiful views as I prepared for my ascent onto the next mountain .
The weather on my trip was perfect , and with SR- 16 being nearly flawless in terms of pavement quality , I could focus on the turns without worrying about bumps and potholes .
After my first two passes on the BOTD route , I returned to BOTD Brewery for lunch . The OTR rally was in full swing . Motorcycles lined Main Street far off into the distance , and people were meandering around , checking out custom motorcycles and chatting with other bikers . Battling the dragon worked up an appetite , so I got into line to get a slice of wood- fired pizza . Others poured ice- cold beers from the self- service taps .
Walking around the brewery grounds , I checked out the Harley- Davidson motorcycles that were being offered for giveaways and competitions . Vendors sold T- shirts and leather items , and one would even repair your leather vest or jacket with an onsite sewing shop . Samples of energy drinks were handed out , and live music set a vibrant tone for the event .
Finishing my pizza , I went inside the brewery to purchase my hardearned BOTD merch . The brewery started to clear out as rally participants went on to the fairgrounds to watch the stunt shows and derby car events . I opted to ride the BOTD route a few more times instead .
For my next few BOTD passes , I decided to stop at all the overlooks . The first was Kudzu Curve , a long sweeper surrounded by the climbing kudzu vine found throughout the South . A bit farther sits the Million Dollar View overlook , with a wideopen vista across the mountains and surrounding countryside .
My next stop was Hungry Mother State Park , where I checked out the beautiful lake scenery and wooden cabins . A highlight of this state park is the lake ’ s beach , so I walked over to the sandy promenade and admired the blue sky reflected on the placid
24 / APRIL 2025 / RIDERMAGAZINE . COM