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Supafast
| Posted on Friday, January 18, 2008 - 10:06 am: |
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Highway 555. Runs from Little Hocking to Zanesville. Ive read that its Ohio's Dragon. Has anyone ventured onto this road? If so, what did you think? Is it worth a trip out there? |
Lost_in_ohio
| Posted on Friday, January 18, 2008 - 11:01 am: |
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If your drivin from Maryland heck no stop in West VA. With that said. The road last summer was not in that great of shape. The day I rode it a lot of gravel in every corner and several of the townships had tarred and chipped sections to keep the speeds down. South of deavertown they had started to repave not sure how far they went with it. Other than road condition it is a fun road, but be aware it is not a limited access road like the dragon, you can crest a hill and find a car backing out of a driveway or a farm tractor. LE is not as draconian as the dragon, we saw none the entire trip. (Message edited by lost_in_ohio on January 18, 2008) |
Reepicheep
| Posted on Friday, January 18, 2008 - 11:13 am: |
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I have heard good things about it from other postings, but no first hand knowledge. It's a bit of a haul from where I am (Cincy) Just about all the riding in that area is good riding, so you probably can't go very wrong going out there. Thats getting close to some nice dual sport trails as well... |
Supafast
| Posted on Friday, January 18, 2008 - 11:19 am: |
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Ok, thanks for the tips. May do it anyhow on my "way" to Vintage MC Days. I would like to attend that this year...... |
Adrenaline_junkie
| Posted on Friday, January 18, 2008 - 11:39 am: |
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The pavement was terrible last summer. Don't know how much of it has been improved. Like Lost said, it is not limited access. Even when the pavement is good, many of the turns are blind, very tempting, but blind. There is a lot of agriculture in this area. In my opinion, 550 from Athens to 555 is a much more exciting ride. Sharpsburg (sp) hill in particular. The top of the hill is only a couple of miles west of the 555/550 intersection. You'll know the hill when you find it and if you are like most people you will turn around and do it a couple more times. |
Xb9
| Posted on Friday, January 18, 2008 - 01:19 pm: |
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That's a pucker factor road.....lot's of blind stuff, cresting hills, variable radius turns, but fun. There's a lot of better roads IMHO east of 555 all the way into WV.. BEST SE Ohio roads: 78, 550, 676 (nice jump on this one), 26, 145, 536, 148, 255, might of missed a few. Shhhhhh...one of the best kept secrets in the moto nation. |
Mikef5000
| Posted on Friday, January 18, 2008 - 01:43 pm: |
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First hand knowledge of 555 right here: Any corner with potential to be fun, will be filled with gravel. It's scenic, but don't try to go fast. I've got an extensive list of fun roads in Ohio. This is a great loop just north of Athens: 13 North out of Athens 78 North 60 East to Marietta 550 West back to Athens |
Ceejay
| Posted on Friday, January 18, 2008 - 01:43 pm: |
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I've never seen it but word around the campfire(read-rumor) is that the boys from KY bring the prepo vettes up due to what Xb9 stated. |
Thumper74
| Posted on Friday, January 18, 2008 - 02:45 pm: |
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13 is a pretty fun road in general |
Donutclub
| Posted on Friday, January 18, 2008 - 04:42 pm: |
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I'm not a big fan of 555 due to the blind crests and curves. Route 800 is a good route as well. Route 78 is another favorite of mine. I'll usually ride 555 once a year, and I hate it every time I ride it. |
Xb9
| Posted on Friday, January 18, 2008 - 04:58 pm: |
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Never forget my first time down 676 on the XB, There's a blind jump that is awesome. Reminds me of the IOM TT videos..... First time down 676 I didn't know it was there, looks like your just cresting a small little hill but it drops off and goes wayyyyyy down..... hit it doing about 90 or 100.....wasted the bottom of the muffler on landing...glad that bike flew well and stable! |
Lost_in_ohio
| Posted on Friday, January 18, 2008 - 06:06 pm: |
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My knowledge of the road is first hand. I don't think that there is anything as sinister as repo corvette runs. I think it is just locals dragging gravel into the corners with poor driving. Not to say that there is not the occasional high speed vet jaunt. I have had several instances of left of center drivers on this road. Adding to the pucker factor. Have no illusions about this road it is not a good quality two lane highway. It is a very secondary road. I have to agree with the list of other roads above. 26 has the potential to be great once they get the culverts fixed. But with that said the weekend traffic on these roads is increasing at an alarming rate. So I advise extreme caution if you ride them on a weekend. I prefer a week day. Dave is right that Jump is a lot of fun. Scared the crap out of me the first time. |
Lost_in_ohio
| Posted on Friday, January 18, 2008 - 06:09 pm: |
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has anyone ran 141 out of ironton? You guys are giving me spring fever. (Message edited by Lost_in_Ohio on January 18, 2008) |
Mikef5000
| Posted on Friday, January 18, 2008 - 06:38 pm: |
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Alright, here's my complete list of good Ohio roads: *164 - From Youngstown to Leesville 278 - From 56 (East of Hocking) to Nelsonville Loop: 13 North out of Athens 78 North 60 East 550 West out of Marietta 78 - From Clarion to Murray City (Caldwell to Glouster) 800 - From 250 to Woodsfield (78) 105 - Bowling Green to Lake Erie **536 - Hannibal to 78 26 - Marietta to Woodsfield 146 East from 800 to Ohio River 541 - Martinsville to Coshocton ***374 - Rt. 33 to Rt 56 _______________________________________ * = Rt 164 is an EXCELLENT road in northeast ohio ** = Rt 536 is supposed to be Ohio's Dragon, but I have yet to make it, just heard rumors. *** = Rt 374 is short but it has a couple sections of very tight corners. Lots of fun, but it runs through the heart of hocking hills, so lots of traffic. |
Lost_in_ohio
| Posted on Friday, January 18, 2008 - 07:24 pm: |
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536 looks good it is on the list for early spring. |
Mikef5000
| Posted on Friday, January 18, 2008 - 08:35 pm: |
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Be very careful in early spring. They spray a lot of cinders and gravel crap along with salt down there in the hills. That stuff sticks around for awhile too. |
Ft_bstrd
| Posted on Friday, January 18, 2008 - 09:55 pm: |
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Triple Nipple?
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Lost_in_ohio
| Posted on Friday, January 18, 2008 - 10:15 pm: |
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The area has a lot of coal mines and heavy industry, well used too. The whole teflon in the water thing Sooooo, she very well could live down there. Anyone else going for a ride tomorrow? mid afternoon temps low teens. |
Brumbear
| Posted on Friday, January 18, 2008 - 10:51 pm: |
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WOW I gotta hit the latrine I might love her |
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