EV motorcyclists from across the U.S. rode into Deals Gap, NC in April for Electrics at the Dragon.

This EV Rider post and episode is sponsored by the Historic Tapoco Lodge, a Deals Gap area tradition since 1930 that includes level 2 charging for guests with EV’s.

All the riders that attended had a few things in common: a love for electric motorcycles, comradery and exploring the great outdoors. Zero E-Michigan YouTuber Karl Bloss rode in from Michigan on his Zero SR/S, tallying well over 2000 miles in the saddle.

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“Last year, I trailored my bike down but this year I retired and I had time, so I took ten days to ride all the way down here,” Karl said.

John Lever also owns an SR/S and says out of all the motorcycles, he’s owned, the Zero ranks at the very top. “Currently I own a Ducati Multistrada. I’ve also owned two Honda Gold Wings, an [Honda] Africa Twin, Suzuki Burgman, a Yamaha FJR 1300 and a Tracer 900.”

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Rounding out our trio of SR/S owners is Bob Thurstans. Last year he rode in all the way from California. This year Bob decided to rent a SR/S from eMotor Powersports, in nearby Robbinsville, which is similar to his personal bike. 

“Another feature that mine has is the Rapid Charger and the Double-J. I was able to ride it across from from California last year. I did the coast to coast, had a little help from Scott. He gave me a list of 29 chargers that I might potentially use on the drive across and I used about. 26 of them.”

Bob is referring to Scott Harkless, who invented the DJ Rapid Charge system which allows Zero SR/S and SR/F owners to use two J-1772 charging outlets simultaneously in conjunction with Zero’s, optional Rapid Charger setup. Scott is now turning his attention to Zero’s DSR/X lineup and hopes to get a DJ Rapid Charge into production for it by the end of the year. 

“It’s in the works as much as it can be. The system will work because this [DSR/X] is basically the same drivetrain. It’s just the mechanics that need to be worked out. I’m working with Zero on that to get the parts I need to get that all worked out, so stay tuned,” Scott said. The system for current generation Zero Ss, SR/Fs and SR/Ss is available at eMoto Design.

Larry Bergsneider came in from Auburn, AL with his 2018 DSR, which he uses for a lot of off roading. “I try to keep up with the KTMs and the BDRs (Backcountry Discovery Routes) and the rallies. I try to keep up with them. I do OK,” Larry said.

This year, rather than ride or tow my personal Zero SR/F from Jacksonville to the Dragon, I decided to rent a Zero DSR/X from eMoto Powersports in Robbinsville, which is about 20 minutes or so from the Dragon.

eMoto Powersports owner Austin. Ammarell and his buddy Christian Mergner are the co-founders of Electrics at the Dragon. “We just came up here with two of us on our electric bikes. I had just gotten a fast charging system for an older version of this bike [Zero S] and he had a little Supermoto that went 40 miles on a charge,” Austin said, adding, “We kind of both said, ‘you know, it would be awesome if you had a whole group of us up here for a weekend.’ And so I posted in the Facebook group, right when I got home. I had eight people show up the first time, some on gas bikes, some on electrics, and it grew from there. “

The Tail of the Dragon is on U.S. 129. It features 318 curves in 11 miles, beginning in North Carolina and quickly winding its way into Tennessee. If you’d like to learn more about the Dragon, visit the official Tail of the Dragon website.

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Electric motorcyclists from across the country will be gathering at the Tail of the Dragon in Deals Gap, NC for a week of enjoying breathtaking roads, adventure, fellowship and fun April 20-27, 2024.

Electrics at the Dragon is held each spring as EV motorcyclists make their way up the twisties to the Deals Gap/Robbinsville, North Carolina area, which is nestled deep in the Great Smoky Mountains. 

Electrics at the Dragon 2024 event page

This year’s event is scheduled to run a full week, beginning at noon on Saturday, April 20 and concluding the following Saturday.  

It officially started back in 2020 when 13 riders on 10 electric motorcycles made their way to Deals Gap after a 2019 informal gathering proved there was interest. 

Electrics at the Dragon has grown to the point that it helped create a seasonal business. Organizer Austin Ammarell and his partner launched eMoto Powersports in 2023. They saw so much interest from electric motorcyclists in riding the Dragon that they decided the time was right to invest in renting EVs. Their shop currently has 4 EVs for rent; a Zero SR/F, DSR/X, SR/S and an Energica Eva Ribelle. 

That means this year you don’t even need to own an electric motorcycle to attend. If you’ve got a gas bike you can still come and then rent an EV to see what it’s all about. 

For those of you that will be riding in for the first time, you might be pleasantly surprised to find out that the area’s charging infrastructure is probably a bit better than you might have guessed. 

Some of the riders will be staying on a property with three houses with enough power outlets to keep the EVs charged each night. 

The historic Tapoco Lodge has 3 Tesla destination chargers and a j-1772 plug for EV motorcycling guests to use.  All modern EV motorcycles can use Tesla destination chargers with an adapter (see 2nd half of this story/video for details).

At the heart of the Dragon there are three Level 2 chargers: a j-1772 plug, a NEMA 14-50 outlet and a Tesla destination charger.  

eMoto Powersports also welcomes riders to use its onsite NEMA 14-50 i and j-1772 plug. The j-plug is 48 amps so Zero Motorcycles riders with Rapid Chargers will be filling up fast.

Some area AirBnBs also have outlets that are fine for recharging EV motorcycles overnight.

As you tour the area, you’ll find a solar-powered Level 2 charger at Fontana Dam and of course there are chargers over in Knoxville. 

Another good riding destination is Franklin, which has a variety of Level 2 and Level 3 chargers. 

You might also be pleasantly surprised to learn just how much range you’ll get on an EV motorcycle in the mountains.  

Thanks to the generally slower speeds on curvy roads and regenerated energy  EV Riders get, you’ll probably see a good 20% or more range than you’re used to seeing back home on when blasting around the interstates. 

EV Rider is planning to be at this year’s Electrics at the Dragon. I hope you’ll join us for the fun and if you’ve enjoyed the video at the top of this post please give it a like and subscribe to the EV Rider YouTube channel.

The post Make Plans Now: Electrics At The Dragon 2024 appeared first on EV Rider.

Finally! There’s an easy way to experience the thrill and beauty of riding the Tail of the Dragon and the Great Smoky Mountains on an electric motorcycle. 

eMoto Powersports recently opened at 165 North Main Street, Robbinsville, NC; offering Energica and Zero EV motorcycles for rent, ranging from two hours to two weeks. 

At the time of this post’s publication eMoto’s fleet included a Zero SR/F, SR/S, DSR/X and Energica Eva Ribelle. 

EV Rider headed up from Florida to North Carolina to check out the new business and spend a glorious day on a Zero Motorcycles SR/S and Energica Eva Ribelle; hugging beautiful mountain roads filled with creeks, curves and a canopy that was just beginning to show a few peaks of fall color. 

eMoto Powersports Owner Austin Ammarell started riding in the area in 2018 and got the idea for his business after so many fellow motorcyclists started approaching him with questions about EVs. “Every time we’ve come here, half the time we can’t leave on time because people are bombarding us with questions about bikes. What they do, how far they go on a charge,” said Austin.  

He originally owned a 2018 Zero S, putting close to 80,000 miles on it. “It paid for itself in three years,” he said, referring to the money he saved as compared to what he was spending in gas for his previous car.

Austin’s idea blossomed as the years went by when he and his partner were able to save enough to purchase a building perfectly suited for EV motorcycles rentals. It had recently been renovated and includes lots of wood and stone flourishes that produce a nice backdrop for the bikes.

eMoto Powersports has an onsite Level 2 charger for EV motorists of all types traveling through Robbinsville. Austin and his partner are also willing to offer their expertise to help other area businesses install chargers in the region to help grow the electric vehicle tourism industry.

While I was visiting, EV Rider YouTube channel viewer Rory Danner rode up from Atlanta on his 2020 Zero Motorcycles SR/S to check out eMoto Powersports. Atlanta is about 140 or so miles away. Rory has already put about 30,000 miles on his SR/S.

“The only maintenance I’ve done is tires, and every day I get up, I go down to the garage, I have a full tank. It’s ready to go,” said Rory. He says out of the 30 motorcycles he’s owned over his lifetime, the SR/S is his favorite. The two Kawasaki Concours that Rory owned are probably the most directly comparable to his Zero. 

The highlight of the greater Robbinsville area for motorcyclists is US 129, which is affectionately known as the Tail of the Dragon. The stretch of road passes through Deals Gap, NC and beyond. It’s known to automotive and motorcycle enthusiasts for its 318 curves in 11 miles. 

The heart of the Dragon includes what’s called “the Tree of Shame,” which is a collection of motorcycle parts that some riders have lost in curves that they couldn’t quite handle.

Electric motorcycles offer a big advantage in those sharp curves for several reasons. The Zeros and Energicas have high levels of regen, which quickly slow down the bikes when heading into turns. Because there are no gears, coming out of the turns is also easier since there’s no need to worry about shift points. The EVs don’t have manual transmissions.

The EV motorcycles include ABS and stability control to increase the odds that a rider won’t lose traction at any point in a turn. The bikes have a variety of riding modes to accommodate the varying skill levels of motorcyclists.

While riding at the Tail of the Dragon, the Historic Tapoco Lodge just up the road hosted me. The local landmark has nearly 100 years of history behind it. 

The lodge been hosting motorcyclists, auto enthusiasts and adventurers since 1930. It’s nestled on the banks of the Cheoah River, offering a wonderfully picturesque spot to stop for a drink, lunch or dinner; even if you’re not spending the night or weekend. 

The lodge offers modern amenities such as wifi, microwaves and is EV motorcycle friendly with four Level 2 j-plug and Tesla destination chargers on site for guests. 

I’d highly recommend both eMoto Powersports and Topoco Lodge to any motorcyclist considering a trip to the area. The riding experience is among the best you’ll find anywhere and renting an electric motorcycle is a great way to get a feel for where the motorcycling industry is headed. 

Words can only do so much to express the beauty that the Robbinsville and Deals Gap areas have to offer.  

To get a better feel, be sure to watch the video at the top of this post, and if you enjoy it, please be sure to give it a like and subscribe to the EV Rider YouTube channel so I can continue to bring you more adventures in EV motoring. 

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