Tail of the Dragon, 1,300 miles in

As we approached 1,300 miles on the odometer, it was time to push the Shandoka power system to do more...

A destination for many, Highway 129 offers a challenging road through mountain splendor.

In late April 2024, we took our electrified 1983 Yamaha to the far end of western North Carolina for a well-known border-crossing adventure on US Highway 129. This stretch of road combines curves with twists and tangles, and winds its way through a staggering 318 curves in only 11 miles.

As with many mountain passes around here, the history of the Dragon includes some bootlegging of liquor. For a long time it was just a gravel pass road, and it became a driver's destination almost as soon as it was first paved, around 1929.

Of course we'll be back to ride the Dragon again. It's practically out the front door at the Mars Hill shop!

Looking for an electric sport bike? Our Ninja 250 system uses the same power system we tested at the Tail of the Dragon, on a sport-bike chassis that loves to dip into the curves. The Kawasaki Ninja 250 is the world's best-selling sport bike of all time, with more than 2 million sold around the world before the 300cc engine was added to the same frame.