Diamond Back Loop (226 & 226A)

0 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Sport

Rode the full Diamond Loop (226A 80) yesterday, on a beautiful, sunny fry fall day. I agree that 226A coming up towards the Parkway is a road with fantastic curves and huge fun potential. However, local authorities completely ruined the road; it is over and over covered with bitumen smearings winding in all directions. They make leaning into the curves a hasardous adventure. My StreetTriple R has fresh and warm Pirelli Diablo S tires with wonderful grip, but after the third bend with my rear wheel slipping on bitumen I gave up--and I am talking about moderate curve technique, no extreme hanging-off. To make things worse, there was sand in multiple curves on the upper half of 226A. There is hope though: The asphalt or route 80 is perfect and the road rightfully famous.

93 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Sport

Drove this road March 2015. 226A repaving is completed and is now in excellent condition.
Hoping to get a lot of riding on this road this summer.

0 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Cruiser

This is a great ride but the route we call the Diamondback Loop doesn't include Highway 226 it is Highway 226A and Highway 80 also known now as The Devil's Whip along with part of the Blue Ridge Parkway that connects the 2 roads.

Don't get me wrong highway 226 is a great ride but will have a lot of traffic including truck traffic 226A is restricted to trucks and is less traveled then 226.

0 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Sport

Just visited the Diamondback this past weekend on a beautifully sunny day with perfect weather conditions. This is a fantastic riding road if you're just meandering along. However, I agree with another reviewer about the road patches, specifically on 226A. The asphalt smears cause really unnerving feedback from the front and rear tires. Moderately aggressive cornering made both tires feel like they were covered in oil. If you intend to ride this road aggressively, make sure you take out a hefty life insurance policy... The little cafe in Little Switzerland near the northern end of the loop was INCREDIBLE!