While there are plenty of BDR routes to choose from in the Northeast and throughout the Western U.S., there hasn’t been anything for our friends in the Southeast. The Chattahoochee BDR-X is a 350-mile loop through the mountains of northern Georgia. It intersects the Appalachian Trail several times, runs through the Chattahoochee National Forest, and includes pavement, challenging two-lane roads, numerous water crossings, and gravel roads where you’d expect to see Sheriff Roscoe P. Coltrane once again chasing the Duke boys. Although Hazzard County is a fictional place, the route passes through the very real towns of Ellijay, Dahlonega, Suches, and Helen (yes, Shadetree Surgeon, just because you can’t get to Helen on a motorcycle without breaking down doesn’t mean it’s not a real place).
As usual, BDR released a trailer before the full film and the route itself were released. Everything we see here backs up the bold claims they’re making about the newest BDR-X, a shorter alternative to BDR’s main routes that loops back to its starting point. Kirk Lakeman, Tim James, Louise Powers and Jess Hofherr put their bikes through their paces, showcasing the best this route has to offer. Unlike many other BDR routes, the Chattahoochee BDR-X is far enough south to be rideable almost year-round, between March and December. That sounds like a fun outing for northerners to either extend their riding season or start it early.
In the comments section of the trailer, some are speculating that parts of this route are taken directly from the Smokey Mountain 500, a route you can find here on our forums. In fact, Elijay and Suches are right on the southern part of this route, and Helen is practically a stone’s throw away. To find out for sure, we’ll have to wait until the film and route premiere on September 19, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time and 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time, respectively.
