[shadow5606]

So I'm out in Arizona the first week of August on a business trip. I would love to ride the X out but I've got a two month old son at home and don't want to leave momma alone for that long.

I'm thinking instead that I might just rent a bike for a few days. Fly into Phoenix, go north to the Grand canyon and back to Phoenix. I'll have 4 days to do this.

I've done all my riding out east but as silly as it sounds, riding a motorcycle in the desert has always been my biggest fantasy. Maybe I've just watched too much Easy Rider but this is a really big deal for me.

So, if you know the area and have any good tips for me about routes, riding in AZ in general or anything else I'd appreciate hearing it!

 

[MacGuy]

Well to start out with, just be careful it's extremely hot this time of year, today it is expected to hit 117. So north rides are recommended because it will be a lot cooler. If you start out in Phoenix one of the best rides I have done is to take the I-10 west to the 60 west (actually runs kinda north west) to Wickenburg, just pass Wickenburg take the 89 to Prescott (this is an extremely fun road with a lot of desert twisties. Once in Prescott stay on the 89 to the 89A which goes to Jerome (you will get a kick out of this little town it is literally built on the side of a steep mountain and used to be a mining community). Stay on the 89A which will take you into Sedona which is a beautiful red rock town, and make sure to bring a camera. From Sedona you could continue north to the grand canyon or take the I-17 back to Phoenix, but it's a great start that has a lot of cool things to see and some fun roads. If your here on a Saturday let me know I'll go riding with ya!

 

[shadow5606]

Thanks for the tips, I may look you up. I'll be out there from 08/02 thru 8/05 which is a Thursday - Sunday trip.

I'll have to warn you though, I'll be sad about leaving my X at home and likely will be renting a Harley so you'll have to go slow to let me keep up!

 

[jaberjaws]

Well to start out with, just be careful it's extremely hot this time of year, today it is expected to hit 117. So north rides are recommended because it will be a lot cooler. If you start out in Phoenix one of the best rides I have done is to take the I-10 west to the 60 west (actually runs kinda north west) to Wickenburg, just pass Wickenburg take the 89 to Prescott (this is an extremely fun road with a lot of desert twisties. Once in Prescott stay on the 89 to the 89A which goes to Jerome (you will get a kick out of this little town it is literally built on the side of a steep mountain and used to be a mining community). Stay on the 89A which will take you into Sedona which is a beautiful red rock town, and make sure to bring a camera. From Sedona you could continue north to the grand canyon or take the I-17 back to Phoenix, but it's a great start that has a lot of cool things to see and some fun roads. If your here on a Saturday let me know I'll go riding with ya!

Watch out for the PO PO on Yarnell Hill. Right now they have a sting going nearly every weekend. And if you are on the down side of the hill watch out for elephant curve. Remember......'it's not a crotch rocket, 'it's not a crotch rocket, 'it's not a crotch rocket'

 

[MacGuy]

Thanks for the tips, I may look you up. I'll be out there from 08/02 thru 8/05 which is a Thursday - Sunday trip.

I'll have to warn you though, I'll be sad about leaving my X at home and likely will be renting a Harley so you'll have to go slow to let me keep up!

I might be taking a trip to Utah that weekend but I'm not sure yet, if not I would love to ride with you, and don't worry I'll make sure you stay with me even if you are renting a Harley :wink:

 

[shadow5606]

Oh hey, while I'm at it. Do you know of any good little hole in the wall motels in between Phoenix & the grand canyon?

I think I'd rather stay in a cheap dive in the middle of nowhere than a chain hotel in a city.

 

[Dtoolman99]

One of my favorite trips are to go to the North rim of the Grand Canyon,stay the night there and hit the south rim the next day and head back to the Phoenix area.Phoenix to the south rim is only about 250 miles,done the south rim and back a few times,easy one day jaunt.Personally,I think the north rim is better,if you can get to both while you are here,do it.If MacGuy is not around,look me up,I'll putt with you or both of you.

 

[shadow5606]

Yeah, we could turn this into a show the tourist around VTX meet. I wish I could do it on m bike though... Just got some new Dunlops on and it handles soooo great!

 

[72chevman]

From Mesa, go Northeast to Tortilla Flats. The road is posted 25 mph. It is very hilly and curvy. There is one restaurant in tortilla flats as well as an ice cream stand. The food there was awesome. The lake that is up there is also crystal clear and like glass for skiing. The whole time I drove the road to and freom in March, I kept thinking how much fun it would be on the X.


http://www.tortillaflataz.com/

 

[Dtoolman99]

Yeah,that road is twistie 8) ,it can be a bit of a floorboard scraper.I like to go there to keep my tires round.Riding out here tends to make your tires flat in the middle.Plenty of lo......ng straight roads,as far as you can see.

 

[MacGuy]

Yeah, we could turn this into a show the tourist around VTX meet. I wish I could do it on m bike though... Just got some new Dunlops on and it handles soooo great!

Yeah, we should definately all get together, it would be fun.

 

[shadow5606]

So I've always imagied this ride where I'm going down this long straight desert road, straight & flat for miles with nothing but cactus.

Could I expect anything like that where I'll be riding or does that sound more like Nevada?

 

[Dtoolman99]

You can pretty much count on that,and lots of rock formations too.Up north a little ways is the painted desert,an awesome ride through there,not the road,but the scenery.

 

[shadow5606]

all right, well I'll be landing in Phoenix on Thursday morning, having lunch with a friend and hitting the road from there.

I think I'll take 60 out of town up through Wickenburg and then head out through Jerome & Sedona. Probably try to pick up that part of Route 66 between Ash Fork & Kingman and then up to the Grand Canyon and whatever else I can get done between Thursday & Sunday.

If anyone still wants to meet up with a VTX rider on a Harley feel free to drop me a PM and we can trade phone numbers.

Thanks again for the trip ideas and any more if anyone chimes in.