I am going to be in Phoenix on business later this month, but have every afternoon free. I would like to rent a bike and do some desert sightseeing. Could I get some suggestions on afternoon excursions? I don't want to ride after dark on unfamiliar roads, but would like a nice 4-5 hour bike ride each day. Would like some suggestions on good HD rental dealerships around Phoenix if known.

I've never rented a bike before. Do I need to take my own gear, or can I rent from the dealership?

Do I need to ride with a helmet in Az?

 

Hacienda Harley in Scottsdale rents bikes. I just bought one of their former rentals I'm pretty sure you will need to provide your own gear. As for helmets, it's your call if you're an adult.

I'd look into taking route 87 up to the Payson area. It's a nice day-trip.

 

This time of year you will have to consider if you are willing to gain altitude and therefore get much colder during the ride. A really nice 4 hour loop would be from Mesa on State Highway 60 to Globe ( a little altitude gain but not too much), SH 70 down to Safford, then to I-10, back to Tucson on the I-10 freeway, and home to Scottsdale on I-10. Lots of pretty mountains and big wide valleys.

If you want to see true Sonoran Desert go west on I-10 to exit 112, go south to Gila Bend ( "Hela" ) on SH 85, east to I-10 using SH 238. This is a very picturesque country two-lane that goes thru parts of two Indian Reservations. There are some very tight curves going over a ridge just east of Gila Bend. Then comes some farm land (mainly cotton) and some 90 deg corners for the highway. Easy 3 hour trip if you take I-10 back north to Phoenix/Scottsdale. Alternately, You could take some more country roads north into SW Phoenix if you have the time.

Another four hour trip (max) would be to leave Scottsdale on SH 60 loop to the west past I-17 and turn NW on US 93-US 60 to Wickenburg (old west theme). Then take US 60 over to Quartzsite. An interesting place this time of year. There may be as many as 10,000 to 20,000 snowbird motorhomes, travel trailers, fifth-wheel trailers and pickup campers parked there. Huge flea market. Then take I-10 back to Phoenix/Scottsdale. Wickenburg and Quartzsite are both worthwhile seeing. Hardly any elevation change in this trip. Huge open valleys lined with mountains in every direction. ......... BC

 

I posted this information on a ride I recently did -- just as you are inquiring about -- from the Phoenix area. Ian is the guy you want to deal with at Hacienda Harley. Don't bother going to Buddy Stubbs for a rental. Hacienda has a wider selection.

You will have to take your own equipment.

Now here is some ride information:

Got some information from fellow HDFORUMS member, Steve Boston, about where to go on a recent trip my wife and I made to Phoenix. That, in itself, was a nice benefit of membership to this site. Good friendly input about local points of interest as shared by other members.

Headed out of Phoenix/Scottsdale area after renting a Heritage from Hacienda Harley Davidson in Phoenix. Nice folks. Headed west on 74 (Carefree Hwy) to where it ends at 60 This took us through the desert and beautiful sights of cactus everywhere. Turned right (northwest) on 60 and took that into Wickenburg, a nice little town worth further exploring -- someday. Stopped at a little shop in town called "The Pony Espresso" for a cup of something warm and a cinnamon roll. That was a must-do on your next trip!!! Then we headed out of Wickenburg on 89, through Congress, up Weaver Mountain (nice steep run) and through Yarnell. Then on the approach to Prescott, the roads got really good -- nice twisties and up and down, and the scenery was great!!! This was all part of Prescott National Forest. We went through Prescott, then headed out 89A which took us over Mingus Mountain and into Jerome. Again, some really great roads there too! Nice hairpin turns, steep drops, great scenery, etc.... From there we went through Clarkdale and Cottonwood into Sedona. The approach to Sedona is beyond description -- other than beautiful red mesas suddenly jutting up out of the horizon, and awesome peaks and bluffs as far as the eye can see.

When we got to Sedona, we asked of a local for a good place to see some scenery (like that was hard to come by!) and also get something good to eat. He told us to follow him (in his Porsche Boxster) to the Sedona Airport -- and we were not disappointed! Nice place, good food at a reasonable price, and the road up and back was cool too.

Since the day was getting on, we just opted for the quick route back to Scottsdale -- but that was awesome as well, heading back to Cottonwood, then cutting south on 260, and picking up 17 back south. Great roads, and some nice winding highways.

I believe that this trip is around 300 miles. It might make a better two-day trip, with an overnight in Sedona, and venturing out some back roads for photo opp's, but we just didn't have time.