Bugs!!!
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Tourer
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 336
Likes: 0
From: Queen Creek, AZ
Chicken. 
I do sometimes, but not much (maybe 1000 miles) during those months. And I never wash or dust my bike (cars for that matter) during monsoon. Now that monsoon is over she sparkles again. We do have great riding here, for sure. Being native to AZ, growing up in Flag and having family in Payson, Gilbert, Kingman, and Richfield UT. I get to see some of the greatest sights in the country.
Oh yes I am totally joking. June/July suck for riding, though. I just bought a Recurve Shield from board member Gunny. It's currently in transit. I'm excited to give it try.
Sometime we do exactly that. Head up the hill early Saturday AM. Ride the rim all day. Get a hotel, party and head back down first thing in the morning. Makes for a good weekend.
Seriously? You don't ride between May and October? That's some of the best riding time in the state; White Mountains, Coronado Trail, 89A, etc. Not to mention Utah, Colorado, California and New Mexico.
There's no dodging the bugs. After a day ride I just use S-100 detail and wax to get the bugs off, also makes it easier to remove them the next time. Even easier if you drape a wet towel over the area for a few minutes to rehydrate the bug guts.
There's no dodging the bugs. After a day ride I just use S-100 detail and wax to get the bugs off, also makes it easier to remove them the next time. Even easier if you drape a wet towel over the area for a few minutes to rehydrate the bug guts.
Uhhhhhhh there is no such thing as "riding season" in Phoenix. 
Or Tucson where I used to live, or Vegas where I live now. I hope your'e trying to make a joke about it being too warm to ride and you want to avoid the bugs but live in the desert. I find my LRS recurve keeps em out of my face, beyond that pressure washer at the carwash works well
Or Tucson where I used to live, or Vegas where I live now. I hope your'e trying to make a joke about it being too warm to ride and you want to avoid the bugs but live in the desert. I find my LRS recurve keeps em out of my face, beyond that pressure washer at the carwash works well
I agree that you can ride all year in the valley, but summer afternoons can be a little tough when the temps are above 110, especially if your ride has been sitting in the sun for a while. Mornings though at that time of the year are heaven, leave early and head for high country.
Sometime we do exactly that. Head up the hill early Saturday AM. Ride the rim all day. Get a hotel, party and head back down first thing in the morning. Makes for a good weekend.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 19,982
Likes: 6,110
From: Florida
Bugs (well, actually KILLING 'em) has made me a decent living for the last 10 years. So I don't hate 'em. But the lovebugs are out in Florida as we speak for their twice a year 2 week nuisance, and I can't ride anywhere without making a mess of my RoadKing. Wish I knew where they hid 48 weeks out of the year so I could get 'em while they hibernate.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,364
Likes: 110
From: Mesa, Az.
There are quite a few places in Arizona you can't ride in the winter due to snow and ice.
Last edited by joe.1955; Sep 21, 2013 at 06:07 AM.
Arizona is a big state with elevations from around sea level to over 12,000 ft. Parts of it (around Flagstaff) get several feet of snow most years. Other parts like the valley (Phoenix area) are pretty temperate in the winter. I do wish I was going to be there this winter instead of Portland!
Ok, I live in Phoenix. Here the riding season ends in May and begins in October. With that said, last weekend I spent most of the day detailing the bike and swapping fluids in all 3 corks.
I took a quick ride last night and hit quite a few bugs...
So my question is, what is the most effective way to dodge all those pesky bugs??
I took a quick ride last night and hit quite a few bugs...
So my question is, what is the most effective way to dodge all those pesky bugs??
In SE Texas, as in Florida like dickey said, the lovebugs are terrible twice a year for about two to four weeks. They'll pit your paint if you don't remove right away and they seem to be harder than most to remove. Seriously, the valley is about as good as it gets for motorcycling. Can't wait to return permanently!
I'm not looking forward to eight months of cold rainy weather! Well at least the bike will look great when I get to ride it next June!
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,721
Likes: 372
From: Tonopah Az
I am out in Tonopah and the last few nights are cooling down so we went for rides on Thursday and last night and yea the bugs are out. I spray them with Meguires detail spray and the come right off. But the weather is going under 100 now for a while so RIDE.
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 586
Likes: 1
From: White Rock BC
Bugs
I use a bucket of VERY hot water, let a microfiber cloth soak in it for a minute and then lay the cloth on the fairing ( do not wring out water) for 3-5 mins. Bugs come off easily, no chemicals.