Might be moving to Phoenix area,,,first ride suggestions?

[TuffguyF4i]

Hey guys!  I interviewed for a job out there with a company that is just south of the airport.  Not sure where i want to live yet...trying to find a location that most deem as safe for a young couple with a baby on the way.  

So,,,if i move there, where should my first ride be?  I'm a twisty chaser, and a normal ride for me would be 200-300 miles.  

I'm looking at a few routes that look nice and twisty.  Rt 88, some of 60,,out to the north and north east part of the state.  

Thanks and maybe I'll be able to meet some of you soon!!

[olderigetfasteriam]

Lots and lots of great riding...our region will chime in soon I am sure. Get an Az. map and look for squiggly lines. Beware of the summer heat as you cannot get enough water but it is certainly easy to go North and get out of the heat.

Check out the Mogollon Rim, Payson, Prescott etc. etc.. Can't go wrong...and welcome.

P.S. 191 should be kep to oneself.

[Black Ice]

Welcome to the AZ, where we have more great riding than you can comfortably shake a stick at!

Try 89A from Flagstaff to Wickenburg.  It's not entirely twisty beginning to end, but...well, let's just say that when there's a "No Trucks Over 40'" sign, it's there for a very good reason...!!  

DO NOT screw about with AZ88 unless you're on a dual-sport.  It's 22 miles of silt and washboard ruts, with no guardrail and large 4WD toy haulers around every curve.  I did it on a street bike...ONCE.  

Oh, yeah--if you come down here, you have to meet me.  It's a requirement of AZ residency.  

[Mr.Black]

First, ride AWAY from Phoenix.

[TuffguyF4i]

Thats for the heads up guys, and the warm welcome.  I should know next week whether the job is a go.

I will certainly let you all know and meet up with anyone who is willing to meet me.

[Jetboy]

North or East in the summer and south or west in the winter.  You will find the roads!  Check out how the freeways flow during your commute time before settling on a house.  The further north you are in Phoenix Metro area the closer you are to cool weather in the summer.

[roadthing]

Hey guys!  I interviewed for a job out there with a company that is just south of the airport.  Not sure where i want to live yet...trying to find a location that most deem as safe for a young couple with a baby on the way.  

So,,,if i move there, where should my first ride be?  I'm a twisty chaser, and a normal ride for me would be 200-300 miles.  

I'm looking at a few routes that look nice and twisty.  Rt 88, some of 60,,out to the north and north east part of the state.  

Thanks and maybe I'll be able to meet some of you soon!!

FYI: The city of PHX is a shit hole. Central PHX south of Sky Harbor is a REAL shit hole. If you work there: A) Don't park anything that you value out of your line of sight. B) Carry a large calibre pistol.

General rules for your bike: LOAD UP your insurance AZ is an insane hot spot for motorcycle theft. There are way too many uninsured/uninsured "drivers" here (read: illegals and meth-heads). Lock it, lock it, and triple lock it, and then check again in any of the urban areas of AZ. It gets stupid hot, so make sure your tires, cooling system, and hydraulics are 100% Make sure your gear is OK for insane heat   Everybody with a brain rides up north out of the valley EARLY to avoid the head, and heads back home in the early evening, to avoid the scorching sun. The highest pump octane you can get is 91 (just like in CA). Registrations are simple for vehicles: Tax is based on the age/value of your vehicle, and you own the license plate. A vehicle in Maricopa County only needs a smog test when it is 5+ years old. There are no yearly state mandated "Safety Inspections", like in NJ or NY.

For places to live GO NORTH of the city into the 'burbs! You can get some great deals on rentals, and homes now (whole other story).

First ride? I'd take Black Ice's suggestion. 89A is an all around great road that pretty much never loses it's attraction.

Any questions, feel free to PM me. Other than that...Welcome to planet Crematoria!   (Sorry for the Chronicles Of Riddick reference.  

[Black Ice]

A vehicle in Maricopa County only needs a smog test when it is 5+ years old.

All of roadthing's advice is spot on...and bear in mind the smog test INCLUDES BIKES.  Yep, not even the Communist Regime of CA does that, but Pima and Maricopa counties do.  

[buls4evr]

 

   In AZ  out to Globe, 60, Salt RVR canyon, Show Low, Payson, also 260. Then 191 is a thrill too. And don't forget the Eastern NM roads that are also within range like 78 and 180 and 152. About the only really BAD direction is South for you . Ride now! IN 2 months it will be pretty hot as stated. Oh yes...altitude = cool in the summer. NM is higher than PHNX and so is Flagstaff. You will never run out of great roads there....only time.

[sagerat]

Longest stretch of Route 66 in the country goes from about I-40 around Seligman to Kingman, then down to Oatman.  Pretty mundane road, but nice historical aspect.  

[thecap]

Or if your just looking for some thing "in town" take a quick jaunt up South Mt.  Just head S. on Central and you'll run in to the entrance of the park, oh and the third sunday of every month is silent sunday so don't go then as it's block off for hikers and bicyclists.

[sagerat]

the third sunday of every month is silent sunday so don't go then as it's block off for hikers and bicyclists.

/threadjack on
Hmm, still don't see how they can legally do that if federal funds were involved in the road's construction.

And is there a "no holier-than-thou" wknd when hikers and cyclists are banned from South Mountain?  
/thread jack off

Another nice ride is AZ 260 along the Mogollon Rim and AZ 88(?) out to Saguaro, Apache, and Canyon lakes.

[TuffguyF4i]

FYI: The city of PHX is a shit hole. Central PHX south of Sky Harbor is a REAL shit hole. If you work there: A) Don't park anything that you value out of your line of sight. B) Carry a large calibre pistol.

General rules for your bike: LOAD UP your insurance AZ is an insane hot spot for motorcycle theft. There are way too many uninsured/uninsured "drivers" here (read: illegals and meth-heads). Lock it, lock it, and triple lock it, and then check again in any of the urban areas of AZ. It gets stupid hot, so make sure your tires, cooling system, and hydraulics are 100% Make sure your gear is OK for insane heat   Everybody with a brain rides up north out of the valley EARLY to avoid the head, and heads back home in the early evening, to avoid the scorching sun. The highest pump octane you can get is 91 (just like in CA). Registrations are simple for vehicles: Tax is based on the age/value of your vehicle, and you own the license plate. A vehicle in Maricopa County only needs a smog test when it is 5+ years old. There are no yearly state mandated "Safety Inspections", like in NJ or NY.

For places to live GO NORTH of the city into the 'burbs! You can get some great deals on rentals, and homes now (whole other story).

First ride? I'd take Black Ice's suggestion. 89A is an all around great road that pretty much never loses it's attraction.

Any questions, feel free to PM me. Other than that...Welcome to planet Crematoria!   (Sorry for the Chronicles Of Riddick reference.  

Sounds great!! Thanks for the advice from everyone.  

1)  Have pistol(s) will carry.   Will have to probabally re-take all my permit classes.

2)  I will need all new gear.  I'm outfitted for the NE.  I don't even own a textile jacket for warm weather.    I could skip riding for the 3-4 super hot months.  I'm used to not riding oct-march right now during winter.   No biggie.

3)  The location i will be working is in a very nice area, but just industrial.  It is just south of the airport 5-6 miles.  
Is that area regarded as south phx?  I'm having a bit of a hard time figuring out what areas are good and bad....at least while being 2000 miles away.  I'm clearly looking at Scottsdale since its only 25 mins away.  Prices look ok...not amazing, but ok.  
How far north would you suggest?  Can you name some counties?  
My home price range will be 200-300k.  I'd like to keep it under 250k but i would feel better about it, if i was in a nicer area where home values will not drop off even more.

THANKS!!

[yotes65]

Welcome to the Hottest Oven in the World... Let's know when you arrive & I'm sure some of us could meet you for a "Welcome to AZ Ride".

Another great simple little ride would be to take the 60 East of Phx to Superior, South on 177 to Winkelman. Then North on 77 up to Globe. Grab a bite to Eat and then continue on 188 North to 87. Turn Left /South on 87 and head back into Phx/North Scottsdale. This route is approx 270 Miles.

Another good route would be 87 North from Phx up to Payson. Take the 260 NW from Payson passing thru Pine/Strawberry and continue to Camp Verde crossing the I-17 going to Cottonwood. Take 89A towards Jerome and continue heading South to Prescott.  Go through Prescott & enjoy the White Spars while continue heading South on 89. Connect to the 93/60 South bound & head towards Wickenburg. Continue back into Phx. Once you ride down Yarnell Hill (approx 23 miles North of Wickenburg) the ride becomes... pretty damn boring unless you like straight roads. EDIT: This route is approx 325 Miles.

Hope this helps...

[yotes65]

For a great over night trip.... take 87 North to Payson, 260 over to Show Low, South on 60 to Globe, 70 over to Safford, 191 up to Springerville & spend the night. Have Dinner at Java Blues in Springerville. Wake up the next morning and do the same route in reverse. This route one way will be approx 500 miles... depending where you start & end in Phoenix.

A couple of my friends & I will be taking this route for a Az Only SS1000 at the end of April...  


Another fun overnight trip would be to take 87 North to Payson, continue North to 209 (Lake Mary Rd) then toward Flagstaff. Catch 89 North to 89A (North Rim Turn off) over to Jacob Lake. Spend the night in Jacobs Lake. Depending upon your arrival time, head South to check out the Sunset at the Grand Canyon North Rim. If you can not make it, head down in the morning before you leave.

When leaving, take 89A East/South back towards Flagstaff. However, before going all the way to Flagstaff, while heading South on 89, turn West on to 64 to head over to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. From the South Rim, take 180 South to Flagstaff. just South of Flagstaff, just a mile or two, take 89A to go thru Oak Creek Canyon & Sedona. Continue on 89A to Jerome & to Presscott. Take a break in Prescott for the heck of it. Continue South on 89A to Yarnell/Wickenburg to connect to 93/60 to head back to Phx... this route is approx 880 miles round trip...

Enjoy!

[sagerat]

How far north would you suggest?  Can you name some counties?  
My home price range will be 200-300k.  I'd like to keep it under 250k but i would feel better about it, if i was in a nicer area where home values will not drop off even more.

Keep in mind Western counties are gigantic when compared to the boroughs, townships, and counties in the East.  You'll probably be living in Maricopa County.  

When I was there - ahem, 20+ years ago - South Phoenix started south of the railroad tracks extending to South Mountain Park and between 35th Avenue and 40th Street.  Avenues begin west of Central and eight blocks equal one mile and streets begin east of Central.  South Phoenix also had a mix of poor black neighborhoods cheek by jowl with middle-class neighborhoods and/or rural property.

[Black Ice]

Sounds great!! Thanks for the advice from everyone.  

1)  Have pistol(s) will carry.   Will have to probabally re-take all my permit classes.  Likely not.  Unless things go sideways, we're about to pass Constitutional Carry.  

2)  I will need all new gear.  I'm outfitted for the NE.  I don't even own a textile jacket for warm weather.    I could skip riding for the 3-4 super hot months.  I'm used to not riding oct-march right now during winter.   No biggie.  Mesh is your friend.

3)  The location i will be working is in a very nice area, but just industrial.  It is just south of the airport 5-6 miles.  
Is that area regarded as south phx?  I'm having a bit of a hard time figuring out what areas are good and bad....at least while being 2000 miles away.  I'm clearly looking at Scottsdale since its only 25 mins away.  Prices look ok...not amazing, but ok.  
How far north would you suggest?  Can you name some counties?  
My home price range will be 200-300k.  I'd like to keep it under 250k but i would feel better about it, if i was in a nicer area where home values will not drop off even more.  Dude, trust me...you're good.  LINKAGE

THANKS!!

[roadthing]

TuffGuy, be advised: Just because a neighborhood is in Scottsdale, does not make it good. Far south S'dale not so good. North Scottsdale, stuck-up wannabes trying to impress each other.

Skipping the hotter months, bullshit!   When you see the sun shining, and not a cloud in the sky, you will be riding. Just do it early (VERY early). Just watch for the "monsoon" season (total misnomer). I have seen bikes with covers knocked clean over, and have gotten caught in a dust storm between PHX and Tucson. That shit isn't fun.

As was already mentioned, you have to dismiss your conception of counties. If you are working in Maricopa, odds are you'll be living in Maricopa as well...Unless you are a glutton for punishment.

Dude, South Phoenix is a total shit hole. I cannot come up with an area in the north east to compare it to. It is truly an element unto itself. Also, the traffic in and out of there can rival I-95 when a tanker truck jack-knifes Trust me on that, I moved here from Long Island, NY.

It looks like everybody is giving you excellent advice   I guess we will all be eagerly anticipating your potential arrival!

[Jetboy]

You will pay for the Scottsdale address.  Same house a few miles west in Phoenix will be 20-30% less with lower taxes and potentially better schools.  I live near the intersection of the 51 and 101 and work a few blocks north of the airport.  20-25 minutes to work.  51 is the consitently best freeway if you have to commute.  If you want to be on the north side of town I suggest Desert Ridge and Deer Valley areas.  South of the airport consider Chandler, good school system.  Everything will be Maricopa county, the size of Rhode Island.  Far east valley spills into Pinal county but building codes are pretty slack in Pinal and taxes are higher.

[TuffguyF4i]

Awesome stuff guys...  I should have posted "where should i live, if i get to phoenix"?  Since i turned this into a home/location thread.  

So....knowing all about the traffic condition....you all know what my spending limits are.... Here is the approximate location of where i could be working.  

3000 East Broadway
Phoenix, AZ 85040

Could you all suggest the best place for me to start my home search?  I really do hate long commutes...i'd think about 30 mins max.