The Arizona Motorcycle Experience ®

2009-04-09T12:09:00.000-07:00

Another flawless rental from you guys. The BMW 800ST was a lot of fun and in perfect condition; it was the ideal ride for the twisty stretch of road on HWY 89 between Yarnell and Prescott.
Thanks again and I look forward to seeing you next year.
---David, From Toronto

2009-04-08T16:10:00.000-07:00

I had a BLAST on the F800st - and I enjoyed meeting you and Gabor - thanks for an exceptional experience - one thing that was important to me as a solo woman rider was that I have a safe machine to ride - I left your shop w confidence and was not disappointed. Thanks, you guys. MM

2009-04-01T19:23:00.001-07:00

It was a great day and a badly needed break for me...long overdue!
Definitely will see you again in the future!!!

Richard from Tennessee

2009-03-27T16:42:00.001-07:00

Monica, we had an excellent time and highly recommend your service. Bikes were well maintained and the whole process was smooth and trouble-free. A picture of one of our stops on the mountain passes in Eastern AZ:Thanks, Tom

Pete from New York

2009-03-27T16:40:00.000-07:00

Thanks for the great ride and service. Gary and I took a nice loop through Payson, Cottonwood, Presscott and Wicksburg. It was a real work-out for me, just getting back from a bout with pneumonia. The bike performed very well, more vibration than I'm used to on my "K", but still very enjoyable.
When I'm back in town, I will look you up again.

Thanks, Pete

Incredible 4 Day Ride

2009-03-18T18:59:00.002-07:00

I just returned from a 4 day riding trip with 2 friends. Not much went as planned but I wouldn't have changed anything.

Day 1 - Phx to Patagonia........stayed at Stage Coach Motel.....Hit the saloon for some karyoke.
Day 2 - Patagonia to Somwhere near Safford.......Camped at riverview campsites.....if you can find it you should camp there.
Day 3 - Somewhere off Sanchez Rd to Show Low....Camped at Fool Hollow Lake....it's a popular "not rugged" campsite and very nice.

Highlights.....191...191...191.....RIDE IT!! Tombstone is fun also.

This is my second time renting from Monica and Gabor.... Their advice is unrivaled and I don't think anyone maintains their bikes like Gabor (almost bought one that was on sale from them).

spring break for Dave 2009

2009-03-18T16:27:00.003-07:00

Thanks for such an easy time from first contact, to end of ride. Thanks for a wonderfully maintained LT, help with routes, invaluable help with hints for maintenance, cleaning, and for talking with someone who loves to ride. I am a happy customer. I came needing a break, and the experience was more than I had hoped for. Thanks. Dave

AZRide, Scottsdale, AZ

2009-03-08T18:55:00.002-07:00

Just rented a BMW 1200 LT over the weekend for a ride to Karchner Caverns. The bike was great, obviously well maintained, and performed in excess of my expectations.

AZRide "folks" are just the best; so nice, so competent, really know what they are doing and make the whole rental process easy so you can focus on the ride and not the rental. Again, they're the best!!!!

Is this a blog or an endorsement?

Thanks!!!!

Pepe Corazon

Great winter break.

2009-03-08T18:04:00.003-07:00

Jen and I spent a week in Arizona visiting her family and riding a GS around the state. The service and the bike from AZride were great.

We got up to the radar dome:

Greasewood Flats for lunch

Four Peaks

Sedona

And the Apache Trail:

We both had a great time riding in such beautiful country. We'll be back to AZride again when we're back in town! :~)

All photos of our trip are HERE.

Steve and AnaMaria from Ottawa Canada

2009-03-03T12:33:00.003-07:00

We had a wonderful four days of riding around central and northern Arizona. Monica and Gabor were very helpful and knowledgeable about not only the bikes but also which roads were the most scenic to ride.

While you might find a place to rent a motorcycle for less money, you probably won't be able to beat the expertise and personal attention provided by AZRide. Monica and Gabor delivered on their promise and provided motorcycles that were in immaculate condition. The gas tanks were full to start our ride and they even handed us free detailed maps and water bottles(you'll need these "it's a dry heat" as they say).

The following is a list of must ride routes if you are thinking of heading north from Phoenix:
Highway 89A from Prescott to Jerome then Sedona, you'll find high mountain passes and technical twisties with no room for error.
The ride up to the Grand Canyon was arrow straight however the approach to the south rim westbound on 64 was nice enough and once in the Park the road is beautiful you'll spend as much time on foot appreciating the view as you will on the bike. It's a long full day there and back from Camp Verde your better off to stay in Flagstaff.
Southbound 89A from Flagstaff to Sedona was a wild ride, you drop in elevation very quickly along the side of a mountain and all of a sudden your in the heart of Sedona.
Be sure to travel the 260 from Camp Verde to 87 and 188 for long fast sweeping curves that never seem to end who knew highway riding could be so much fun.
Highway 88 from Apache Junction to Tortilla Flat (beginning around Goldfield Ghost Town) was amazing it was rare to get out of second or third gear. If you are on a dual purpose bike you can continue from Tortilla Flat to Roosevelt.

All in all the only disappointment was that we only had four days to enjoy it all. Next time, and there will be a next time, hopefully we can spend at least a week.

All the best and enjoy it while you can!
Steve and AnaMaria Maxwell

Bob & Beth from Massachusetts

2009-02-23T15:01:00.002-07:00

I just want to say thank you, you made renting two bikes for three days so easy to do. The bikes were beautiful, low mileage, well equipped, and so clean we got comments from many people that we talked to along the way. Arizona was such a great place to ride with little traffic and great roads.My only problem is that after riding the R1200GS and seeing the one you have for sale, it looks like Beth wants to move up from her V-Strom.

Austin and Dominick from Michigan

2009-02-23T14:57:00.000-07:00

Thank you, the bikes were great and we really enjoyed ourselves.

Feeniks ride

2009-01-17T15:27:00.002-07:00

We went to a place called Feeniks because it was warm there. Dad brought this large shiny object home one day. It had lots of buttons and lights on it. There was a "B", an "M", and a "W" too. Is that a word?

The next day, he had to take it back. Waaaaah!

Alex's Arizona Motorcycle Adventure

2008-12-14T21:53:00.004-07:00

Some highlights from my Arizona Adventure - 1478 miles in 4 days:

BMW F800ST: Gorgeous machine, got compliments at almost every gas station.

Scottsdale to Grand Canyon through Flagstaff - the scenic route.

...and back. What a day that was...

The Grand Canyon: Pictures don't do it justice.

Racing the sun back to Scottsdale... the sun is winning.

Taken at a scenic overlook, about 25 miles south of Flagstaff.

...Sedona to Payson... one of the National Parks along the way.

Beautiful roads, beautiful weather, beautiful bike.

Fountain Hills, AZ.

Scottsdale to Prescott.

Payson to Scottsdale. AZ has amazing sunsets.

2008-11-24T13:33:00.007-07:00

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My bike had been in the shop for almost the entire last month of good Midwestern motorcycling weather, so by the time I got it back I had a seriously unsatisfied motorcycling jones. Poking around on the internet brought up a lot of Harley Rentals in a lot of places, all of which were pretty boring Sportsters for too much money. It was looking like it was going to be cheaper to ship my bike than to rent one for 6 days. When I found AZRide/MCtours I was very happy, because they had a whole stack of bikes I wanted to try out and a winter "Mileage Saver" option that hit the right price point. I got some info and a couple days later booked the BMW R1200 GS I had been dieing to try since the first time I watched Ewan and Charlie in "Long Way Round".

>When I first spoke to Monica on the phone, I could tell this was a really well run and experienced organization, because my long list of questions were being answered before I even got a chance to ask them. Upon arrival, everything was set and waiting for me. Monica led me through all the paperwork and explained all the options I had, and then Gabor gave me a great run down of the bike and all of it's features and precautions.

Gabor sat down with me to go over the maps of where I was hoping to go and clearly knew the roads and conditions he was recommending, because everything he told me was spot on and indeed some of the most spectacular scenery I had ever had the pleasure to ride through with lots of great hills and twisties along the way. I didn't make it to even half of what I had optimistically planned to see because I was enjoying every bit of road and every turn I went around.

I'll make it up to Zion National Park and down to some of the other observatories in Tucson on my next trip, and yes, there will be next trip. Thanks again Monica and Gabor. It was a great trip on a great bike.

Check out the photos I took on my Flickr account.
Phoenix to Sedona to Grand Canyon
Tucson the observatories at Mt. Lemmon and Kitt Peak
Panoramic photos

Jeff from Boston

2008-11-17T20:35:00.003-07:00

Here's what the RT looked like coming down from Prescott last month...Thanks for that!

And the taxi arrived so quickly that I didn't get to say what a good experience this bike was (again this trip).
What a luxury to fly in to Phoenix, take a short cab ride and get on a motorcycle that is in perfect condition. Easier, actually than owning one and storing it between trips.

So thanks, again for your good work.

A pleasant surprise

2008-11-15T19:59:00.003-07:00

I was very pleasantly surprised with the entire experience. The little things make a big difference.

Your bikes are immaculate. I'm in no hurry to trade my K12S for the GS I rented but it was great to experience the broad capability of the GS.
Since I had no idea even where to begin to ride, I really appreciated your mapping out a beautiful day trip route for me that was just right!

I look forward to enjoying the AZRide experience again in January! Thank you. / Mike from NY

Tom and Carol from Chicago

2008-11-05T19:23:00.002-07:00

Monica and Gabor were excellent hosts to work with. First they have the foresight to rent out exceptional BMW products and then their personal attention to our needs made the trip a standout in all ways! A great trip that will not soon be forgotten

220 miles of the most beautiful country anywhere...

2008-11-02T20:52:00.003-07:00

When I discovered that I needed to be in Arizona for business, I knew that I needed to see more of this state. After searching online, I found the following at AZRIDE:

My friend Glenn was riding his Sportster you see in the picture above. After the wonderful staff at AZRIDE had all my paperwork filled out, we headed East on 60, leaving Phoenix behind us. We passed through Apache Junction heading to Superior. Our planned route would take us South from Superior on RT 177, passing through Kearny to Winkelman. From there we headed North on RT 77 to Globe. From there RT 77 merges with RT 70 and wraps back into RT 60, heading back to Superior, and eventually back to Phoenix.

There is no way to accurately describe the scenery. So, I will just have to show the highlights:

This picture says it all. One happy rider.

Next time, we will head North, and for more than one day.

The Arizona Grand Adventure

2008-10-28T19:25:00.005-07:00

Thanks for a great time in Arizona everything was first class, especially the BMW1200RT, what a bike. We took the Arizona Grand Tour north, slightly modified. Day two we stayed at Lee Ferrys Anglers Lodge and took a whole day to see the North Rim, it was awesome. The next day we were heading to Page and Monument Valley. Got a flat as we were coming in to Page, called AZride and Gabor came up from Scottsdale with a new wheel. Got back on the road late afternoon and got into Kayente at dusk, no more rooms available. We carried on through Monument Valley in the dark, not recommended it was scary. We lucked out in Mexican Hat and got the last room at the Hat Rock Motel, a very nice place. We stayed in Eagar Best Western and I did the Rt.666 loop solo with out bags, what a sweet handling bike and what a ride. Took a side trip near Alma NM. to Mogollon mining town, nice ride. Salt river canyon was awesome, also took a trip to Tortilla flats, a must do ride and then back to Phoenix. It was a trip of a lifetime totally awesome.

Thanks again
Gunther and Anita Burlington Canada

Marc & Wendy from White Shore, NY

2008-10-22T18:42:00.002-07:00

Thank you thank you thankyou. We had a great trip. The Cozy Cactus was great. Your bikes are flawless. Heres a pic of me and my shadows.

All the best

The Miller Group

2008-10-22T18:32:00.002-07:00

... want to thank you and Gabor for your part in a fantastic vacation. I've been an independent in the service business for 35 years and great service is the number one reason I'm still going strong. I started talking with you over a year ago,about comming to AZ , and not once did I feel like I was just a "number" to you. The motorbikes were in top shape and thus we had everything we needed to have the "Time of our Lives". I'll be back!
~ Brad Millerfrom New Hampshire

We did have a great Arizona experience. Highlights of our 1700 mile journey were the White Mountain twisties, the twisties both east and west of Prescott, and the grandeur of Monument Valley. Thanks for all your help.
~ Mike from OR

We'll be back next year!

2008-10-22T18:22:00.003-07:00

Paul from AZ and Gary from Florida

Squeezing in a ride…

2008-10-22T18:09:00.002-07:00

Being in Scottsdale for four days for industry meetings, I managed to squeeze in a treat for myself involving an early morning ride up 87 through Payson and on to Pine before heading back to return to work.
It was a beautiful ride on a very nice machine. I was amazed at the changes in scenery… from desert and cactus to scrub brush and boulders to piney woods and elk (?!) within 100 miles of Scottsdale.

I only wish I would have had more time… then and now.
John Key from Texas

BMW 1200RT: More than I Expected

2008-09-22T03:56:00.003-07:00

I unexpectedley ended up renting an immaculately prepared BMW1200RT and was pleasantly surprised by the experience. It didn't seem to have quite as much go as my 1200GS which has a full aftermarket exhaust, but at the end of my 1500 mile trip I was very impressed with its Bavarian cousin. I don't think that I'd want to own one, but as a mile-munching tourer, it was faultless (and economical!). Things like the electronically moveable screen; touch-button suspension adjustment; heated grips/seat; and cruise control were all used to great effect. I've used Harleys for touring in the past, but if I'm looking to cover ground at speed in relative comfort, it has to be a European/Japanese tourer.

A great trip, and here are a few of my photos:

- Early morning dash for sunrise at the Grand Canyon

- Showing French Harley riders who was "the Daddy"

- Storm at the petrified Forest

- The mother of all junctions in Flagstaff