Motorcycle Riding In Beautiful Arizona

Motorcycling through Arizona should be on the top of every motorcyclist’s bucket list. After all, who wouldn’t want to wind their way through dry deserts dotted with cactus and across deep canyons lined with the beautiful red rock? In fact, some of the most famous motorcycling routes pass right through Arizona. With over 300 days of sunshine each year, Arizona is a motorcycling mecca for bikers around the world.

The beautiful ride through Arizona

Desert Rides Galore

The routes through the deserts in Arizona could be some of the best rides in the state. Where else could you ride through the Sonoran Desert, the Mojave Desert, and the Painted Desert all in the same weekend? Ride past prickly pears, Chinle rock formation, or Yuca palm trees, daydreaming about the Wild West or scenes from Easy Rider. While hot at night, the desert can at times get surprisingly cold, so be sure to pack appropriate clothes and plenty of water.

Mountainous Terrain

Arizona isn’t just full of desert and rock – to the North are beautiful, lush forest mountains that get snow-covered in the winter. The Santa Catalina Mountains boast a 6,000-foot elevation climb to the top of Mt. Lemmon. This beautiful drive is well worth the change in altitude. Afterward, you can cruise down the mountain to Saguaro National Park to ride Cactus Forest Drive for some spectacular views.

Route 66 motorcycle rides Arizona
Get Your Kicks on Route 66

It doesn’t get much better than riding Route 66 on your bike. Historic Route 66 runs all the way through Arizona, winding past painted cliffs, desert strips, and ancient Indian ruins. You can pass 200 million-year-old fossils in the Petrified Forest National Park and watch the sunset in the Painted Desert.

A couple of notable stops to make on Route 66 in Arizona…

Holbrook, AZ – “Wild West” Heritage town is the gateway to the Petrified Forest National Park. Located in Northeastern Arizona. 

Joseph City, Arizona – Five miles West of Joseph City, AZ you will find another great opportunity for a unique selfie. At the Jack Rabbit Trading Post, you will find a 10-foot high jackrabbit with a saddle across its back.

Seligman, Arizona – “You Kill It, We Grill It” is the mantra of the Roadkill Café; a dining adventure famous for its burgers.

The Grand Canyon –  Considered one of the Seven Wonders of the natural world, the Grand Canyon is a rare combination of geologic color and erosional forms fill the Grand Canyon. It is 277 river miles long, up to 18 miles wide, and a mile deep. Located in Grand Canyon National Park, it is the 15th oldest national park in the US and a UNESCO World  Heritage Site.

Arizona Motorcycle Laws (as of Feb 2016)

Before you hit the open road in Arizona, it is important to understand  Arizona’s motorcycle laws so you can avoid citations or injury.

·      Helmet Use – Arizona does not require all riders to wear a safety helmet. Riders under the age of 18, however, are required to wear DOT-approved helmets. There are no restrictions on the use of helmet speakers.

·      Eye Protection – Riders must wear appropriate eye protection. If their motorcycles have windscreens, they may be able to avoid wearing eye protection.

·      Modulated headlights – are allowed

·      Handlebars – must be below shoulder height. Any handlebars that require a rider to rest his or her hands above their shoulders while riding are prohibited.

·      Passenger Seat and Footrests – required when carrying a passenger

·      Turn signals – are not required

·      Passenger age – no restriction on the age of a passenger

·      Muffler – required and no cutout, bypass, or similar device may be used.

·      Motorcycles operating two abreast in a lane – is allowed. Two motorcycles may ride in a single lane – but no more than two abreast in a single lane.

·      Lane Splitting – not allowed. Motorcyclists are not allowed to pass or overtake a vehicle in the same lane. Motorcyclists are not allowed to ride between the lanes of traffic or between adjacent rows of vehicles.

Ride with the Law Tigers

Before you hit the road on any Route 66 adventure make sure you download the Law Tigers app!

“As America’s Motorcycle Lawyers, we are always looking for ways to support and give back to the riding community,” Ari Levenbaum, V.P. of Marketing and Operations said. “While we hope that riders never require our services, in the event of an accident, the Law Tigers mobile app is an indispensable tool.”

The Law Tigers App Features:

•   Recording accident info. The Law Tigers app allows you to record all relevant accident information – including the other party’s insurance information, statements, accident photos, and videos – in one place.

•   Alerting authorities. The first thing that pops up is an emergency hotline so you can immediately report an accident as soon as it happens. GPS technology helps you pinpoint the motorcycle accident’s exact location.

•   Offers helpful tips. Curious about what you should do after a motorcycle crash? Need to know the location of the closest hospital or auto repair shop? The Law Tigers app can help.

•   Call your motorcycle attorney. One of the first things you should do after a motorcycle crash is to contact your motorcycle accident lawyer. He or she can offer prompt advice, and the app makes that call with the touch of a button.

Download the Law Tigers app now! 

arizona motorcycle law app