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Arizona

2K views 18 replies 13 participants last post by  Medic09 
#1 ·
I just spent a four-day weekend in southern Arizona between Tucson, Sierra Vista and Tombstone.
There are lots of bikes in the area (far more than in Oregon, the sunshine I suppose) of which at least 80%, if not more, are Harleys. I saw one BMW, a few Jap bikes, no Ducatis and no Triumphs. Very different bike population to these parts.

The "Harley outlaw" image is very big down there. The guys all look the same.

No helmet law and the majority of bikers don't wear them.
:hammer:

Another thing - those three wheel "motorcycles", trikes or whatever they are called (butchered Harleys I believe) are really big down there. Saw lots of those, especially on Sunday when dozens of them were on the roads. The only one of those I've ever seen up here was on the Interstate passing through.

Interesting part of the country though. Would like to get the Tiger down there. Only problem would be the wind - it can really blow there.
 
#7 ·
On 2007-06-12 00:54, hidesert wrote:
Do the three wheeled things you're talking about have motorcycle engines? Lots of people in northern New Mexico have trike kind of things that have chromed out V8 musclecar engines in them.
Hidesert I really never looked at them so I could not say. But now that I think about it some of them seemed to have an awful lot of chrome, could easily have been V8's.

Sweatmachine I would love to get up to the part of Arizona you travelled. I hear it is pretty awesome up there. Nice pics
 
#8 ·
Great pics! Its been way too many years since Ive been to Arizona.
 
#9 ·
I live in AZ,and you're right. Harleys are like a$$holes.Everybody has one. I like Harleys fine,in fact I have an old Ironhead Sportster. But please,there are other motorcycles. And the "Outlaw Biker" thing is big here. There's a chopper shop on every corner. HAMC is high profile here. Sonny Barger lives here.

I don't see all that many trikes around here. I wonder if they were having some kind of rally, coinciding with your time here? Most of the trikes I do see, are converted Lead Wings,ridden by guys who are too old ,or too crippled up, to hold up those road barges anymore. Its cool that somebody makes it possible for those guys to still ride. It might not be a bike,but it's gotta be better than a cage! When I get to that stage, I think I'll get a sidecar outfit instead.

:chug:
Cheers!
Bruce
 
#12 ·
After spending 2 long years living in Tucson, I have to say that area is one of the worst for riding. Other than the ride up Mt Lemmon or Arrivaca Rd there is no twisties to speak of. The summer temps make it almost unbearable to ride and to get to any decent cooler temps you have to ride for hours. The bike scene is all geared to the "Harley Clone" types. I was so glad to get the hell out of there and back to N. Cal where there is so much variation of riding roads and events.

Hasta la vista Arizona
 
#13 ·
Gerryo.....I lived in Tucson for 12 years and have to agree with your assesment. A severe shortage of interesting roads to ride and miserable weather 8 months out of the year. That and a Triumph dealer with the worst service department I have ever dealt with. I was so happy to leave Tucson for SoCal but I still love to watch Lute's Wildcats play.
 
#15 ·
Sal.....103! Lucky you! A friend and I rode a 115 mile breakfast route this morning and it was 78 degrees when I got home.

When I read your post I was envious of the Bikini Wash though so I asked Mrs. Wildcat if she would put on her bathing suite and wash my bike for me. She said that as soon as I finished cutting the front lawn in my Speedo's she would be happy to. I figured I'd better just put the bike away and spare the neighbours. :wink:
 
#16 ·
Sal, yeh I rode yesterday to a Antique bike show/swap meet less than 30 min from my house and then took a relaxing ride along the delta road (that's like a Desert Wash only with water flowing in it) and when I got home in the afternoon it was a balmy 83 degrees. Yeh I really miss Tucson :-D
 
#19 ·
It's pretty hard to miss it, when the trike is built around a V8 car engine. They tend to be quite a bit bigger than the motorcycle-based trikes. There's a fella here in Santa Fe, at the Fab Shop, who builds and repairs quite a few of them. Stictly a fair-weather machine, as far as I can see. Not real maneuverable, either.

Bike-based trikes are pretty common here. The venerable Goldwing is a pretty popular base for them, though you do see Hardleys and others. Accessory Pit in ABQ does a nice job making them.

This area is definately Hardley country, as far as image and all goes. I just bought a used Sprint ST, and my wife (on a Shadow VLX) commented how most of the riders we see don't have a clue what it is, or what it's for. If it doesn't say H-D, and doesn't have a gazillion expensive, useless accessories and clothing to go with it, it doesn't cut it.

Those who like the Harley look and position and want a reliable bike buy Japanese cruisers. Those who have the money and want a touring bike tend towards BMW.

And of course, no helmets. Makes lots of business for us to fly to neuro centers in Phoenix and other places.

And that's the news from NM at this hour... :cool:
 
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