AZride.com Experiences

2011-06-17T16:08:00.003-07:00

Thank you so much!! It was the ride of a lifetime and the bike preformed perfect!!

Melissa didnt much care for 89A from Prescott to Jerome but I cant wait to ride it again!!!!

Nick

2011-06-17T16:05:00.004-07:00

Thanks again for the great rental and good service. I’ve added your business to our club’s link page:
http://www.beeceebeemers.com/links.htm
Hope to see you next year!
Best Regards, Glen Taylor

From the road

2011-06-17T16:03:00.000-07:00

Bikes are great! Having a fantastic ride! Sending a couple pics. One pic is of two beamers, John

2011-06-17T15:58:00.000-07:00

I live in the Phoenix area and have been considering the purchase of a Yamaha FZ6R. I wanted to spend some time riding one before making a purchase. With the recent cool weather we've been having I figured now was the perfect time.

I arrived for my reservation almost an hour early but Monica and Gabor were able to have me on the road in no time. They are both very friendly and their shop is immaculate. The Yamaha was spotless and looked like a showroom bike that had never been ridden.

I spent the first few miles riding in traffic and getting used to the bike. I stopped by my work to show off to the guys. Later that night I took the bike out for a little after midnight street strafing.

The next morning I packed up and rode out to Bartlett Lake, northeast of the valley. What a beautiful trip! Aside from some wind and a few sprinkles the weather was perfect and the scenery was beautiful. The twisty road to the lake was nearly deserted and never dull. The bike was mechanically flawless. I hated to have to head back to return the Yamaha.

I would definitely recommend MCTours to anyone in the Phoenix area that wants to experience the freedom of a motorcycle while enjoying all of the beauty that Arizona has to offer.

2011-06-17T15:52:00.002-07:00

just wanted to say thank-you. From the first phone call about renting a goldwing, to getting us set up at the holiday inn, to helping us with our self tour to the grand canyon. It was a pleasure doing business with you both.....thank you kevin

Our Sedona Trip

2011-05-31T06:29:00.003-07:00

We had an outstanding vacation in AZ -- from Scottsdale to Sedona. AZ ride was one of the best parts of the trip. We rented BMW's from Monica and Gabor --and they were just super nice and helpful.

Desert

2011-05-29T03:51:00.002-07:00

A fantastic service from Monica and Gabor from booking to bye bye. BMW RT bikes were well looked after and prepared. Advice on route and desert riding was welcomed.

2011-05-21T09:03:00.006-07:00

Our daughter moved to Scottsdale last year and now we come down to visit more often. But there is always something to bring or haul back to California, and the car with all the luggage, extra goodies, etc. left my bike at home. I had really wanted to bring my ride and get away and explore all the back roads. AZRide.com solved my problem by letting me get away and enjoy a ride through some great scenery, visiting the historic towns along a great loop was fantastic and offered some great photography spots.

I picked up the ultra clean, fueled, turn key ready 1200GS and headed out for Payson to the north east. With rain in the forecast I came prepared with my own jacket & equipment, but Monica asked if I needed any! The clouds only raised the stakes of finding some solo time on the road. And I did, clearing out my head and getting back to the basics of enjoying the back roads and taking the road less travelled.

I looped back around from Payson and headed down along Roosevelt Lake toward Globe. The rain was only in spots and posed no problem especially when it's 75 degrees and you dry out in about 3 minutes.

Lunch in Globe and then I stopped in Miami Arizona, not yet a ghost town, but maybe the twilight zone. Only one person around sitting in a car, and most of the shops closed including this very cool looking Soda Fountain that appeared under restoration. Hope they open it soon and draw some more people into this wonderful little town that could be so much. I'm sure it was at one point. Main Street is one block over from Highway 60, and well worth the detour over some awesome little bridges. But look out for that woman standing on the sidewalk with that "take me with you" look in her eyes.

I can't thank AZRide.com enough for completing my trip with 24 hours of bliss exploring and taking in what you don't find most of the time.

Great customer service, great bikes, and great advice on where to ride.

2011-04-09T18:35:00.000-07:00

In my line of work, there are often missed opportunities when staying cities far from home. I like to get out and explore whenever I can. Even when time is tight, there's so much to experience and it's closer than most people think. Today was no exception.

I had scoped out AZRider.comthe night before knowing that I would have the afternoon free in Phoenix upon arrival in Arizona. So after a quick checkin at the hotel, I rushed over to MCTours and though I would call ahead next time to help Gabor and Monica set my paperwork up, everything went very smoothly and I was on my way within minutes. I had clear instructions and good sense of where I was headed. And the recommended ride of @ 150 miles fit my afternoon schedule perfectly. I wasn't rushed at all. In fact, I enjoyed several stops for a photo or drink of water.

The first open stretch took me North East on Hwy 87 where I turned off and swept my way south again through mixed desert and rock country that followed a green bed of cottonwoods that familiarly disclose where the water runs in this otherwise dry zone.

The Apache Trail (Route 88) was especially enjoyable with its consistent sweeps then tighter turns. I got lucky. There was virtually no traffic this day and the sun was comfortably warm. I rolled one way, then the other with light shifting, not trying to break any records but happy to have a clear path ahead of me both there and back.

In Tortilla Flat I met some local riders and we shared some stories and laughs before reversing tracks towards town. It was a nice interlude on an otherwise solo afternoon adventure.

All in all, I was happy I made the effort to get out for the ride and I will certainly do it again when in Phoenix. I would happily recommend MCTours/AZrider.com.

Until next time, Thanks

Josh

2011-04-08T13:09:00.003-07:00

I had a great time and I know my cousins did too!!! I wanted to say thank you for everything. The bikes ran fine, the scenery was breathtaking and the weather great.

We will rent from you again next time.

Thanks again,
Ray Jasinski

Arizona Adventure

2011-04-06T13:22:00.000-07:00

I just visited Arizona for the first time. As an avid cyclist, I knew that the best way to get a great feel for the area and maximize my experience would be on a motorcycle. I found AZride.com by surfing the web. I called and was able to reserve a BMW RT1200 in a few short minutes.

I met Monica & Gabor the morning I picked up the motorcycle. Both were very accommodating. Monica had an excellent knowledge of Arizona and was able to map out a number of great trips. Gabor walked through all of the features and functions of the RT1200. The bike was immaculate and an indication of the care and pride that AZRide takes with their inventory. This was very refreshing. Gabor’s knowledge of motorcycles was very impressive. Both Monica and Gabor were very engaging and I could have spent the morning chatting with them.

I took a number of side trips and did the obligatory ride up the Apache trail to Tortilla Flat. It is a very scenic ride and a nice destination. I had lunch at an outdoor grill; ate a Bronco burger and listened to some live C&W music.

I toured the Carefree / Cave Creek area on another side trip. I found a great stop called Harold’s Corral. The place is very lively and they made a great Bloody Mary (drank just one).

Overall, it was an awesome experience! I will definitely make another trip to Arizona and will rent a bike from Monica & Gabor. I highly recommend their services.

2011-03-28T15:50:00.000-07:00

Thank you for the superb service. I'll definitely come back in the future!I have friends coming over from Israel and they'll be the 1st to hear about you guys.

Regards, Shahar from Israel

2011-03-26T20:37:00.000-07:00

Thanks again for a great weekend on the BMW's.
We certainly appreciated the professional way all the details were handled and needless to say the bikes were flawless. We had a great ride doing the Coronado trail aka the 191 and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a scenic and challenging ride. That 1200 RT was a pleasure to be on.
Hope to do it again in the future, John Baker

2011-03-21T18:20:00.000-07:00

Thanks again, you two, for your years of running a great business: AZRIDE. Certainly made my life better. I do think I'll be out in June. Photo from last week at Taliesin West. - Jeff

Wonderful Arizona Ride

2011-03-18T17:57:00.002-07:00

We made a trip back to Arizona and rented bikes from AZride. Can't tell you how great the riding was...nothing short of breathtaking. The folks at AZride made all of it possible. The communication and help prior to renting was fantastic...they were patient, answered all our questions and walked through all the requirements. The bikes were in fantastic condition both cosmetically as well as mechanically. They weren't "our" bikes but definitely the next best thing. Last but not least, they had the best prices in the Valley. I would highly recommend enjoying a ride when visiting Arizona and I would definitely recommend AZride for helping you do that.

2011-03-17T12:34:00.000-07:00

I had a wonderful ride and really enjoyed the R1200RT. It's truly a great touring machine. I wish I could have taken more time to get a little further away from the Phoenix area but what I saw there was fantastic. I had a nice ride out to Tortilla Flat and Gabor's suggestion of taking the back way in was great. I also had a very nice ride up to Sedona and took 17 to 69 to 89A and really enjoyed the ride down into Jerome. I took 179 out of Sedona and then 260 over to 87 and back into Scottsdale. I've not been on 260 west of Payson before and that was a real treat. Very little traffic and lots of great views.

Take care and I look forward to doing business with you again sometime.

Best Regards,
John Hamilton

2011-03-10T11:14:00.000-07:00

Many thanks for facilitating such a wonderful weekend. I enjoyed the experience immensely.
I had a terrific evening at the Biltmore and was able to enjoy a hearty dinner at Hillstone (formerly Houstons).

Thanks again for everything.
See you soon …

Jeff

Mesa to Bisbee via Tombstone

2011-02-28T19:58:00.010-07:00

Coming from Seattle to Phoenix for a conference at the end of the week, a buddy and his wife and I decided to arrive early and rent bikes for a two day trip to see the lay of the land. While they are Harley people, I decided I'd like to try an R1200RT instead to see what it was like (I ride a Suzuki V-Strom at home)--and AZRide was extremely accommodating! They are great people to work with and their friendly and helpful attitude made the experience all the better. Since I came straight from the airport, they happily stored my luggage, making it completely care free for me to don my gear, grab the bike and head to my hotel without having to worry about lugging a suitcase with me. Next time I'm in Phoenix, I'll definitely rent from them again!

Our all too short trip took us out of Phoenix on Monday morning along as many back roads as we could find, with our first stop at Casa Grande National Monument. It was an interesting look back in time.
I'm amazed how long a structure can last that is essentially made out of mud. I've seen ancient stone castles, and even been inside the Great Pyramid in Egypt, but a mud brick building that has been around for almost a thousand years is still mighty impressive.

From there we headed out and the thing that struck me the most was how long, flat and straight Arizona's roads can be. Having been used to the twists and turns and ups and downs of coastal and mountain riding back home, the flatness of the desert riding was totally new to me. Of course, it was still fun, as just being on a bike brings on a joy that can only be 'experienced' and never be adequately or sufficiently described to a non-rider.

We stopped for lunch at Lupe's (don't remember the town but it was at a crossroads) and I had another 'first.' I tried a drink I'd never even heard of before--Horchata. It's just rice milk with cinnamon in it, served over ice. There's apparently also some sugar and possibly another ingredient or two, but all I know is that it was totally refreshing and I'd happily order it again. They said it was also good served hot, but on ice was perfect after the hot ride. I had a 'chicken burro' with it (no 'ito' here). All good, and while it may not look like much on the outside, we really enjoyed our lunch.

From there we rolled on to eventually make it into Tombstone. I gotta say I was impressed with how much everyone made you feel like you were immersed in the setting of being in the late 1800's. All of the individuals roaming the streets 'in character' played their parts brilliantly and really added to the experience. Everyone was so friendly, and it was humorous to find how many 'cowboys' rode motorcycles in their spare time, as my gear gave me away for what I did as much as wearing a badge did.
After spending an hour in town, we figured we'd better head to our 'hotel', as we planned on coming back to Tombstone the next morning anyway before heading back to Phoenix. We rode another half hour to Bisbee, and I gotta say if we'd only gone to Tombstone, we'd have really missed out! Bisbee was a great town set on either side of an extremely steeply walled and narrow canyon. The buildings that seemed to cling to either side of the canyon walls reminded me of towns I saw in the mountains of Europe. The town streets were often one lane only, and twisted and curved while going up and down-usually in mid curve-making it an extremely fun and somewhat challenging ride on two wheels. There is a huge quarry/pit that is the result of copper mining that was seriously impressive too. After dinner, we headed to our final destination for the night--lodging at the Shady Dell. What a riot! It is a campground populated by a collection of 10-12 old travel trailers from the 1950's. There were Airstreams and all kinds and sizes of funky looking trailers and other vehicles--like the Tiki Bus that my buddy and his wife stayed in. I chose the "Crown", a 12 foot trailer that had all the comforts of home-sans a bathroom (restroom and shower facilities were only 30 feet away though). The old radio in it was set to a 50's station when I walked in and an old copy of Life magazine was on the table. Even the coffee maker was an old percolator type-that worked just fine I might add! If you ever get the chance to pass through Bisbee, I highly recommend staying at the Shady Dell. It totally added to the sense of adventure and made for one of the highlights of the trip.

The next morning we headed back to Tombstone to grab a big 'cowboy breakfast' of steak and eggs and then catch a gunfight show. A lot of laughter ensued and we all enjoyed the show. After that was a stop at Boot Hill Cemetery, and then unfortunately due to our rapidly diminishing time, we had to head straight back to Phoenix--all highway. It was a fun ride too, as Arizona's 75 mph speed limit, coupled with the natural wind gusts that day (and unnatural wind from all of the trucks) made for an exhilarating ride. The 1200RT can really move when you want (or need) it to.

I made it back with a half hour to spare for the 5pm deadline, and had maybe 8 miles left of the 500 miles (250/day) that were included with the rental without incurring extra charges. I couldn't have been happier (unless I had an extra couple of days that is!) and would heartily recommend AZRide to anyone looking for a great rental shop in the Phoenix area. It was a really great trip and I plan on making another one out there again soon to see some more of the amazing scenery of Arizona, and when I do I'll be sure to hook up with AZRide again for another great adventure! I'm thinking the R1200GS looks mighty interesting...

Thanks again, AZRide! You guys rock!

Best Regards,

Dave 'Zen Guy' Stern
Seattle, WA

2011-02-20T18:09:00.000-07:00

It was very nice getting to meet you guys and talk with you. I was very impressed with the entire AZride operation from the neat and clean appearance of your shop to the variety of motorcycles from which to choose. You do an excelletn job of maintaining your rental fleet into near showroom condition. It is evident that you really do care about the quality of bikes you are offering your clients. I would highly recomment AZride to anyone. You are a first class operation all the way.

Sincerely,

Brian Vissers
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

2011-02-15T11:37:00.002-07:00

Lesley & I thoroughly enjoyed the four days with the 1200GS. It really made the trip for me.

I'll see if I've got any pics worth sending you but to be honest I was having too much fun riding to take many. We are already planning for next year's ride.

We've got a couple of months to go before I can ride here in Alberta due to record snowfalls but in the mean time I plan to buy an ESA-equipped 1200GS set up with Wilbers custom lowered shocks so I can get the low seat height I need coupled with BMW's electronic suspension adjustment. There are three BMW dealers (Florida, Wisconsin & California) equipped to make this modification so if I buy the bike from one of them and ride it home I could be riding again soon.

Thanks again for looking after us.

A quick little get -away

2011-02-13T14:22:00.002-07:00

Thanks to Monica and Gabor for a great Arizona experience. With an extra day available on a business trip, I wanted to get in a little two wheel time. The winter is long in Edmonton and I was suffering motorcycle withdrawal symptoms.
I set out south east of Phoenix and discovered the mining area around Superior, Hayden and Globe. A nice little ride despite the wind and cold.
Be sure to stop in at Libby's El Ray Cafe while in Globe for fantastic Mexican food

Two guys from Wisconsin...

2011-02-12T13:36:00.000-07:00

Two guys from Wisconsin, Phil and Jeff, had a wonderful six days on BMW RTs from AZride. Monica's personal efficiency and Gabor's love for the machines were evident, and resulted in a flawless, exciting and rewarding week. Did I mention the weather?

We began the trip in good Scottsdale temperatures, probably in the 70s, and headed NE on Hwy 87 to Hwy 188 where we turned SE on our way to Roosevelt Lake. That road and most of Hwy 177 into Tucson were twisty and hilly, a relaxed but sufficiently adventurous ride for our first day on bikes after a winter's grounding. We're used to big miles on our trips and thought we would go way over our allocation of 1,500 miles for the week, but today's ride was almost exactly 250 miles, and we brought the RTs back with a little less than our allocation. Riding 250 miles a day on these back roads seems just right.

After spending the night in Tucson, and finding a restaurant near the university, we started up venerable Mt. Lemmon, 24 miles of switchbacks and glorious views as we progressed from desert to pine forest, gaining 6,700 feet of elevation. The nation's southern-most ski resort is at the top, which was evident by the snowbanks. Fortunately, the road was clear.

After a quick trip to Saguaro National Monument to ride an eight-mile loop around the majestic cacti, we headed south to Sonita, then east to near Tombstone and north to Benson, on roads accented by wilderness areas and mountains, before a quick sprint east on I-10 to Wilcox for the night.

Day 3 started with a ride to the top of Chiricahua National Monument, where it started getting cold enough to sightsee while keeping helmets and everything else on. Light flurries chased us off the mountain through Douglass to the unexpectedly delightful town of Bisbee. In addition to great food and coffee, we left with the promise to return when we had more time. Bisbee is at an elevation of 5,300 feet, though, and it remained cold -- in the 30s and 40s with light snow showers -- until we dropped a few thousand feet into the desert on our way to Nogales.

Our destination on Day 3 was Ajo, but when we hit Nogales late in the afternoon, we realized we didn't want to ride for four more hours in the cold and dark and fight javelinas on the road, so we called the wonderful people of nearby Tubac Golf Resort and Spa and they gave us "the deal of the century" on two rooms probably because, shall we say, demand was slack on this frozen, midweek night.

After brushing frost from the parked bikes on the morning of Day 4, we heeded Gabor's recommendation for one of the best cups of coffee in Arizona at the Gadsden Coffee Company in Arivaca. The ride there was a personal highlight. The narrow, empty road curved through and across inviting arroyos, with desert plants crowding the asphalt on each side. Everything about the ride resulted in wide smiles. After a lot of coffee in Arivaca, we motored through Ajo on our way to Wickenburg, which is a little over 2,000 feet in elevation, but the temperature was dropping. We had hoped to ride the next day to Jerome, but the overnight low there was 10 degrees and the wind was picking up, so we opted to head south in search of warmer climes.

Unfortunately, there were no warmer places in Arizona on Day 5, Wednesday, Feb. 2. It was cold everywhere and on our way out of Wickenburg, the temperature was in the mid 30s with winds out of the north at a steady 40 mph. We were headed SW before heading SE, which just meant we were leaning the bikes into the wind in different directions. I had five layers on top, three on the bottom, and of course heated seats and grips going full blast. Still cold -- BUT -- still enjoyed the day riding through gorgeous country on the Beemers.

It turned out to be a short day to Goodyear, where we spent the night, then another short day on Day 6 riding south of Phoenix back to Scottsdale.

Of course the temperatures could have been higher, but we still had a great time and enjoyed the break from real winter weather in Wisconsin. We'll be back. Thanks, Monica and Gabor for the rides, routes and coffee suggestions.

Josh and Chuck from Chicago

2011-02-02T19:43:00.000-07:00

If you are a serious motorcyclist who can't handle another moment of winter while your bike(s) sit in the garage on trickle chargers, then AZride is just the thing for you.

My neighbor, Chuck Shotwell, and I were standing in the garage we share to store our bikes, shivering in the cold as we hooked up those trickle chargers for the third month in a row, and got the bright idea to just go somewhere warm and scenic to ride. Shipping our bikes somewhere was out of the question. We just didn't have the time. This had to be quick, easy and reasonably priced.

I found AZride on the internet and cold-called them (pun intended). "Monica" answered. Within about 30 minutes of that phone call, we had two BMWs lined up (an R1200 RT and an F800 ST) and Monica had booked weekend accommodations for us in Scottsdale.

We arrived in Scottsdale on a Thursday night. The reservation for the bikes was for the next morning. Work commitments at home had left us with no time to plan our routes. This was very out-of-character for me and Chuck; we usually plan bike trips with great care.

As Monica promised, the hotel was ideal. A brand-new looking Holiday Inn Express with great low rates just a short walk from Old Town Scottsdale. Our rooms were very large suites (with microwave, refrigerator, two televisions, king beds) and breakfast was included. Better yet, AZride was virtually across the street! We had breakfast on Friday morning and just strolled over there at 9 a.m. wearing our gear, ready to ride, just as if we were crossing the street to our garage in Chicago.

AZride's facility is like a new car showroom, only smaller. The place is immaculate and very well-kept. More importantly, the bikes were in perfect condition -- not a scratch, spotless, great rubber, meticulously maintained. Monica is a seasoned travel professional; Gabor is like a motorcycle-McGyver who maintains the bikes and knows them inside-out. While Monica worked with Chuck on his paperwork, Gabor gave me the orientation on the RT. Then we switched. When we were both done, Gabor pulled out several maps, showed us some routes we could take up to Sedona and back over two days (about 200 miles each day), as well as some local riding options for Sunday. And then we were off. Total time from start to finish was under an hour.

I am happy to say that within those first few miles, we knew we picked the right rental/travel agent. The single most important aspect of a motorcycle trip is a bike you enjoy riding and can count on to perform. These bikes were in terrific shape and ran like new throughout the entirety of our trip, about 600 miles total. I couldn't have been more thrilled and satisfied.

Gabor's suggested routes were just what the doctor ordered to chase away the winter blues for two guys from Chicago.

We took the appropriately-named Carefree Highway (Rt. 74) west out of north Scottsdale to Wickenburg. Our first stop along the way was Lake Pleasant. (see photo) The scenery started out as classic Sonoran Desert that became a bit more hilly as we neared Wickenburg. Had lunch al fresco at Nana's Sandwich Saloon on Rt. 93 in downtown Wickenburg. Fantastic sandwiches, salads, baked goods and coffee. Fast service, too. We had some killer grilled chicken panini-style sandwiches stuffed with bacon, cheese and green chilis. Cruised the old western-style town and then continued up Rt. 93 to Rt. 89, through the town of Congress and up into the mountains and the White Spar Highway. This was when the riding really improved -- a great mix of high-mountain tight twisties and slightly broader turns, with incredible views of the desert below and the mountains ahead around virtually every turn. It was spectacular.

Less than an hour later, we found ourselves winding our way through the Prescott National Forest. Again, some fantastic riding. Great turns, great roads, pine forest, even a little snow on the sides of the road, despite temps in the mid-50s and low 60s.

After winding our way through Prescott, we picked up Rt. 89A and headed east towards Jerome, a speck of a town perched like an eagle's nest on a mountainside in the northern branch of the Tonto National Forest. Chuck lives for the twisties, and he had a blast on this route, carving up the mountain with that F800 ST.

By 4:30 p.m. we had arrived in Sedona, our destination for the day. The sunset, with the light illuminating the red rock cliffs, was beautiful. Our accommodations that night were the Best Western Inn of Sedona. This was a great deal. The hotel is terraced into the hillside with breathtaking views of the Oak Creek Canyon.

The rooms were very clean and comfortable and only $99 per night. The best part was the free shuttle service to anywhere within 5 miles of the hotel -- basically all of Sedona. This is critical when you don't want to suit up just to go to dinner, or if you want to enjoy a cocktail (or two). The shuttle van was readily available and prompt. Dinner was at Dan's Bistro, a Sedona newcomer that is BYO until the liquor license arrives. We enjoyed a hummus plate with a terrific assortment of grilled fresh vegetables, briny olives and capers and artichoke hearts; grilled asparagus in puff pastry drizzled with a balsamic reduction; a chopped salad generously laden with grilled shrimp; and a homemade tagliatelle with scallops, mussels and shrimp tossed with a garlicky roasted tomato sauce. Looking up at the stars from the terrace outside our rooms back at the hotel, I realized just how much of the galaxy we never see living with all the light pollution in Chicago.

Saturday morning was bright, sunny and a bit chilly. Didn't think I'd be using the heated grips in Arizona, but I was glad to have them now. We were on the road (89A) by 9:15 a.m. heading north through the Oak Creek Canyon. This is beautiful red rock country. Brooks and streams filled with assorted rocks and boulders snake their way along the side of the road in some places; in other spots, sheer rock walls surround you on either side as you steadily climb through the canyon towards blue sky and Flagstaff, just a short 28 miles ahead. The rock walls soon give way to sheer cliffs and parapets, views of the canyon to the south and twisties that just get tighter and tighter. The riding couldn't get any better than this. Or so I thought.

Gabor had explained that as we neared Flagstaff, the roadsigns would try to force us onto Interstate 17 to get back to Scottsdale. We took his advice and ignored them, opting instead to take Lake Mary Road south through the Mogollon Plateau towards the tiny town of Strawberry, and then to Rt. 87 and Payson.

Anyone who rides a motorcycle must ride Lake Mary Road in Arizona. There is simply nothing that compares. Once you see Upper Lake Mary and then Mormon Lake, you will think you have found motorcyle riding paradise. But just wait. It gets much, much better. The pine forests and lakes open up to incredible mountain riding with perfectly paved, smooth-as-silk roads, soft, sweeping turns, tons of curves and mind-blowing beauty. And there is no civilization. Not a town, not a gas station, not a restaurant -- nothing for close to 100 miles, except for the Happy Jack Lodge.

When we arrived in Strawberry about 90 minutes later, we were ready for hot coffee. This town looks like a dump, but there is a terrific place called "Strawberries" (go figure) with a sign out front that just says "Restaurant Lodge." Chuck picked the spot; I was skeptical. This was a great place. Our server, Margie, (whose delightful 12 year old daughter arrived just as we finished lunch) could not have been more charming. And the homemade green chili stew, eaten while sitting fireside in the restaurant's low-ceiling, timbered dining room, was highly memorable.

The balance of our ride back to Scottsdale that day was more my style than Chuck's. I love big broad sweepers, two lanes all to myself, and panoramic views. Route 87 from Payson to Mesa was my dream ride. There was no traffic. The sweepers were awesome, and the RT was just the bike on which to enjoy them. And the best part is that even though Rt. 87 is a four-lane divided highway, you hardly ever see the oncoming lanes. These roads were constructed through the mountains, so for much of the ride, all you see is the two lanes going in your direction because the mountains separate you from the other side of the highway. It was like they built a private road just for me and the bike in the most beautiful spot imaginable, and I could ride as fast as I wanted. And I did.

Back in Scottsdale that night, Chuck and I did a walking tour of Old Town Scottsdale and enjoyed dinner at Don & Charley's, co-owned by Rich Melman (founder/owner of Chicago's Lettuce Entertain You) and the Carson family (of Carson's Ribs in Chicago). This place is a little gold mine, so plan accordingly in terms of reservations. We went early and ate in the bar, which was perfect for us.

On Sunday, our last day, we spent the morning riding out the Apache Trail to Tortilla Flat. This is a popular ride for local motorcyclists and we saw many of our brethren on all sorts of bikes. The scenery is classic Sonoran Desert with tons of Saguaro cacti to enjoy along the way, as well as a fair number of hills and twisties -- so many that Chuck and I got separated as he carved them up and I stopped repeatedly to document the trip with my camera. In the afternoon, we rode out the Bush Highway from Mesa to Saguaro Lake, where there is a marina and a decent restaurant where you can sit outside and enjoy lunch on the water. This is also a popular destination for the local motorcycle crowd, so we felt very much at home.

By the time we got back to Scottsdale, the Bears-Packers game was in the 4th quarter and we stopped for coffee to catch the abrupt end of the Bears 2010 season. I was glad I opted to do this trip rather than spend the money on Bears tickets so I could sit in frigid Soldier Field and watch the carnage.

Monica and Gabor met us at AZride's facility on 73rd between Earll and Thomas promptly at 5 p.m., when we said we would be back to return the bikes. Gabor gave the bikes the quick once-over, and Monica gave us our paperwork. We walked back to the hotel, changed out of our gear, had a light dinner of seared sushi grade Ahi at nearby Bandera, a couple of cocktails and wished we could start it all over again.

I had an awsome time with the F800S

2011-01-29T01:42:00.012-07:00

Arrived in Phoenix. There are many cheap and good hotels conveniently located near the skyharbor airport.

Orange trees everywhere, this one was in Arizona State University
I was waiting to eat one but there were too many people around, maybe next time.

This is somthing you dont see everyday, it was a spectacular veiw
too bad I lost my camera in California and had to buy the cheapest camera at Radio Shack

I've only seen twinkies in the movies, always wanted to try one.
I'm never going to eat these again.

A real cactus wow. is it cactuses or cacti?
I heard from somebody it's cactie or somthing :(
I still say fishes and waters and gooses airs.....
Anyways I took over 100 photos of different cactuses
if anyone has interest in Arizona cactuses mail me at
beautifulmelons@gmail.com
I will be very happy to exchange my cactus photos with any photos of melons.

The open road, beautiful weather, and no traffic.
A bike that goes up to 230kilometers per hour. cheap gasoline
what else do I want? nothing!

I stopped to chat with 2 tanned and attractive girls at some parking lot
I said I'm new to the country and asked them if they are models.
They seemed to like it.

My first vacation to the states was a perfect one thanks to the nice people at AZride!

Originally my plan was to stay only in California but my father had some urgent buisness in Phoenix So I sort of tagged along because I heard that the weather in Arizona is crisp and clear in the winter!

I rented the bike for 24hours and I think I signed all the recommended insurance forms just in case. Which turned out to be a good decision because of a flat tire at the end of the day.

I have rented bikes in countless countries but out of all the places

I've rented before AZride.com had one of the the most organized systems and were professional in all aspects.

The bike was in top condition well maintained and washed. I was given a good enough helmet (but I wish i brought my own one), and pannier boxes(I'm not sure what you call them) some cleaning spray and a disk lock. All at free of charge. which doesnt happen elsewhere in the world. you always have to pay extra
For those people who come from abroad(in my case Korea) be sure to check with your credit card company beforehand. The security bond(?) was 1500$ and some cards allow only a certain amount of withdrawal or payment when used out of your country.

I will probably be back next winter for some more Arizona. I Hope to rent a Royal Enfield next time!

Thank you for reading and I hope my written English is understandable.

Ride safe everyone.

Sungho

Great Rental

2011-01-25T09:12:00.004-07:00

Was in Phoenix with my Son and rented two bikes from AZRide for a day. Best prices in town and the bikes were in showroom shape and maintained to perfection. Monica was extremely helpful with where to ride and the total experience was great. Highly recommend this outlet for fun and positive experience. Will use again

Awesome Trip!

2011-01-19T13:36:00.003-07:00

Thanks for a fantastic vacation! The bike was great, so was the scenery and food. Really hard to come back to 25 degrees in Philadelphia. The ride to Sedona via Jerome was challenging and fun. Going out towards Globe the next day was like riding through an alien landscape, and the enchiladas weren't bad once I got there. Always fun to try out different bikes.

Here's a request for a lowered R1200RT.

Thanks again!

Sam
(Philadelphia)

2011-01-14T18:57:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to reiterate how pleased I was with the fun experience renting the Yamaha FJR from you, and Gabor. I look forward to doing business with you again in the future.

Best regards,

Scott Schere

2011-01-14T18:54:00.000-07:00

I thoroughly enjoyed my day, this pic is just off exit 199 off hwy 87, can't remember name of lake. Your service was outstanding and I would recommend your rental agency to anyone. I plan on making an annual trip to Phoenix and will being doing business with you folks again. Thanks for a great day, Brian and Patty.

GS at the Soleri Sundial Bridge

2011-01-04T14:53:00.000-07:00

Jeff from Boston

2011-01-04T12:13:00.000-07:00

December 2010
I recently rented a Yamaha FJR 1300 from AZride.. Monica and Gabor were very friendly, helpful and professional. The bike was in excellent condition and Gabor explained all the details well. I was given a nice route to follow on a "poor man's GPS (a nice map)". I have about 50,000 K on an ST 1100 so the FJR felt quite comfortable and very responsive. It's a perfect bike for this kind of trip. Once I got out of the city, the riding was fantastic. Breathtaking scenery and nice curvy roads that were well maintained made for wonderful riding. It was some of the most rewarding motorcycling I have done in 40 years. I definitely plan to come back and rent at AZ again,
Joseph

John and Piero

2011-01-04T11:58:00.000-07:00

Regrettably, we did not take any photos but despite that our experience was excellent. The “check-out” process was flawless and quick, everything we needed to know was explained clearly regarding insurance, and the walk through of the bikes was thorough and very helpful. Both of our bikes were in impeccable condition and well maintained. All of these things combined to make a fantastic experience. Thank you and continued success.

James from Boston

2011-01-04T11:52:00.001-07:00

The only sad part is leaving. like I told Ron, this place was love at first sight. And riding a motorcycle here has been one of the happiest experiences of my life. I really mean that.

The Royal Enfield 500 Bullet was a sturdy, dependable, strong little bike and we really bonded this week.

AZride: Recommend, Would do business again, Exceeded expectations, Thanks

2010-12-17T12:38:00.000-07:00

I took an overnight to Tucson on a whim last weekend and was impressed: the weather was excellent, the traffic (outside of Tucson) was bearable and AZride hooked me up with an awesome naked bike. Phone, email and in person, expertise, professionalism and customer service abound with this company. The paperwork was easy and the Yamaha FZ6R I had reserved was ready for me, full and well maintained at a great price. After buying gloves and borrowing a full face helmet, I was provided a neat packet of insurance info, contract, and contact numbers and on my way. It was very convenient to prepay fuel and return the bike empty. An all around true value. Enjoy the ride, Dan

2010-12-17T12:29:00.002-07:00

We all had a great day and really enjoyed the ride. You both definitely made the experience better with your organization and professionalism. I'll certainly highly recommend you.

Best regards, Troy

10 years later-a revisit

2010-11-24T09:03:00.002-07:00

Having lived in the PHX area for 13 years, I had the chance to ride a lot of the really good motorcycling roads in AZ. One of my favorite rides has always been HWY 89-go West from PHX to Wickenburg, a little further and turn right. Stop when you get to Flagstaff and repeat the other way when possible. I moved away 10 years ago, but still come out every couple of years to see my parents.
I get to ride in the Ozarks and the Colorado Rockies every year, but I decided this year it was time to rent a motorcycle and ride a few of my old haunts out here. A little Internet research led me to the AZride website, and after a conversation with Monica, I reserved the FJR1300 for Tuesday 11/23/10. Got there a wee bit early (I was excited!), and Monica graciously got all of the paperwork out for me early, and I left @ 7 minutes AFTER the opening time of 9a.m.
I'm always a bit cautious when riding an unfamiliar bike, but fortunately I had been able to ride another FJR approx 2 weeks earlier, so I had a tentative feel for this one-by the time I got to Wickenburg for gas, I was feeling pretty comfortable with it. On to 89 and up the mtn to Congress-this is one of my all time favorite sections of road, as once you start up the mountain, it is 2 lane sweepers with an occasional 20-30 mph posted turn. When I lived here I rode that section a lot on my modified '79 CBX. After about the 1st two turns the bike felt great, so I relaxed and was able to really enjoy the ride through the corners. On to Prescott via 89, and that section of road is a blast! Lots of twisties and 180 degree switchbacks. Then on to 89A-I was hoping to get to Sedona, then Flagstaff. Unfortunately it was cooler than normal, and coming over Mingus Mtn prior to getting to Jerome, there was snow on the ground. I was insulated enough from the cold, but when the thermometer display got down to 36 degrees, that meant it was time to head for lower altitudes and warmth-the bike had felt fine up to that point, but not knowing how well the tires were going to work in those kind of temps kept me on the cautious side. And after 5 hours I was getting a bit tired, and the bike is a bit compact for me @ 6'3", so with the discretion I have learned through the years, I headed South to I-17. Got back to the shop at 4:00p.m., checked out and was extremely happy I had done it. Monica and Gabor were very friendly, helpful, and just plain nice people. This will now become a must do whenever I get back here.

Grand Canyon Tour 10/12-14/10

2010-11-07T18:30:00.000-07:00

This being our first trip to Arizona, we needed help in planning a memorable motorcycle tour. We chose AZride for that service. Monica's greeting upon arrival to pick up the GL1800 Gold Wing waiting for us, confirmed the fact, we made the right choice with AZride. Our rental was on 09' model with heated grips and seats (why do I need that? It's 90 degrees.) which was maintained in "as-new" condition. Monica reviewed our roadtrip directions, pointing out lots of useful information, which made for a very enjoyable tour.

Day One - 225 miles
Rode west to Wickenburg, Prescott, Jerome, Sedona, then spent the night in Flagstaff. When in Jerome, be sure to try the butternut squash soup at the Asylum Restaurant at the Grand Hotel on Hill Street. Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon offer unbelievable scenic riding enjoyment.

Day Two - 275 miles
Rode north to the south rim of the Grand Canyon. On the way to the East Gate, be sure to ride thru Sunset Crater National Monument Scenic Loop. The appearance of the hardened lava flows were unbelievable. An unexpected scenic sight was the snow covered SanFransisco Peaks. The Grand Canyon is hard to express in words, IT'S A MUST SEE !!!!!! Then it was back to Flagstaff for the night.

Day Three - 230 miles
Woke up to 30 degree temperatures with ice on the bike (now I know why the heated grips and seats, they sure felt good). By 5 p.m. that afternoon it was 102 degrees as we arrived in Scottsdale. Almost forgot, a great start to the day was breakfast at a local breakfast spot with a cute railroad train decor and perhaps the best chorizo omelet we have ever had!!!!! (no chorizo in Pittsburgh). Wonderful scenic roads on the return trip to Scottsdale. Visit the Tonto National Monument, it proved to be very interesting, the Indian Cliff Dwellings are worth the hike to see.

The tour consisted of three days of blue sky, sunshine, great roads, scenic vistas, creating a very memorable motorcyle tour experience.

Thanks again to Monica and Gabor at AZride.

We'll be back!!!!! (God Willing)

Winging it in Arizona

2010-11-06T17:15:00.000-07:00

Two day rental of a Goldwing and 700+ miles later, the wife and I are very happy.

Monday, November 1, 2010
95* to 65* in a few hours
On October 27th and 28th the wife and I rented a well maintained Goldwing. I am more of a sport-touring rider, but this was a trip for both of us. So, if I was going to be happy the wife needed to be comfortable. We road just over 700 miles in two days.

We did most of the paperwork earlier in the week. Monica also gave us some route suggestions as well as a few maps to help with planning. We picked the bike up around 9am, finished the paperwork, did a walk around of the bike (well done, my first time on a Goldwing) we were on our way.

I wanted to start the ride on a couple of roads I was some what familiar with to get comfortable with the bike. With the local rush being over we headed out to Tortilla Flat. Ok the 101 and 60 in the metro area are not scenic, but it gave me seat time.
I have been out this way before, in a car, but at least I knew where I was going. I put the wife in charge of taking pictures and my job was to get there in one piece. I wasn't able to push the big wing in the corners. The pavement is pretty chewed up with a lot of loose gravel on top. I still love the views on the Apache trail. The profile of the old mine, the desert and Canyon Lake. So a quick trip out and back and then north to Saguaro Lake and on to the Bush Hwy. Our original plan was to head back towards town and have an easy day. We changed the plan and continued north.

A quick stop in Payson for lunch and back on the road. We took the 260 over to Show Low. Here is were I'm glad we had this big touring machine. Hitting the high country gave us temps in the 40's. Heated seat and grips felt pretty good. Not a lot to look at around Show Low, but the drive from there back to the Miami area is awsome. Being the middle of the week the traffic was almost nil. Very early into the canyon section a passed one RV and one truck. Nothing else. Hold on honey this is going to be fun. We retuned to the desert floor just as it was getting dark. Day one was a great start to a wonderful vacation.

Day 2 would take us northwest. We were staying on the north end of Scottsdale so we headed north on Scottsdale road, west on Carefree Hwy to Rte. 74 to Wickenburg. Being from the midwest, the open road, the lack of traffic and the desert are a great change for me.
At Wickenburg we head north to Prescott and Jerome. Great road. As we enter the scenic area, I can tell the wife is taking pictures. I am having to much fun doing one turn after another to look. Unlike the midwest, the people in cars out here are great. Before I would catch up to a car, they would pull over and let us by. I have to do this road again. Simply amazing. After a short rest stop in Jerome at the Museum we decided to pick a route back to AZride. The only downside is there are limited routes back. We could repeat the route we just took or slab it back on 17. I wish I would have repeated the route, but we needed to get back, so we did a little slab time.

Thank you AZride. We had a great time. You run a professional business and still take care of the customer on a personal level. When I come back to Arizona, if its without my own bike, I will rent from you again.

AZ First Ride

2010-11-05T10:00:00.005-07:00

We certainly want to thank Monica for her organization of our first motorcycle rental experience in Arizona. We had visited last year and thought how great it would be to rent a bike and tour the area. We rented the BMWR1200RT. Super motorcycle and for my wife and me, it was perfect. The tour we went had some nice sparsely traveled roads for the most part and only going back to drop the bike off did we encounter any heavy traffic. Beautiful scenery and the day was perfect for motorcycle weather. Tip to those who don't know their way around the area well - Ask Monica for a route to go. Makes things a lot easier. Thanks again, Monica! We will do this again.

Quick weekend in from California, great ride around town

2010-11-04T10:58:00.003-07:00

I was in Scottsdale for a recent weekend and given the great weather, wanted to rent a bike, rather than a car to get around town. Fantastic experience and great people to work with here. I was set to pick up a BMW (love them), but upon arrival and seeing the Royal Enfields, couldn't resist and picked one of those up. Such attention getters, great to ride, especially around town. Could not recommend this place highly enough.

Scottsdale-Sedona-Jerome-Wickenburg

2010-11-01T10:31:00.004-07:00

Sorry I don't have pictures, our battery on the camera ran out. We chose to ride from AZride Northeast to Payson, plenty of expected desert straightaways but we found all the Seguaro cactus interesting to view on the way. Gabor and Monica were completely service focused and the equipment check-out with Gabor very thorough. I would want Gabor to be MY BMW mechanic! Our BMW R1200RT was immaculate for 21K on the odometer and performed as expected, although it has been a long time since I have been on this model. The accessories and improvements were welcome. We rode two-up and played with the ESA suspension settings, and settled on "Sport." We live in Hawaii so had no idea what the weather would bring, but late October is a wonderful season to ride in this region. Thunderstorms were spectacular to view and a good excuse to get off the bike, have a drink and watch the show. This was a tour more than a ride, so we spent two Sedona days touring and walking, including the "Pink Jeep Tour" which we highly recommend. The rode up Oak Creek to Flagstaff was twisty and entertaining, and I repeat, weekdays this time of year there are fewer buses and cages on the road to slow you down. From Sedona we rode to the mining "Ghost Town" of Jerome, now a tourist trap but definitely into the Halloween Spirit. As you enter the heart of town at the only "T" intersection, turn right, and exclusive motorcycle parking is immediately on your left, and big plus because parking on the twisty main street is at a premium. "Grapes" is the best restaurant to enjoy, right in the middle of town. Clean public restrooms are at the firehouse. After window shopping and gift-purchasing we doubled back to visit the mining museum. Leaving Jerome we headed over the hill down to Skull Valley to Wickenburg. Go late in the day and plan to arrive in Wickenburg at nightfall, because you'll avoid all the cars that will hold you up in the wonderful twisties. When you settle down in the flats, beware of speeding in the straightaways, we noted the aircraft speed monitors along the roadside, but the planes weren't flying this late. At a cemetary three constables in squad cars were there, fortunately for us, having a coffee break and not minding the radar guns. A full moon helped us out, too. Wickenburg back to Scottsdale was pretty uneventful and boring but visiting the cowboy town is worth visiting. We didn't realize that many Scottsdale gas stations disguise themselves so we felt pretty silly pulling into a bank to discover we were pulling into an ATM teller station instead of a gas pump. Monica and Gabor checked us in and we were on our way. Renting these bikes is expensive but definitely a fun experience that is first class. Thanks AZride!

2010-10-24T20:14:00.002-07:00

Today I rented a Yamaha FJR 1300 from AZ Ride/MC Tours and rode out to Winkleman via Jakes Corner, Roosevelt Lake and Globe. It was fantastic. My 5 tips and highlights are:

1. The AZ Ride/MC Tours shop is clean, well kept and organised. I felt very confident when renting the bike that it would be safe, reliable and in top notch running order.

2. The bike (see above) is an impressive piece of performing art. It is a totally beautiful bike and it runs like a dream. On the road, you feel and are invincible. If someone passes you, it is because you let them. If you slow down through the twists and weaves, it is because you felt like it. In neither case do you have to.

3. The scenery is spectacular. I was planning a quick lunch stop as I wanted to spend as much time on the bike as possible. Gabor suggested pulling over by the Roosevelt Bridge. It was a great idea. You can see the view above with the spectacular hills in the background.

4. The roads are amazing. If you take the route out 87 to Jakes Corner and then south on 188 to Globe, you must take in the Hwy 77 to Winkleman and Hwy 177 back to Superior loop. I have driven stock cars at the Atlanta Raceway, driven dune buggies in the Nevada desert and flown in dog fights off the coast of Laguna Beach and I have never felt more thrilled then powering the FJR1300 through the twists and loops offered up by this route.

5. Once you get back you must spend at least half an hour talking motorcycles with Gabor. He is intelligent and knowledgeable and you will definitely find it interesting and learn something useful that you didn't know. And, he also has good taste in women (that's a plug for you Monica).

Thank you Gabor and Monica for a memorable and totally awesome day.

Jeff from Boston

2010-10-13T12:05:00.000-07:00

Arcosanti

outside the SMOCA

at the Village Coffee Roastery, Hayden and Via de Ventura on McCormick Ranch, where there are usually a few BMW riders, especially on weekend mornings. Great! coffee...

Thank you for another great weekend!
See you again in December

2010-10-13T11:51:00.002-07:00

Had a great time. I'll be back next time I visit Trevor.
Loren from MI

5 days in the sun

2010-10-03T20:23:00.000-07:00

Being in the US in summer for the first time I decided to have a motorbike-trip. Since I am not fixed on driving a cruiser, I quickly came to the conclusion that AZride would be the best option.
We did the paperwork the day before and on Sunday, June 20, both the FZ6R and I were ready to start.

Gabor and Monica had a tour worked out for me that should take me from Phoenix via Flagstaff to the Grand Canyon, then over to the east to the Apache reservation, a loop down to New Mexico and then back to Phoenix.
The Bike was in perfect condition and extremely fun to ride. When forest fires spread up around Flagstaff and I called them, my renters quickly checked out whether the road I was to take was still open or not - thanks a lot!

While planning the trip, definitely take into account their opinion on scenic roads - the only time I had to take a different road than the one they suggested was on my way from Flagstaff to Show Low. Because of roadwork (including oil on the asphalt, as I was told by one of the workers) at Lake Mary I had to turn around and take the Interstate 40 - horribly boring!!
The only good point about this unexpected change in plans was that I came to see the Petrified Forest. A guy named Ray that I met on the road to Flagstaff told me about "worlds oldest dealer of petrified woods". He lived at the petrified wood already before it became a national park.
I tried to find him but only found a house that could have been his, on the south side near the entrance to the park. An interesting place.

Unfortunately, on my 5th day in Arizona a thunderstorm made me stay around Show Low, which is definitely one of the most boring places I have ever been to. I was reimbursed on my 6th day, when I rode "home", again under an all blue and sunny sky.

All in all, I had 6 extraordinary days on a wonderful bike for a good price, all beautiful landscapes and very friendly and experienced renters.
BIG RECOMMENDATION.

Solo trip into the desert.

2010-09-30T17:26:00.003-07:00

On a recent business trip to Scottsdale, I found myself done with work early and nothing to do on my last day in town. A quick trip to Google and I came accross AZRide.com. Even though I booked a Yamaha FZ6R for Sunday, Monica and Gabor were more than happy to come in and accommodate me. The bike was there waiting for me, fueled up, impeccably clean, and in perfect mechanical condition. Everything about AZRide was completely top flight, and their prices were so low I almost felt guilty. Both Monica and Gabor have a wealth of information about the local roads and riding locations, so take advantage and ask questions! Knowing I only had the bike for one day they set me up on a ride to Tortilla Flat that was one of the best experiences of my life. I fully plan on heading back to AZRide this spring with my wife so we can do a multi-day ride for our anniversary. Thanks a million!!!

Another Great MC Tour of Arizona

2010-09-14T19:03:00.008-07:00

We just came back from our fourth MC Tour of Arizona. We've rented our bike from Monica and Gabor for each of these trips. We've always found them to be organized and very efficient getting you on the road and getting you checked in on return. One nice touch is that they always offer you bottled water when you arrive and they store you luggage for you.

We've rented a BMW 1200RT, and 3 different Gold Wings. All of the bikes were clean, well-maintained. Gabor is a wealth of knowledge about local driving conditions and the self guided tours that he and Monica have put together are both scenic and the sights build so that you build up to the major attractions.

Why have I been to Arizona for a MC tour for 4 years in a row? Easy question. It's beautiful and the roads are excellent. Another big reason, AZ Ride. I know I can trust Monica and Gabor to provide excellent service

Tips for your trip....bring a good camera, have 3 season jackets that your can take down to a mesh jacket, bring a camel bak water carrier so you and your backseater can stay hydrated, get yourself some ITW Space Compressible Bag BRS-9212ZG Vacuum-Seal Travel Roll Bags so you can maximize your packing, GPS highly recommended, and I like a half helmet with a 1/2 length face shield, and depending on when you go thermals like skier's wear and warm weather gloves.

AZ ride

2010-09-03T07:52:00.002-07:00

Hey Folks

Got an e-mail inviting me to contribute to the AZ Ride blog so I figured I would give it a shot.

In short, excellent customer service, very efficient with the paperwork, and overall a good experience.

I will be back in Phoenix in October/November and I will be renting a bike from them again.......only this time a bigger one!

N

Terry from Florida

2010-06-29T15:28:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to reiterate my thoughts on my fantastic time with my
days off while in Phoenix. Although it has been over a week since I
left, my memories of my month out west were most vivid of the four
days off which I spent on AZ rental bikes. I just can't say enough about what fun it was! The first two on the lower F800st were just superb. That is the bike for me, the lower frame was a perfect fit. It was the easiest thing and a joy to ride. Definitely sold me on getting rid of my RT and downsizing to something more nimble.

But when the ST was already taken for my next set of days off, and I took the Royal Enfield on a lark, I just can't say it loud and long enough,--- what an absolute blast that was! That was as much fun as a human being can have alone. It was soooooo much fun! I gave away almost every card you gave me. A real social interaction device, that Enfield. I guess I would have to admit that I had more fun on it than even the ST. It was a stop and smell the cactus kind of bike. I saw more, enjoyed more, and met more people.

Just wanted to thank you and Gabor for your advice, superb service, and being there with that ice cold water at the end of the day!

Hope to see you again someday,

Terry

2010-06-20T19:50:00.002-07:00

Had a great ride and your service is great. The bikes are truly showroom clean and superbly maintained, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I look forward to renting from you again soon.
Regards....
Craig T.

2010 Bike Trip_Grand Canyon

2010-06-15T16:47:00.004-07:00

We had an excellent trip to the Grand Canyon last month, and we really enjoyed the BMW. It was a great ride and nice escape from the Phoenix heat!!!

Cheers,

Eric & Amanda

Arizona Desert to Grand Canyon Ride

2010-06-15T05:21:00.062-07:00

Remember the slogan: "You Meet the Nicest People on a Honda"? Well, it turns out that you can meet the nicest people through the internet as well. That's how I came into contact with Monica and Gabor of AZride.com, seeking two 1200GS bikes for 4 days for a trip with my father-in-law. From the outset, Monica addressed all my queries with a speedy and friendly reply. Do you have 1200 GS bikes we can rent for a tour of AZ? YES. Does it cost an arm and a leg? NO. Can you help us create a custom itinerary? SURE! Although the plans were made last minute every detail was addressed and without sounding redundant, the cost was extremely affordable. We arrived from the east coast on Sunday June 6, and stayed just down the street at the Holiday Inn Express, a hotel that far exceeded our expectations. AZRide has a deal with them and well, trust me, they take good care of everyone. The next morning the free shuttle van transported us and our gear the three blocks down the street to AZRide, where a friendly Monica greeted us with all the paperwork ready to sign (definitely listen to her when she suggests sending info prior to arrival, it speeds the time it takes to get out on he road). Gabor then arrived, demo'd the bikes and answered all questions. He even programmed our entire tour on the rented GPS ! (Highly recommend the GPS).

Off we went through Scottsdale in the arid desert and then on to Wickensburg, Jerome, etc. to Sedona. The route was progressively more scenic (and comfortable as we climbed altitude), with over 90 miles of pure switchback country between stops.

It was challenging to not stop at every scenic overlook and view. At the end of Day One we stayed at the Hilton in Sedona (recommend) eating at the Markeplace (promoted by staffers at Hilton, but do NOT recommend, service is horrendous, excuses and apologies "we were short staffed" etc, but suffice it to say the only disappointment of the trip). Lessons learned we departed Sedona the next morning and road through what can only be described as flat out spectacular roads, scenes and euphoria-inducing sensations as we headed to the Grand Canyon via Flagstaff. Again, Gabor's routing did not disappoint.

Along with switchbacks, we experienced 20 and 30 mile rides across the wide open ranges of Arizona, where strong crosswinds challenge the rider to keep two up in ever-changing gusts. Several comfort stops along the way took us to Prescott and Flagstaff for refreshments and lunch, followed by a Hopi Indian gas-n-go with kind and courteous proprietors. Then we continued up the eastern approach to the South Rim entrance of the park, along the way stopping for more photo shoots. Definitely avoid the small but annoying pocket parks charging $2 for a quick look down a local canyon as others are free if you just continue on. That was the only tourist trap in the whole trip however.

Finally arriving at the park around 2:00pm, we parked the bikes at the several scenic areas for a first look at the Grand Canyon. While I've been there before, these little areas are less traveled and congested than those at the main portions of the South Rim, especially before 11am and after 3pm when everyone else is heading back. We really lucked out in several ways too. On our first night we had reservations at the Yavapai Lodge, which is clean and comfortable but food accommodations definitely not so great (cafeteria style and it shows. Bagged burger anyone? How about charbroiled burnt pizza?) Stopping at El Tovar just down the road, we lucked out for dinner, as another couple was too tired to keep dinner reservations and gave us theirs (Thanks, Mr. and Mrs. Hall). I walked over to the front desk and learned that there were cancellations freeing up two rooms for the next night and grabbed them immediately (Thanks Desk Trainee Sarah). So we scored two sought after rooms at El Tovar that book 9-12 months in advance, and they were CHEAPER than the Grand Lodge that we had reserved for previously. How can that be? Don't know, just glad we cancelled those without charge. After some time in the bar and on the porch drinking a few beers, our reservation was called and dinner was served. Delicious and excellent service. Tom at the matre'D desk was overwhelmed by requests but met all of them with a smile.

The next day we puttered around the park, getting up early and taking as many pictures as possible (YES, it is worth it to bring your BIG EXPENSIVE SLR camera to get every shot!), We traveled the East Rim but did not have time to put in the 5 hours (one way) to the North Rim for a trip to the Skywalk, though we were told it was worthwhile if you had the time.

On Thursday June 10th, we packed up the bikes (everything fit easily, but rent the top box too for sure) and headed back to Scottsdale, stumbling upon the Valle Air Museum and being a private pilot, I was thrilled. The planes in the museum were as rare as the hospitality of the curators, a husband and wife team who actually opened up 20 minutes early to admit us so that we would not be unduly delayed or riding in hot temperatures longer than we had to (Can you believe that?!) After 90 minutes it was back down route 180 for a windy but scenic trip that ended up at AZRide by 4pm, where Monica and Gabor met us with smiles and saw to it that we remained well hydrated. In fact, the one common thing throughout the trip was hydration. Don't underestimate the value of drinking more water than you think you need.

The only mishap was a broken key in one of the sidebags, but that was unexpected. I would definitely recommend intercoms for riders to stay in touch as we used the latest Scala G4 that come pre-paired out of the box. We talked for 10 hours at a time, and between conversations, I was able to listen to my iPod and take/make phone calls as needed (few were). This too really increased the enjoyment factor as we were able to truly experience the trip in communication with each other while still riding separate bikes.

Monica and Gabor keep their equipment in impeccable condition. You would never know that these bikes are out on the road every day as they look showroom new, despite 40,000 plus miles on several. I rode a 41,000 mile GS that was truly a pleasure and it has caused me to come home thinking about buying one myself or perhaps the new Ducati Multistrada 1200 S. Monica and Gabor also have smaller sized bikes and more touring than adventure touring choices, but it really boils down to preference. Any of them would be great.

It certainly was also a distraction to peruse the Royal Enfield inventory (AZ Ride is a new R.E. dealer) but best of all was the professional and flawless operations at AZ Ride that saw to all our needs and even called us a cab for our last night in Scottsdale before leaving the following day.

Thank you Monica and Gabor, Looking forward to booking the Route 666 ride very soon!

CT Kimmel and Marty Ryan.

June 2010 trip

2010-06-14T09:32:00.009-07:00

I began my 5 day adventure at MC Tours experiencing Monica's and Gabor's excellent paper work efficiency and immaculately prepared Honda Goldwing. I left Phoenix and traveled in the 100+ F heat via Wickenberg and Kingman to Boulder City, NV where I saw the new Hoover Dam Bypass bridge under construction.

Be sure and stop at the Cowboy cafe in Wickenberg for an excellent breakfast or lunch. This trip will be the last one in which I or anyone else will be able to cross the Colorado river from AZ to NV atop the Hoover Dam since the dam road will be closed to vehicular traffic once the bypass bridge is opened in early 2011.

I rode the next day to Zion National Park via I-15 out of Vegas and SR 9 thru Hurricane, UT. Zion is spectacular and well worth the time to get there. The road from Zion east to Mt Carmel Junction is currently under construction/renovation and is gravel surfaced for quite an extent. The National Park Service web site for Zion has construction schedules and road closure schedules for this part of SR 9 eats. If you have a heavy touring rig, I suggest you avoid SR 9 going east from Zion NP and take UT SR 59/AZ SR 385 out of Hurricane to get to Kanab, UT.

Third day was the trip from Kanab to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. AZ SR 67 to/from the Rim is a delight to ride on a motorcycle and the views from the North Rim are spectacular (even better than the views from the South Rim). Be sure to take the short hike from the GC Lodge to Bright Angel Point overlook.

From the NRGC, I rode to the old/new Navajo Bridges at Marble Canyon on the way to Page, AZ for the night.

I took the Glen Canyon Dam tour (about an hour) and highly recoomend the tour if that is your cup of tea. Fourth day was the ride from Page, AZ to Holbrook, AZ via Tuba City and US 264 thru the Navajo and Hopi Reservations and then south via AZ SR 87, east on BiA15 thru Dilkon, then south on Bia6 and SR 77. Very windy day, but the 'Wing was steady as a rock at 65 mph and the wind protection was great! I stayed at a Route 66 roadside icon in Holbrook called the Wigwam Motel. This was a "bucket list" stop for me and the room rate was very reasonable at about $53 a night. The "teepee" I stayed in was cool, clean and comfortable. The proprietors were very warm and welcoming, so I recommend you stay at the Wigwam if/when you get to Holbrook. You will need reserve a teepee at least 2-3 weeks prior to the date you wish to visit and the motel desk does not open for business until 3:30-4:00 each day.

The food at Romo's Mexican Restaurant in Holbrook was excellent. I could not eat all of the portion they served and I'm a hearty eater! The museum at the old county courthouse in Holbrook is free and very interesting, especially the old jail in the courthouse.
Day 5 was the trip from Holbrook to MC Tours in Scottsdale via SR 377, Sr 277 and SR 260 to Payson, AZ and then via SR 87 (the Beeline Highway) to Scottsdale. I especially love the route from Heber to Payson as that road is on the Mogollon Rim and is one of the best motorcycle roads in AZ. Just slow down and enjoy the sights and smells of the high country pine forest.

Monica and Gabor once again provided me with a great motorcycling experience and I highly rrecommend anyone who is wanting to ride AZ, UT or NM that they rent from Monica and Gabor. You will not be disappointed in either their personal service or the bikes they rent. Thanks Monica and Gabor! Hope to see you again next year!

2010-06-11T20:09:00.000-07:00

AZ Ride

2010-06-08T23:50:00.003-07:00

We had a great ride despite 40 mph winds that felt like we were driving down the road at a 30 degree angle the entire time. The BMW outperformed my fellow Harley's despite its higher ride position. The winding roads and hills were awesome and we did the North and South rims of the Grand Canyon in the same day. Lots or riding, not problems with the bike, and AZ Ride was accomodating and helpful.

Jim and Dan

2010-05-25T10:33:00.000-07:00

We had terrific time!

2010-05-21T16:14:00.000-07:00

The top picture is hikig the Gila trail at Estrella regional park. The bottom one speaks for itself. I loved the bike and the rental experience from the very first call to the check out was honest, helpful, and warm.

Take care,
Minerva

2010-05-21T16:03:00.001-07:00

We really had a great ride from May 3 to 7 on your rentals. The prep on the bikes was superb, and they performed perfectly. We had a Gold Wing and a BMW 1200 RT, and both are excellent for touring. The BMW was better in the cross winds and much more fuel efficient, but the Wing is unmatched for overall comfort and performance. Both had lots of room for gear, but we did bring cable locks to secure our riding jackets and helmets when we parked, something for others to consider. Our trip took us through Wickenberg, Oatmen, Laughlin, Vegas, Zion, Page, Grand Canyon, And Sedona. Laughlin is very cheap for lodging in the casinos as they are desperate for visitors. We loved Jerome, and met lots of other bikers there at breakfast, then hit the twisties for some fun on the road to Prescott.

I can certainly recommend that others rent from you, we will again soon.

Rod and Jay,
Calgary Alberta, Canada

2010-05-21T15:57:00.001-07:00

Monica & Gabor

Julie and I want to thank you both ! Our one day rental went fantastic as you know ..... the bike ran great and the route you mapped out was perfect for us !

During our ride we stopped to watch wild horses run free in the desert, checked out the Roosevelt dam and of course ate lunch at 'Mas Diner' !

We also had the rare misfortune to ride smack dab into a huge swarm of bees ..... yes bees ...... never seen anything like it in 30 yrs of riding ! No harm done....... followed by a few miles of nervous laughter !

We traveled with confidence because you two covered every aspect of the rental thoroughly before we hit the road.

We will be returning in Arizona in the very near future and you will be hearing from us to rent another bike and head on down another highway ...... Thanks again !

Michael & Julie ...... from Canada eh!

Paul from France

2010-05-18T20:49:00.003-07:00

I arrived home two days ago but it already seems like it has been a long time since I was riding in Arizona. It's almost as though I have awoken from a wonderful dream. What a great way to have spent a week!

Tombstone

Hwy 366

Hwy 191

Greer Lodge

Humphrey Peak

Grand Canyon

The ride to Sierra Vista was done via the freeway in the interest of time, but most of the rest was done on backroads. I passed through Tombstone and then found state highway 366 just south of Safford. Twenty-five miles of mountain twisties, although the last nine were a 'no-go' zone of dirt. The next day I made my way to US highway 191. The ride from Morenci to Springerville is a rider's fantasy, good road and lots of curves for over 100 miles, with almost no traffic. That night I stayed at the Greer Lodge Resort in Greer, west of Springerville, a delightful setting overflowing with atmosphere and staffed by great folks. Payson was my next stop. Unfortunately, it was still too early in the season for exploring the Mogollon Rim area but a nice substitute was the Tonto Natural Bridge.
I had planned a relatively easy ride for the next day, perhaps near Sedona-Oak Creek but instead I found myself in Flagstaff before noon so decided to head for the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, which I reached around 3 o'clock, helped along by 60 mph tail winds. 44 degrees the next morning as I headed south and reached Prescott in time for a ritual visit to the Outback Restaurant for perhaps the best BBQ ribs anywhere. It was nice to drop back down to the valley and 80 degrees for my last riding day.
From my first contact with you I suspected I was in the hands of true professionals and this was confirmed when I arrived at your shop. The welcome was warm and genuine, the paperwork was ready, the bike was spotless, and you and Gabor had thought of everything down to the smallest detail. The return was also handled quickly and thoroughly, you even called a taxi for me.
I would not hesitate to recommend MCTours to anyone with even the slightest thought of biking in Arizona or the surrounding states. Dealing with you was a real pleasure.
Best regards, Paul

2010-05-13T20:55:00.002-07:00

Had a great time riding in Arizona over the weekend. The bike worked perfectly and you and Gabor were very friendly and helpful.I will definitely be coming back to AZRide and next time I will bring a few more people along with me.

Regards,

Rob
From BC Canada

Tom from Florida

2010-05-13T20:50:00.002-07:00

Monica, Our time in Arizona was much too short. I have been to the Scottsdale and Sedona area twice before, with my wife, but visiting there on a motorcycle with Dane was a whole new experience. I hope to make the same trip with my wife some day.

Since I've never rented a motorcycle before I had no idea what to expect. When I mentioned it to several people they said I was crazy because the motorcycles would be a bunch of beaters. Walking into your shop was like walking into a showroom, the bikes were perfect. Your communication with us before hand was very helpful and made getting on the road quick and efficient. We stayed at the Hampton Inn in Sedona where they said we could leave the bikes under cover and they would keep an eye on them, pretty nice. Only one mistake was for me to buy winter gloves in Florida, my hands nearly froze while riding through snow flurries on the way back from Sedona.

You and Gabor are truly professionals and I wish you continued success with AZride.
Tom Johanning
Sarasota Fl.

2010-05-10T16:43:00.001-07:00

You guys were great to deal with, thank you so much!
I will be sure to refer you whenever I can.
Dave from Apache Junction, AZ

AZride

2010-05-03T17:08:00.003-07:00

Thanks to Monica and Gabor I had an excellent exeprience. Upon arrival Monica and Gabor quickly completed the required paperwork, gave me a through tech review and I was off in less than half an hour. I rented a GS and rode up to nothern Arizona, eventually making my way to Prescott for the AMA Flat Track event. The ride was specatcular and Arizona offers some of the best motorcycle rides in the country. I would reccommend anyone thinking of a trip out west use AZ Ride, the cusotmer service is fantastic and the bikes are flawless. Their business let me save the time, money and effort of hauling my own bike out. Great company to do business with. I will defininetly use AZ Ride again for my next trip. Thanks!

BMW 800ST & Yamaha FZ6R

2010-04-30T10:14:00.004-07:00

Fantastic Experience with AZ Ride. Thorough, professional, friendly AND the bikes were in spotless, mint condition. The prices were extremely reasonable, MUCH better than many other motorcycle rental places.

Our excursion through the Tonto National Forest up to Payson was great and our rides were smooth and perfect.

My ride, the FZ6R was wicked fun. Want to feel like a kid again? Go for this one!

Great experience with a great company

2010-04-20T20:05:00.003-07:00

My decision to purchase a new bike this year came at a difficult time with many commitments already established. Two of my choices were BMW's, and knowing this would be a major investment I felt I needed a bit more exposure than the typical demo ride would accomplish. After doing a bit of research, and knowing the weather in Chicago wouldn't be good until my commitments were in full force, I looked for a company to rent the bikes from. AZride.com came up, and not having been to Arizona before I decided to take a short weekend to rent their motorcycles.

The red eye into Phoenix was delayed, but thanks to Monica's recommendation I had a good hotel location walking distance from their shop. Arriving at the shop early, I was first presented with very organized paperwork from Monica, making a potentially painful process stress free. After the paperwork, Gabor introduced me to the first motorcycle, the F800ST low frame. The technical briefing was very thorough, accomplished quickly and efficiently, and allowed time for questions. With the weather rapidly warming, Gabor asked me if I had any ideas on where to go. Not having a good one, he recommended a route northeast out of Scottsdale on a loop that could be anywhere from 200 to 250 miles.

The bike rode great, and was in perfect mechanical condition. The ride itself was pleasant, without much traffic and with a lot of scenery. I stopped at a couple outlooks including the Roosevelt dam to take some photos and enjoy the day. Feeling a bit hungry, I stopped at a restaurant in Globe for lunch. $8 bought me a great burger, fries, drink, and ice cream, a feast non existent at that price anywhere near Chicago. With time winding down, I headed back to the shop. Returning the bike was just as easy as renting it. We arranged the rental for Sunday, and I headed off for a shower and sleep.

Sunday was more of the same, except better. My choice for today was an R1200RT low frame, a bit more motorcycle than the 800. The paperwork was even faster than Saturday, and Gabor's tech brief on the bike was just as detailed. I decided to go apples to apples on the route to get a good comparison, except I went for the longer route this time, making it to Payson, then Globe, then around the long loop before heading back to the shop. I met a couple oil workers on Harleys in Payson, and they tagged along from Payson through the loop. It was the first time I had an opportunity to ride in a group, an experience I hope to repeat back in Illinois. We ended up eating at the same family restaurant since they hadn't been there. With time winding down again, I left my new friends on the loop to get back to the shop in time for check in.

Having never rented a motorcycle, I didn't know what to expect. The experience was so positive at AZride I wouldn't hesitate renting from them again. In fact, I began planning my next trip there in my mind for the fall. Many of my friends own bikes, and although we haven't had a chance to ride together yet, I would definitely recommend AZride for the rental to them. If for any reason they can't go, I would happily head out there again myself to rent a bike for myself. Regardless of your options, if you want a memorable experience from a reputable, experienced company, AZride is definitely the place to go.

Death Valley Days

2010-04-05T18:54:00.010-07:00

When I told my wife I wanted to ride a bike out to Death Valley during our spring break trip to Phoenix, I think she thought I was crazy. After doing a little research though, I found AZRide and the planning started in earnest. We have a 2002 BMW R1150RS at home and we knew we wanted something similar. The RT seemed to be a logical choice especially since the lowered suspension was available to help with my in-seam challenges. I made the arrangements on-line and shipped our gear to Monica to hold until we got there. When we arrived, Gabor had the bike ready to go and we were quickly on our way. The first stop was Lake Havasu City. We didn't want to have a super long ride on the first day, so Lake Havasu seemed like a nice place to stop for the night. The bike was great to ride. Does anyone want to buy a nice used RS? :-) Our next day was an even shorter ride to Vegas to visit my cousin (oh yeah and do some gambling). So, we had some time in the morning to look around Lake Havasu before we needed to leave. Despite what the song says, London Bridge is NOT falling down. If you haven't been by there, I recommend you take a look at Lake Havasu. It's a pretty place and there is plenty to do there. After we looked around and took some pictures we hopped on the bike and headed to Vegas. We had gotten a GPS with the rental which was a big help as we were getting into the traffic around the city. If you're going to Vegas, get on-line and go to this link https://clubgrazie.venetian.com/SignUp/SignUp1.aspx. When you sign up for Club Grazie, you get a $15 credit on your club card which you can use to get you started with gambling at The Venetian. If you're playing with their money, anything you win is pure profit and you can't lose! After a great visit with my cousin and a little gambling, we headed off to Death Valley the next day. Unfortunately there was a cold front moving through the area producing 30-40 mph winds out of the south. Since we were heading predominately west, that meant heavy crosswinds most of the way. Temperatures dropped to 46 deg going through the mountain passes. Certainly not what we had expected for late Mar weather. Even in Death Valley the high was only in the mid-60's. But, once again, we were glad we were on the RT because it was very stable and the fairing provided good protection against the chill. Despite the, less than optimum weather, we had a good ride and got some good pictures in Death Valley. We stayed in one of the cabins at Furnace Creek Ranch. It was small, but comfortable.

The wind died down (no pun intended) overnight, but it was still a little cool for Death Valley. We headed to Laughlin, NV that morning. Why Laughlin? It was about halfway between Death Valley and Phoenix and the rooms were cheap. We stayed at the Aquarius (formerly the Flamingo Hilton) for about $40/night. The room was great, the riverwalk was nice and the buffet was good. Overall, a good place to stop for the night. Getting back to Phoenix from there was a breeze. When we arrived at AZRide, Monica greeted us with 2 bottles of water and had packing tape ready for us to prepare our gear for shipping. Once we completed the paperwork, she called us a cab. We could not have asked for a better experience! The service was outstanding and the motorcycle was in perfect condition. If we get the chance to do this again, we'll certainly use AZRide. We can't thank Monica and Gabor enough for making this a really fabulous vacation!

Thanks!!!!!

2010-04-05T11:21:00.002-07:00

OK, so . . . I don't ride alot anymore and it doesn't make sense for me to own, insure or maintain my own bike; I did plenty of that when I was younger. So, to be able to call with relatively short notice, have all the paper work ready, the bike maintained, handed a bottle of water whether picking up or dropping off, to be given maps of great rides . . . I just can't imagine a greater experience.

AZride runs a great business; that it happens to be in the renting of motorcyles is great if you're renting a motorcycle. So, thanks for really knowing your customer; being treated like I am your only customer is just incredible!

THANKS!!!!

Bud

Enfield Ride

2010-03-31T11:29:00.000-07:00

I had a wonderful time riding the Royal Enfield on March 17 - 19 of this year. Wednesday's ride took me from your headquarters in Scottsdale to Prescott and back to Surprise for the night. The ride through the moutains was spectular and lots of fun on the bike. I was very impressed with its performance and reliability. Attached is a picture of the bike at one of the scenic turnouts on the way to Prescott. The other picture of me on the bike is at our vacation home in Sun City Grand. Thursday took me to Carefree and Cave Creek via route 74 - a very scenic byway. I took many pictures of the desert, but the attached one will be the subject of a future watercolor. The final picture is of the great owners and operators of AZRide.

Thank you for the great service in arranging the rental and high quality support provided throughout. I look forward to my next visit to Scottsdale and future rentals with AZRide. I will enthusiastically recommend your shop to my friends and colleagues.

Brian Austin, MSF Rider Coach

Danny and Tom from Canada

2010-03-27T16:23:00.001-07:00

Well we made it back to Alberta, Canada safe and sound and just wanted to send you guys a big thank you for the service we received on our recent rental. You run an excellent operation and I wish you every success in your business and personal lives.

I have attached a couple of pictures I took on our ride. If you have any customers that want to do a nice 370 mile day trip, this is the route we did on March 24th.

Left our hotel in Litchfield Park in Goodyear, north on 303 loop and 60 to Wickenburg, 89 to Prescott, along 69 to Interstate 17, 260 to Payson, south on 87 and 188 to Miami, then the 60 back to Phoenix. The route had a bit of everything, scenic mountain passes, twisty roads, leisurely sweeping curves, and neat little towns along the way.

I also have attached a picture of my 2005 Suzuki Boulevard 1500 C90T. I rode it to work today and the current temperature is 32F with a high of 54F. Quite a difference from the beautiful weather in Phoenix!

It was a pleasure to meet you and if we find ourselves in the Phoenix area and feel the need for a ride we will definitely use your services again.

Regards, Danny Koch

Josh from Illinois

2010-03-26T08:52:00.025-07:00

Arizona should be seen from atop a Royal Enfield.

Rio Verde Road was a nice warm up and Tonto National Forest was an exceptional ride.

Good people always stopped to ask about the bike.

The cactus spiked landscape gave way to several layers of tan-blue mountains, all calling me to see more.

I had a blast. Thanks for the memories, Josh

FYI…These pictures were taken from my cell phone camera. I didn’t expect to rent a bike on my vacation, so the black jacket was purchased at Goodwill for $10. Between gas, rental and jacket, I walked away under $125

Riding around Arizona and our Enfield ponies

2010-03-13T00:26:00.009-07:00

This is a little late but I'm finally getting around to it! My fiance came all the way from Tokyo this past February to come see the great southwest, and I thought the occasion called for a date on some Enfields. We were going to be in the Phoenix area for a few days and were delighted to find out that AZ Ride had Royal Enfields available for rent as we ourselves both own one our own Enfields. I hopped on their cherry red 500 C5 while my partner rode out on their Military 500 Bullet G5. Both were beautiful bikes, a breeze to handle and most of all a lot of fun! We didn't have much time to go very far on them, but we used them as our Phoenix transportation, and got a chance to take them out to nearby Bartlett Lake, which is a fun little drive.

We were too busy admiring the sexiness of our bikes that we forgot to take many pictures of the scenery, which was also picture worthy!

Enfields handle just as well on dirt roads as they do on any streets.

Every where we parked we would have people come up to us and ask us questions about the bikes. Enfields are real jaw droppers, and everyone seems to get a kick out of seeing us driving around on them.

My little C5 had a slight electrical malfunction but the good folks at AZ came to our rescue and were nice enough to loan us another bike for the day until they could get the kinks worked out of the C5. (hey, if there were no kinks, then it wouldn't be an Enfield!)

Although me and that BMW had a bit of a fight with each other, it was Ryo's excuse to let him drive it, which he was pretty excited about. Of course he is pretty excited to drive anything new with two wheels, haha!

Though I must say that the Enfield suits him much better!

We went all over Arizona, but the one little town that stood out the most to us was little Bisbee. We stayed at the Shady Dell, which I can't recommend enough! The couple that runs the place is absolutely wonderful. They restored several vintage trailers; each one decorated with authentic vintage items from the 50's and early 60's. They even had a record player and old working black and white television sets in each one! Check them out next time you're in Bisbee.

Thanks for the fun AZride! So glad to see you keep those Enfields around. We will definitely be back in the future.

I leave you with some snapshots of us on our old iron barrels that unfortunately had to stay home!

Happy riding everyone!
-Crystal and Ryo

Van from KY

2010-03-04T18:55:00.004-07:00

A place to check your email and get a Latte

Jerome, Grand Hotel

Red Rock of Sedona

Rest stop before the curves start

San Francisco Peaks, heading into Jerome

Sunset from Mount Lemon

The Mile High Grill Inn in Jerome

To Monica & Gabor

It was a great pleasure to rent from you again. My last time was too long ago in December of 2007. You both are exceptionally nice, polite and very professional. Both times I have ridden by myself so no photo's of me. However my riding did take me to some beautiful spots.

My first day was from Monica's suggestion of riding the Mount Lemon highway outside of Tuscon up to Mount Lemon. You could almost call it the "Tail of The Dragon" of the west. It was awesome to ride on clear roads with snow on both sides of me. Great views also !!!!!

My second day was up to Prescott, Jerome, Cottonwood and Sedona. I stopped and had lunch in Jerome at the Mile High Grill & Inn. They serve a great prime rib sandwich. The place has a great character and the owners were very nice. Check out the dollar bills folded into various shapes under the glass in the bar.

Again thanks for your hospitallity

Van Vickers
Lexington, KY

Franziska und Reinhard from Fussach, Austria

2010-03-03T19:46:00.004-07:00

3 days South Arizona – what a great experience.

Nice interesting scenery and certainly lots of sunshine.

Bisbee was a high light even the roads where a little bit boring all the way down but the special atmosphere of this old mining town pays off.

Special thanks to Monica and Gabor with there team. Especially professional service and very well maintained and clean Motorcycles.

We will be back to explore another part of beautiful Arizona.

Early March Ride

2010-03-03T09:48:00.003-07:00

I was in Tempe for three days for business meetings and found I had one afternoon free. Since I was considering buying a 2010 BMW, I searched for local rentals and found AZRide.com. Totally unannounced, I drove to their office having no idea what I would find. Luckily, it turned out to be a perfect visit. Even as a "walk-in," Monica made me feel instantly welcome, and I was on a 2009 GS headed for the SuperstitionMountains within 30 minutes. No hassle, no problems, just friendly, helpful assistance and advice. She even planned a limited 3-hour ride for me since that's all the time I had. That ride took me down some beautiful twisty roads thru the western edge of the Superstition Mts. My thanks to MCTours for a pefect afternoon.

Matthew from Virginia

2010-02-25T19:07:00.005-07:00

I had a great time. I took exit 98 off of I-10 then south on Wintersburg Road past Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station. Palo Verde is the largest nuclear generation facility in the United States. Its three units are capable of generating nearly 4,000 megawatts of electricity. From there I connected with Old US 80 which takes you past some beautiful scenery including the historic Gillespie Dam and Gillespie Bridge over the Gila River. The Gillespie Bridge was completed in 1928. This two lane, nine span, steel truss bridge replaced the original 1921 river crossing. Gillespie Dam failed at approximately 10:30 on the morning of January 9, 1993 and was never repaired. In Gila Bend I took I-8 west to Yuma, Arizona and Winterhaven, California where I visited the Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park and a date farm. On the return trip I had a couple of hours to spare so I toured Arizona's Capitol.

Matthew Radcliff

Along Old US Hwy 80 near the Gila River.

The Gillespie Bridge over the Gila River.

Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park.

Date Farm in Winterhaven, California.

Arizona's Capitol.

House of Representatives Chamber in the Arizona Capitol.

Paul and Garry from Alberta

2010-02-25T19:06:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to thank you again for the one good day (only rainless day) we had riding your bikes. The advice as to where to go was spot on for a days ride. We'll see you again and I'm sure the weather will cooperate this time.

Rod and Lorraine from AB

2010-02-18T20:33:00.004-07:00

Sorry, we didnt take any pics today, just good memories of the ride and your excellent service and bike prep. Can you put me on your list for Bikes for Sale?. Would be nice to keep abike down here.

Great experience and exceptional service

2010-02-14T09:11:00.004-07:00

Enjoyed the ride and service provided was exceptional. The scenery is beautiful and suggest anyone taking the tour go to Bisbee "Awesome".

2010-02-13T19:58:00.002-07:00

The best road to ride is short and fun. You can do every day and hardly leave town. Ride to Tortilla Flats and enjoy the twisties. The road from Globe to Show Low was nice and had amazing scenery. Show Low to Payson was better suited to a car, nice views but lame for bikes. Payson to Phoenix is freeway and can be fun if you don't mind speeding a lot, the turns are long and sweeping.

The best food was Los Taco, on Apache trail and Dellaware. Great food and a salsa that tastes you are in Mexico. The prices are cheap portions great and a super clean establishment. The best Mexican food I have had and friendly owner serving you. Go Los Taco!!!

January 2010, Arizona Grand Tour 2

2010-02-01T20:58:00.004-07:00

Rick and Denise / Toronto Canada

What a great time! To think it started with Denise suggesting that before we buy a touring bike maybe we should try it first; just to see if this is something we’d like to do. I should say that Denise, my wife, was a real trooper throughout the trip…she’s only ridden as a passenger a couple of times and never for longer than an hour or two…this was going to be an adventure.

So last October after doing a bit of surfing one Friday night I sent an email to Monica through the AZRide.com website about a Goldwing rental and a southern Arizona tour. What a pleasant surprise to get a phone call from Monica the following morning to talk about a possible trip.

Since this was my trip, my wife indulging me I mean, the planning and research fell to me. All in all, we had a great time. We really enjoyed ourselves, saw lots of sights, met some interesting and very nice people on the trip, put just over 1,000 miles on a Goldwing, and most importantly, got away from the cold weather in Canada.

The only thing that I should have done was to do a bit more planning around what we wanted to see. There’s just so much to see and do, with the sun going down around 5:30 in the afternoon, we simply ran out of time….I guess we’ll just have to go back again!

We flew into Phoenix on the Tuesday and stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Scottsdale. Thanks to Monica we got a good rate on the room. It was literally a 5 minute walk to get the bike and about 15 minutes up to Old Town Scottsdale http://www.scottsdaledowntown.com/. Speaking of which that night we went to the Tortilla Factory http://www.oldtowntortillafactory.com/ for dinner. Good Mexican food and fantastic Margaritas served in their own shakers. Denise and I really liked their Platinum Margaritas.

The first day (a Wednesday), on the bike we ran out to Tortilla Flat (http://tortillaflataz.com/). We got there just before noon after a ride though Scottsdale out to Apache Junction, (we planned to avoid the major interstates and highways). The Apache Trail is a great twisty road to get used to the bike, (slow curves all along the road).

We arrived at Tortilla Flat and shared a bullrider burger on the BBQ patio and listened to the band playing there. Great music, Denise said she would have been happy staying there. After the band played a request for us, (Peggy Sue by Buddy Holly), and we had some prickly pear ice cream we were back on the road heading to Tucson.

We came into Tucson from the north along 77, (another great road for riding by the way), and in retrospect, we should have stayed at a hotel in that area near the Tucson Mall, rather than the east end of the city. While we were close to where we were planning to go the following day, we were in more of a business / light industrial area so there weren’t a lot of restaurants around within walking distance.

Denise had a great time the first day…first time on a touring bike…that night she asked, are we going to ride on any more of those “roads with the little twisty curves?”. It’s all about the little twisty curves!

First thing day 2, just a short ride from the hotel, was the Pima Air Museum http://www.pimaair.org/. We planned to be there as soon as it opened…we caught the first tour to the “Boneyard” over at the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, followed by the tour at the Museum. If you have any interests in aviation, this is a must see. Seriously, miles and miles of aircraft.

We headed over toward the Colossal Cave Mountain Park http://www.colossalcave.com/welcome.html, our only other major stop for the day, (there was 12 inches of snow up on Mount Lemmon apparently, since we had come to Arizona to get away from that, we decided to pass this time). On the way we stopped at Magpie Pizza on Houghton http://www.magpiespizza.com/ for a custom slice or two for a late lunch, a great place for pizza.

On the way to the Cave we rode through the Saguaro National Park http://www.nps.gov/sagu/index.htm …very different from the National Parks at home in Canada, but beautiful…Denise thought it was the best part of the day.

The road up to the Cave is another nice bike route, unfortunately we didn’t time things well and decided to pass on the tour of the cave…we would have finished after 5 then the ride back in the dark…which we intentionally were planning to avoid, (dark unfamiliar roads, with cattle and other desert creatures walking across it…rented bike, yeah good idea).

Day 3 out of Tucson, while we planned to finish up at Bisbee, south east of Tucson, we started off heading west. The San Xavier del Bac Mission http://www.sanxaviermission.org/ was a highlight for us. It’s peaceful and stunningly white against the blue Arizona sky. The nave and frescos in the Mission are worth taking the time to admire.

On the way to Bisbee after lunch we found ourselves back in the wild, wild west. Tombstone Arizona, http://www.cityoftombstone.com/ (until this trip I don’t think I ever thought that the town really existed), was a treat. The town has gone out of it’s way to make this a must see tourist stop. It’s like stepping back in time.

I spent time chatting with a town Councilman who had ridden into town on “Tanya” his mule, while Denise did a bit of shopping. My souvenir for the trip is a new leather belt and cowboy buckle that I bought in Tombstone; site of the famous gunfight at the OK Corral….how cool is that?

We got to Bisbee http://www.discoverbisbee.com/ in good time. Really the ride was pleasant, scenic and really not that hard on us. On the way into Bisbee, you go through a tunnel; the town is on the other side. It was like taking a blindfold off.

We planned to stay at America’s Best Value Inn on 92, just outside of town and had a nice dinner at a little spot right beside the Inn called the Pizza House, 1422 W Highway 92, Bisbee, AZ 85603. Spaghetti, salad, beer and tunes on the jukebox before turning in for the night.

If we were to do it again, or if we’re ever in that part of the world in the future, I think I would have preferred to stay at a bed and breakfast in the town, that way we could have enjoyed a bit more of the history of the town and done a bit of shopping.

The morning of day 4, we got up, gassed the bike and went into Bisbee for breakfast. If you get the chance you must go to the Bisbee Breakfast Club http://www.bisbeebreakfastclub.com/. Good food, good service and great prices, very popular too it seems. The place was busy when we got there and more folks kept coming.

Leaving Bisbee we went up along 80, 191 and 181 to the Chiricahua National Monument http://www.nps.gov/chir/index.htm.

This is another must see with both camping and hiking trails to explore. If we had more time we would have liked to wander around a bit more. The rock features in the area are something to see. Follow the scenic road into the park for breathtaking views…watch for fallen rocks and the snow here and there.

From Chiricahua we were heading over to Sonoita for the night. We backtracked a bit because we were trying to stay off of the interstate.

Heading to Sonoita we headed back through Tombstone for a quick snack then we went on. We stayed at the Sonoita Inn http://www.sonoitainn.com/. I don’t think you could ask for a nicer and more comfortable place to stay.

For dinner we went next door to the Steak Out Restaurant & Saloon http://www.sonoitainn.com/steak_out_restaurant.html. I don’t think I have ever had a better steak in my life. Mesquite grilled steaks that are huge and simply melt in your mouth, listening to a live band. If you’re staying in Tucson, go to Sonoita for dinner at the Steak Out Restaurant, you will not be disappointed. Did you know that Arizona had a wine district?…Sonoita is just north of it.

Day 5 was the longest day riding, the plan being to spend the night in Ajo http://www.ajochamber.com/index.html. We put about 300 miles on the bike that day by the end of it at the same time we were watching the weather as we had heard that there were a series of storms coming in across from the Pacific and were expected to generate a couple of days of heavy rain in the southern part of the state, (snow up north). The WX feature on the Wing is very cool by the way, it was the first time I used anything like that in earnest.

We headed off down 82 towards Nogales, then up I-19 past Tubac to Amando. We had decided to not stop in Tubac http://tubacarizona.com/ the night before, but going by it, Denise commented on how cute the town looked from the highway. So now we do regret not stopping in for a while. On the other hand, how much art could you put in a saddlebag on a Wing?

The road between Amando and Arivaca is a great one for a bike. Twists turns and hills to climb. It seemed like it wasn’t a secret either. When we stopped at the Gadsden Coffee shop, http://www.gadsdencoffee.com/ just east of the town of Arivaca, (watch for it coming from the east or you’ll go past it before you see the sign), there were a number of bikes there along with a few other folks enjoying a really great cup of coffee…I wonder if you can get Gadsden roast here in the Great White North?

On the way to Ajo, we stopped on 86 at 386 and debated riding up to the Kitt Peak Observatory http://www.noao.edu/outreach/kpoutreach.html. What I haven’t mentioned so far is that it was a little bit cool in the morning and with a bit of cloudiness it was around 60F midday…a bit cooler than what we were hoping for but still nice for riding. So here we were looking at a climb up to about 6,800 feet from the elevation of the road we were on…around 3,200 feet. Warmth being the better part of valor, and there being a bit of rain falling up there, we went on to Ajo, http://www.ajochamber.com/index.html, though it would have been nice to see the Observatory.

We made Ajo in good time, pretty close to 3:00 in the afternoon. Being a Sunday though, most things were closed and if we had been staying in town perhaps we would have stayed the night as planned, but we decided to press on to Gila Bend, http://www.gilabendaz.org/, about an hour up the road, to see what kind of place we might find to spend the night.

We ended up staying at the Best Western Space Lodge, http://www.bestwesternspaceagelodge.com/index.html, just on the main road through Gila Bend. The room came with complementary breakfast with the accommodation and a restaurant right beside the motel. First thing I said walking in for diner was “Beam me up Scotty”…couldn’t help it...check out the link.

The rain was definitely on the way for the following morning, day 6…the plan was to hit the road as soon as we could in the morning …we were hoping to catch a break between the showers and do a speed run directly up to Scottsdale, cutting our day short by a few hours…we weren’t too happy with the idea of cold and wet for the last few hours. As it turned out we were lucky, the rain holding off and made it back to Scottsdale to drop off the bike and checking in a little after noon on our last day.

Showers at the Holiday Inn, the afternoon at the Scottsdale Fashion Square and dinner at the Italian Grotto http://www.locallifedesign.com/clients/italiangrotto/index.htm was a perfect way to end the trip.

It was an adventure, and not the type of holiday we had ever done before…certainly Denise really took a chance on this one, but it all worked out well.

My sincere thanks to everyone who made the trip special for us, whether you realized it or not; the waitress at the Tortilla Factory, the lady at the Sonoita Inn, the Border Patrol personnel we chatted with that helped to make you feel like you were never alone in the middle of the desert miles from nowhere, the Councilor in Tombstone and his mule Tanya, the shopkeeper who helped me find my new belt there, the Vietnam war vet now Guide at the Pima Air Museum with 35,000 hours of flight experience, that Harley rider at the gas station with the excellent advice I’ll never forget, the couple driving through to San Diego in their Thunderbird convertible, Todd and his advice on Goldwings and customizing them, the waiter at the Italian Grotto and all of the other bike riders we saw on the road who waved, thanks.

A special note to Monica and Gabor at MCTours, http://www.azride.com/, without the two of you, none of it would have been possible. You were both professional, attentive to detail, patient, thorough, your bikes new and well maintained, I’d recommend your organization again in a heartbeat. Thank-you both very much.

Rick and Denise

P.S. We’re going shopping for a ‘Wing.

AZ fun in the sun

2010-01-27T06:17:00.003-07:00

Monica and Gabor,

I want to thank you for making my first rental experience a success. The weather the scenery, and your hospitality could not have been better. The royal enfields are a blast to ride and elevate you to instant celebrity status. I will highly recommend you guys.

Mirek from Gdnask / Poland

2010-01-24T17:42:00.002-07:00

I'd like to thank you for your help, good advice, your efforts and patience.
I spent 2 amazing days riding on AZ's roads. It was a wonderful time for me & the R1200GS (I hope).
Perfect roads & perfect bike prepared by a professional team.

Arizona & GS - that's it !

Keith and Patrice from Kansas City, MO

2010-01-17T10:11:00.003-07:00

What an awesome time my husband and I had this past Oct. being together and enjoying God's creation.
Monica was good to work with, and the Honda Gold Wing was a joy to ride.
This vacation is something we will consider every year when we plan our annual vacation. Keith and Patrice

BMW K1300GT - An Excellent Experience

2009-12-28T09:54:00.003-07:00

This was my first rental experience on a BMW motorcycle, it was Excellent! Love the Suspension compared to the FJR I am used to. December is low season in AZ, Good time to ride, if your from the northwest, nice weather. I highly recommend AZRIDE, The equipment was like new! The first day I rode solo up to Prescott, AZ with My uncle. A stop at Yarnell for Breakfast was perfect. Nice twisties up the hill to Yarnell. Day two Cheri and I rode up to Tortilla Flats just south of Apache Junction. A great place to have Lunch and look around at the old Mining Town. This is a popular Motorcycle destination, fun little twisty ride a the native area of AZ. I will certainly be back to Rent from AZRIDE, next time will get a GS to explore some of the mountain roads and outback of AZ. Thanks Again!

AZ riders

2009-12-19T16:10:00.002-07:00

Monica and Gabor,
Thank you for such a great day! We had a perfect ride and covered a lot of ground. We saw Saguaro Lake, Canyon Lake, lunch at Tortilla Flat and cruised through the historic town of Globe. The bikes were all in top condition. You and Gabor couldn't have been more patient, helpful and friendly. Your location in Old Town Scottsdale and the affordable rental prices all made for an awesome day. We'll definitely be renting again this spring.
Thanks again!
Charlie

Mike from Denver

2009-12-17T21:27:00.005-07:00

It is a pleasant surprise when you have the opportunity to deal with a truly professional and customer service oriented outfitter. Monica and Gabor are simply the best and make the process of renting a motorcycle absolutely painless.

I rented a BMW K1300GT and must say the bike was like new. I had 100% confidence in the bike and had no doubts that the motorcycle was absolutely safe to ride and would not let me down.

The safety briefing and motorcycle orientation given by Gabor was second to none. No perfunctory check out here. I have been riding for 40 years and managed to learn a thing or two to include the easy way to put a 650 lb bike up on the center stand.

Gabor helped nail down the details of my itinerary and came up with awesome recommendations regarding routing and places to visit. Monica was kind enough to let me keep the complementary helmet for an extra day for use at the AZtrackday I had scheduled for the next day.

I am already planning my next trip and will rent from AZride again (hopefully in the next month or two.)

48 Hr Itinerary
Day 1 - Afternoon
- Tuscon via Florence
- Mt Lemmon side trip

Day 2 - full day
- PIMA Air & Space Museum side trip
- Tombstone via Nogales

Day 3 - morning
- Return to Phoenix via Globe

One nice thing about this itinerary is that allows you to check in and stay at the same motel in Tuscon for two nights. I would suggest a motel on the NorthWest side of Tuscon to allow for a more leisurely return on the last morning. I stayed near the PIMA museum and wasted an hour getting out of town the last day.

Mike R

Vithy from Montreal, CA

2009-12-02T08:47:00.002-07:00

I have to say that I was very pleased to deal with AZride. Many thanks to Monica and Gabor!
Your service is professional and impeccable! I can't wait to rent another bike from you guys next time I go to Arizona.

I've rented a BMW F 800 ST and the bike condition was in A1 condition - Very safe and reliable bike!

DESTINATION:
We went to TUCSON to see Summerhaven mountain
The ride at Summerhaven is just AWESOME, while ascending/descending the mountain. The view is incredible! Watch for the weather though, as we encountered some rain.

OUR HOTEL RECOMMENDATION:
#1 - The Congress Hotel: (book in advance!) A full service hotel with a great bar and restaurant, not to mention all the Indie rock band shows playing on the weekend
#2 - The Roadrunner Hostel (for those on a budget) $20 a bed and it's clean!

TIPS FOR THE ITINARY
When arriving to Tucson and heading towards SummerHaven, avoid accessing via the downtown or the south. You are better off heading to SummerHaven from the North in direction of the east, as you will ride at the bottom border south of the mountains. That is using INA road, River street, CATALINA street ...

Vithy

Steve from OH

2009-12-02T08:41:00.002-07:00

Azride did a GREAT JOB all the details were handled perfictly. I even added a gps at the last minuite, they provided a map plus programmed the gps. Take the Carefree/ dam trip prefect THANKS FOR THE GREAT RIDE

Friends from MN

2009-12-02T08:39:00.001-07:00

Haraldur and I had a great ride, despite the nausea on the twisties, unexpected night return on I17 and need to recruit rider friend to get bikes back due to an early morning flight. Would do it all again in a heartbeat and will definitely recommend you to our friends who ask where to rent a touring bike.
Best regards,Jeff

Nick from OK

2009-11-30T17:55:00.002-07:00

You guys are a "class act" and you delivered 100%. I had a great time and the bike was perfect. I will definitely be calling you again the next time I'm in Phoenix and have time to ride. I would also definitely recommend your company to anyone looking to ride.

Nick Massey

Bros from Canada

2009-11-30T17:26:00.003-07:00

Monica
We enjoyed our short holiday with the bike rented from AZride. Bikes were great and we all enjoyed trying a different bike than what we ride at home. We also learned a lot about Arizona geography and climate, as none of us realized there was so much elevation change between Scottsdale and the Grand Canyon, or that it can get really cold in Arizona! Temperature in Flagstaff fell to 17F overnight, warmed up to 23F when we rode up to the Grand Canyon, but the sun was shining and it added to the adventure of the ride.
We all had a good time and a good ride.

Ted

Jim from PA

2009-11-30T17:06:00.000-07:00

Monica & Gabor,

I wanted to respond and thank you for the professional and courteous service you extended to me last week as I rented the Royal Enfield C-5. My stay in Phoenix was very brief, landing Tuesday and leaving on Thursday, so, besides the work I needed to get done, I was determined to see some of the state by motorcycle. Thank you for allowing me to do this last Wednesday afternoon.

As a relatively new rider I was somewhat apprehensive in venturing off in a different city on a motorcycle I’ve never ridden before. Gabor’s quick tutorial of the bike was essential to my riding safety and fun. Monica’s friendly and professional approach to renting bikes and all the business stuff that goes with it assured me that I was dealing with the right folks.

Arizona has much straighter roads than my home state of Pennsylvania and they seem to go on forever. On my excursion I was able to head north through Scottsdale and then into the Tonto National Forest. Of course I was not prepared with a camera, so I will have to relive my experience by memory, at least until I get back to Phoenix. I will not soon forget the sights of desert, rock formations, and cactus as I get back to business here on the east coast.

It was an awesome experience. Thanks for making this possible and I look forward to following your guestbook.

Jim Hayes

Tim and Michelle from PA

2009-11-30T16:54:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to thank you again from Michelle and I. And apologize for leaving so abruptly when we dropped the bike off. We were in a big rush. I don't think we got to properly express just how amazing our trip was, and how thankful we were to your company, and to your specific handling of our needs. The bike was even better than my high hopes prepared for, and the advice you gave us was so spot on it really put our trip over the top! The trip to AZ is likely to become an anual thing, and I'm going to be sure to include your bikes in those trips.

Thanks again!!

Tim

Tucson & Kitt Peak

2009-11-12T10:46:00.003-07:00

After a week on business in Phoenix, I picked up the BMW R1200RT. This was my second rental from AZRide and the experience was outstanding on both occassions. The bike was in excellent shape and the service was professional and friendly. They are motorcycle enthusiasts and it shows! I proceeded to the Phoenix airport to meet my wife who was flying in from PA. We then headed south to Tucson for the weekend.

Our lodging was a great B & B, (El Presidio Inn), in the historic district of down town Tucson. The innkeeper graciously allowed us to park the RT inside the historic, cobble stoned courtyard here we knew it would be secure. On Saturday after an awsome breakfast with other guests, we headed off to explore the Saguaro National Park, (East) and the Sonoran Desert Museum. On Saturday evening we went to Kitt Peak National Observatory for their Nightly Observing Program. We watched the sunset over the desert from the top of Kitt Peak, (about 6,500 ft), then spent several hours learning about and observing the stars & planets. This was a unique experience and we highly recommend it.

Sunday morning we took the long way back to Scottsdale, traveling Rt. 77 to Globe, then US 60 west. This was a great ride with mountain roads and scenic overlooks and minimal traffic. Another great experience, (just way too short).

Thanks Monica & Gabor! We hope to be back! ---Jay & Linda, Landisville, PA.

Brad & Billie from the UK

2009-11-10T10:27:00.004-07:00

We rented the Yamaha FJR for 2 days, it was the first time I had got my wife, Billie on the back of a bike since I passed my test in March. It was the best 2 days of the 8 day stay in Phoenix.

We took Monica's advice the first day & followed her route to Tortilla Flats stopping for a drink at Saguaro Lake where this picture of Billie with the FJR was taken.

On the 2nd day we went to Sedona up the 87 to Payson & then the 260 to the I-17 on to Sedona.

The 87 is a must!!

You go from cotton fields after the 101 to desert, cactus forest and, as you gain altitude, alpine forests before you get to Payson. Fantastic road, breath taking views & the odd speed trap!!

Sedona is beautiful, but don't go for the shopping go for the stunning scenery (though there is a factory outlet just outside Sedona). The 2nd picture is Billie & I in Sedona.

We are already talking about coming back next year & renting a bike for longer next time!!

Ride Safe.

Arizona on the BMW

2009-11-06T02:22:00.013-07:00

We rented 2 BMW's at AZRide. Monica and Gabor are very serious and professional, yet very friendly people. They run there business en motorbikes well. For every ride the bikes look like new!

We drove 1150 miles through Arizona, a great trip and a lot of fun!

For more great pictures of Arizona, see http://www.lamboo.com/

Herman Lamboo

Jens from Germany

2009-11-01T18:27:00.003-07:00

Thanks for entertaining a great 24 hrs bike ride. It was a great weekend
experience for a business traveller and definitely worth it. Great landscape
and great bike. Easy riding, even for somebody who hasn't hit the road for
more than 16 years. I enjoyed your support and even the 200 blocks back to
the hotel by public transportation......

Jens

Bill from CA

2009-11-01T18:07:00.004-07:00

I recently rented a Royal Enfield from AZride. The whole process was very nice, including the people, the store and the bikes.

There are 2 very good reasons to ride the Royal Enfield.

First it is a Thumper so going is wonderful. If is light and agile, the way motorcycles should be. If also has the sound and vibration of a real Motorcycle from my past.

Second is it's classic look, so stopping is a social event. Guys came up to me to find out where and when it was manufactured. They also marveled at the cost of "Primping" it out to such a pristine condition. From the admiring looks and comments, I may have sold a few bikes for the nice folks at AZride.

Bill

Long Way UP

2009-10-10T17:21:00.002-07:00

I just wanted to post you a picture to show where that RT you sold me has been. It was a great summer in Alaska. I got back last week, and am starting to settle down again. Hope alls well with you and your business.
Neil

Julie and Sam from Virginia

2009-10-10T10:04:00.002-07:00

Thanks so much for the friendly and professional service! We had a great
weekend but especially liked visiting Jerome and the Apache Trail.
Julie Grey