Question for Arizona residents

[dirty~d~]

Are there a lot of areas to ride in Arizona? I'm considering taking a job in Phoenix, but I want to know my options before going ahead with it. I know the weather allows year 'round street riding (for the mostpart) :yeehaw: Any input regarding dirtbikes in Arizona is greatly appreciated. Thanks ahead of time.

 

[Kav]

Heck ya there is! you have white tanks to the west of town (sun city) and loads of riding all around the state.

 

[dirty~d~]

Sweet! Thanks for the info in the PM, Kav. I really want to take the job, but I don't want to have to sacrifice any of my hobbies.

 

[Kav]

trust me you wouldn't have too, and there are woods abut 2 hours north of Phx I'm not too sure on the riding up there, but I'm sure there is plenty if you're looking for woods to ride in

 

[VintageDirt]

The old ADRA (Arizona Desert Racing Assoc) used to run about 10 races a year back in the 80s. A couple of the events were around the Snowflake/Heber area, which is mostly forest. They also had a GP at Gila Bend but that was all desert with a bunch of giant saguaros on the route. The first loop through the saguaro forest I was so awe struck that I almost slowed to a stop. And then the Wickenburg race was like racing on the moon.

Heck, they've even got a vintage mx series and an AHRMA national at Speedworld, near Phoenix.

If I was a inclined to move, Arizona would be my first choice. But I ain't going no where.

 

[Dirtjunkey]

I live in Gilbert wich is kind of a suburb of Phoenix/Tempe/Mesa in the east valley which is an awesome place to live man. From my house I can be at ET Motopark in about 20 min. The have 4 tracks PW, 80, Vet and Pro. This is a nice facility and big enough so that the tracks don't usually get too busy on practice day. (etmotopark.c*m)

To the south about 30-40min away, near a little boom town in the middle of the desert called Casa Grande, lies Moto Grande. This track is real technical and tight with big pit jumps and it is just an awesome layout. Remember this place in the summer time because they have night practice. Believe me, in the summer it gets up to around 115 degrees during the day. You don't want to be out there in the desert in those conditions unless you really like your nutz roasted. Don't under estimate the deadliness of the desert either. Every summer, you almost can't go one day without hearing about how some hiker had to get air lifted because he just took off into the mountains with no water or something. And right after that news bit you'll hear about a drowning death. Go figure, it's a crazy world we live in. You can avoid trouble by making sure you stay (as) cool (as you can) and keep hydrated. One good thing is I never hear of riders having these troubles, it's always the hikers.

On the west side of the valley there's Speedworld (speedworldmxpark.c*m) I stopped going to this track because it is so far from the east side and there's quality riding now where I live so less drive time = more ride time. Speedworld is a sweet track none-the-less and before ET and Moto G got all dialed in that was where we went every weekend.

To the north there's Canyon. I can't find a website for them but I'm sure if you live in Cave Creek or north to northwest Phoenix you will seek out this landmark track which is a staple of the valley motocross community and has been for many years.

There are other tracks like AZ Cycle Park and Cottonwood. There's acres and acres of BLM land for single track, free riding and honing your desert riding skills. A few hours to the north there's pines and forest either, Payson, Flagstaff (snowboarding too), Pinetop (snowboarding too) if you want to ride forest trails and stuff.

Then a few hours to the west, just across the AZ/CA border (near Yuma) is Glamis. Sand, sand everywhere my friend and it is a hell of a lot of fun to visit. If you have never been I strongly suggest you go at least once. It's like riding on another planet created by the dirtbike Gods.

One thing however is that the riding space there is slowly being taken out of service by the Communist Land Grab effort. They are using this weed to justify the closure of state land. You see, the Sierra Club and it's cohorts believe that this weed that grows there sometimes has more rights than you do and they are trying to close one of the most unique and awesome places in the North American to ride.

Wherever you live, please support the American Sand Association and save our dunes. Visit their website for more than enough info about the fight. They are doing an excellent job standing up for people who ride so please support their effort. (americansandassociation.*rg)

Hope that helps!
'05 CRF450 #242

 

[Smit-Dog]

Couple of sites with lots of Arizona dirt bike info...

http://www.arizonatrailriders.org/

http://ridingarizona.com/

 

[dirty~d~]

You guys are awesome!! Thanks a for the info. ((((((hug))))) for each of ya. ;)

 

[nitropimp]

I live in Cave Creek, about 30 min from Canyon. I have not been to the MX track, I go to the sand drag track.
The web site is copracing.com


Dirtjunkie did a good job. One thing I will add is; some areas require a permit and more and more trust land is becomming limited use area, contact the Arizona Bureau of Land Management for rules & regs. regarding this.

 

[Lonewolf]

I was in the Phoenix area(Suprise) last January for the first and I fell in love with it.I am going back again in a few weeks, I can't wait! This time I am going to do some riding, I found a place called Factory Prep that rents out bikes and I will be spending a day at Speedworld. If I have enough money left I want to maybe spend some time in the desert, I found a place called Extreme Arizona that offers tours. I wouldn't hesitate to move out there if a job offer came up, as soon as I am finished with school I am going to try to relocate out west.

 

[ScottS]

Good info- my dad lives in Sun city West and I have been thinking about stashing one of my KTM's in his garage so I can fly out and ride in the winter- question is should I ship the 300 or the 620- They are both street legal so I am mostly interested in riding trails, not tracks..
Glad to know there is some good riding out there .

 

[oldgoat]

Great infor. for sure. I'm going out to Phoenix at the end of Dec. to visit my son for two months. Retired in April so lookin for someplace warm to move to.
have a Yz that gets way to little use in Northern Ohio. it will be nice to ride year around.

 

[Dirtjunkey]

Besides tracks there are lot of areas in the desert to ride. It is true that they are being snatched up so fast that I can only think of two places left that I know where to free ride. Not to say that there isn't plenty of them out there, but I have been riding practice at the tracks for so long I've got out of touch. Hence this post.
I'm taking next week off and the tracks aren't open during the week. I saw some video at the shop when I bought my new CRF450 where these kids on 80's were ripping up some cool desert tracks in AZ. Looked like north Snottsdale or something.
Anyone know of some desert spots that have some good jumps and stuff? I'm planning on logging some serious time on the new Red Dragon (wife named it that) during the week of xmas.
Oh, merry xmas everyone, now get out there and RIDE!! :ride:

 

[ScottS]

I was driving south on I-19 towards Nogales south of tucson and saw a little dude on a KX maybe 85 and someone on a full siz KX- I slowed down to pace them about 45 mph looked like sweet trail - west side of road went on for like 10 miles

 

[yz250-effer]

There are some great single track stuff out by Mile marker 11 and 13 on that state highway towards lake pleasant.( not far from Sun City ) I've heard of the white tanks, but never been out there. There is pinal air park area towards Tucson, but you need a state land use permit to be legal there, I think. I am out of Tucson, and ride MX tracks only for the last few years and have not been on a trail in quite a while. I have been to all the tracks in Phoenix, and of course Tucson, Sierra vista, Safford and the ones in between.
As far as trails, and forest service roads around Tucson, there is quite a bit and I know of a couple desert mx tracks that are still legal to ride. You can ride year round as long as you quit by 10 am in the heat of the summer!