L.A. to Sedona to Phoenix...advice?

[mdrsteve]

I'm leaving on my bike next Monday AM to go to Sedona. After a couple of days of exploring there, I'm going to head SOuth to Phoenix, and then back to L.A.

The route I'm thinking about is L.A. to Sedona: 10 East to the 60 to thr 89 to the 89A.

Anyone know if this is a good route to take? Is there a better route? Is there a better route to take if I end up rolling into Sedona after dark? Am I gonna freeze my butt off (I'm thinkin' about a heated vest)? Any recommendations on where to stay in Sedona?

Thanks all!

Happy Holidays!!!

[98rk]

I don't have a map in front of me, but I would recommend heading to Laughlin, then taking I-40 to Flagstaff, then down through Oak Creek Canyon into Sedona. From Sedona to Phoenix I would take the road to Jerome. It's an old silver mining town, was a ghost town in the late 70's but has been making a comeback as a tourist place. Antiques, eating, etc...
The ride is great. Watch your pipes I've heard they don't like loud pipes. From Jerome take the road to Prescott, the territorial capital of Arizona. They have a central park where you can take a break, which has Whiskey Row on one side. Montezuma street, check out the Palace Bar. Use to have a great Cherry bar and a 17 point buck on the wall. Then on down to Phoenix from there.
Have fun.
Dan

[coati]

I second 98rk's advice on the route. Especially Jerome. Unless you're riding with a big group they leave you alone. It does get chilly up there, probably 30's in the morning. Once you get back to Phoenix and on I-10 it's warmer.

There are good views of Sedona from the road to the airport. While you're up there if you're so inclined rent yourself a ride on a Waco biplane. I guarantee you won't forget it.

Have a great ride. It's pretty country, interesting roads, and wide open spaces. Wish I was there right now.

[Lightnin]

If'n it were me, I'd avoid 10. I just don't like it. It is a more direct route but you're on your bike...so you shouldn't be really be on a mission to get there in a hurry.

I like taking 62 to 72 to 60 to 89 to 89A. A little bit more indirect to get to the same place. Check with CA & AZ DOTs to see if any construction is on any of the roads you're planning on taking.

As mentioned before, watch your pipes. Sedona is huge on busting bikers chops about loud pipes and they DO have patrols with dB meters in place.

[AzFAL]

I'll 3rd it! Take 98rk's route. The ride from Flagstaff to Sedona & then thru Cottonwood, Jerome then to Prescott is awesome .It'll be cold though, dress warm. Be careful when heading out of Flagstaff to hook up to 89A, it's easy to miss the turn off.

Dave

[AndrewM01]

used to live on the Coast and made the run many times. I don't know the 60 route, so I can't comment on it. I'd run to Barstow, then 40 to Flag, and down to Sedona. It's about a 12 hour trip, with some of the hard parts at the last, so if I was riding, I'd make it two days. Be aware that any route you take will have long runs across the desert, where gas stops can be VERY far apart. There may be heavy winds which can cut your gas mileage badly. I'd carry some extra, and take advantage of any available stop to 'top off'.

Its well below freezing (mid teens) at night and gettting up to maybe mid 40s on the better days in Sedona and Flag now, with snow every few days in the High Country. Its a tad perilous out around Flag, what with some ice on the roads and the gravel the county plow throws around. The easy route's 10 to Phoenix and then up 17. If the weather looks at all iffy, that might be best.

I'm still riding, when I can get out of my subdivision, but that's increasingly rare, with the ice. Temps are often in the 20s, I keep my electric vest and heated grips on 'High' almost all the time now, its a survival issue. Hypothermia can kill ya real easily. AZ is a helmet optional state, but you NEED a full face in this weather. Also long johns or insulatd ski pants type of things.

Most main routes in AZ are well maintained, both as to surface and ice clearing, but be very cautious on 89A down to Sedona. There's some nasty bumps around blind corners than have put many riders in the ditch, also rocks, critters, and blundering tourists. (Come around a blind hairpin and there's a motorhome wedged across both lanes because some fool tried to do a three point turn where there wasn't enough room.)

Most highway speeds are 75, but it drops to 65 here and there for no apparent reason. The DPS (Department of Public Safety, what we use for Highway Patrol) tend to lurk just around blind corners after the 65 sign. There's not many though, and if you're used to the CHP and LAPD, you won't have anything to fear. They (the DPS) aren't nearly as chicken-**** and out to get you.

What they said about noise... Jerome, Sedona and many areas around Phoenix have DB patrols out, and they will write you. quite expensive, too.

Its still very beautiful out, and some of the finest scenery in the world is to be seen around Sedona. Outside of town, traffic is amazingly light, and riding is far more enjoyable than in California.

Grand Canyon Harley, just outside of Flag, are very nice folk to deal with if you need anything.

Drop me a PM, maybe we can get in touch while you're in the area. Got a pretty well equipped workshop too, in case you need to adjust things or do some light repairs.

A

[thomas_l]

Originally posted by AndrewM01
What they said about noise... Jerome, Sedona and many areas around Phoenix have DB patrols out, and they will write you. quite expensive, too.

My wife and I are stopping in Phoenix a couple days before New Years and considered a few rides like Sedona/Jerome weather permitting. I've never been somewhere that enforcement is that aggressive (or known that I was ) . If you happen to have loud pipes and not riding like a hooligan are they still writing tickets? Or only whipping out the db meters when given a reason to?

[AndrewM01]

Noise ordinances are local, not state, and so is enforcement. Cave Creek and Carefree, just outside of Scottsdale, have been known to have microphones and patrols setup roadside; if you're running SE Performance or Vance & Hines, pop goes the weasel. That isn't all day every day, though, just sometimes. Sedona, you have to do something to attract their attention. No full throttle holeshots or the like, and you're probablt OK. Jerome is a very tiny town halfway up a mountainside with a tiny road into and out of it. They are completely dependent on their tourist trade, by which they mean your midwestern middle aged straight life who buy 'art objects' and overpriced souvenirs. There's a couple of bars in town that have very good music, especially on Sat and Sunday afternoon. They've become quite a 'destination' for rides from all over AZ. Enforcement seems to depend on whether anyone's annoyed the 'tourists' lately. I've ridden through many times without ever seeing a cop, but they've been known to stop every bike they can, run 'safety' inspections, and write whole book's worth of equipment and noise tickets. I'm running SE Touring pipes, done full throttle takeoffs right next to Scottsdale PD and they didn't even look over at me, but Tourings are pretty quiet.
One thing AZ is death on though, is DUI. .08 is legally drunk, so a couple of beers or glasses of wine with dinner can put you over the limit. The cop can write you for DUI for less than .08, if his opinion is that you're 'impaired'. There's no slack at all, if there's booze on you're breath, you're probably going downtown and in for an extremely expensive hassle. They've been known to sit just down a bit from the roadhouse or bar and bust everyone who comes out and drives away, and there's roadblocks all during the Holidays. In fairness, there's a large DUI problem in AZ, with horrendous and deadly accidents occuring almost daily on the Indian Reservations and around Phoenix, so you can't blame them for trying. Just be aware and be really careful about it.

Ride safe

A

[thomas_l]

Cool - thanks for the tips. I have V&H Longshots on a 01 Road King - they definitely talk when you open the throttle. My wife will have no worry on her stock Honda Shadow. It's so quiet sometimes she misses shifts when following me because she can't hear hers over my pipes

I grew up in Phoenix (moved away when I was starting high school) and it's kinda cool to come back and be a tourist.

[Dawg]

Oak Creek Canyon ain't exactly Deal's Gap but it can bite you pretty hard. It's a ride of a life time though.

[JCZ]

Originally posted by 98rk
I don't have a map in front of me, but I would recommend heading to Laughlin, then taking I-40 to Flagstaff, then down through Oak Creek Canyon into Sedona. From Sedona to Phoenix I would take the road to Jerome. It's an old silver mining town, was a ghost town in the late 70's but has been making a comeback as a tourist place. Antiques, eating, etc...
The ride is great. Watch your pipes I've heard they don't like loud pipes. From Jerome take the road to Prescott, the territorial capital of Arizona. They have a central park where you can take a break, which has Whiskey Row on one side. Montezuma street, check out the Palace Bar. Use to have a great Cherry bar and a 17 point buck on the wall. Then on down to Phoenix from there.
Have fun.
Dan

I concur......and I think (my memory is faden fast...........lol) Oak Creek Canyon out of Flagstaff is 89A. It's a ride that you definately want to take during the day (even if you do it at night) just for the beauty of it!

[mdrsteve]

Thanks for the info all! I'm now leaning towards gettin' there quick (40 if warmer, otherwise 10 to 17!) I'll do the ride to Jerome on the way back down to Phoenix, and then maybe just a straight shot down the 10 to get home! My trip plans have me getting there in one day and makin' the trip back in one day.

[scampgw]

Try the Sky Ranch Lodge when in Sedona. Near the airport; great views; good value; I think you'll like it.