[jetsen]

Some friends and I are planning to ride the Arizona BDR, and probably four or five sections of the Utah BDR, this April. We live in Salt Lake City, Utah, so would only do the southern sections (no further than section five) on our way home.
So first question... Anyone have experience taking your AT on either the AZ or UT BDRs that you'd like to share? I've watched several YouTube videos on both, but I would love to hear your experience.

The official BDR video made it seem like Arizona was hard on tires. Would you agree? I'm currently running Dunlop Mission Trailmax tires, with probably 50% life gone on rear. Thoughts? Advice?

I don't love sleeping on the ground so I'm trying to persuade my friends toward staying in motels. Bad idea?

We're hoping we can convince someone to follow us as a support vehicle. If that happens, we'll probably trailer the bikes down in a U-Haul. Another option thrown out was the idea of shipping our bikes from SLC to Tucson. Anyone ever done anything like that? What was your experience? I called a couple of car carriers who want between $400 and $750 to ship my 2020 ATAS, which seems like a wide price range. One of the companies immediately started talking about being bonded, insured, secure, experienced, etc., etc., so I expected them to be the most expensive. But they were on the lower end so I can't figure out why the wide price range.

I'd love to hear your thoughts and comments... and pictures if you've got 'em.

 

[AIC_Rooster]

The official BDR video made it seem like Arizona was hard on tires. Would you agree? I'm currently running Dunlop Mission Trailmax tires, with probably 50% life gone on rear. Thoughts? Advice?

I'm speaking as an armchair pilot as I haven't ridden the AZ BDR, but I suspect you want something nobbier for all the sand. The Missions don't do great in sand or mud. I think you get a lot of sand in AZ. If it's like NM, then you get mud if it happens to rain.

 

[High Country]

I live in Flagstaff, and It’s not unusual to get snow in April the higher elevations of the AZ route that can make things very sloppy and slick. I’d definitely start out with fresh tires. I’ve done the entire route and you can expect large temperature changes, sand, and a lot of rocky sections. I currently use Bridgestone Adventure Cross on the bike and have used them on the AZ, UT, CO & WY BDRs and have had no issues with them.

Same thing with southern UT. Snow blocked us in the higher elevations on an April/May ride and our campsite on the White Rim trail was flooded from the spring thaw. Be prepared for cold temps if you are planning on camping in the higher elevations. Good luck and ride safe.

 

[jimmydsmith7]

I rode the Idaho BDR in Sept. on my 2016 manual AT, had a great time. No issues at all. Did the Northeast BDR last year on a CB500X, so riding the AT was like riding on a cloud compared to the CB500.

 

[jetsen]

I rode the Idaho BDR in Sept. on my 2016 manual AT, had a great time. No issues at all. Did the Northeast BDR last year on a CB500X, so riding the AT was like riding on a cloud compared to the CB500.

🌤
I've had a similar cloud-like experience going from my NC700x to the AT. The NC700 now seems punishing by comparison. I've started referring to the AT as a Gold Wing for dirt... a dirt wing.

I spent a fair amount of time on trails and dirt roads after I bought the bike last summer and have no doubts about its abilities. It's the Rider that is still questionable.
High Country came in hot with his comments about the terrain and weather. Exactly the kind of advice I'm looking for.

 

[swimmer]

Your going to spend the same amount of time driving to Tucson as you would riding there, why would you ship your motorcycle such a short distance with no time benefits. I am imagining you driving down the interstate and seeing the guy delivering your motorcycle driving next to you.

 

[jetsen]

I am imagining you driving down the interstate and seeing the guy delivering your motorcycle driving next to you.

That's sounds like a movie scene. Planes, Trains, Motorcycles, and Automobiles.

It's all speculative at this point, but the thought is we could ship the bikes down a few days early, fly in and pick them up the day before starting. Most likely option is we will spend a couple days riding down (I don't think my ass could handle the full distance in a single day's ride). And cost of a flight and the shipping will probably be a hard pill to swallow. Even for something as cool as this.

 

[jimmydsmith7]

I rode from Texarkana, TX to Idaho to start the Idaho BDR. Finished in Canada and rode back to Texas on my AT. That was 5230 miles round trip. Same for the trip I took last year on the CB500X, rode it from Texas to the Northeast BDR and back, almost the same distance, 5475 miles.
I have a Airhawk cushion on my AT, otherwise I would not have enjoyed the highway portion as much as I did. The stock seat does not agree with my boney bottom. The Airhawk made all the difference in the world for me. I am able to ride all day on the highway with no soreness or pain. I had no problem off road as you are ( for me anyway), mostly standing with intermittent sitting.
I will not trailer or ship because I love riding my "dirt wing".

 

[AZMtnRider]

Arizona has lots of rocks and some sand and really sticky, slippery mud when wet. There is a good chance you will hit snow in the high country in April. I like the Bridgestone AX41 for AZ/UT type riding, and they handle fine on the highway.

Have a plan for what you will do when your front fender fills with mud and stops the tire from spinning. I have a high front fender now. You may or may not hit mud in April.

Temperature in AZ always follows elevation, not how far south you are. You will have cool/cold temps and hot temps depending on the section. April will probably see less hot temps than you are thinking you will have.

Cochise Motorsports in Sierra Vista, AZ is close to the start of the AZBDR if you need anything after the ride down. There are plenty of hotels in town. The super cheap ones are used by tweakers. The mid range ones are ok.

 

[DoubleThumper]

Arizona fine red sand or silt turns incredibly slippery when water is added. It is even tricky to walk on.

 

[MotoHero]

Some friends and I are planning to ride the Arizona BDR, and probably four or five sections of the Utah BDR, this April. We live in Salt Lake City, Utah, so would only do the southern sections (no further than section five) on our way home.
So first question... Anyone have experience taking your AT on either the AZ or UT BDRs that you'd like to share? I've watched several YouTube videos on both, but I would love to hear your experience.

The official BDR video made it seem like Arizona was hard on tires. Would you agree? I'm currently running Dunlop Mission Trailmax tires, with probably 50% life gone on rear. Thoughts? Advice?

I don't love sleeping on the ground so I'm trying to persuade my friends toward staying in motels. Bad idea?

We're hoping we can convince someone to follow us as a support vehicle. If that happens, we'll probably trailer the bikes down in a U-Haul. Another option thrown out was the idea of shipping our bikes from SLC to Tucson. Anyone ever done anything like that? What was your experience? I called a couple of car carriers who want between $400 and $750 to ship my 2020 ATAS, which seems like a wide price range. One of the companies immediately started talking about being bonded, insured, secure, experienced, etc., etc., so I expected them to be the most expensive. But they were on the lower end so I can't figure out why the wide price range.

I'd love to hear your thoughts and comments... and pictures if you've got 'em.

Say no to shipping...My experience is really more with scheduling than care of the bike. Most Freight Carriers are doing LTL "less than load" so your bike can be in front or behind pallets for just about anywhere. Then someone has to receive the item and store it so more $$. Take the extra time and ride the loop or dead head on the super slab.
Dwayne