Daily driver...

Hope you get that other bike soon, we have a goal of our own like that, if finances and a short enough stance on a Harley can be achieved for a 4' 10" stick of dynamite. She loves to ride behind me though, she's a good girl.

scoot

I live in New England so I use my bike as my DD in the spring, summer and fall as weather permits and put it away for the winter.

My other ride is a jeep that will go places that Ol' Red can't, so other than hunting, fishing, haulin' groceries or the wife & kids around for short hauls (not a fan of driving my wifes minivan ), I'm on the bike year-round. I'll ride if the roads are not frozen, down to 10 degrees. Below that is just too friggin' cold - and as hard on the bike as on me. I've ridden when it was colder, but no more. Need my fingers & toes.

AZ is nice, but the cops there are like bees and the road is their hive. Never get through there without at least a warning. Not a fan of our helmet laws in NV, but I'd probably wear it for anything but local runs anyway, so its not that big a deal. Our wide open roads - and way of life - is why this place is my home. Gotta add I've only had good experiences with the NHP, too - no tickets and only one warning (which I really did deserve - too much Red Bull that day).

Yup, you got to watch out for that Red Bull.

Red Bull Rage



Truth is, in the last 10 years I've been pulled over more times when I've had Red Bull (and was driving a bit nuttier than need be) than at any other time! So I watch out for that better now.

What Tucson to Phoenix at 90 MPH+ ain't fast enough for ya? I have ridden all over AZ and not at the speed limit.... at all times and have not been busted for speeding yet.

It's all about having a sense of where they could be hiding, let some of the cages pass you and act as your radar detectors. I am always looking for them hiding and it is almost a game I play. Could be a costly game of tag, you're it.

Arizona has only slightly better coverage per mile than Nevada. I think DPS tends to target certain areas and only lightly patrol others. The Sherrifs offices are all understaffed except Maricopa where Big Joe gets all the funds he needs to run his department.

To give you an example, I have ridden countless times from Tucson to Sonoita, Patagonia, Tombstone and Bisbee via every possible route and probably only came across a dozen or fewer cops. On some routes like from Tombstone to Bisbee I have never seen a patrol car. That road is one that riders routinely cruise at 90+.

Still, that long, straight stretch across that valley up in Nevada tends to make you wanna drop the hammer...long ways to a gas stop though.

I was stationed in Montana prior to the 55 rule being implemented. Montana told the Feds to stick it for awhile before giving in. The limit was "reasonable and prudent". Sounds like an Autobahn....right? Not exactly. Reasonable and Prudent to you may not be acceptable to the Patrolman right behind you.

I put about (+ or -) 400 miles per month on my scoot. That's year around. There's rarely a time the scooter isn't out of the garage at least once per week. Living in Central Texas, there's a crap load of backroads to explore....guess thinkin' about it, aren't they everywhere?

AZ Trooper exuberence

Could just be my luck. I've only been through AZ just over a dozen times in the last 30 years, mostly I-10 or I-40. Been through driving bikes, sports cars, Chevy pickups, rental moving trucks - but my experiences were always the same. Whether I was speeding or not wasn't always the question - I was pulled over for suspicion of "following too closely" (no one else on the road at the time on I-40 outside Winslow). Also was pulled over for taillight being burnt out - but when I went to look to see it was shining like Rudolph's nose on Christmas eve. Trooper wasn't even sane - he wrote me a fix-it ticket even though it was working! And at the time I was a buzz-cut & shiny polite enlisted man, so don't know why I got so much attitude from the guy. Maybe just my out-of-state plates? All I know is I just avoid AZ anymore. Hope you keep having better luck than I.