Arizona 520 area

Message

NYGiantsGuy · Mon Oct 12, 2009 12:50 pm

Anybody down around Scottsdale/Phoenix? I think I'm headed out next week and was wondering the best route to get into town coming from the CA border.....thanks.

#12 Unread post by **Wrider** » Mon Oct 12, 2009 2:00 pm

Well you can take Interstate 10 clear from LA to Phoenix in one long straight shot. Usually takes about 10 hours according to friends who have driven it at the speed limit or slightly above. If you're like some of my friends you can make it in 5 lol.

NYGiantsGuy · Tue Oct 13, 2009 10:33 am

Thanks Wrider....I'll push it and make it in 9...maybe 8.5. How's the scenery? If 10 is the best bet I'll take it, but I wouldn't mind getting off the beaten path if all I'm going to see is concrete and Carl's Jr. billboards.

#14 Unread post by **Wrider** » Tue Oct 13, 2009 12:00 pm

Couldn't tell ya on that... I'm guessing from descriptions it's long straight and flat, so I'd suggest a throttle lock and highway pegs. Don't have too much fun staring at all of the Carls Jr. billboards!

#15 Unread post by **jaskc78** » Tue Oct 13, 2009 2:18 pm

a lot of the 'scenery' between the california border and phoenix is gonna be concrete and carl's jr billboards. there isn't enough out there to warrant many roads other than i-10.

depending on where you are on the border, though, you can hop on i-8 across and catch az-85 north through buckeye to get to i-10 and into phoenix. getting to scottsdale prolly best bet is take i-10 all the way through town, then i-60 east and up to the 101 loop. not sure if there's still that construction on the 101 entrance off i-60, but it's still the best bet. taking the 101 loop all the way around is just too long with i-10 being mostly clear through phoenix lately, but it is an option if you'd like to get off of the 6 lanes of stupid that i-10 can become from time to time.

there's a spot of construction on the west side of phoenix along 10, right around avondale area, but it doesn't last too long if you're not stuck in rush hour. if you are, exit off the 10 around litchfield or bullard road (or earlier if traffic is slowing down already) and go north to catch McDowell or south to Van Buren. either way head east on those til about Avondale and should get you past the worst of the backups on i-10.

also, all the speed cameras are set to issue tickets at 10 or 11 over the speed limit. they'll take a picture at 9, but tickets don't get issued til 10 or 11. also, they're very prone to taking bad pictures if you move their view is obstructed...a la full-face helmet or hand in front of your face or something. not sure if they'd actually key on a bike as it's so much smaller radar-wise, but just a heads up. and of course, with out of state plates, not much chance they'd even bother sending a ticket.

NYGiantsGuy · Wed Oct 14, 2009 9:48 am

Great feedback guys, I appreciate it. Heading down to see the Duc stunters so I'll leave the fun stuff to them and keep it legal through AZ.

flynrider · Wed Oct 14, 2009 2:58 pm

jaskc78 wrote: also, all the speed cameras are set to issue tickets at 10 or 11 over the speed limit. they'll take a picture at 9, but tickets don't get issued til 10 or 11. also, they're very prone to taking bad pictures if you move their view is obstructed...a la full-face helmet or hand in front of your face or something. not sure if they'd actually key on a bike as it's so much smaller radar-wise, but just a heads up. and of course, with out of state plates, not much chance they'd even bother sending a ticket.

The speed camera company issues tickets for 11+ mph if it's a DPS camera. If you're wearing a full face helmet that obscures your face, they will not send out a ticket. I happened to notice that detail when I was reading a bootleg copy of the DPS's handbook on traffic cameras the other day.

The cameras can easily catch bikes as well as cages. If you're bare-headed and your face is visible, they'll be sending a ticket. Good enough reason to wear a fullface helmet in this state.