Summer riding
Riding a motorcycle in Arizona heat
Riding a motorcycle in Arizona heat comes down to timing, water and gear: ride at first light, be off the road before the worst of the afternoon, drink before you're thirsty, and wear vented gear instead of a T-shirt. In monsoon season, plan around storms, flash floods and dust storms, or ride up: Mt Lemmon, the Mogollon Rim and Flagstaff are often 20 degrees or more cooler than the Valley.
- Hottest months
- June to August
- Monsoon
- June 15 to Sept 30
- Best summer hours
- Dawn
- Heat escapes
- Mt Lemmon, the Rim, Flagstaff
Timing
Riding a motorcycle in Arizona heat: when to go
Phoenix summers bring long runs of days over 105 degrees, and days over 110 are common in the hottest stretch. Tucson runs a little cooler but not by much. Pavement gets far hotter than the air, and on a motorcycle you sit right above it, next to an engine.
So ride early. Leave at first light, plan to be home by mid-morning, and keep the ride short enough that you don't get caught out when it warms up. Evenings cool down slowly in the city, so a sunset ride can still be hot. If you can, save the long days for the high country.
Short rides still count. A dawn loop around your neighborhood can claim turf in Rippin', and every ride pays points, so summer doesn't have to mean a pause. Set a regular early-morning meet with your squad and you'll keep riding all season.
Your body
Hydration and heat illness on a motorcycle
Dry desert air pulls water out of you fast, and wind over your gear hides how much you're sweating. You can be dehydrated before you feel thirsty.
- Drink before you leaveStart the ride already hydrated. A bottle or two before you leave beats trying to catch up at the first stop.
- Carry waterA hydration pack lets you sip while you ride. On remote roads, carry more than you think you'll need in case of a breakdown.
- Replace saltLong sweaty rides drain electrolytes too. Add an electrolyte drink or snack at stops.
- Know the warning signsHeadache, dizziness, nausea, cramps or unusual tiredness mean stop, get in shade and cool down. Confusion or hot skin that has stopped sweating can be heat stroke, which is an emergency: call 911.
Gear
What to wear for desert heat
It is tempting to ride in a T-shirt. Don't. In the dry desert, bare skin in hot wind loses water faster, burns in the sun, and has nothing between it and the pavement in a crash.
Mesh or well-vented jackets and pants with armor are the desert standard. Evaporative cooling vests work well in dry heat: soak it, wear it under a mesh jacket and the airflow does the rest. In the low humidity of most Arizona summer days, a wet layer can feel cool for a good while.
Wear full gloves and boots, a vented helmet, and sunscreen on any skin that shows. Tinted visors or sunglasses help with the glare. Leather gloves left in the sun get hot to the touch, so keep them in the shade at stops.
Your bike
Heat, tires, batteries and your bike
Rippin's garage and maintenance log keeps service reminders in one place, so the battery check and tire change don't slip. Arizona's lane filtering law can also help on surface streets by letting you move up past stopped cars instead of idling, within strict limits. Read Arizona motorcycle laws first.
- TiresCheck pressure cold, in the morning, against your bike's manual. Hot pavement heats tires fast. Look for cracking on older tires, since sun and heat age rubber.
- BatteryHeat is hard on batteries, and desert batteries often don't last as long. Test yours before summer, and keep a charger or tender on it if the bike sits.
- CoolingCheck coolant on liquid-cooled bikes. Air-cooled bikes suffer in stop-and-go traffic, so plan routes that keep air moving and avoid long idles.
- ParkingPark in shade when you can. Seats, tanks and grips get very hot in direct sun. A seat cover helps.
Storm season
Monsoon storms and haboobs on a motorcycle
Arizona's monsoon season officially runs June 15 to September 30. Most storms build in the afternoon. They bring lightning, gusts, heavy rain, flash floods and dust storms, sometimes all within an hour.
Rippin' sends weather alerts before you ride, and riders flag road hazards on the map. Check AZ511 for closures and dust storm warnings. Read more on road and weather alerts.
- Check the forecast and radar before you leave, and plan to be home before afternoon storms build.
- First rain makes roads slick. Oil and dust lift off the pavement in the first few minutes.
- Never ride into a flooded wash or dip. Water moves fast and hides the road. Turn around.
- Lightning: get off the bike and into a building, not under a lone tree.
- Haboobs (dust storms): a wall of dust can drop visibility to almost nothing. Get completely off the road, as far from traffic as you safely can. Don't stop in a travel lane. ADOT's advice for dust storms is "Pull Aside, Stay Alive."
- Gusts: outflow winds can push a bike sideways. Slow down and give yourself room.
Ride up
Where to escape the Arizona heat on a motorcycle
The fastest way out of the heat is elevation. Here are the classic summer escapes.
- Mt Lemmon, from TucsonThe Catalina Highway climbs to Summerhaven at around 8,000 feet. It is often 20 degrees or more cooler at the top. Go early, watch for cyclists, and check AZ511 for closures. See the Tucson ride guide.
- Payson and the Mogollon RimTake the Beeline Highway from the Valley up to Payson, then SR 260 up onto the Rim. Watch for elk. See the Phoenix and Scottsdale guide.
- Flagstaff and Oak Creek CanyonFlagstaff sits around 7,000 feet. Ride up Oak Creek Canyon from Sedona or loop out to the Grand Canyon. See the Northern Arizona guide.
- Prescott, Jerome and MingusPrescott is around 5,400 feet, and Mingus Mountain is higher. A full day with real curves.
- Hualapai Mountain, near KingmanA short climb from Kingman into the pines. The western Arizona escape.
FAQ
Questions riders ask.
Is it safe to ride a motorcycle in Arizona in summer?
Many riders do, by riding at dawn, carrying water, wearing vented gear and avoiding the afternoon. Heat illness and monsoon storms are the real risks, so plan around both.
What time should I ride in Phoenix in summer?
First light, and home by mid-morning. Evenings stay hot in the city, so sunrise is the better bet.
What should I wear riding in Arizona heat?
Vented or mesh gear with armor, full gloves, boots and a vented helmet. An evaporative cooling vest under a mesh jacket works well in dry heat.
What do I do if a haboob hits while I'm riding?
Get completely off the road, as far from traffic as you safely can, and don't stop in a travel lane. Wait it out. ADOT's dust storm advice is "Pull Aside, Stay Alive."
Where can I ride to escape the heat in Arizona?
Mt Lemmon from Tucson, Payson and the Mogollon Rim from Phoenix, Flagstaff and Oak Creek Canyon, Prescott and Mingus Mountain, and Hualapai Mountain near Kingman.
Does heat damage a motorcycle battery?
Heat is hard on batteries and they often don't last as long in the desert. Test yours before summer and use a tender if the bike sits.
Ride early, ride up, keep it counting.
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