Motorcycle Safety & Driveability: Motorcycle hire in Arizona, highway 89a, motorcycle hire

Question
Hi Pat,

My partner and I are both from the UK. We're visiting Arizona this year on vacation and are interested in hiring a Harley or two for the day whilst we're in Flagstaff. I passed my full UK bike test in September 2004 and she has only just passed hers (we both hold car licences as well). Could you tell me if there are any restrictions on bike hire regarding the length of time we've held our licences for? I'm 35 and my partner is 33.

Thank you!

Answer
I cannot say for sure, but knowing this country, if you can fog a mirror they'll hire you out a couple of bikes.

I would guess as long as you have a motorcycle license or instruction permit and the $$$ to make it happen you'll get the bikes. Best to check with the place that actually hires the bikes out.

A word of advice: If you're going to spend any time in Arizona, absolutely do not miss highway 89A that goes from Flagstaff down to Sedona and points beyond. Miraculous.

For the truly breathtaking, I highly, HIGHLY recommend spending most of your riding time in southern Utah. Northern Arizona is nice, but Utah is startling in it's vividity and curvy-ass roads. Bryce Canyon, Zion National Park, Monument Valley, Lake Powell--they're all about as beautiful for motorcycling as anything I've ever seen.

Pat