Paved roads are great fun, but there's a whole lot of the United States that you'll never see if you stay on them. That's why the 2009 AMA BMW National Adventure Riding Series is such a blast, because it promises some of the best gravel- and dirt-road touring you'll find anywhere.

Aimed at big-bore adventure bikes, the AMA BMW National Adventure Riding Series features weekend events, with one-day rides optional, where adventure riders come together for fun, camaraderie and, of course, miles and miles of primo two-track ideally suited to the growing crowd of motorcyclists looking for more than they can find on asphalt.

"As a long-time adventure rider myself, I've been on a number of these rides and can honestly say that they are some of the most fun you'll have on two wheels," said Joey Funtjar, AMA riding coordinator. "Not only does your participation in an AMA BMW National Adventure Riding Series event include detailed route sheets of some of the greatest roads and trails in the country, but most events also include an evening's worth of activities."

Sponsored by BMW, whose twin- and single-cylinder GS machines have come to define the adventure-touring experience, the series is open to street-legal bikes of all makes and sizes.

The AMA BMW National Adventure Riding Series kicks off April 18-19 in Bybee, Tenn., and there are events scheduled in California, Ohio, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Washington, North Carolina, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, New Jersey, Alabama and Arizona. The full schedule is included below.

2009 AMA BMW National Adventure Riding Series -

Rides with the "Dual event" tag are also part of the AMA National Dual Sport Trail Riding Series. These rides also offer alternative routes for lightweight dual-sport motorcycles.

April 18-19, 2009: Bybee, Tenn. John Strange, JB SAKI Promotions, (865) 322-0193,

May 2-3, 2009: Buck Meadows, Calif. Lawrence Borgens, Family Off Road Adventures, (209) 649-3633, http://www.familyoffroadadventures.com

Dual event: May 16-17, 2009, Zaleski, Ohio, Bill Kaeppner, Buckeye Dualsporters. , http://www.kaeppnerswoods.com

Dual event: May 30-31, 2009, Wabeno, Wisc., Brad Eggum, Wisconsin Dual Sport Riders. , http://www.widualsportriders.org

Dual event: May 30-31, 2009, Mill Hall, Penn., Nils Mantzoros, Durty Dabbers. (570) 748-9456, http://www.durtydabbers.com

Dual event: June 6-7, 2009, Hood River, Ore., Tom Niemela, NW Tour & Trail. (503) 681-8881, , http://www.blackdogdualsport.com

June 19-20, 2009: Logan, Ohio, Bill Kaeppner, Buckeye Dual Sporters. 740-380-3050, , http://www.kaeppnerswoods.com

June 20-21, 2009: North Cascades, Wash., Tom Mehren, Sound Rider! (206) 329-7808, , http://www.soundrider.com

Sept. 19-20, 2009: Morganton, N.C., Ron Miller, J.D.S.A.K.I. (704) 483-6833,

Dual event: Sept. 19-20, 2009, Sterling, Ill., Jack Suption, Brushpoppers MC. (815) 622-4099, http://www.geocities.com/brushpoppers

Dual event: Sept. 26-27, 2009, Logan, Ohio, Bill Kaeppner, Buckeye Dualsporters. (740) 380-3050, , http://www.kaeppnerswoods.com

Dual event: Sept. 26-27, 2009, Columbus, Ind., Nathan Gaskill, Stoney Lonesome MC. (812) 343-9772, http://www.stoneylonesomemc.com

Dual event: Sept. 26-27, 2009, Wabeno, Wisc., Brad Eggum, Wisconsin Dual Sport Riders. , http://www.widualsportriders.org

Oct. 3-4, 2009: TBA, Ky., Vicky Stephenson, 4-Fun Trail Riders. (513) 553-6662, http://www.4funtrailriders.com

Oct. 10-11, 2009: Hammonton, N.J., Jack O'Connor, Ocean Country Competition Riders. 732-714-8874, , http://www.pinebarrens500.org

Dual event: Oct. 24-25, 2009, Delta, Ala., Robert Frey, Dixie Dual Sport. , http://www.dixiedualsport.com

Dual event: Oct. 24-25, 2009, Payson, Ariz., Don Hood, Arizona Trail Riders. (602) 692-9382, http://www.arizonatrailriders.org

Dual event: Oct. 31 - Nov. 1, 2009, Port Elizabeth, N.J., E. Polhaumus, Tri-County Sportsmen. (856) 785-2754, http://www.teamhammer.org

Dual event: Nov. 7-8, 2009, Jenkins, N.J., Mike Reign, Meteor MC. (856) 287-8170, http://www.meteormc.com

Dual event: Nov. 27-28, 2009, Los Angeles, Calif., Paul Flanders, AMA District 37 Dual Sport. (626) 792-7384, http://www.district37ama.org

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