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. A regularly updated version is available at www.AmericanMotorcyclist.com.

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
jbsaki@starband.net

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

Dual event:
May 16-17, 2009
Zaleski, Ohio
Bill Kaeppner
Buckeye Dualsporters
kaeppners@verizon.net
www.kaeppnerswoods.com

Dual event:
May 30-31, 2009
Wabeno, Wisc.
Brad Eggum
Wisconsin Dual Sport Riders
bigwoods200@hotmail.com
www.widualsportriders.org

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

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

June 19-20, 2009
Logan, Ohio
Bill Kaeppner
Buckeye Dual Sporters
740-380-3050 
kaeppners@verizon.net 
www.kaeppnerswoods.com

June 20-21, 2009
North Cascades, Wash.
Tom Mehren
Sound Rider!
(206) 329-7808 
tom@mm411.com 
www.soundrider.com

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

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

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

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

Dual event:
Sept. 26-27, 2009
Wabeno, Wisc.
Brad Eggum
Wisconsin Dual Sport Riders 
bigwoods200@hotmail.com 
www.widualsportriders.org

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

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

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

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

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

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

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