By Greg Benchwick

There's nothing quite so pure as leaning into a well-executed turn on your motorcycle. It's a perfect confluence of precision and power, finesse and physics. And, it really comes as no surprise that most of America's best riding roads are also its curviest.

There's the Pacific Coast Highway, with its silky S-turns and mind-blowing views; the "Texas Hill Country Twister;" North Carolina's "Tail of the Dragon," considered by most to be the curviest road in the U.S.; and, of course, the 469 snaking miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway that runs south from Shenandoah National Park all the way to the Great Smokies.

Don't forget the millions of miles of country roads, peak-to-peak twisters, scenic byways and even super-classics like Route 66, either — they'll keep you riding from now 'til eternity.

Ride the PCH

This American classic is a must-do. While the entire length of California's Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1) will offer spectacular scenery and great riding, most riders say the stretch from Monterrey to Morro Bay is the best. Not only do you get some of the most inspiring coastal scenery in the States, you also have centuries-old missions, whitewashed lighthouses, inland mountain views, redwood forests and great rider-friendly towns like Monterrey and Carmel. And while the road is generally free of debris, there is a "gaper factor" that riders should consider: people love to stop and gawk here, so watch out for traffic bottlenecks near significant landmarks and towns.

Whether you ride a Harley or a souped-up sport-bike, a journey through Texas' rolling Hill Country is one of the state's best. Start the short 38-mile route in Kerrville, about 50 miles northwest of San Antonio, then take Highway 16 south from here, cross the Guadalupe River and continue down through turns and orchards to Bandera. This is a ride for experts only, and it's best to stay off the road at night when the deer start feeding. Kerrville has several festivals throughout the year, including a folk festival in the spring and a wine and music bash in the early fall.

Enter the "Tail of the Dragon"

With 318 curves in just 11 miles, this sport-riders delight wins the award for America's curviest. And curves certainly are sexy, especially when you drop your weight onto your 1200cc's of fury, push hard onto your handlebars, then come roaring out of the turn with a full-load of G-Forces pushing you solidly onto your ride. While safety certainly is a concern on this whirling-dervish of a ride, if you follow the signage and make sure you are at proper speed before hitting your turn, you are sure to have the ride of your life. Also known as "Deal's Gap," this ride begins in Tennessee, writhing its asphalt tail up and over the mountains and into North Carolina on Highway 129. The views are superb, with the Smoky Mountains on all sides, but it's really the road that draws riders here.

Cruise this Eastern Classic Along The Blue Ridge Parkway

Start up in the mist at the southern end of Shenandoah National Park's Skyline Drive in Virginia and take Highway 441 south through the Blue Ridge Mountains on down to Oconaluftee in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park near Cherokee, N.C. Along the way, you can stop and camp, hang out for a day our two at a friendly lodge, or just motor on through, taking advantage of the clean mountain air, the eye-jarring vistas, and of course, that good old-fashioned Appalachian hospitality found on every corner of this 469-mile ribbon of highway.

No matter where you go, be it roaring like a flame through the Tail of the Dragon or taking it easy on the laid-back stretches of the Blue Ridge Parkway, remember to bring your sense of wonder. It's all too easy to make the trip about the road, when it's really about the things you will see and do along the way.

Bio: Greg Benchwick has rumbled in the jungles of South America, walked across Spain and challenged the peaks of Alaska. He specializes in adventure and sustainable travel, and has written more than a dozen guidebooks.