Like a nervous parent watching their five year-old board the school bus for the first time, owner Rich and I loaded up his 1986 VFR750 for its trip home. Rich is the original owner of the Interceptor, and after a full spa treatment this stunner has a new lease on life. I wished him well and urged him to get this bike out on the back roads where it belongs. I also asked (pleaded?) to be first in line should it ever come up for sale, which isn't likely. It was a pleasure helping to bring this one back.

In 2013 Consumer Reports began evaluating motorcycles...well, at least those manufacturers with the highest market share — Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, BMW and Harley Davidson. I recently came across this interesting reliability chart published by CR. The findings are not exactly surprising to those of us who spend way too much time playing with bikes. Much like the car world, Japanese brands fair better than European or German. Statistically, Yamaha motorcycles are six times more reliable than BMW. The world of consumerism is a strange place, however, and the reports goes on to say that the most loyal owners are those with the least reliable brands — BMW and Harley (H-D being the most brand-loyal of all motorcycle owners).

What goes wrong? Electrical repairs top the list with major drivetrain issues at the bottom. The report notes that most repairs are under $200. Gone are the days of grenading Norton engines and broken Triumph frames. Which is a good thing.

This past weekend Patti & I took a riding break to explore the Nashville, TN area and a northern portion of the Natchez Trace Parkway (https://www.nps.gov/natr/index.htm).

We based ourselves at a great bed & breakfast in Columbia TN and spent three days with our "other" V4 (ST1300) in perfect weather, riding the area and sampling many miles of the Trace along with an exceptional afternoon of horseback trail riding along Lick Creek in western Maury County (http://www.nashvillehorsebackriding.com).

If you're the type of rider who can Zen-out on the perfect road, then this is a place you need to get to. I think it's an exceptional testament to the greatness of this country that our leaders had the foresight and vision to recognize the importance of what was, essentially, a working-man's path, build a 444-mile scenic roadway to commemorate its historical significance and then bestow it national park status to preserve and showcase it for everyone to enjoy.

Back in 2007 I toured the entire 469-mile length of the Blue Ridge Parkway at this same time of the year. One stop sign in 469 miles. There are those who say that these Parkways get a bit boring after some time — I say they're missing the point. With no commercial vehicles, light traffic, no billboards, no towns; just unending curves and natural beauty. How is that tiring? I wish they'd build one from east to west, ocean to ocean. I'd ride the entire length...and turn around and do it again.

For an idea of what it's like to ride the Trace, here's a YouTube sample (not mine):