Jay Leno checks out 2015 H2 & H2R... wow

[SonicVenum]

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These bikes are bananas. 200+HP from the street model, and 300+HP from the race version. Holy crap.

[SVTRonDogg]

Still hate the guy. Buy a new fucking shirt.

[SonicVenum]

But, denim might come back any day now!

What is it you hate about him? I haven't been a fan of the Tonight Show since I was a kid, and I'm not old enough to remember the golden days of his stand-up, but he's a true car/bike-nut. That's a plus in my book. I haven't met him in person, though, so I wouldn't vouch for his non-doucheness.

[SVTRonDogg]

Between the stories of the Leno/Letterman feud back when, to his I'm retired, now I want a primetime show, now I want to go back to Tonight and kick Conan out.

All this is directly responsible for the abortion know as Tonight with Jimmy Fallon.

Tim Allen is a celebrity car guy that I can get behind.

[SonicVenum]

Ok, I see the reason for the ire now. I agree. Love Conan, not a fan of Jimmy Fallon at all. He definitely acted like a big baby in that whole mess.

Who didn't love Home Improvement? It's Tool Time!

[SVTRonDogg]

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They even had giant Home Improvement stickers on the hoods.

[xbacksideslider]

I've met him. Spoke with him for maybe five minutes about his Vincent.

We met when I pulled in to the Rock Store on my Norton and he took an interest in it. He had been standing there with a riding partner, as yet unnoticed by the crowd. He came up behind me, surprised me actually, asking about my bike, its wheels, tires, the cylinder head, and I showed him its features; as I understand it, his first new bike when he made it in Hollywood was a similar Norton, a John Player Special.

I then asked him what he rode in on today and his face lit up and he said "my Vincent." He brightened again when I said "show it to me" and the three of us walked over to it. While I know a bit about Vincents, had friends who owned them, rode with them, enough to converse for a couple minutes, I'm really pretty ignorant of them BUT he was thrilled that I actually knew a lot more than the average Joe about them.

We were crouched beside the bike talking about this or that detail, and as we spoke, a crowd formed and guys began interrupting with dumb questions, like "where was it made" or "how many cylinders?" or "how big is it?" and he graciously answered all of them, first casting me a glance that said "you get it, it's impractical for us to continue our conversation, but thanks for your interest . . . and I said "thanks for your time, I'll let you continue . . . " and he smiled and we shook hands. Then began the guys with "can I get a picture with you?" and again . . . . grace.

And, from what I've seen of him, at other venues - car shows, Christmas toy rides - he is there out of a genuine personal interest in the machines, in riding, in driving, in camaraderie, not self promotion at all. The attention he gets would be a nuisance to most but he has a great attitude about it, happy to have his picture taken with some fool who knows nothing about things mechanical. And, most of the people in the local car/bike scene, they've seen him before, and they know better than to accost him, they leave him alone, just one of the guys. He appears to appreciate that.

Further, his "garage" is actually a great public service. It is a museum, a library, a restoration shop, and a place where both unsung and legendary craftsmen are paid and respected for their skills, knowledge, and experience. He is preserving knowledge, mechanical knowledge in the form of all manner of machines, documentation, books, manuals, film, video, records, oral histories; he is preserving the memory of the men, the women, the machines, owners, racers, mechanics, engineers - the achievements.

The service he provides is invaluable. To me, he walks on water.

As for the Tonight Show crap, well that's NBC for ya. Small minded New York show biz egotists running one leg of the networks' three legged oligopoly - and they screw THAT up.

[Tetge]

Jay Leno showed at the Rock Store one time we were there and Leno sought out my brother as my brother's 1952 rigid Velocette 350 MAC caught Leno's eye. Leno said that he offered to pay the price for a Thruxton once if he could start it, but, he couldn't do it. He later got a Thruxton and he acted like any enthusiast at the Rock Store. He was also asked to pose for pics by tourists and he happily agreed in each case. This was at a time when he was very successfully doing the Tonight Show.

The last time I saw him, he pulled into a Brit ride at Hansen Dam on a turbine bike that sounded like a carrier based jet fighter. We all heard him coming for miles and he was once again extremely gracious to one and all.

I am with John, as badly as that makes me feel, when it comes to Leno.

[SonicVenum]

Those are good accounts to hear. I'd love to visit his Garage. I'm sure you could just get lost in that place.

[jhwalker]

I am a Jay fan. I have observed him a few times at the Rock Store. While accumulating over 100,000 miles on my street bicycle, I rode by on my bicycle heading out to climb the hills maybe 20 times a year for 15 years, and he was there doing his "common man" routine a couple of times. Sometimes folks noticed him, sometimes not. He never came over and sniffed my bicycle seat.
Once on the 134 I heard this crazy sound and he went by on that crazy turbine thang -- I was driving the SPF. He slowed down, I had the SPF in the right gear at the right rpm and when he looked over we did a couple of on/offs and I got a great push (aka jumped him) and when he caught up (in about 2 seconds) he gave a thumbs up. The sound from that bike -- unreal.

Tim Allen -- I spent a couple of hours with his great collection of cars in a storage building in the N.Hollywood area. His "maintenance/mechanic" guy let me wander around and then we talked about the most interesting cars. I asked him if Tim was proud of the collection (which is mind-blowing) , and he said "no, all he does is compare it to Jay's collection and it depresses him".

Jimmy Kimmel -- well golly gee, let's all go lip-lock with Johnny Depp and then feature that make-out session in our promotional material... I have not checked his ratings, but I fear that crap just might be what folks want to see.

Back to the bikes. Those 2 bikes are both insane. Are we entering a golden age of bikes? I see Yamaha has new toys...

Nice vid...