Jay Leno's Garage

Jerry Doe

Jerry Doe

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May 21, 2003
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My mrs is out of town. I just watched all the Jay Leno motorcycle movies. A quick moment to say thanks to Jay. Really appreciate all you do in our world!!

Cheers
Jerry
 
Dude has got the SECOND nicest collection in the 'States, I believe (Barber's is THE nicest).
 
My Wife was in basement music room all afternoon practicing for her Spring concert , I finally watched the movie "Why We Ride " on the computer for free , very interesting movie .... almost as inspiring as Leno's garage ..... when movie was over thought maybe my multi bike sale bad reaction to bad news .... serious second thoughts .... will catch up on Jay's Garage tomorrow , during Her afternoon practice !
 
Does Jay have a motorcycle specific series or is this regular lenos garage stuff?
 
Pretty sure Jay got one of anything you might think of and I would guess yes he has a Commando ....
 
I watched a video about Jay Leno's 650SS Norton. That would be a bike really worth having. They were very rare in Australia - most people wanted Bonnevilles and there were a few Super Rockets which were quick. But the Nortons always seemed to have the edge with quality. They were a better thing than most. The bike I really liked was the Featherbed International. It would be easy to build one these days using a Molnar motor and a TTI gearbox.
 
Jay has mentioned that the 750 Commando was better than the 850 by which I think he meant the MkIII being
heavier. I know he prefers earlier brit bikes.
 
Acotrel:

While I was at N-V and living 45 miles away, they provided a 650SS as my commuter ride. It was a company hack and had never been formaally licensed, so I ran on "trade plates" the whole time I used it. According to its odometer, it had done 132,500 miles, but I couldn't tell. It ran very well and I enjoyed the two trips a day for several months before we sold the house in Kenilworth and moved to Coven (a small village about 8 miles north of Wolverhampton). At that point, the SS went back to Plumstead and my ride-to-work from then on was whatever was on test at the time, since my commute added to the overall test mileage.
 
When I was a kid, my friend had a 650cc Manxman. It was an excellent bike - as fast as a good Bonneville and no oil leaks. They were very rare in Australia. There was a guy who rode one in races at Bathurst in about 1963. I think his name was Jack Forrest - he was a works rider for BMW in the 1950s. He was unbeatable on the Norton.
 
Yes, he has, or had, a JPN and that 650SS; I once rode my '73 to the Rock Store, a MC meet up place here in Los Angeles area and he came up behind me and asked me about my Commando, which I was happy to show him. I asked him what he rode that day and his face lit up and I followed him so he could show me his Vincent. He is a common sight at Los Angeles area car and MC weekend meetups and shows.
 
acotrel said:
When I was a kid, my friend had a 650cc Manxman. It was an excellent bike - as fast as a good Bonneville and no oil leaks. They were very rare in Australia. There was a guy who rode one in races at Bathurst in about 1963. I think his name was Jack Forrest - he was a works rider for BMW in the 1950s. He was unbeatable on the Norton.
Click to expand...

I bet the Manxman was rare down there. Wasn't it US only?
 
It may have been that the US importer named the model gthat everyone else called the 650SS as the "Manxman", since "SS" was a term that might upset former WW2 participants. That would appear to make it US market only.
 
A lot of British bikes where made for the US market but ended up in Aussie land as well.

Ashley
 
swooshdave said:
I bet the Manxman was rare down there. Wasn't it US only?
Click to expand...

Can't have been US only. The main Norton importer in Sweden, "Rådhes" imported at least 10 Manxman to Sweden.

It said in an article in the Swedish Norton Owners magazine that almost all the buyers immediately swapped the high US-bars to flat handlebars but no one much minded the red seat. If I recall correctly, but don't quote me on that, there are now only 2 Manxman in original condition in Sweden.
 
Browsing the web I found these 1960's Swedish photos. This poor bike (nah, it's not too bad) must surely have started its life as a Manxman.

Jay Leno's Garage


Jay Leno's Garage


I found the images on this site: http://mcminnen.se/mc andras gamla 3/gammelbilder.htm
 

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