Race Motorcycle From the 20's: The Scott Flying Squirrel - Jay Leno’s Garage 

Always the most enjoyable when Jay is alone and talking about his own vehicles.

Scott Flying Squirrel's were years ahead of their contemporaries.

I'm 81! as a kid in home town Blenheim NZ local auto mechanic had daily demo run with his Scott Flying Squirrel, a screamer. Poetry in motion. Same fellow also maintained vintage Stanley Steamer. Those were the days 👍

Thanks for letting us see the scott, it's such an iconic motorcycle that doesn't get enough attention. Technically advanced with truly new features, far ahead of most other bikes of the time.

Wow a water cooled two stroke from the 20's....I learned something today!

Jay mentioned an "Expansion Chamber" a few times. On a 2 cycle (2 stroke) engine, the expansion chamber, if designed properly, is a "no loss" supercharger. No loss, because it doesn't use exhaust (turbo) back pressure, or crankshaft (blower) force. However, it DOES use a wee bit of exhaust gas pressure, but it replaces it later. The Kadencay effect, defines the process. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kadenacy_effect I've ridden MANY 2 cycle engine motorcycles, utilizing this effect, and it is simply AMAZING! On a Yamaha RD-400, with good expansion chambers, at about 5000 RPM, HANG ON TIGHTLY! The power INSTANTLY triples! 15 to 45 HP, in a split second! (And, on a bike I can lift off the ground, completely, 45 HP is scary, if you don't know!) I wish I still had one of my RD-400s! steve

Would love to see more motorcycle videos on the channel

Jay, you're the king. Thank you for this stuff. I will never have what you have, but your willingness to show us all your great stuff is something that is free. I'd like to think I'd be so kind if I had your cash.

We had some real thinkers in the old days! First I've heard of that bike! I always thought the Suzuki "Water Buffalo" was the first liquid cooled motorcycle ... and here's one from the 20's!! Amazing! If I owned only that, and the Doble steamer, I'd be a happy man.😎 Here we are almost 100 years later, and FoMoCo & GM can't build a truck engine that can reach 100k miles without major engine work (timing chain on Ford, AFM lifters on GM). Boy have we regressed! It's amazing what could be built without modern regulatory strangulation ...

The fully triangulated frame of the Scotts is worth mentioning too. It was used from the very beginning of the company, and a fair bit stronger than the usual bicycle style frames of the pre 1910 era.

So glad to Mr. Leno, who owns every car from antiques to exotics, show a love for motorcycles. I guess there's something about being a "real guy", Mr. Leno understands and he really appreciates these modes of transportation. Mr. Leno, please keep honoring 4 and 2 wheel motor vehicles and providing us with a valuable and rich history.

This is my favorite kind of video. Old vehicle. And one of Jay Leno‘s personal vehicles. There are 1000 shows road testing new vehicles. I like seeing how the old stuff works.

Awesome video Mr. Leno!!! I guess we all have stories about our past bikes and experiences. I enjoy seeing Jay's videos and hearing the story on his machines. My two stroke story is a multipart series... My first 2 stroke was a 360 Yamaha when I was 17. My parents hated motorcycles so I pretty much had to keep it hid from them. I graduated to a 400 MX Yamaha next and thought it was the fastest thing on earth. Next was a 400 IT. My brother rode it when I wasn't home and put unoiled gas in it and ruined it. Burned up the rings... He told me no problem, he went to school in Odessa Texas with a boy that his dad owned a yamaha dealership. I took the jug off of it and my brother took it to his friend. He told my brother he would fix it and he would love the end results. This happened back in the early 80's if I remember right. Anyway the Yamaha shop bored the cylinder,, did some porting and polishing and gave me a racing higher compression piston. I could tell they had done a lot of work to it but back then I didn't know much about racing or horse power modifications. My brother also bought an expansion chamber exhaust for it on recommendation by his friend. I can tell you that this work made that dirt bike run like a scalded dog!!! Man was it awesome!!! I would go riding with other guys that had racing dirt bikes and no one could keep up with it. I let them ride it and they all said it was the fastest bike they had ever been on. I would still have it if it hadn't been stolen out of my garage. And I had a 650 three cylinder 2 stroke Kawasaki back then also that was a screamer. But that was another long story so I will back out of here for now...

The bike is nearly 100 years old but looks like it was designed last week, just beautiful!

This bike looks like the perfect amount of sketchy and fun in one package.

I miss this type of video! It's why I started watching in the first place.

This is why this channel is great, no only super high end expensive super tech vehicles, there is a lot of cars, motorcycles across more than a century of history that deserve to be remember and jay have the great taste of showing us.... thanks jay

I've seen these in museums over the years and as an RD350 in rider in the 80's I was intrigued by the Scott. So glad to see and hear this machine and have you describe the pioneering technical achievements of Mr. Scott.

Jay never ceases to amaze me with his knowledge and collection, I would never have thought he’d have heard of Scott let alone owned one for 30 years! I saw my first Flying Squirrel at Sammy Miller’s Museum in Hampshire and I’ve not seen many others since. Fantastic to watch this episode.

Jay is such a nice Guy, i love seeing him with parts of his own collection. This thing sounnds like a bucket full of angry Hornets...and if it could really almost go 100 miles it is at least also as scary for me :D

Can we get a full motorcycle tour of Jays collection?

It makes my day when a new "Jay Leno" video pops up!!! Been riding motorcycles over 50+ years. Jay is the poster boy for being a good guy! Met him several times at motorcycle events, wonderful!!

My favorite kind of video. Jay Leno doing an old vehicle. I have learned more from Jay Leno’s videos then many sources combined

I learned about Scott Motorcycles when I bought my 72 Suzuki 750 Water cooled. From what I understand they were the 1st Water cooled 2 Stroke, and like the Suzuki 750 Dependable, in fact when I started Using 'TC' Synthetic 2 stroke Oil, it was such a good lubricant, that we shut off the Cable Operated oilier, and never had an ounce of problems there after(approx 45,000mi) traded it in for a 850 Moto Guzzi, and used Synthetic Oil for the next 450,000 mi, and 30 years...

Yes it's true, Scott invented the kickstarter, great video, tech spec and history of the machine, a true lover of vehicles for what they really are instead of what they are worth. You are a true gent. Mike from the UK.

My Dad's dream bike..he restored one back in the late 70's and it was really something...they don't call it the "yowling two stroke" for nothing. He fitted a Japanese oil pump that changed flow according to throttle position which made it much better than the Pilgrim pump. That 1947 model even had air forks that he fitted modern seals to.

The sound on start up just makes me smile.

Brilliant video Jay and team - really enjoyed that, who knew water cooling 90 years ago!!

And now every scott left just doubled in price lol

Been riding 40 yrs. and this is the first I've heard of the Flying Squirrel!

Thanks Jay and every one who helps making these videos. You make history fun and interesting. Im more of a car guy but I have had a few motorcycles. This bike is reminds me of a bike that was sold in boxes at the houston Astrodome some kind car show back in the early 1980s. My cousin bought it and put it together a complete bike. I bought it off of him. It was TS 250 checkloslovokian built six day racer. It was yellow and black. It was also a 2 cycle. It was very fast road very smooth no vibration. The engine was very quite when you were on the throttle and you couldnt even tell it was a stoke untill you let off the throttle and it would rack off. It had the years listed it had won the six day on the fuel cap. I would suppose it won a class no the whole deal over all. It had a dyno and it started acting up. At the time back then I knew nothing about how to correct the problem and no bike shops wanted to touch it. So I sold it but I did get to enjoy it for a while. Have a nice day. No I cant spell.

My old dad ( now sadly departed) had a scott flying squirrel when he was a young man. He also owned a 990 Brough superior.. beautiful bikes.

I don't normally watch Jay Leno bike vids (I'm not a motorcycle guy), but this one is cool.

Jay has a very cool motorcycle collection,and a few Corvairs too!,

My grandfather told me about motorcycling in the 1920s no paved roads.👍👍👍

Love it. There’s just something different when riding a motorcycle. Like there’s more freedom.. the noises .. the bumps.. the bug splats.

Jay Leno is like a Big Old Baby with His toys. And that’s what makes this show so much fun to watch. How he loves automotive items. (:

My dad had two squirrels as a lad. They were probably around 10~15 years old when he got them. Green eyes here looking at that really nice one you have Jay :-)

I never would have taken my 1972 Kawasaki H-2 750 on a 100 degree day and gotten very far.It was a scary 2 stroke that only got about 20 mpg and it always kept me on my toes!Thanks Jay for another great video!

How can you not love a motorcycle called a Flying Squirrel? I had a Suzuki X6 Hustler. A 250cc 2 stroke. It was remarkable. This old bike would give it a run for it's money.

The story behind the 'expansion chamber' exhaust is quite incredible. MZ took the design and fitted it to their GP bikes in 1960-61 These bikes conquered the track, nobody could touch them, or knew why they were so fast. Ernst Degner, the MZ rider, during one race simply disappeared mid race altogether, he had purposely ridden off the track and into the back of a waiting truck setup by Suzuki. He had been payed off to steal the bike so Suzuki could get their hands on the secret, he even stuffed drawings and blueprints into his leathers.

Hey Jay, thanks for referring to this gem as a 'bike' and not the laboursome 'modersighcal' as many Americans would - it shows that you are indeed a true semi-Scot - in possession of a full Scott! PS - its certainly not a 100 degree day here in the UK today....enjoy!

"This bike was so beautifully designed." You are absolutely right on that!! As an American I love American made Motorcycles, but these were very uniquely done.

I love this man's passion for things that go. He spent his money well. Must be a wonderful experience riding a machine like that.

Jay you keep history alive for all of us to enjoy. Thank you.

Wow angry popcorn at idle and such an excellent 2-stroke sound at ~3k rpm - like a ‘70s Yamaha RD! Can’t wait to see one at a bike show and know a thing or two already! My day is already made - thanks Jay!

Thank you, Mr. Leno.

Jay, that opening B-Roll of your riding up the road on that bike is laugh out loud funny. Somewhere on a bizarro planet far, far away in an inverted and distant galaxy, there is a tv production team of blue collar motorcycles with cameras shooting footage of a celebrity motorcycle riding on a Jay Leno for another episode of Motorcycle’s Jay Leno Garage.

Love the odd quirky vehicles Jay owns and we get to learn about. I used to ride some years ago and have lost the love for it. But, a bike like this could get me back into riding something that is part of history instead of some throw away new bike that isn't very comfortable and costs 10's of thousands of dollars. This one is light, easy to service... and the cool factor is an 11.

I knew an older couple who lived in Yorkshire. They told me every Scott was test-ridden by the factory worker before it was signed off as complete. At the time (probably 1920s-1930s) they knew the rider, Harry. They said they'd hear a Scott come yowling by the same road and say, "here comes Scott Harry." RIP Norman and Rena Taylor.

What an amazing little bike and bit of history! Love to see more old bikes and their restorations.

I had no idea you are a fellow two-stroke enthusiast, Jay! I still have my 1977 Yamaha RD400, my first new vehicle. I took a lot of ribbing about the sound and smell and smoke, but never was outran by a four-stroke of similar displacement. And, yeah, it could do 100. Thanks for educating me about the Scott, a forerunner of the bike I will always love.

I did learn something. Thanks for sharing another bit of your collection. Never knew a Flying Squirrel was a bike. And indeed it looks like fun!

Well done, Jay. I've owned & ridden motorcycles yet I never heard of the Scott Flying Squirrel. There's always something new to learn. :)

Jays the BEST... I tune in every week every week to see his amazing collection always something mind blowing!!!

Jay's always so informative, and here he looks so happy!

A Always love seeing the different vehicles that you own🤠👏🏼🙌🏼👏🏼🙌🏼👏🏼

Loved it Jay. I'm bit of a 2 stroke nut, have RD air resto-mod , KTM, and H2 750 woohoo !!!

Jay! I fear the day you stop doing what you do! The world will loose something immeasurable! YOU!

Awesome as always, we love your personal vehicles the most Jay. Thanks!

Wonderful video ! This is a 100 Years old bike and still running ! Wow, thank you so much for sharing.

Jay is the only guy on youtube that can wear the same outfit in every video and not get flamed for it lol

This is so incredible. Love these vintage bike pieces

I always love to learn more about motorcycles and cars and your channel is great for that thank you Mr Jay leno.

I love this bike, thanks for filming it and showing it to us Jay!!

WOW!!! GREAT video Mr Leno! Thank you so much for showing me yet another vehicle I never knew existed. Best of wishes and thanks again.

Fantastic overview and explanation of its features. I'm always amazed at how many original old bikes there were and I love learning about them.

Jay Leno you always been my role model to me since I was a kid, All the cars you bring into your garage you give me more and more ideas

Have seen this in the background a few times and have been looking forward to it! Thanks for sharing it with us!

Thanks Jay! I’ve heard of the Flying Squirrels and appreciate the video. Didn’t know they were 2 strokes. I had a Suzuki GT 750. What a great bike they were.

Perfect video Mr. Leno. Thanks for showing this classic bike, I learned a lot from this.

"HEY, ROCKY! Watch Me Pull A Race Bike Outta My Garage!" ;-)

Always a great pleasure jay thanks again

Hi Jay, great video! I always enjoy you talking about your old stuff from your collection much more than the modern.

Thank you Mr Leno. My favourite type of video from your channel is the one where you go into detail. Restoration updates and steam engines are good too. Us gear heads are in your debt. Greetings from Vancouver Island BC Canada

I knew what the Scott Flying Squirrel was, never seen one run until now. Thanks, Jay, as always...entertaining and informative. BEAUTIFUL old machine...

My favorite kind of JLG, motorcycle, just Jay and under 20min

Very cool! Love the videos of the old bikes and cars! Much more than the modern super machines.

Dude, Jay, we always learn something from your videos. They're pretty good and your cool for continuing to do them!

Jay very smooth ride fun shifting sounded like was built yesterday Thanks!!!;)

i am not totally interested in motorcycles, but Jay makes everything interesting and awesome...I think it is his zest for life and his real interest in things with motors...that i find so interesting!

Jay Leno is a true Motorcycle and Car enthusiast!!

I love it when you produce a video about something in your own collection :)

Love all your shows Jay. Happy that you share them with the common man.

Just stumbled upon this video, great information. My grandad collected and rebuilt Scott flying squirrel motorcycles, over the years. Lovely looking bike. The thought and craftsmanship that went into these bikes, way ahead of their time. Hopefully one day I might do the same.

I love watching Jay Leno talk about his personal collection. The nice thing is that he is just like the rest of us who have a passion for automotive and motorcycles alike.

I'd Love to ride that! Way ahead of its time. Thanks Jay!

Love your channel Jay. Thanks for posting this! Brings back memories from when I was a kid. The Scott marque was ahead of it's time. My neighbor Mr. Pope had one in the 1960's. His came out of Canada I believe when he came home from WWII. Other than possible overheating as you mentioned, it was very reliable...... But you had to get the Pilgrim pump adjusted correctly or you over oiled. You carried lots of extra plugs due to fouling if it wasn't right. They had a particular sound. My neighbor described it as a "yowl." It was very recognizable coming down the street, for sure. We loved when he rode it around the neighborhood!

A great video. A couple of points, though: Alfred Angas Scott was an Englishman, born in Yorkshire, and this is why the Scott factory was in Yorkshire. Also, as far as the engine numbers are concerned, the “RY” prefix doesn’t denote a touring model - it means that the engine is a 596cc TT Replica, instead of a 498cc one like Jay’s. My 1930 Scott is a Flying Squirrel touring model, with the prefix “FY”, denoting a 596cc touring engine. A 498cc tourer would have an “FZ” prefix. Even my short stroke tourer is quick and torquey for a 90-year-old bike. I’ve never ridden a long stroke TT Replica, but they’re reputed to be seriously quick!

What a Cool bike! Thanks again for another Great video! I love learning about new vehicles and ones from the past!👍

Great video and gives me a lot of inspiration to get my 1929 Scott Flying Squirrel restoration project finished

Thank you Jay that was marvellous . The machine has a special place in your life and I loved it, cheers

Thanks Jay I'm not into motorbikes but every days a school day especially Tuesday when it's jaylino day thanks man

I drive past the old Scott factory every day on my way to work!

Awesomeness. So Old, Riding it must feel like being in a Timewarp! Unreal Stuff JLG.

Thanks Jay, this was a real treat. Thanks for sharing.

Remarkable technology from the 1920's ! Thanks for sharing this Jay !!

That is the most awesome twostroke bike i have ever seen!,i love it!

Who else but Jay would go full throttle on an almost 100 yr old motorcycle? Gotta love it. Another fantastic episode.

thanks Jay I have learned something new, and watching this put some motivation into dusting off my old WL45 down in the garage, will see if my old girl starts as easily as Jay s Squirrel...