Pete, I felt pretty much the same way you did--the show wasn't quite what I feared it would be (at least the first installment.) It was actually fairly well produced and surprisingly low on bombast.
The host was likeable enough; the subjects were pleasantly civilized for the most part and the segments had more depth than I expected (of course, I expected a slightly more upmarket grade of outlaw stuntaz video). They did go to slightly tiresome pains to demonstrate how this was no custom chopper show (yeah, we know, it's all about performance...although I don't really see the need for a 190 RWHP streetfighter with a devil head flyscreen...or do I?).
And when was the last time you heard Joey Dunlop mentioned on TV?
But, unfortunately, the killer is the street stunting and (fairly mild) mayhem (as well as a couple of brief allusions to drinking). It's just sending all the wrong messages. And frankly, what was on the show was quite tame in comparison to the roving packs of dumb, unskilled squid I see on the weekends. At least just about everyone was weariing gear.
And no T&A????