Vengeance

998 American Hotrod Motorcycles

  • Home
  • About
  • Friends
  • Owners Forum
  • Press
  • Ride on JDO
  • Runaway American Dream
  • Shop
  • The 998
  • Timeline
  • Tribute
  • vTube
Home » News Timeline » Vengeance Builds a Vendetta for Michele Smith

Vengeance Builds a Vendetta for Michele Smith

August 1, 2004 vengeance

When Michele Smith host of American Thunder visited our factory and saw our bikes she remarked “wow, I’d sure like one of those in my garage.” Well who can resist someone like Michelle? So Butch and the boys got to work on a one-off custom Vendetta just for Michelle.

The bike is a modified 2004 Vendetta with a 42° of rake and 6″ over front-end. Michelle liked the long fenders on our Raiders, so we used Raider sheet metal on the bike to give it that one-of-a-kind look. Pull back risers put the bars in easy reach and the sissy bar with a custom Danny Grey saddle finish the long-low chopper style she was looking for. The dramatic color is Cobalt Blue with chrome paint tribal beveled graphics applied by Rock-n-Roll paint. But the piece-de-la-resistance is the dramatic custom taillight treatment with LED’s by Radiantz illuminating the American Thunder logo on the rear fender.

The bike debuted in Sturgis on the main stage at the Full Throttle Saloon. The American Thunder camera crew was on-hand to capture the moment for the Sturgis episode. After the unveiling Michele got to take the bike out for a spin and see a little of the South Dakota country-side.

“I wanted to say Thank you for everything in ‘Sturgis.’ I really had a good time this year! The bike looks really beautiful and I enjoyed riding it for the short time I had. I look forward to riding it more here in L.A. Many thanks to everyone at ‘Vengeance.’”

American Thunder airs nationwide on Speed Channel. Check your local cable listings for the location of Speed Channel on your cable service.

News Timeline

Previous: Rock-n-Country Charity Ride with Rick Allen of Def Leppard
Next: Vengeance Raider Named Top 10 by Easyriders

Runaway American Dream

The Runaway American Dream is based on the roller coaster ride of the amazing startup and eventual implosion of Vengeance Motorcycles during the Chopper Boom at the turn of the 21st century.   In … more

Contact Us

  • Vengeance Motorcycles
  • P.O. Box 506
  • Newport Beach, CA 92661
  • info@venmc.com

Owners Login

Lost your password?

Copyright © 2025 VengeanceMotorcycles.com · Log in