After talking with Frank Stancato at Death Row Motorcycles in Sugarloaf, Pennsylvania, we got the impression that if he were looking for payback, he'd embrace the latter approach, since he was extremely calculating when designing the Vendetta production chopper seen here.
The bike is the culmination of very careful planning. The Death Row folks spent two years perfecting all of the engineering that went into the Vendetta's design, creating a production chopper of ginormous dimensions with great looks that's as rider-friendly as the shop could make a bike of its size. Furthermore, Death Row is a Kelly Blue book-listed, licensed manufacturer, and the crew there intends to build 60-100 Vendetta choppers a year that will be offered at dealerships in several large cities around the country.
Vendetta's rigid frame sets the tone for the chopper with 45 degrees of rake, 6 inches of stretch skyward, and 8 more out. Frank's shop completed the profile with 12-inch-over Denver's Choppers twisted legs, then added in DNA spoke wheels with PM brakes and a Metzeler 280 rear tire. The Denver's frontend is an option and doesn't come standard.
With such a big chopper, the guys at Death Row didn't want to skimp in the power department, but they still wanted it to be reliable and manageable. So rather than use an extreme mill in the 125-145ci range, Stancato went with the S&S 100, a great blend of muscle and reason. The Vendetta also features a TrikShift six-speed RSD trans for smooth running while offsetting the 280 rear tread.
As far as Frank was concerned, looks were secondary to ridability for this bike, but appearance was a big consideration nonetheless. Death Row fabbed the tanks and fenders for it, but Stancato's particularly proud of its floating gas tank and the way it flows in perfect harmony with the backbone to the floating seat, giving the chopper a nice, clean curve from the bars to the butt rest.
These precise lines and the flowing look they create aren't too surprising when you consider all of the planning that went into making the Vendetta prototype a reality. The jury's still out on whether or not revenge is best served hot or cold, but it looks as if Death Row did a great job with this particular Vendetta.
| THE VITALS: |
| GENERAL: |
| OWNER: | FRANK STANCATO |
| YEAR/MAKE: | '06/DEATH ROW
VENDETTA |
| FABRICATION: | DEATH ROW |
| ASSEMBLY: | DEATH ROW |
| BUILD TIME: | 10 WEEKS |
| ENGINE: |
| SIZE/TYPE: | 100CI/S&S V-TWIN |
| CASES: | S&S |
| FLYWHEELS: | S&S |
| RODS: | S&S |
| PISTONS: | S&S |
| CYLINDERS: | S&S |
| HEADS: | S&S |
| VALVES: | S&S |
| CAMS: | S&S |
| CARB: | S&S |
| IGNITION: | CRANE HI-4 |
| PIPES: | DEATH ROW |
| TRANSMISSION: |
| Year/Type: | '05 TrikShift
Six-speed RSD |
| Case: | TrikShift |
| Gears: | TrikShift |
| Clutch: | JayBrake |
| Primary Drive: | BDL |
| FRAME/SUSPENSION: |
| YEAR/TYPE: | '05 DEATH ROW |
| RAKE: | 45 DEGREES |
| STRETCH: | 6 INCHES UP, 8 INCHES OUT |
| SWINGARM: | N/A |
| REAR SUSPENSION: | N/A |
| FORKS: | DENVER'S CHOPPERS |
| EXTENSION: | 12-INCH-OVER |
| TRIPLE-TREES: | DENVER'S CHOPPERS |
WHEELS,TIRES,
& BRAKES: WHEELS: |
| FRONT: | 21x3.5-inch DNA
twisted spoke |
| REAR: | 18x10.5-inch DNA
twisted spoke |
| TIRES: |
| FRONT: | Metzeler 120/70-21 |
| REAR: | Metzeler 18x280 |
| FINISH/PAINT: |
| MOLDING: | KILLER KREATIONS |
| PAINTER: | KILLER KREATIONS |
| COLORS: | PEARL WHITE AND RED ON
GROUND METAL |
| GRAPHICS: | KILLER KREATIONS |
| CHROME PLATING |
| AND POLISHING: | NA |
| POWDERCOATING: | N/A |
| ACCESSORIES: |
| BARS: | DEATH ROW |
| RISERS: | DEATH ROW |
| HAND CONTROLS: | JAY BRAKE |
| HEADLIGHT: | V-TWIN |
| TAILLIGHT: | DEATH ROW |
| GAUGES: | WIRE PLUS |
| ELECTRICAL: | DEATH ROW |
| FUEL TANK(S): | DEATH ROW |
| DASH: | N/A |
| OIL TANK: | DEATH ROW |
| FRONT FENDER: | DEATH ROW |
| REAR FENDER: | DEATH ROW |
| FENDER STRUTS: | DEATH ROW |
| PEGS: | PM |
| FOOT CONTROLS: | PM |
| SEAT: | PHIL GRECO |
The shopDeath Row Motorcycles(570) 788-1660www.deathrowmotorcycles.com