Two Wheel Thunder Brings back Michele Smith

It’s that time of year when folks gather for class reunions, and family vacations to reunite with old family and friends. The Discovery HD network hosted their own reunion of sorts for the Harley community this past Monday night with the airing of a new motorcycle enthusiast show called Two Wheel Thunder.

Popular motorcycle celebrity, Michele Smith, has been brought back to national TV to continue her role as the First Lady of Motorcycling. Smith has had a wonderful relationship with the biker world with her motorcycle savvy and friendly manner for over ten years while hosting Speed TVs American Thunder. Using her TV popularity as a base, Smith continued to endear herself to the Harley World by attending and visiting with hundreds of thousands of bikers at national events. Smiths willingness to meet, greet, sign and smile for a Kodak Moment has made Smith probably the most popular motorcycle celebrity today.

After over ten years of a successful TV run, last year, WATV brought in some new talent and changed the direction of the successful motorcycle show and named it The New American Thunder. Frankly, the talent and the new direction both missed the mark and the “New show” flopped. V Twin enthusiasts didn’t care for the new talent or interviews with skate board kids. Another blunder was leaving “all pro” Michele Smith on the side lines giving hosting duties to some new unproven talent. Thankfully, the e-mails came down on WATV and bikers from around the country, told WATV that they goofed.

To their credit, The New American Thunder was scrapped and WATV put together Two Wheel Thunder. They also have repaired the biggest mistake and brought back Michele.

This new project is much like the American Thunder loved by enthusiasts for years with a few changes. Producer Jay Barbieri now is co hosting the show with Michele and doing the product installs and visiting different motorcycle facilities, while Michele continues to work Motorcycle events and interview the builders and innovators at these shows. Congratulations to Jay for putting this together and repairing the void left by Michele.

As for the premier of Two Wheel Thunder. It was like a warm reunion with a good friend. I was very comfortable with my good motorcycle friend Michele. Personally, the Monster would like to see more of Michele and her motorcycle characters and a little less “boot construction”, but we also understand that the bills must be paid through sponsors.

As for a rating, the Monster gives Two Wheel Thunder four Monsters out of five.