Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Today in motorcycle history, January 14, 1966







Vetter fairing: the Vetter Mystery Ship



  The first Craig Vetter Series 500 fairing is sold.  The cost of looking like a serious dork with your half fairing - $78.




  The Series 500 Vetter fairing was designed to allow all Japanese motorcycles 350cc to 450cc to appear grown-up.


  I've never been sure what to think of Craig Vetter.  I find him to be a hard nut to crack.  Do I like him or loath him? 


  The "fit on every bike" Windjammer makes me blow chunks but, at the same time he did bless the motorcycle world with the Triumph X-75 Hurricane and the Triumph T160 Bonneville.  Vetter also designed the 1980 ‘Mystery Ship’ Kawasaki KZ1000-based "superbike".   Allegedly there were only ten of these built, and if you think it looks wild today, imagine the eye-poppin' reaction it had nearly thirty-five years ago!   Lying beneath his trademark fiberglass stylings were a stronger and tidied-up frame with a re-positioned steering head, new swing-arm and rear suspension, magnesium wheels and a Yoshimura four-into-one exhaust pipe.  



  So can he be forgiven for all the Windjammer fairings he brought into this world, half or full?  I almost vote yes until I'm reminded he designed the "Winged Wheels of America" fairing. The burning in my throat suddenly reappears.