Vetter Terraplane
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The Terraplane was a popular sidecar for the Goldwings when Vetter were making them. Very slim andsleek sidecar that didn't look like a brick and was well finished. If you managed to get one (I seen one on the web recently for $1500) at a good price then you did well.
The Terraplane was a popular sidecar for the Goldwings when Vetter were making them. Very slim andsleek sidecar that didn't look like a brick and was well finished. If you managed to get one (I seen one on the web recently for $1500) at a good price then you did well.
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There is a good Vetter site here with mounting instructions for the Terraplane and for the Windjammer fairings and other stuff.
http://www.craigvetter.com/pages/Vetter_Fairings/All_Vetter_instructions.html
There is a good Vetter site here with mounting instructions for the Terraplane and for the Windjammer fairings and other stuff.
http://www.craigvetter.com/pages/Vetter_Fairings/All_Vetter_instructions.html
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Theres a picture of the Terraplane sidecar here;
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/Vetter_SC/
Theres a picture of the Terraplane sidecar here;
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/Vetter_SC/
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the early terrapalnes had a problem with the upper mounting bolt (there is only one) not being strong enough and some of them broke.... other than that I always thought it was rather sleek looking, albeit a bit dated now a days.
btw, what year aspencade?
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the early terrapalnes had a problem with the upper mounting bolt (there is only one) not being strong enough and some of them broke.... other than that I always thought it was rather sleek looking, albeit a bit dated now a days.
btw, what year aspencade?
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Here's the later Terraplane that I am familiar with. And a 1200 with a Vetter fairing, kinda cool....
Raymond
Here's the later Terraplane that I am familiar with. And a 1200 with a Vetter fairing, kinda cool....
Raymond
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rcmatt007 wrote:
rcmatt007 wrote:
Okay, I'm stumped. What car is being shown here? This does not resemble any Vetter Terraplane I've ever seen,the early terrapalnes had a problem with the upper mounting bolt (there is only one) not being strong enough and some of them broke.... other than that I always thought it was rather sleek looking, albeit a bit dated now a days.
btw, what year aspencade?
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Silicon Sam wrote:
Getting in the car is rather unconventional. The top of the car is hinged on the outside edge and opens away from the bike necessitating the passenger to get into the car from between the bike and the car or over the bike. One might be able to mount from the outside if the top is down. It's sort of awkward. The top opening includes the passenger opening and extends behind it.
The Vetter Fairing shown is a type 5. The 4's, SS models and 5's were quite popular with the GW crowd. It's really easy to remount one if you find one worth remounting. Goldwing mounts are easy to find. The 4,5,and SS all had the front edge turning lamps. Only the 5 had the extra bib around the headlight. Theres lots of lowers around too but finding a set that hasn't been butchered isn't easy. Matching a set of lowers to a particular bike is even more difficult! Lowers for the 5 are different from all others and are slightly rare. These fairings weigh right at 40 pounds.
Although the Luftmeister was ripped off the Vetter design it is not a Vetter product.
The same is true of the Vetter Sound radio housings. The real deal is labeled Cycle Sound.
Be careful if you plan to buy a Vetter Windjammer and remount it, It's very common to find the fairing (not the bracket) cracked at the front mount point from collision or fall. Buying from Ebay is a crap shoot. People strip them for parts, misidentify parts and conceal faults by cropping the photos oddly or offering blurry photos that conceal damage.
Vetter also created the Hondaline fairing, It was not sold under the Vetter name.
TMI?
Silicon Sam wrote:
This is the only Terraplane that Vetter Corporation produced. Craig Vetter designed and made several prototypes (about 4) and abandoned the project. The second owners of the Vetter company revived it and made only about 1000 of these. There is an '82 Goldwing with Terraplane on Ebay currently with only about 3400 miles on it. Last onth there was a terraplane sold on Ebay for about 700$usd but it was in sort of rough shape needing paint and upholstery. These turn up from time to time.
Getting in the car is rather unconventional. The top of the car is hinged on the outside edge and opens away from the bike necessitating the passenger to get into the car from between the bike and the car or over the bike. One might be able to mount from the outside if the top is down. It's sort of awkward. The top opening includes the passenger opening and extends behind it.
The Vetter Fairing shown is a type 5. The 4's, SS models and 5's were quite popular with the GW crowd. It's really easy to remount one if you find one worth remounting. Goldwing mounts are easy to find. The 4,5,and SS all had the front edge turning lamps. Only the 5 had the extra bib around the headlight. Theres lots of lowers around too but finding a set that hasn't been butchered isn't easy. Matching a set of lowers to a particular bike is even more difficult! Lowers for the 5 are different from all others and are slightly rare. These fairings weigh right at 40 pounds.
Although the Luftmeister was ripped off the Vetter design it is not a Vetter product.
The same is true of the Vetter Sound radio housings. The real deal is labeled Cycle Sound.
Be careful if you plan to buy a Vetter Windjammer and remount it, It's very common to find the fairing (not the bracket) cracked at the front mount point from collision or fall. Buying from Ebay is a crap shoot. People strip them for parts, misidentify parts and conceal faults by cropping the photos oddly or offering blurry photos that conceal damage.
Vetter also created the Hondaline fairing, It was not sold under the Vetter name.
TMI?
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The photo is a 1200 Wing with a Motovation Spyder sidecar, not a Vetter.
Dauntless Motors I believe has parts available. Also, check out/join the United Sidecar Association. It is the national sc club. www.sidecar.com
Doug with an 82 Wing/Watsonian Monaco sidecar
The photo is a 1200 Wing with a Motovation Spyder sidecar, not a Vetter.
Dauntless Motors I believe has parts available. Also, check out/join the United Sidecar Association. It is the national sc club. www.sidecar.com
Doug with an 82 Wing/Watsonian Monaco sidecar
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Silicon Sam wrote:
Silicon Sam wrote:
Sam, What about the one on theright side of the pic? Any plans on restoring it?
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Hi there. I just purchased what I think may just be the only Vetter Terraplane in Alaska... I have a 1977 GL1000 and am very excited to mount the sidecar to my bike for winter riding. I will post pics soon.
Hi there. I just purchased what I think may just be the only Vetter Terraplane in Alaska... I have a 1977 GL1000 and am very excited to mount the sidecar to my bike for winter riding. I will post pics soon.
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:waving:Hello and Welcome . I am sure a sidecar will be quite handy in Alaska . Enjoy the forum and visit often .
:waving:Hello and Welcome . I am sure a sidecar will be quite handy in Alaska . Enjoy the forum and visit often .
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I had one it was on a gl1100,very cool looking side car,but i didnt like driving the bike with the car on so i sold it.
I had one it was on a gl1100,very cool looking side car,but i didnt like driving the bike with the car on so i sold it.
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Driving a sidecar is different and takes time. I've had sidecars for over 30 years. It took a couple years to really enjoy it. But my wifw and son and I traveled all the 48 states on them. I sold my last one in 1996 I thought but after 6 months bought another as we missed traveling that way. My wife has arthrytis and it was hard for to ride on 2 wheels, Sidecar let keep riding.
Driving a sidecar is different and takes time. I've had sidecars for over 30 years. It took a couple years to really enjoy it. But my wifw and son and I traveled all the 48 states on them. I sold my last one in 1996 I thought but after 6 months bought another as we missed traveling that way. My wife has arthrytis and it was hard for to ride on 2 wheels, Sidecar let keep riding.
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I'm a bit confused. The photo above is definitely a Terraplane, the only Terraplane evr built. The comments above about type 4, type 5, SS etc. are related to the fairing, not the sidecar.
Here is a photo of a Motorvation Formula. The only thing they have in common is the pointed nose.
The Motorvation is a two passenger, the Vetter is barely a one passenger. The Terraplane opens to the side, like a coffin, while the Formula either flips forward to open, or cheaper ones don't open at all. You just climb over the top.
I'm a bit confused. The photo above is definitely a Terraplane, the only Terraplane evr built. The comments above about type 4, type 5, SS etc. are related to the fairing, not the sidecar.
Here is a photo of a Motorvation Formula. The only thing they have in common is the pointed nose.
The Motorvation is a two passenger, the Vetter is barely a one passenger. The Terraplane opens to the side, like a coffin, while the Formula either flips forward to open, or cheaper ones don't open at all. You just climb over the top.
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