Higher Speeds with W5

Mike324

Mike324

Vetter Aficionado
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Arnprior, Ontario, Canada
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I may not again run my XS11 up to 95-100 mph again as I am older and wiser now but I did occasionally back in the eighties. I was surprised on these few occasions that the front end seemed to have a very light feeling and bringing it back down under 90 felt much better. I have always wondered if this was common? None of my friends had Windjammers so I could not compare. Has anyone experienced this? Mike
 
Only went that fast a couple times in my life on a bike, back in my 20s (so much more to live for nowadays :)); the gyroscopic effect of the bike wanting to keep a straight line was the most harrowing thing I recall about it. Better have some straight road!
 
A few years ago, a friend and I were riding out to Indiana and back on our 1100 GoldWings. He had a WJ 5 and I have the WJ 4. We rode most of the trip northward of 80ish... sometimes I was seeing 90+. he was complaining of the same thing. My bike was rock solid. I always attributed it to his suitcase strapped to his back seat, but now I wonder. He eventually removed the WJ 5 and I bought it from him. I may have to do some tests in the future.

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Yes only done on a familiar straight road with wide open space on either side. Interesting Brian that your buddy experienced something similar. I didn't have any weight on the back. I think I will ask Craig in the future about aerodynamic lift and testing that he would have carried out at various speeds. 60 is about my top speed these days, and 50 is just fine too. Just always been curious about those few times.
 
Did you have lowers on? I am curious because of the different lines that the WJ 5 has over the others...
 
It was but it was by a small stream in West Virginia. When we left, we followed the GPS that took us up a dirt road. That wasn't too fun and we swore we heard banjoes!:confused:
 
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My dad used to get his XS11 over 100 on a regular basis, he had the SS on his, I never heard him complain about light front end on his.

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rob.lafady said:
My dad used to get his XS11 over 100 on a regular basis, he had the SS on his, I never heard him complain about light front end on his.

Sent from my HTC One M9 using Tapatalk
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I have an XS11 I bought new in 79. My stock bike without a fairing always floated at speeds above 100 mph. With the W5 and lowers only, no trunk or saddle bags it is still smooth and stable at speeds up to 110. I now limit my speeds to 85 mph only because I fear snapping off that windshield and severing my head. Craig Vetter has never stated the safe max speeds of his fairings as far as I know. I've recently asked him and he hasn't answered yet. Does anyone know if he published a limit. Old man or not, I still want to wind this thing up.
 
With mine i have run to 80 and that is it,too old to be a kid. But I have never felt unsafe with the fairing on.I have good suspension on the front and can keep up to non fairinged rigs so I don't think going over 100 would case a windshield to snap off and possibly hit you they seem pretty darn stable and if it is tight and the fairing itself is mounted correctly,just my thoughts.
 
I have been just over 100 mph a few times, I didn't even give the windshield snapping a second thought, just thought it was very unlikely I guess.
Alan
 
Well thanks for that..... now I have something else to worry about on my adventures as if directions and terrible drivers weren't enough. Lol

Seriously I would like to know the background to what caused that. Something hit it? Aftermarket windshield? Excessive speed? Previous crash? (Also note that has a bolt in the top location not a clip. )
 
GS850_Mike said:
Well thanks for that..... now I have something else to worry about on my adventures as if directions and terrible drivers weren't enough. Lol

Seriously I would like to know the background to what caused that. Something hit it? Aftermarket windshield? Excessive speed? Previous crash? (Also note that has a bolt in the top location not a clip. )
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If your wind screen is held on with only screws, it is subject to breaking if you hit a bump. That is the reason for the clip in the top screw holes.
 
brianinpa said:
If your wind screen is held on with only screws, it is subject to breaking if you hit a bump. That is the reason for the clip in the top screw holes.
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My original windshield had the top screws. I replaced it a long time ago with the new design which uses the clips.
My bike has never been dropped and I've never gone airborne with it so no hard impacts. No wheelies either properly executed or not. A full wheelie is on my bucket list though. That video is frightening though.
 
LOCUTUS said:
My original windshield had the top screws. I replaced it a long time ago with the new design which uses the clips.
My bike has never been dropped and I've never gone airborne with it so no hard impacts. No wheelies either properly executed or not. A full wheelie is on my bucket list though. That video is frightening though.
Click to expand...

The way Loyal made that jump, in a crazy sort of way is super cool. I would love to replicate the jump. Maybe not to prove that the windshield will or will not break, but rather get a includible pic of vintage bike with a Windjammer in the air.

Something just looks so nuts about that pic.
 
I have a W5 on a Harley-Davidson Vrod, and it's been, once, to just a touch over 150mph. It does tho spend a lot of time between 80 and 110, and goes to 130+ almost every day on empty stretches of Rt 66. Short time only. It's spent quite a bit of time at 110-120, I've had no problems whatsoever at those speeds.

There are these alterations from original Windjammer design that might have an effect:
The windshield is cut down quite a bit, to where the wind blast is just at the top of my head. Several inches were cut off.
The fairing is mounted in a laid back position from what C Vetter recomends. That is, the rear of the bottom flat is considerably lower than the front of the bottom flat.
That was needed to clear engine/frame/etc.

But I can say, that in the configuration it's in, the wind/rain protection is very, very good.
 
I'll add this warning to Vetter owners:
I read several years ago on C vetters website that the turn signal lenses were starting to come unglued, so better check yours.
I kind of forgot about it but today I pulled into a parking lot and was backing into my spot when my right hand cover fell to the ground. Just good fortune that it didn't come off on my 30 mile ride to town and break up on the hiway.
So I bought a tube of windshield adhesive/sealant, and took the left hand lens off (easily), cleaned the still soft mounting putty out of the groove, took off the double sided tape from the leading edge, and put a bead of the windshield sealant into the groove, plus a large bead at the front where the tape had been.

The windshield sealant I used was 3M, a large cauking gun tube @ $22.00, mo better than trying to find a lens I figgure.

Just a word to the wise. Hate to have to try and find a replacement. Check yours : )
 
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