Calling all Terraplane Owners


roncar

Moderator
I have one but don't have enough knowledge about it to know what to I need to be asking about it. I acquired the Terraplane about 16 months ago and have not decided what I'm going to do with it....yet. It is rare enough (and cool enough) that I'm hesitant about selling it as I'll probably never be able to replace it later.

General consensus is that fewer than 1000 were made. I ran across this 10 year old post from a claimed to be early 80's Vetter employee (post Craig)
I saw someone post somewhere that they thought Vetter made around a thousand hacks total. I think it's more like 600. I know they were very expensive back in 80-83, partly because the cost of shipping them to the dealers was very high. Another problem was the complexity of attaching them to the various bikes. So we never got a lot of volume.

In another post he said that a fire in 84 or 85 destroyed most of the records so actual numbers can't be verified.

I've seen the 2 documents Craig has on his site.
Has any other documents survived?
Anyone care to share?
What mounts were available (OEM?)
Parts lists?
Parts sources?
Modifications?
 

Terraplane Tom

Vetter Aficionado
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Here's what I know: Vetter literature shows the Terraplane started Sept of 1979, went through at least 1981, maybe later. The wheel is a Lester wheel. The brake system was made by Airheart, which is still around and sells parts for them.http://www.airheart-brakes.com/index.html Airheart is located in Minnesota, just a few miles from where I work. You can get a windshield here:http://www.bikescreen.com/proddetail.asp?prod=VetterTerraplane
As far as parts for mounting, you need 3 pieces: A front and rear pylon and a Trim-Grip. You then need the 3 mounting points for on the bike. I downloaded the mounting instructions from Craig's website.http://www.craigvetter.com/images/V...ndjammer_instructions/Terraplane Mounting.pdf It has all nomenclature of the sidecar and how to mount and align it.http://www.craigvetter.com/images/V...Windjammer_instructions/Terraplane Manual.pdf Any other parts I was able to buy usually at my local hardware store.
The modifications I made are: Mine was missing the serial number plate, so I replaced with an extra serial plate from a windjammer. I was the able to change the standard 3 prong plug to a 9 pin windjammer plug. I the added a speaker and amp to behind the seat. I added turn signals front and rear. I had I local upholstery recover the seat, which they did to specs. If you didn't know, you would have thought that it was original! I also had the same shop make me a leather cover, which is attached with Velcro to the windshield and side snaps to the body.
 

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limpy45

Learning the Ropes
Country flag
As I had posted in my intro post, I have a Terra plane on a 80 GL1100. I also had the original instructions along with mounting etc. Unfortunately I had a fire in my shop this past March and the instructions got destroyed. Thank goodness there are now copies available to down load on Craig's page. Just might have to do that one of these days.
 

turbodog

Learning the Ropes
Country flag
Hi, folks. I have a Terraplane, currently undergoing restoration. Tom, do you mind saying what the seat recovering cost? I was just quoted $400 - $500 %(
 

turbodog

Learning the Ropes
Country flag
AND, another $400 for a tonneau cover! That totals more than I paid for the sidecar. Gonna have to learn how to sew, I guess.
 

roncar

Moderator
With those kinda prices, I'd have to come up with some kind of cheaper alternative. Wonder if I could make this work?

Camping-chair-with-umbrella.jpg
 

rob.lafady

Vetter Aficionado
Country flag
I think I saw that on CL, if I'd have had the money it may have been a race to get it, although I only live 45 miles from there so...
 

Ray-Paige

Learning the Ropes
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He had it listed on CL & eBay. I been saving my pennies for a Terraplane, I have wanted one for a long time. I made an offer under the asking price and he accepted. Now to sell my KZ1000P and find a GL1100 and go Vetter all the way.
 

Terraplane Tom

Vetter Aficionado
Country flag
Hi, folks. I have a Terraplane, currently undergoing restoration. Tom, do you mind saying what the seat recovering cost? I was just quoted $400 - $500 %(
The seat cost me $400 to recover. But it is a near perfect replica of the original!
IMAG0013.jpg

And the tonneau was $200.
Terraplane.JPG

Well worth the price I paid.
 

Ray-Paige

Learning the Ropes
Country flag
Suggestion - Just a thought. Since nearly all of the Terraplane technical data is already on this thread, why don't we continue to use it as the central point for T'plane info. Comments?
 
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