First Windjammer

[Stumpy(NH)]

Well, I now have my first Windjammer fairing on a new to me CB900c Honda. I live in New Hampshire and bought this as a "winter bike". Something to tide me over until the salt is off the roads up here. First, I am shocked at how good the wind management is. Thirty five degrees and very comfortable behind my Vetter. Now I have acquired a set of saddlebags. Of course....no keys. I have researched this topic to death here.

Long story short, I was able to wiggle a CH-751 key in my lock and get the cylinder to come out exposing the tumblers. From here I called a local lock smith who was able to cut me two keys that work perfectly for $20.00 ! I did have to modify the mounting brackets a bit to fit my Honda, but having a welder made it an easy modification.

I need to figure out how to post photos, I don't think the software likes my iPad.

 

[Stumpy(NH)]

For what it's worth the key was cut on an Ilco 1041 blank. It is one of the single cut keys.

 

[Stumpy(NH)]

I'll get it figured out yet. Here is me and my 1980 Honda CB900 and Vetter fairing

 

[Scott-E]

Well, I now have my first Windjammer fairing on a new to me CB900c Honda. I live in New Hampshire and bought this as a "winter bike". Something to tide me over until the salt is off the roads up here. First, I am shocked at how good the wind management is. Thirty five degrees and very comfortable behind my Vetter. Now I have acquired a set of saddlebags. Of course....no keys. I have researched this topic to death here.

Long story short, I was able to wiggle a CH-751 key in my lock and get the cylinder to come out exposing the tumblers. From here I called a local lock smith who was able to cut me two keys that work perfectly for $20.00 ! I did have to modify the mounting brackets a bit to fit my Honda, but having a welder made it an easy modification.

I need to figure out how to post photos, I don't think the software likes my iPad.

No one has made a fairing that works as good as a Windjammer does to this very day. Even the latest factory built touring bikes are not as good. Craig did a lot of design work and wind tunnel time to get the fairing, bags, and trunk just right. It's too bad no one builds anything like it today.

 

[Kynan C.]

Cool looking rig man! We love pics, share share share. I am a sucker for sissy bars, I think they just add to the look of a bike, and of course the function as well.

 

[Dave Ireland]

No one has made a fairing that works as good as a Windjammer does to this very day. Even the latest factory built touring bikes are not as good. Craig did a lot of design work and wind tunnel time to get the fairing, bags, and trunk just right. It's too bad no one builds anything like it today.

This is true. The only rival to it that I've experienced was the late 70s BMW full RT fairing.
Even the best of the Vetter copies that I've got have a couple of flaws, in spite of the improvements they made.
This winter it's become obvious that the Pantera II copy of the Vetter falls down on two important areas that the previous Vetter WJ IV that was fitted to the same bike didn't have.
1. Most obvious - cold knees; there's an annoying wind flow spilling off the sides of the fairing directly onto my knees.
2. Takes a while to be apparent, but eventually shows up - cold air spillage over the front lip of the fairing directly onto my hands.

Craig got a lot of vital areas of the WJ series just right and created a timeless masterpiece. Ok, the hokey pop-stud covers on the cargo bins and the lack of a proper place to put radio and instruments weren't ideal, but they can be lived with, as not vitally important.
I'm absolutely sure that Craig would have addressed those issues as time went on, but the writing was on the wall and he saw it in time to get out while the going was good.

 

[Stumpy(NH)]

This is true. The only rival to it that I've experienced was the late 70s BMW full RT fairing.
Even the best of the Vetter copies that I've got have a couple of flaws, in spite of the improvements they made.
This winter it's become obvious that the Pantera II copy of the Vetter falls down on two important areas that the previous Vetter WJ IV that was fitted to the same bike didn't have.
1. Most obvious - cold knees; there's an annoying wind flow spilling off the sides of the fairing directly onto my knees.
2. Takes a while to be apparent, but eventually shows up - cold air spillage over the front lip of the fairing directly onto my hands.

Craig got a lot of vital areas of the WJ series just right and created a timeless masterpiece. Ok, the hokey pop-stud covers on the cargo bins and the lack of a proper place to put radio and instruments weren't ideal, but they can be lived with, as not vitally important.
I'm absolutely sure that Craig would have addressed those issues as time went on, but the writing was on the wall and he saw it in time to get out while the going was good.

I just got my lowers and installed them on my fairing. I absolutely love them. Finding a reasonably priced set of lowers was challenging. I bought a whole kit just for the lowers, but ended up with a good condition top box/ trunk as well. I'll post about the led conversion utilizing the original lens covers soon.

 

[Dave Ireland]

I just got my lowers and installed them on my fairing. I absolutely love them. Finding a reasonably priced set of lowers was challenging. I bought a whole kit just for the lowers, but ended up with a good condition top box/ trunk as well. I'll post about the led conversion utilizing the original lens covers soon.

First time I fitted the lowers I was halfway through the winter, and the difference was immediately obvious and unexpected.
There wasn't just a shielding of the windblast from the front, but the low pressure area behind the lowers drew the warm air out from the back of the cylinder block and over my lower legs. Oddly enough, that also influenced my feet. The lowers don't go down far enough to shield my feet, but the ends of the engine (GS 850) partially do. Some of the warm air was being drawn into the space behind the protruding generator and ignition covers and most definitely helping my toes. I may yet extend the lowers or fit a small shield either side, fastened on to the crash bars.
I don't do long distances in the winter anymore, so I'm unsure how long my duration would be, but anything helps.