How many is too many?

[brianinpa]

I have the WJ 4 that is currently on my 1100...

I also have a WJ SS that is in the attic of my garage that I was going to put on my 1100.

I also have a Greater Hemisphere Roadrunner III sitting around collecting dust.

Now I just bought complete WJ 2 (lowers included) that needs a paint job to match my bike and that will be going on the 1100. First I need to make a trip to Vermont to get it. Road trip time!!!


Maybe I need to thin the heard a bit.

 

[roncar]

My general rule of thumb, as long as you have space, it's not too many.

And even then.............

 

[brianinpa]

I like the way you think!

 

[Kynan C.]

I find that there is such thing as to many as they don't stack very well! Although I ignore that side of the brain and keep stacking.

What I have been doing is trying to collect one of everything and get it in perfect condition or restore it to that condition.

I have:
WJ III in excellent condition
WJ IV in good condition (on my XS)
WJ IV in decent condition
WJ SS in decent condition
Quicksilver in mint condition (just got last month, will post pics)
3 Luggage sets, 2 in very good, and 1 in poor
1 million Cycle and Vetter Sound unites

 

[brianinpa]

I didn't want it for a collection. I have always liked the WJ II and III with the external turn signals. I have been looking but didn'lt want to pay the price that people are asking on ebay or craigslist, so I got lucky on one of the GoldWing forums I frequent that focuses on Naked Wings. $100 for the fairing andf the lowers so I couldn'lt pass it up. Now I just need to hitch the trailer to the bike and ride to Vermont and pick it up. Looks like a camping trip at the same time later this year.

This one will be taking the place of the IV that is on my 1100.

 

[Terraplane Tom]

But Brian, collecting is fun!

 

[brianinpa]

But Brian, collecting is fun!

I guess that is a bi-product.

 

[Kynan C.]

I cant wait to show what I bought. I need to have a photo shoot with it! I will hint NOS.

 

[brianinpa]

I cant wait to show what I bought. I need to have a photo shoot with it! I will hint NOS.

Tease!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[roncar]

Man do I feel out of place! I like Vetter stuff, I own Vetter stuff, I have spare Vetter stuff, and in the minority I even have a Vetter sidecar.

But I'm in no way a connoisseur/collector like some of you are.

 

[brianinpa]

I think I am in your camp Ron. When it comes to Tom and the admin, those two are in a league of their own.

 

[Kynan C.]

Haha, out of place! Since it's just Tom and I, maybe we should feel out of place.

Collecting.... Hmmm... Well, I guess I am a collector of Vetter items. I am not collecting for investment, I guess the reason I collect is because I really like the stuff.. I had a very interesting conversation the Craig about collecting I will share later.

I guess it goes deeper to when I was 17 and had a CB750 with a Windjammer and Cycle Sound on it. My best friend and I used to ride that bike all around town blaring the Rolling Stones like we were the coolest thing since sliced bread (This era left a big impression on me). Now, thinking this was 1990, we were well past the pinnacle of Vetter and the success of Craig's inventions, however Adam and I felt Vetter was cool even in the 90's. Since those early days with the Windjammer and the CB, I have always wanted another one. So, several years ago I bought a Windjammer IV for my XS11. I really started getting into Craig's website and looking at all the other cool stuff he did and studying the history. I found it facinating and started to buy a few items on Craigslist and eBay, and before you knew it I had a collection.

The one thing about Vetter goodies is they were only made once, and never will be made again. Having these items is like owning a piece of history. There will come a time when they will be valuable, however this is not why I collect.

It is a hobby to me, and they are really cool show pieces. When people see my bike and my collection in my shop, they always ask questions and want to know more about the items and their history, and I love to share.

The forum I did to keep the history alive and give people who own Vetter goods a place to discuss and share, and here we are.

 

[brianinpa]

The forum I did to keep the history alive and give people who own Vetter goods to discuss and share, and here we are.

And I for one am thankful for it.

I grew up in the 70's and three doors away from my house was a Kawasaki dealer, so my first experience with anything Vetter was a KZ1300 that had the entire Vetter package sitting on the showroom floor. I thought it looked cool then, and I think it still looks cool now. Add to it the function, and it can't be beat.

When I ride in the winter, people ask me: aren't you cold? My answer is always the same: Nope, I am behind that big fairing. My hands are protected from the direct wind blast by the bump-outs on the sides (now that I have a pair of Hippo Hands, I won't have any worry at all), my head is just barely in the windstream of the air coming over the windscreen so with a full face helmet on - no problem, and my knees are tucked in behind the lowers. And to add to it, those lowers actually push engine heat up onto me.

I always thought it was form, but after riding and reading all of the info Craig has on his site about the fairings, it is more about function. Cool looks are just along for the ride.

 

[steppenwolf]

You guys really do have VOG disease

 

[Kynan C.]

I think if Tom where to write something on this topic it would really confirm that Steppen.

 

[Terraplane Tom]

Here's a list of the Vetter stuff I have collected:
Windjammer II
Windjammer III
2 Windjammer IV (1 black & 1 burgundy)
4 Windjammer V (2 black, 1 silver, & 1 burgundy)
3 Windjammer SS (2 black & 1 white)
Vindicator RWB
Quicksilver
2 Vetter ATV fairings (#001 & 013)
5 sets of Saddlebags (black, white, silver, & burgundy)
Saddlebag rain covers
3 Trunks
Lowers for WJ IV & V
Hippo Hands (gen 1 & 3)
Helmets (2 white & 1 red)
Jackets ( 3 black leather & 1 silver)
Vetter rain suit (red)
Vetter RWB boots
Vetter gauntlet gloves
2 Bike-to-bike communication systems
Fair Warning radar detector
Cycle Sound w/cover
3 Vetter Sound w/covers
Vetter Sound for Hondaline
Vetter radio pod for Windstar
Silver Sound for Quicksilver
Vetter ear phones w/jack
VDO "jetcockpit" module
Tank bags, 36 & 24 liter
Terraplane side car
Liberator stripes, gauge cluster, headlight bezels, turn signal lens
WJ mounting instructions
Vetter catalogs
& misc. Vetter badges, stickers and such

 

[brianinpa]

Here's a list of the Vetter stuff I have collected:
Windjammer II
Windjammer III
2 Windjammer IV (1 black & 1 burgundy)
4 Windjammer V (2 black, 1 silver, & 1 burgundy)
3 Windjammer SS (2 black & 1 white)
Vindicator RWB
Quicksilver
2 Vetter ATV fairings (#001 & 013)
5 sets of Saddlebags (black, white, silver, & burgundy)
Saddlebag rain covers
3 Trunks
Lowers for WJ IV & V
Hippo Hands (gen 1 & 3)
Helmets (2 white & 1 red)
Jackets ( 3 black leather & 1 silver)
Vetter rain suit (red)
Vetter RWB boots
Vetter gauntlet gloves
2 Bike-to-bike communication systems
Fair Warning radar detector
Cycle Sound w/cover
3 Vetter Sound w/covers
Vetter Sound for Hondaline
Vetter radio pod for Windstar
Silver Sound for Quicksilver
Vetter ear phones w/jack
VDO "jetcockpit" module
Tank bags, 36 & 24 liter
Terraplane side car
Liberator stripes, gauge cluster, headlight bezels, turn signal lens
WJ mounting instructions
Vetter catalogs
& misc. Vetter badges, stickers and such

Yes sir! We have a Winner!!!!!

 

[steppenwolf]

But do you have the Bagman Saddle bags?

 

[Terraplane Tom]

No not yet, but it's on my list.

 

[brianinpa]

No not yet, but it's on my list.

I recently saw some on ebay... just saying!