Strange man from Canada

[Strangeman]

Hello Strangeman from Canada here, just joined the group today. I have always thought that Vetter fairings were lets say less than attractive but as I am getting older I've come to admire them and the creative forces behind them. I have sold my "new" bikes and I am now riding a barn find 1st gen Goldwing with a full Vetter fairing, trunk and bags. I enjoy the bike and the enjoyment is amplified by the Vetter parts. I hope to find parts that I need such as keys for the locks and also I am very interested in the feet forward streamlined bikes.

Cheers from the land of snow and maple sirup,

Strangeman.

 

[brianinpa]

Welcome to the forum... Let's see, a vintage GoldWing with some Vetter parts on it. Hmm, I think there are a few other here with similar tastes.

 

[Kynan C.]

Thats is super cool Strangman! Lets see some images of your bike. I love the first gen Goldwings. The Vetter fairings look really good on them. Welcome to the forum!

 

[Strangeman]

Thank you both for the warm welcome, I am looking forward to future exchanges. By the way I also have a GS1100GK that is in the process of being turned in to a survival/brat bike, a lot of fun and a good recycling project for the shop. I have had 47 bikes and I have been riding for 32 years and a former riding instructor. I make my living in automotive but bikes are what drives me. Cheers. NB: Pictures to follow.

 

[Kynan C.]

Looking forward!

 

[Terraplane Tom]

Welcome to the forum... Let's see, a vintage GoldWing with some Vetter parts on it. Hmm, I think there are a few other here with similar tastes.

Yep!

 

[Strangeman]

Sorry for the late response, I could state a bunch of excuses and a few reasons but I won't bore you with them. Since my last post I have lined up another Goldwing complete with full Vetter package, I'm suppose to pick that up next weekend. Can't have too many spare parts. Here are some of the pictures I promised, it shows shots of when I was "putting it together" last summer after selling my K1100LT. The picture in front of my friend's Volvo store was my first ride out with the bike.

 

[brianinpa]

There is just something about the 78/79 Wing when it is behind a Vetter that just looks right.

 

[Kynan C.]

Great pics! Thanks for sharing. Makes me really want to get a GL now.

 

[Strangeman]

Well the extra wing I had lined up fell through, the fellow was to hold the bike for me till today but someone came along and offered him $75 more and he took it. Can't really blame him but I was a little sad for loosing the bike. But wait it does get better, my wife took me shopping today for a new Honda Varadero, what the heck did I do to deserve that?

 

[Kynan C.]

I like the Varadero's! They look super cool, and get cooler when people adventure them out. I think I would buy the Honda over the BMW. The Hondas are bulletproof.

 

[Strangeman]

Replaced the old Martek electronic ignition system in my bike with a new Dyna system, besides crossing two wires and racking my brains out to figure out the issue, it has been an easy swap and make the bike run very well. Right now I am having issues with the locks on the fairing, bags and trunk. I lost my keys and I am having issues finding a locksmith that can remedy my issue. Do you know if I can get replacement keys for my vetter locks?

 

[roncar]

Unfortunately, when it comes to keys for locks on Vetter accessories, way too many sources were used for the locks, using different keys and no key code markings making replacement keys difficult at best. As such replacing the locks with cabinet locks is the easiest, fastest, and probably most economical solution. I have managed to 'make' keys when none are available, but I have equipment and knowledge on keys and locks that many do not.

 

[Kynan C.]

So are you saying send your Vetter locks to Locksmith Ron?

 

[roncar]

Not a locksmith, besides shipping to and from makes it cost prohibitive. The locks are only ~$5 each and available at most DIY stores. Hard to compete with that. Usually can find 2 or 3 on the shelf with matching key codes. If you need more than that, they usually disassemble easily and wafers can be swapped around to match a single key code.

I can attempt to assist anyone locally with keys or matching a set of locks but as I said, shipping really adds to the costs (especially across borders.)

 

[Terraplane Tom]

I went to my local locksmith and for a price, he was able to make rekey the locks. They also have new lock that were close to the originals with some adapting.

 

[Kynan C.]

Really now, perhaps we should open the Vetter parts store and sell these goodies.

 

[brianinpa]

So are you saying send your Vetter locks to Locksmith Ron?

When it comes to GoldWing locks, Ron is a wizard. For my 1100 I emailed him the two codes for my ignition/gas tank door key and my trunk/saddlebag/helmet lock key. $5.00 and 1 week later I had one key that works on every lock (13 total) on my bike except the fairing pocket. I'm still trying to figure that one out.

My next thing to do is get him to make me one key that will work on both bike's ignitions.

 

[Strangeman]

A locksmith friend of mine picked my locks then converted all of them to match my ignition key, very slick.

 

[Strangeman]

Need help with my 1978 Goldwing, I just changed the timing belts and now I have a whine coming from the front, like a bearing is too tight, how do I determine how much tension to leave on the spring tensioners, the book simply says to tighten them where they are with the simple pressure applied by the springs attached to it. It seems to me that at one spot the belt is tighter than the other so if tightened when the belts is at its tightest, it will be too tight when the tight spot rolls around (which I did) but if I snug up the bolts at the loose spot then the belt(s) will be constantly cycling between tight and loose and will that not put accelerated wear on the belts and tensioners?