Terraplane Limited Edition

[trikebldr]

Just bought a Limited Edition Terraplane in excellent, original condition. It is serial no. 07-100380. With so few TP's having been made, does anybody know what the Limited Edition differences were? This one has the brake. It will be mounted to a 1984 Kawasaki Voyager 1300 sixer. It is in such great original condition that I kinda hate to repaint it to match the bike. I also just got the bike, and it, too, is in mint original condition with just 23,000 miles on it and perfect paint. I think the Terraplane was just made for the Voyager since they both have similar "wedge" styling features.

 

[Mike324]

Very nice original condition! Always nice to keep something that nice original but would look nice colour matched too. Tough decision. Did you find it locally or did you have to travel far to get it? I had a two day drive to pick up my TP and two days home. Mike

 

[trikebldr]

LOL, yes, I also have to travel about two days to pick this one up sometime next week. I've just been too busy buying a 1984 Kawasaki Voyager and traveling a few days to pick it up. Just got home with it a few hours ago.
Actually, I bought this sidecar from an ad that ran in the Sidecarist, but the same ad ran on here, too! I was quite frankly surprised that it lasted a few days with no responses before I replied to the seller. It's excellent original condition will be a compliment to my "new" Voyager bike. As many times as I have read on here, and other sites, that people would like to find a nicer Terraplane to buy, it really surprised me that nobody snapped it up. Same with the bike I just picked up, too! Oh, well! My BIG gain!
I will be leaving this Terraplane as is for a while at least, but most likely it will be color matched to the bike. Yes, VERY tough decision!

 

[Mike324]

Yes your gain for sure! I had forgotten about those 6 cylinder Kawasakis. I don't think they made them too many years. The six pipes have a great look. It will make a nice heavy bike for the TP. Mike

 

[trikebldr]

Here are some pics of the Terraplane mocked up next to it's new tug! They just go together, styling-wise! Can't wait to get the hack color-matched to the bike, but it is in such great original condition I really almost hate to paint it!

 

[Mike324]

Here are some pics of the Terraplane mocked up next to it's new tug! They just go together, styling-wise! Can't wait to get the hack color-matched to the bike, but it is in such great original condition I really almost hate to paint it!

 

[Mike324]

Very nice angles especially viewed from the front. Those early eighties angles do look like a match. Bike looks very nice. Maybe colour matched with original looking pinstriping and Vetter name on back would keep it looking original while matching it. Will be interesting if you can manage to keep the right saddle bag. On most I have seen and my own the full size bag did not have room. Would be nice to try and keep it if possible. Have fun with it. Mike

 

[trikebldr]

The beauty of a bike this big is that it's mass and wheelbase will allow the hack to be mounted slightly farther out than would normally be done with no ill handling effects. My first Voyager had it's Spyder sidecar mounted with lots of clearance to the saddlebag. (see pic) This time I will be leaving about 1-1/2" clearance. The stock mounts don't even come close to matching with anything on the bike to connect to, so I am making up a completely new sub-frame on the bike and will also add a fourth (diagonal) bar up front for better rigidity. The Spyder had a four-bar setup and I loved how solid it was. I have ordered a replacement saddlebag mount frame set, as well as a replacement front crash bar set to modify with a heavy-walled tube supported at two more points along the frame to connect the sidecar's mounts to. Even the sidecar's mounts will be fabricated from scratch to fit better. I will be taking lots of pics as I go and will post the details when I get it done.

 

[Kynan C.]

I didn't even know there was a limited edition of the Terra Plane. I am interested to know as well. Perhaps Terraplane Tom knows.

 

[trikebldr]

I'm not so sure Vetter ever did make a Limited Edition. The two emblems are simple little clear plastic stick on pieces that could be added anytime. However, it does seem to be a different graphics color scheme. I see nothing else different from any other TP. Unless someone can tell me the differences between a Limited Edition and a standard version, I will consider that a PO has added the labels.

 

[Seth Matthews]

Off topic... What kind of fairing is on that bike? I dig it!

 

[trikebldr]

That bike next to the Terraplane is a 1984 Kawasaki Voyager 1300cc six cylinder. That is a full-dress cruiser as produced by the maker. WAY ahead of it's time back in the '80's. It was meant to surpass the Aspencade's sales, but it was way too heavy and top heavy, too. Cost about a thousand more, too! It weighs 940lbs. 140hp and 140mph. Extremely smooth cruiser. About 54mpg fuel. Pulls a sidecar and fully loaded trailer all day at 80mph. My '83 version (identical!) of it had over 112,000 miles when I was t-boned on it.
The fairing on it is very specific to the bike as it houses all the electronics to run the bike. They are quite wide, too. About 6" wider than a Vetter fairing. It's a really big bike.
Thanks for asking! I love telling about the bike.