Tonyaussie
Grasshopper
9 years ago I owned a 208 Australian Panther trike, the yellow one but my wife has neck issues that the wind caused pain, enter the roof concept. That trike won awards globally. It started off as VW power and ended up superchjarged Subaru, VW auto.
I went away from trike and now back to it with a Honda Fury. For those unaware the Fury were made from 2009 and are still currently manufactured in its original form, 15 years of the one design, a plus for parts. The semi chopper deisn has a low seating position that is ideal for a roof as high roofline spoils a project. The Fury 1312c engine v twin is ideal, if but a little underpowered but I was after a low cruiser not a dragster, reliability for this 68yo was paramount. So I had this one trucked down from Brisbane Queensland to Camperdown Victoria, done 5000 miles since 2011 it was superb in condition.
So I rode it 200 yards then began the trike build. I took 6 months to design it baased on Australian design rules, very strict they are an I was familiar with them. Trikes here over 450kg (this one will be 530kg approx) need reverse gear. Rather than crowd the driveshaft area with a ring gear and starter motor, the common way here to add reverse I designed a radical but simple system using a 12 volt sizzor jack and 500kg capacity trailer (caravan) mover that can push 2.5 ton. Here is the video-
So the trike is at the engineers currently and while there I had to tackle the windshield. My yellow trike had the largest windscreen available here in Oz at 900x800mm. I wanted a fairing, however modern batwing fairings werent attractive for this build imo. Searching long and hard the Vetter came up- I recall them well in my era and if I could overcome the single headlight issue as I needed as much light as possible for these older eyes, it would be ideal.
For weeks I searched here in Oz and finally one came up in Brisbane. Although not perfect in condition as it had been dropped on both sides showing the typical pinchweld/chrome damage, I grabbed it as the seller told me it had been on a motorcycle in a museum for many years. At $100USD and $120USD it was a bargain.
So the plan over the last 2 weeks has been to stirp it down for painting (by a pro as a man has to know his limitations) along with the guards, badge background etc I've made my own badges but its unlikely the SS will get any, even the "Windjammer SS badges will be taken off. I've ordered new pinchweld and chrome available her ein Oz but not the original, this is a radical budget build with taste and close to original. The fury colour "matt orange metallic" has faded on this bike being in the sun up north or Honda got the colour wrong in manufacture, unlikely, but it is lighter than others of the 2011 years, so it will need to be matched to the tank and front fender.
The height of the windscreen could dictate what angle the fairing will be positioned. It could be that it has to lean say 5% or more so the windscreen is close to the roof front. So I cant prefab the mounts until I get the trike back. I've ordered a LED headlight to replace the original sealed beam https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/404300087938 and two side lights https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/404974723149?mkevt=1&mkpid=0&emsid=e11050.m43.l1123&mkcid=26&ch=osgood&euid=5391855bab6a4169a4fe57e56547b18c&bu=44016518754&osub=-1~1&crd=20240826031615&segname=11050 . I havent decided where to mount the side lights but possibly off the new mounts at the front. Both the headlight and side lights have circle angel lights so I can wire them in so all 3 show a circle for daytime running lights. Side lights also run high and low beam so hoping that will match in with my rear LED lights.
So although this trike wont fall into the 70's and 80'd era with LED's and a 2000's bike the Vettor has the height over batwings needed to draw wind away from the roof and sides of this trike. Aerodynamically this trike is designed to cut through wind as wind on either side of the rider and passenger can go either wide of those riders and through large side areas like an efficient flow through. I'll post some extra pics on my next post. Thanks for reading.
Vetter details number - 24- 261540 likely made 1979
I'm having issues posting low KB photos.
I went away from trike and now back to it with a Honda Fury. For those unaware the Fury were made from 2009 and are still currently manufactured in its original form, 15 years of the one design, a plus for parts. The semi chopper deisn has a low seating position that is ideal for a roof as high roofline spoils a project. The Fury 1312c engine v twin is ideal, if but a little underpowered but I was after a low cruiser not a dragster, reliability for this 68yo was paramount. So I had this one trucked down from Brisbane Queensland to Camperdown Victoria, done 5000 miles since 2011 it was superb in condition.
So I rode it 200 yards then began the trike build. I took 6 months to design it baased on Australian design rules, very strict they are an I was familiar with them. Trikes here over 450kg (this one will be 530kg approx) need reverse gear. Rather than crowd the driveshaft area with a ring gear and starter motor, the common way here to add reverse I designed a radical but simple system using a 12 volt sizzor jack and 500kg capacity trailer (caravan) mover that can push 2.5 ton. Here is the video-
So the trike is at the engineers currently and while there I had to tackle the windshield. My yellow trike had the largest windscreen available here in Oz at 900x800mm. I wanted a fairing, however modern batwing fairings werent attractive for this build imo. Searching long and hard the Vetter came up- I recall them well in my era and if I could overcome the single headlight issue as I needed as much light as possible for these older eyes, it would be ideal.
For weeks I searched here in Oz and finally one came up in Brisbane. Although not perfect in condition as it had been dropped on both sides showing the typical pinchweld/chrome damage, I grabbed it as the seller told me it had been on a motorcycle in a museum for many years. At $100USD and $120USD it was a bargain.
So the plan over the last 2 weeks has been to stirp it down for painting (by a pro as a man has to know his limitations) along with the guards, badge background etc I've made my own badges but its unlikely the SS will get any, even the "Windjammer SS badges will be taken off. I've ordered new pinchweld and chrome available her ein Oz but not the original, this is a radical budget build with taste and close to original. The fury colour "matt orange metallic" has faded on this bike being in the sun up north or Honda got the colour wrong in manufacture, unlikely, but it is lighter than others of the 2011 years, so it will need to be matched to the tank and front fender.
The height of the windscreen could dictate what angle the fairing will be positioned. It could be that it has to lean say 5% or more so the windscreen is close to the roof front. So I cant prefab the mounts until I get the trike back. I've ordered a LED headlight to replace the original sealed beam https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/404300087938 and two side lights https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/404974723149?mkevt=1&mkpid=0&emsid=e11050.m43.l1123&mkcid=26&ch=osgood&euid=5391855bab6a4169a4fe57e56547b18c&bu=44016518754&osub=-1~1&crd=20240826031615&segname=11050 . I havent decided where to mount the side lights but possibly off the new mounts at the front. Both the headlight and side lights have circle angel lights so I can wire them in so all 3 show a circle for daytime running lights. Side lights also run high and low beam so hoping that will match in with my rear LED lights.
So although this trike wont fall into the 70's and 80'd era with LED's and a 2000's bike the Vettor has the height over batwings needed to draw wind away from the roof and sides of this trike. Aerodynamically this trike is designed to cut through wind as wind on either side of the rider and passenger can go either wide of those riders and through large side areas like an efficient flow through. I'll post some extra pics on my next post. Thanks for reading.
Vetter details number - 24- 261540 likely made 1979
I'm having issues posting low KB photos.
