Vetter Designed Police Fairings?

[Kynan C.]

Craig,

Did you have any involvement in the Police motorcycles in the 1970's? I know that the police issue KZ1000P released in 82 was the first Police issue KZ to have a full fairing. This was well after you sold the company.

You built a fairing for Kawasaki according to your site that was sold between 77 and 83. The design obviously does not match the 82 KZ1000P, however you did have dealings with Kawasaki.

Being the king of the fairing in the mid to late 70's, did the police use any of your fairing or did you design anything for police motorcycles?

I have seen images of very Vetter like fairings on Police and Military motorcycles around the web. Like the Australian Military below.

 

[Craig Vetter]

The pics above are somebody's copy fairings. There were a lot of copy fairings in the 70s. From the angle of the windshield, you can see that the parts have warped a lot. It is what happens when you don't work from a stable "master" part.

I never got involved with a police fairing because of the paperwork that seemed to surround it. Also, back in the 70s, I recall that there was a "Good ole Boy" network already established as liaison with police departments.

Sounds like no fun to me.

 

[Proto]

This got me thinking back to my old police days. In 1981 or 1982 my department decided to get a couple of motorcycles. I was the only experienced rider at the time and got one of the slots for motorcycle cop(me in the foreground). The bikes were three cylinder Yamaha 850's. Can't remember the exact model now. I remember the fairings were quite "Vetteresque" in their design, though branded Yamaha.

 

[Craig Vetter]

After I designed the Windjammer, about 20 companies began copying it... some with no changes... some with some changes. This was one made by a company called Pacifico.

 

[Metal_Bob]

I like the color photo above with the red/blue stem mounted lights. That would be great for some modern off road LED lights

 

[Kynan C.]

Its just amazing how much they copied the Windjammer.

 

[Craig Vetter]

What is not obvious is the fact that they also copied the way we manufactured the Windjammer. Beginning in 1972, I began the lengthy and pioneering process of making fairings of something other than FRP (fiberglass reinforced plastic) Once I figured it out - as appeared in the Windjammer II of Oct 1973, they copied the process, too. I am currently recounting the story in my book.
The success of Vetter Fairings was dependent upon decisions I was making. If I was wrong, my company would have failed.
I turned out to be right.

 

[Metal_Bob]

Other than being inferior copies, why did all the "copy cat" manufactures disappear? Especially after the fire and post-craig bankruptcy of the company?

You'd think one of the copy cats would have survived and making fairing and/or parts for a while...

 

[Craig Vetter]

First understand the fire of 1977 was just a hiccup. While the copy-folk thought there was a place for them, there was not. I had the best design and the best dealers. While I owned the company, we had a very friendly and expanding relationship with the major motorcycle manufacturers. I was already supplying fairings to Kawasaki and was working with Honda and with BMW to design and build special fairings for them.

The new owner did not have that relationship. Consequently, the major manufacturers decided to make their own fairings and send them out in the same box with the motorcycle. Honda with their Interstate was the first.

 

[Craig Vetter]

These are good questions, by the way. Somebody was paying attention.

Craig

 

[Hank_B]

Why did you switch away from frp (fiberglass )? Was it too time consuming to too materials intensive?

 

[Kynan C.]

Hank, unfortunately Craig was injured in an accident on his Streamliner a year ago, and he is recovering as we speak. He and his family have been focused on his recovery in the recent months. We hope he will be well enough soon to resume his work on the history of Vetter. The Vetter Owners Group and all the members are wishing Craig our best. Good things are coming!

 

[Hank_B]

Thanks for the reply and update. I hope he makes a full recovery
Hank