Vetter windjammer.

[red1100]

Anyone know if this fairing from a 78 GS1000 fits an 83 GS1100E?

 

[Steve]

If it is an actual "Vetter Windjammer", it will likely fit. Just make sure the mounting bracket fits.
The same bracket does fit many GS bikes, just can't guarantee that it fits them all.

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[red1100]

It is a windjammer for sure,on a 78 GS 1000 right now.I can?t find anything on Vetterrs website that gives a part number for the bracket.

 

[Steve]

Don't feel bad, I'm not sure they ever had part numbers. For sure that they were not stamped into the bracket.

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[Rob S.]

Vetter Windjammer?!? Time travel!

My '73 Z1 KAW came with one in '79. Used it on and off for a few months, never put it on again. A dealer gave me $30 for it 10 years later after I begged. "Most bikes come with their own fairings these days," he said.

But I remember a time in the mid '70's when every second or third bike I saw was a Honda 750 Four, with an occasional Z1, and a large percentage of them had Vetters on them. Can't remember the last time I saw one.

 

[limeex2]

GS1000 GS1100 are the same frame as far as a Vetter mount goes.

 

[Grimly]

Vetter owner for the past few years here.
The weather hasn't got any better in the past four decades, and a decent fairing is more desireable than ever, to me.
When they were the thing to have, they were outrageously priced over here, so several companies started making clones for the European market.
Most of the clones weren't that good, but a couple of them were improvements in detail design. Craig Vetter really got the design pretty right from the get-go.
I'll be fitting one of the clones (a Pantera II) in place of the Windjammer IV that's been on the bike since 2015, just to see how it goes.
It uses the exact same bracket, too. Rather cheekily, most of the copiers told buyers of their clones to get brackets from Vetter.

 

[Burque73]

While I'm admittedly not a big fan of the aesthetics of the Windjammer, it "jams" more than wind. I've had hail, rocks, bugs, birds and even a bat (I think) bounce off of this thing. Plus, it extends the riding season to, well, year round! Unless of course you're from Central Vermont, and have brass ones, and could care less about the cold! LOL

 

[850 Combat]

The windjammer is way better functionally than the package my BMW R80 RT had, and way better than the 2005 Concours 1000 I had. The protection with the Vetter was way better. The noise and buffeting with the Windjammer was way less, especially the ones with the eyeball vents in the windshield. I have removed every Windjammer I had, and whichever is the kind that Suzuki dealers sold. The Windjammer was better than that one too.

Right now, a Vesco Rabid Transit is about the only fairing I want to try.

I hope it fits. Want to sell your headlight once you mount it?

 

[Gorminrider]

Just make sure the mounting bracket fits.

Aye, there's the rub. I see lots of fairings but without the mount that fits, they are not worth very much to me when I have to fabricate the mount.

 

[fixmybrokecomputer]

I decided pretty early that I liked fairings. I'm sure some will cringe when I say that I put a Vetter Quicksilver on my 78 RD400. I had a windjammer 2 or 3 on my GT750. I even bought a brand new one with lowers for my 83 GS1100E. My dad made me a trailer hitch for the 1100E so I could go camping down at land between the lakes. Trailer pulled great! Can't remember what happened to that hitch. Wish I still had it for old times sake. I still have a windjammer IV hanging on the garage wall. One day, it will go on something.

 

[TxGSrider]

My dad had one on a Honda 400f. It was pretty nice being able to talk to the passenger and actually be able to hear each other (and it had compartments for holding stuff-which is nice). On my GS Im lucky if I can hear my passenger at all at speeds over 40mph. Aesthetically I don't care for them on a sporty styled bike, but if I was going to do long interstate rides I'd sure consider one.

 

[red1100]

I?m still contemplating my ride from Washington state to South Carolina this June or July. I have a slipstreamer on it now and would like a little more protection.

 

[fixmybrokecomputer]

I’m still contemplating my ride from Washington state to South Carolina this June or July. I have a slipstreamer on it now and would like a little more protection.

On a ride like that, I'd think you'd appreciate the windjammer. Quite a bit of storage in the fairing. A frame mounted fairing, to me feels better in protection and handling. You can always pull it when you get back home if you want.

 

[wymple]

Aye, there's the rub. I see lots of fairings but without the mount that fits, they are not worth very much to me when I have to fabricate the mount.

Why? It's easy enough to fab the brackets up.

 

[Guest]

My mount for my Vetter Windjammer is actually stamped with a number. It is 15X160119. I can't read what the X is, but it seems to be a number with a round top, like a 2, 3, 6, 8, or 9. I want to say it's a 3, but not entirely sure. It fits my 1980 GS850G.

 

[alke46]

If anybody wants a Vetter mount, shoot me a PM and I can let you see pics of it and also offer dimensions to see if it will work for you. Pay only for shipping.

 

[Steve]

I’m still contemplating my ride from Washington state to South Carolina this June or July. I have a slipstreamer on it now and would like a little more protection.

Depending on which "slipstreamer" you have, the protection might not be that much better. :-k

I have had frame-mounted fairings that range from the factory offerings from Kawasaki for the KZ1300, ZN1300 Voyager and my Goldwing. Have also ridden a few thousand miles with my Pacifico AERO on my 850. My son has a Windjammer on his 1000. I have also experienced a few (hundred) miles behind a Pacifico Shadow Royale and a Calafia STX. My wife has a National Cycle Plexifairing 3 on her 850L, and the protection on it is just about as good as any of the frame-mounted fairings I have experienced. The biggest difference is the amount of protection below the knees.

There are those who praise the amount of storage available in the frame-mounted fairings. Yes, there is a modest amount, but it has to be used carefully, as there is wiring that runs through there, too. There is usually enough room for a pair of extra gloves or your sunglasses, but you are not going to pack a lunch or a change of clothes in there.

On a ride like that, I'd think you'd appreciate the windjammer. Quite a bit of storage in the fairing. A frame mounted fairing, to me feels better in protection and handling. You can always pull it when you get back home if you want.

Installing and removing a frame-mounted fairing is possible, but not something I would want to do on any kind of regular schedule. If you DO want the option of easily removing the windshield, the EZ-Mount option on the National Cycle Plexifairing is the way to go. It will take about half an hour to install and set it up the first time. After that, you can remove it in about a minute and install it in another two or three.

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[Buffalo Bill]

Anyone know if this fairing from a 78 GS1000 fits an 83 GS1100E?

I'd say no problem. Frame is so similar, on front it's probably identical. The Vetter bracket is also a one size fit's all kinda thing too. Plus you can mod it EZ.

 

[Guest]

I have mounting brackets for 78 1000 and for the 850/1000G models if anyone is interested. I actually have a fair bit of Vetter accessories, wiring harnesses, venting caps, etc.. I keep meaning to put up in the classifieds.