Vetter Streamliner

The Vetter Streamliner was a feet forwards motorcycle made by Craig Vetter in 1980–1981 to demonstrate high fuel economy with an aerodynamic fairing.

Vetter Streamliner
Vetter posing with his 1981 Streamliner at the AMA Motorcycle Museum in Pickerington, Ohio, July 2016
ManufacturerCraig Vetter
Also calledVetter High Mileage Luxury Touring Bike
ProductionPrototype, designed and built 1980–1981
ClassFeet forwards
Engine250 cc Kawasaki four-stroke single
Powerc. 20 hp (15 kW)
Fuel consumption108 mpg‑US (46 km/l)

Design

Vetter had been creating his Vetter "Windjammer" fairings for some years before the Streamliner was designed, and created the Craig Vetter Fuel Economy Challenge to heighten interest in aerodynamic-conscious design. Vetter's objective was to surpass the economy of the 1980 mileage contest winner, a conventional Harley-Davidson with tall gearing.[1][2]

The Streamliner was built around a Kawasaki KZ250 custom touring bike,[1][3] with foot controls moved to the front. In contest conditions the machine achieved 108 miles per US gallon (46 km/l)[1] (125 mpg in best-case conditions[4]), versus the manufacturer's claimed 80 miles per US gallon (34 km/l) for the original, unfaired model.[5]

Vetter now considers more than 8–10 hp overpowered, and has said that selecting an engine with the appropriate power output is "critical" for mileage contests.[6][7]

Influence on industry and legacy

Vetter’s streamliner is credited with "inspiring others to push the limits of motorcycle fuel economy,"[1] with many other entrants in his mileage challenge and one electric motorcycle modeled after Vetter's original.[8]

The Vetter Streamliner is now on display at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum in Ohio.[1]

Other Vetter Streamliners

Vetter also created a fairing for a downhill skateboard speed contest in 1978 which bore the name "Vetter Streamliner."[9] It was featured in a 1978 CBS Sports Spectacular broadcast from Derby Downs in Akron, Ohio.[10]

References
  1. Craig Vetter Streamliner, AMA Motorcycle Museum, archived from the original on 2013-06-06, retrieved 2013-04-08
  2. http://craigvetter.com/pages/Online_Store/Streamliner%20Superstore.html
  3. Craig Vetter, 1981: The Vetter Streamlined "High Mileage Luxury Touring Bike", archived from the original on 2013-04-07, retrieved 2013-04-08
  4. Pierson, Randall (January 5, 2012), "Very Fast Gas Relief", Monterey County Coast Weekly, via HighBeam Research (subscription required), archived from the original on April 10, 2016
  5. "Kawasaki KZ250 advertisement", Popular Science, 216 (4): 7, April 1980
  6. Nick Goddard (February 15, 2013), Craig Vetter on Living Better on Less Energy, Hell for Leather online magazine, archived from the original on February 18, 2013, retrieved April 11, 2013
  7. Stuart F. Brown (July 26, 2011), "Independent Motorcycle Designers Achieve Over 150 M.P.G. at Ohio Challenge", The New York Times
  8. Maxx Biker (September 30, 2008), Prometheus: The Solar-Powered Electric Motorcycle, Top Speed
  9. Craig Vetter, Other designs: 1978 Vetter Streamlined Skateboard, Overall 1978 World Skatecar Champion, archived from the original on 2012-05-18, retrieved 2013-04-10
  10. 1978 skatecar racing on CBS Sports Spectacular on YouTube
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