Topic: vetter windjammer 3..................HID????

[KRONUS0100]

simple question.can I put an HID conversion in a Windjammer3?  it has the real old early style sealed beam in it.

[Gordon]

If you can put an HID in a stock sohc4 headlight shell I don't see why you couldn't put one in a large fairing. 

[willbird]

I have a windjammer II, there is not a lot of room behind the bulb, just enough for the plug. However there is no reason we could not MAKE room, there is lots of room between the fairing and the headlight bucket on my bike

[mjstone]

There isn't anymore room in a Windjammer III either.  However, on his website, Craig Vetter describes how he fits Windjammers on newer bikes that have tanks that are to wide.  He heats up the plastic with a heat gun to soften it then pushes it in.  No reason you couldn't do the same behind the headlight, just push it out from the inside.  You should make sure you have enough space between the fairing and the bikes headlight bucket first.  Remember the bucket has to clear when you turn the handlebars  lock to lock.

http://craigvetter.com/

MJ

[Gordon]

There isn't anymore room in a Windjammer III either.  However, on his website, Craig Vetter describes how he fits Windjammers on newer bikes that have tanks that are to wide.  He heats up the plastic with a heat gun to soften it then pushes it in.  No reason you couldn't do the same behind the headlight, just push it out from the inside.  You should make sure you have enough space between the fairing and the bikes headlight bucket first.  Remember the bucket has to clear when you turn the handlebars  lock to lock.

Do people usually leave the stock headlight bucket in place when fitting a full, frame-mounted fairing?  I always just assumed it was removed. 

[mjstone]

There isn't anymore room in a Windjammer III either.  However, on his website, Craig Vetter describes how he fits Windjammers on newer bikes that have tanks that are to wide.  He heats up the plastic with a heat gun to soften it then pushes it in.  No reason you couldn't do the same behind the headlight, just push it out from the inside.  You should make sure you have enough space between the fairing and the bikes headlight bucket first.  Remember the bucket has to clear when you turn the handlebars  lock to lock.

Do people usually leave the stock headlight bucket in place when fitting a full, frame-mounted fairing?  I always just assumed it was removed. 

Where would you put your rats nest of wiring if you got rid of it?  The harness for the Windjammer goes in there as well to splice into your bikes wiring.  I suppose you could remove the bucket and mounting ears then attach a wiring box of some kind that would take up less room.

MJ

[Gordon]

Do people usually leave the stock headlight bucket in place when fitting a full, frame-mounted fairing?  I always just assumed it was removed. 

Where would you put your rats nest of wiring if you got rid of it?  The harness for the Windjammer goes in there as well to splice into your bikes wiring.  I suppose you could remove the bucket and mounting ears then attach a wiring box of some kind that would take up less room.

MJ
[/quote]

Good point.  Having never had a full fairing or closely inspected one mounted I had never given it much thought, but it makes sense. 

[ofreen]

Where would you put your rats nest of wiring if you got rid of it?  The harness for the Windjammer goes in there as well to splice into your bikes wiring.  I suppose you could remove the bucket and mounting ears then attach a wiring box of some kind that would take up less room.

The headlight bucket comes off.  There is no room for it.

[mjstone]

Where would you put your rats nest of wiring if you got rid of it?  The harness for the Windjammer goes in there as well to splice into your bikes wiring.  I suppose you could remove the bucket and mounting ears then attach a wiring box of some kind that would take up less room.

The headlight bucket comes off.  There is no room for it.

On a Windjammer SS or 4 maybe, but not on a III or earlier.  There is even a rubber cover for the headlight bucket that is supplied to keep the wiring out of the weather.  Its stamped with Vetter right on it.  Installation instructions are available as pdf files for download from Craig Vetter's website.

The photo bellow shows my headlight bucket with the rubber cover in place.  The Windjammer was taken off before bringing the bike into the house for last winters upgrades.

MJ

[ofreen]

Thanks, I didn't realize there was that much difference between the III and the SS.

[mjstone]

Yeah, its more than just the leading edge turn signal lights,  the SS has a headlight height adjusting mechanism in there and the headlight trim ring just turns off after releasing a latch.  I wouldn't be surprised that it takes up more room.

MJ

[HondaMan]

For the curious, some more 'Jammer trivia (from one who has loved and used them since they appeared):
The Phantom and Windjammers I and II required retention of the headlight bucket and a piece of 4.00 size inner tube about 8" long be cut to house the wiring, which was then just tucked inside the bucket. Mine is still that way, 39 years later...These earlier fairings were also made from hand-laid fiberglass of 2 shells, an inner and an outer, laminated together to generate enormous stiffness as compared to the later ones: so stiff, in fact, that a large impact to the fairing can bend the bike's frame (like mine, circa 1972). All of these fairings required hand-drilling in order to accept the Lowers kits, and the lowers could fit a little better, since these fairings are often not 100% symmetrical.

The III and IV , and the SS series, were made from molded ABS and can be heat-shaped in minor ways to accept tank changes and other little mods (but are considerably heavier than the early ones). These fairings flex a lot more (especially in the windshield supports) and don't transmit as much force into the frame in a wreck. The Vetter bags and Tour Trunk are also made form the same ABS. It holds its nice, smooth finish for a very long time.

[strynboen]

think mine are the erly fiber glass..