Vetter Streamliner
 Vetter posing with his 1981 Streamliner at the AMA Motorcycle Museum in Pickerington, Ohio, July 2016 | |
| Manufacturer | Craig Vetter |
|---|---|
| Also called | Vetter High Mileage Luxury Touring Bike |
| Production | Prototype, designed and built 1980–1981 |
| Class | Feet forwards |
| Engine | 250 cc Kawasaki four-stroke single |
| Power | c. 20 hp (15 kW) |
| Fuel consumption | 108 mpg‑US (46 km/L) |
The Vetter Streamliner was a feet forwards motorcycle made by Craig Vetter in 1980–1981 to demonstrate high fuel economy with an aerodynamic fairing.
Design
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]- ^ a b c d e Craig Vetter Streamliner, AMA Motorcycle Museum, archived from the original on 2013-06-06, retrieved 2013-04-08
- ^ "Craig Vetter, designer and inventor". Retrieved 2024-01-01.
- ^ Craig Vetter, 1981: The Vetter Streamlined "High Mileage Luxury Touring Bike", archived from the original on 2013-04-07, retrieved 2013-04-08
- ^ Pierson, Randall (January 5, 2012), "Very Fast Gas Relief", Monterey County Coast Weekly, archived from the original on April 10, 2016
- ^ "Kawasaki KZ250 advertisement", Popular Science, 216 (4): 7, April 1980
- ^ 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
- ^ Stuart F. Brown (July 26, 2011), "Independent Motorcycle Designers Achieve Over 150 M.P.G. at Ohio Challenge", The New York Times
- ^ Maxx Biker (September 30, 2008), Prometheus: The Solar-Powered Electric Motorcycle, Top Speed
- ^ 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
- ^ 1978 skatecar racing on CBS Sports Spectacular on YouTube