![]() 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.
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]
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]
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]
![]() 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.
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]
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]
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]