Anyone tried to mount a Vetter Fairing on the newer Magna?

[John Brunken]

I would like to try to fabricate a Vetter Fairing mount for my '99 Magna, and I'm sure I can make sometime work. But, I've been wondering if another member may have tried this? Maybe know of an existing mount that can be used on a Magna from another bike?  Any other suggestions or warnings that anyone might like to offer before I dive into this? Thanks!

[kdf9511]

John,  I am in the midst of this same project for my '84.  I just managed to score a set of mounts on ebay the other day.  As soon as they are here I will get you some pics.  They stoped making mounts for Vetters in '85 so there won't be any type of mount that you can buy unless it was custom fabed.  I would think the the ones from the 1st gen would give you a good place to start this project.  They look a little diffrent than most Vetter mounts I have seen to get around the radaiator.  

I asked a while ago over on the bbs if anyone had done this and someone sent me this pic of a Vetter on a 3rd gen.  Hope this helps some.

[kdf9511]

Here you go John.  These are like the ones I have headed my way that are for the 1st gen Maggies.  You should be able to fab up something simalr for the 3rd gen to be able to get around the radiator.

[John Brunken]

Thanks for the lead!  If anyone recognizes the 3rd Gen Magna pictured above, I'd sure like to get in touch with the owner and ask him about his mounts.  It would be great to find a bike with similar frame geometry that mounts were made for. I'm sure I could find some on the net somewhere if I just knew what to look for.  Thanks for everyone's help!   John

[Greg Cothern]

Look for one of the "cafe" style Magna Deluxe mini fairings you could use it as a base to build from.

[rjb/AKA Bob Barram]

John, I really like the color scheme of the bike. I assume the bags were painted as well? Can you tell me anything about that part?
Bob

[John Brunken]

The bags are LeatherLyke, but I sanded all of the texture off of the tops (lids) of the bags and painted them (using a plasticizer) with the matching Candy Glory Red paint. I bought the bike 2 years ago with only 1400 miles - a '99 model! I took the pumpkin-orange trim appliques off of the fender and swaped the tank for an NOS '95 tank that I found on eBay. This red Honda paint is the same as what they've used on recent VTX's and probably others too. I got the headlight casing from Xtreme Revolution (online), already in the matching VTX color.  The windshield is Hondaline, also intended for a VTX, but I had to fabricate it's mounts from scratch, and reshape the lower windsheld lines. (easy with a coping saw and file!) Finally, I made an extension to push the headlight forward about 2 inches so it isn't buried under the windshield.  The only reason that I've thought about a Vetter fairing is that I still get more wind noise and buffetting than I would really like, and I found a "mint" condition Vetter Windjammer SS on eBay. (I'm a sucker for eBay...I even bought the bike itself on eBay!) I've always liked the looks of the old Windjammer, so I thought "what the heck?  I'll buy this really nice one and play with it to see if I can make it fit!" I may even be able to use the VTX headlight, and I still have plenty of the Candy Glory Red paint, so I can even match the fairing to the rest of the bike. I could wind-up with a mini-Goldwing!  Anyway, I just like to play with these things...But, if someone's done it before, I don't need to reinvent the wheel!  I'll look for a cafe style mount, like Greg suggested, and see if I can build a Vetter mount from there. I think I may try to add an upper mount right behing the headlight too, to keep from having too much aft moment on the lowers.  I'm open for suggestions!

[John Brunken]

By the way....  You can't imagine how hard it was to start sanding the texture off of my brand new set of LeatherLyke bags!  You really have to have faith!  I forgot to mention it, but I added a mount point to each bag, extended from the liscense plate area of the rear fender frame to the lower rear corner of each bag. Now the bags sit perfectly straight up and down without sagging, and there is much less lateral flexibility!  The basic mounts seemed way too wimpy, and this is an easy fix. I'd be glad to post a pic if anyone is interested.   John

[Magnum Magna]

Yes, post some picture. I agree they look droopy unless I have the straps pulled tight to lift the bags up.

[Gloveberg]

Not really sure what the Deluxe Fairing mounts will do for you.  They only consist of a small mounting bracket on either side of the headlight and one below the headlight.  While they are fine for the small Deluxe cowl (I have one) they would be (IMHO) way too small and lightweight for a big Vetter fairing.

Also, looking at that picture of the Gen 3 with the Vetter, the forks turn independently inside the Vetter.  The Deluxe mounts go on the underside of the top triple tree so they turn with the forks so they would be basically useless.

[Greg Cothern]

John, if your major goal is to get rid of the buffeting try working your mounts so the shield leans back to match that of the fork line.  I did this on my 96 and it made a huge difference in the Home Depot paint mixer conditions I was experiencing.
I believe as Jimmy said the cafe mount is going to be very small but would give you a mounting pattern to adapt and build a new stronger unit if you go with the Vetter.

[kdf9511]

John, where are you located?  You are more than welcome to come over some time and check out the mounts once I get them in if you are neer the Houston area.  I looked at that 3rd get pic a bit closer and the mounts looked the same.  We can even hold em up to your bike and see how they fit.

[Gloveberg]

I believe as Jimmy said the cafe mount is going to be very small but would give you a mounting pattern to adapt and build a new stronger unit if you go with the Vetter.

Like I said, I doubt the stock mounts would be of any use since the forks turn independent inside the Vetter housing.  Any kind of mount is going to have to be directly on the frame and/or downtubes.

[Greg Cothern]

Jimmy you are correct, forgot about the Vetter being stationary and the cafe turning with the forks.
I am useless lately!

[kdf9511]

Well give things an hour and they will change.  I might have these mounts up for sale to John soon.  I have a line on a Vetter Rooster right now.  This isn't like the windjammer but mounts to the bars and headlight bracket.  Have to wait and see what happenes.  I loved the Windjammer I had on my old CB450 so I don't know yet.