/5 vetter fairing removal to stock

[libwwv]

looking at a /5 with vetter fairing. do i need to look for a headlight case, after i remove the fairing? scooter is a few hours away so i need to know if i have to buy one (i've heard they are kind of steep), might deter my purchase or should it? thanks everyone.......still scooter-less, but searching daily
thanks will

[ChrisF]

The headlight case must remain on the bike, since it contains all the wiring connections. When I put a Windjammer III on my /5, I removed the headlight and chrome retaining ring. Vetter supplied a rubber cover to put on the front of the case. Check with the current owner, who might have saved the lamp and ring.

[libwwv]

thanks chris, so you are saying that i need to locate a headlight trim ring as well as a lens and headlight? but the "bucket w/ instruments" is stock? appreciate your time and help.......love the /5's....hope to get one soon
thanks again will

[PGlaves]

Some brands of some fairings some years had you simply remove the headlight reflector and lens assembly and transplant it to the front of the fairing. That was true of the Wixom on Voni's /5. It was true of some Leuftmeister fairings and maybe Vetter too.

I seem to recall that the Vetter had a larger diameter headlight but can't remember for sure. In any case it is worth checking.

It seems to me the worst case is you need a reflector/lens/chrome ring setup off a /5 and not the housing. That will be bad $$$ enough.

Added: The stock /5 headlight is horrible. If you have to buy something get the H4 conversion if you can find it.

[ChrisF]

thanks chris, so you are saying that i need to locate a headlight trim ring as well as a lens and headlight? but the "bucket w/ instruments" is stock? appreciate your time and help.......love the /5's....hope to get one soon
thanks again will

Will - Yep, that's what I'm saying! The headlight had to be removed because it would have touched the rear of the fairing. The bolts holding the "bucket" to its brackets had to be loosened and the bucket moved as far to the rear as possible before tightening the bolts back up.

I had to replace two turn signal relays, and it was a PITA to have to remove the fairing to access them each time. I didn't learn a lesson, since now I have an RT with all the tupperware!

[crazydrummerdude]

On both of my faired /6's, the headlight ring, lens, and reflector and the turn signals housings were removed to make room for the fairing. I don't think either allowed the headlight parts to be transferred into the fairing, but I could be wrong about the odd-ball fairing on my R90. The Vetter Windjammer on my R75 had a whole different assembly all-together, I'm sure about that.

I wouldn't let a fairing stop me from getting a bike, though. Especially a /5. I love those headlight buckets/instruments.

[ChrisF]

Nathan, on my /5 I removed the turn signal housings, too. However, I re-mounted them on the fairing, so removing the fairing shouldn't require new turn signal housings.

[murphychuck]

I have a Vetter fairing on my '83 R100RT. All you have to do is remove the headlamp,trim and lens from your fairing and re-install it on your existing bucket!

[AnnapolisAirhead]

I have a Vetter fairing on my '83 R100RT. All you have to do is remove the headlamp,trim and lens from your fairing and re-install it on your existing bucket!

Funny, I am actually removing my Windjammer III and converting to an RT fairing.

I think the various Windjammer fairing dealt slightly differently with the headlight. On mine (which looks exactly like the one murphychuck posted), the existing headlight bucket was retained, ring and light removed and covered with a rubber Vetter headlight bucket cover, turn signal stalks removed. The headlight is a standard H4 headlight and mounts front the front of the fairing retained by a heavy duty black plastic Vetter ring that screws on (not metal tab to poke with a screwdriver). It also has a headlight angle adjustment knob. The turnsignals and headlight wiring feeds to a connectors on the inside of the fairing. For an aftermarket fairing, the Windjammer III is well executed--I just prefer the RT one.

I'll probably list the fairing soon. If you need any pictures please let me know. I've taken it off the bike at this point.

TonyB

[PGlaves]

The diameter of the /5 headlight is smaller than the /6 and later round headlights. I think the /6 and later size fits the Vetter but the /5 doesn't. But that was a long time ago in my motorcycling history.

[amiles]

I seem to recall that on a /5 windjammer application a common (for the time) auto headlight was used on the windjammer. The stock headlight may or may not have been left in place on the bucket. On later models the stock H-4 headlight could be adapted to the WJ with a vetter sold ring.

Call the seller and ask if the stock lens is still in place on the bucket, it's easy to see.

[mackdx]

Not to hijack this thread, but I just purchased a 90S that came with a Windjammer SS fairing on it. In removing the fairing, I found the rubber cover over the headlight bucket as described above. Looking at the headlight on the fairing, it appears to be about 3/4" too wide to fit in the stock bucket so I assume it came with the fairing.

The bigger question is the wiring harness. Looking at the Vetter manual, it appears the fairing was supplied with an intermediate harness with one end being a 9 pin plug that mates to a receiver on the fairing. The other end enters the bucket through a rubber grommet on the bottom then proceeds to connect to a series of relays, circuit boards, and other wires in the headlight bucket. Am I correct in assuming that if I remove that cable, there is a (now MIA) stock BMW cable that reconnects the hardware in the bucket to lights, turn signals, horns, etc?

[AnnapolisAirhead]

...The other end enters the bucket through a rubber grommet on the bottom then proceeds to connect to a series of relays, circuit boards, and other wires in the headlight bucket. Am I correct in assuming that if I remove that cable, there is a (now MIA) stock BMW cable that reconnects the hardware in the bucket to lights, turn signals, horns, etc?

This all based on my 1983 R100 which I am putting an RT fairing on, so may not be 100% the same as your R90S (why would someone put a Vetter on an S??? :scratch )

There is a turn signal relay (black) and a headlight (silver/bare metal) and a main block in the furthest part of the bucket. The Vetter harness is just for the headlight and turn signals. You are correct in assuming that there is a BMW harness for the headlight, but you can also make your own.

For the headlight connector, you can either buy an $80 harness part (with extra things on it) or this part number 61-12-1-243-308 for about $12 bucks, then wire your turn signals separately.

Not 100% certain this would all be the same on your bike, but probably pretty darned close.

[mackdx]

(why would someone put a Vetter on an S??? )


Sigh.....