{{Infobox motorcycle |name = Vetter Streamliner |image = CraigVettersStreamliner.jpg |caption = Vetter posing with his 1981 Streamliner at the AMA Motorcycle Museum in Pickerington, Ohio, July 2016 |alt = Craig Vetter, a gray haired man wearing a blue open shirt sitting just below his dark blue 1981 Streamliner motorcycle exhibited at a show in 2016 |aka = Vetter High Mileage Luxury Touring Bike |manufacturer = Craig Vetter |production = Prototype, designed and built 1980–1981 |class = Feet forwards |engine = 250&nbsp;cc Kawasaki four-stroke single |bore_stroke = |compression = |top_speed = |power = c. {{convert|20|hp|kW|abbr=on}} <!-- online sources for KZ250 are weak --> |torque = |ignition = |transmission = |frame = |suspension = |brakes = |tires = |rake_trail = |wheelbase = |length = |width = |height = |seat_height = |dry_weight = |wet_weight = |fuel_capacity = |oil_capacity = |fuel_consumption = {{convert|108|mpgus|km/L|abbr=on}} |turning_radius = |related = |sp = }} 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== 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.<ref name=amamuseum/><ref>{{cite web| url=http://craigvetter.com/pages/Online_Store/Streamliner%20Superstore.html | title=Craig Vetter, designer and inventor | access-date=2024-01-01}}</ref>

The Streamliner was built around a Kawasaki KZ250 custom touring bike,<ref name=amamuseum/><ref name=vetter/> with foot controls moved to the front. In contest conditions the machine achieved {{convert|108|mpgus|km/L}}<ref name=amamuseum/> (125 mpg in best-case conditions<ref name=pierson/>), versus the manufacturer's claimed {{convert|80|mpgus|km/L}} for the original, unfaired model.<ref name=popsci/>

Vetter now considers more than 8–10&nbsp;hp overpowered, and has said that selecting an engine with the appropriate power output is "critical" for mileage contests.<ref name=goddard/><ref name=nyt/>

==Influence on industry and legacy== Vetter's streamliner is credited with "inspiring others to push the limits of motorcycle fuel economy",<ref name=amamuseum/> with many other entrants in his mileage challenge and one electric motorcycle modeled after Vetter's original.<ref name=topspeed/>

The Vetter Streamliner is now on display at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum in Ohio.<ref name="amamuseum" />

==Other Vetter Streamliners== {{anchor#Skatecar}}Vetter also created a fairing for a downhill skateboard speed contest in 1978 which bore the name "Vetter Streamliner".<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.craigvetter.com/pages/Other_Designs/Skateboard_page.html|title=Other designs: 1978 Vetter Streamlined Skateboard, Overall 1978 World Skatecar Champion|author=Craig Vetter|accessdate=2013-04-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120518042008/http://craigvetter.com/pages/Other_Designs/Skateboard_page.html|archive-date=2012-05-18|url-status=dead}}</ref> It was featured in a 1978 ''CBS Sports Spectacular'' broadcast from Derby Downs in Akron, Ohio.<ref>{{YouTube|id=iQHQBHBGP3psd|title=1978 skatecar racing on CBS Sports Spectacular}}</ref>

==References== <references>

<ref name=amamuseum>{{citation|url=http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/asp/classics/bike.asp?id=130|title=Craig Vetter Streamliner|publisher=AMA Motorcycle Museum|access-date=2013-04-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130606064052/http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/asp/classics/bike.asp?id=130|archive-date=2013-06-06|url-status=dead}}</ref> <ref name=goddard>{{citation|url=http://hellforleathermagazine.com/2013/02/craig-vetter-on-how-to-live-better-on-less-energy|title=Craig Vetter on Living Better on Less Energy|author=Nick Goddard|publisher=Hell for Leather online magazine|date=February 15, 2013|access-date=April 11, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130218013357/http://hellforleathermagazine.com/2013/02/craig-vetter-on-how-to-live-better-on-less-energy/|archive-date=February 18, 2013|url-status=usurped|df=mdy-all}}</ref> <ref name=nyt>{{citation|url=http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/26/independent-motorcycle-designers-achieve-over-150-m-p-g-at-ohio-challenge/ | newspaper=The New York Times | date=July 26, 2011 | title= Independent Motorcycle Designers Achieve Over 150 M.P.G. at Ohio Challenge | author=Stuart F. Brown}}</ref> <ref name=topspeed>{{citation|url=http://www.topspeed.com/motorcycles/motorcycle-news/prometheus-the-solar-powered-electric-motorcycle-ar64670.html | title=Prometheus: The Solar-Powered Electric Motorcycle|publisher=Top Speed | date= September 30, 2008 | author= Maxx Biker }}</ref> <ref name=vetter>{{citation |url=http://www.craigvetter.com/pages/Motorcycle_Designs/Streamliner.html |title=1981: The Vetter Streamlined "High Mileage Luxury Touring Bike" |author=Craig Vetter |access-date=2013-04-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130407105137/http://www.craigvetter.com/pages/Motorcycle_Designs/Streamliner.html |archive-date=2013-04-07 |url-status=dead }}</ref> <ref name=popsci>{{citation|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kY7Uj6pCZ0oC&q=kz250ltd&pg=PA7|title=Kawasaki KZ250 advertisement|journal=Popular Science|volume=216|number= 4|date= April 1980 |page= 7}}</ref> <ref name=pierson>{{citation|last=Pierson|first=Randall |title=Very Fast Gas Relief|newspaper=Monterey County Coast Weekly|date=January 5, 2012|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-2603430711.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160410000303/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-2603430711.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 10, 2016}}</ref>

</references>

Category:Feet forwards motorcycles Category:Motorcycles of the United States Streamliner