Below are a few photos of a project I worked on with my dad recently. It's the highest optioned Topper you can find and still has the rare windshield and storage compartment. Instead of painting it red as it was originally, we went with Ford Grabber Blue as we have another project from the same era we are working on that is the same color.
First, some history on Toppers
The Harley-Davidson Topper is the only motor scooter that the Harley-Davidson Motor Company ever produced. The Topper has a 165 cc (10.1 cu in) single-cylinder two-stroke engine mounted horizontally between the floorboards.
The engine requires a premixed gasoline/oil mixture. The starter is a rope-recoil type similar to lawnmowers. Unlike most scooters with enclosed engines, the Topper's engine does not have a cooling fan.
It was expected that the low, horizontally mounted engine would be cooled by air passing under the scooter, but some Toppers developed overheating problems. The engine uses a reed valve in its induction system. The engine powers a continuously variable transmission that includes a safety device that does not allow the scooter to move from rest at engine speeds higher than 1800 rpm.
Final drive is by an exposed roller chain. The Topper has 5 inch internal expanding drum brakes on both wheels. The front brake is controlled by a hand lever with a parking brake lock; the rear brake is controlled by a pedal.
The front body, front fender and floorboards of the Topper are made of stamped steel, and the engine cover and body are made of molded fiberglass.
The Topper H was introduced in 1961 (sold through 1965) with a new alloy cylinder head that increased the compression ratio to 8.0:1, the transmission placed in a sealed oil bath, a reusable foam air filter, and revisions to the cylinder ports and air intake tube. A detuned version of the Topper was also available, with the power restricted to 5 hp (3.7 kW). This was advertised as the "Topper U."
Sales lagged, and Toppers lasted just five years in the Harley line. It’s estimated that fewer than 3,000 were sold.
A little rough, but original (other than refinished wheels) and expected being 52 years old.
First, some history on Toppers
The Harley-Davidson Topper is the only motor scooter that the Harley-Davidson Motor Company ever produced. The Topper has a 165 cc (10.1 cu in) single-cylinder two-stroke engine mounted horizontally between the floorboards.
The engine requires a premixed gasoline/oil mixture. The starter is a rope-recoil type similar to lawnmowers. Unlike most scooters with enclosed engines, the Topper's engine does not have a cooling fan.
It was expected that the low, horizontally mounted engine would be cooled by air passing under the scooter, but some Toppers developed overheating problems. The engine uses a reed valve in its induction system. The engine powers a continuously variable transmission that includes a safety device that does not allow the scooter to move from rest at engine speeds higher than 1800 rpm.
Final drive is by an exposed roller chain. The Topper has 5 inch internal expanding drum brakes on both wheels. The front brake is controlled by a hand lever with a parking brake lock; the rear brake is controlled by a pedal.
The front body, front fender and floorboards of the Topper are made of stamped steel, and the engine cover and body are made of molded fiberglass.
The Topper H was introduced in 1961 (sold through 1965) with a new alloy cylinder head that increased the compression ratio to 8.0:1, the transmission placed in a sealed oil bath, a reusable foam air filter, and revisions to the cylinder ports and air intake tube. A detuned version of the Topper was also available, with the power restricted to 5 hp (3.7 kW). This was advertised as the "Topper U."
Sales lagged, and Toppers lasted just five years in the Harley line. It’s estimated that fewer than 3,000 were sold.
A little rough, but original (other than refinished wheels) and expected being 52 years old.
