Harley-Davidson Topper

The Topper had a {{convert|165|cc|cuin|1|abbr=on}} single-cylinder two-stroke engine mounted horizontally between the floorboards.{{Sfn|Arctander|1959|p=64}} The engine required a premixed gasoline/oil mixture. The starter was of the rope-recoil type similar to lawn mowers{{Sfn|Wright|1987|p=84}}{{Sfn|Arctander|1959|p=64}}{{Sfn|AECG|2007}} or the Lambretta E model. Unlike most scooters with enclosed engines, the Topper's engine did not have a cooling fan.{{Sfn|Arctander|1959|p=65}}{{Sfn|Dan|2007|p=138}}{{Sfn|Wood|2004|p=67}} It was expected that the low, horizontally mounted engine would be cooled by air passing under the scooter,{{Sfn|Arctander|1959|p=65}} but some Toppers developed overheating problems.{{Sfn|Dan|2007|p=138}} The engine used a reed valve in its induction system.{{Sfn|Ismon|1959a|p=14}}

The engine powered a continuously variable transmission{{Sfn|Arctander|1959|p=65}}{{Sfn|AECG|2007}} called "Scootaway Drive"{{Sfn|Ismon|1959a|p=14}}{{Sfn|AECG|2007}} that included a safety device that did not allow the scooter to move from rest at engine speeds higher than 1800 rpm.{{Sfn|Arctander|1959|p=64}} Final drive was by an exposed roller chain.{{Sfn|Ismon|1959a|p=14}}{{Sfn|Arctander|1959|p=64}}

The Topper had 5 inch internal expanding drum brakes on both wheels.{{Sfn|Ismon|1959a|p=14}} The front brake was controlled by a hand lever{{Sfn|Arctander|1959|p=65}}{{Sfn|Ismon|1959a|p=14}} on the left handlebar{{Sfn|Wright|1987|p=84}} with a parking brake lock;{{Sfn|Wright|1987|p=84}}{{Sfn|Ismon|1959a|p=14}} the rear brake was controlled by a pedal.{{Sfn|Arctander|1959|p=65}}{{Sfn|Ismon|1959a|p=14}}

The front body, front fender and floorboards of the Topper were made of stamped steel, and the engine cover and body were made of molded fiberglass.{{Sfn|Ismon|1959a|p=13}} Storage space was provided under the seat; the manufacturer suggested storing extra containers of two-stroke oil there.{{Sfn|Wright|1987|p=84}}

The main complaint from Topper owners was with the "Scootaway Drive" continuously variable transmission. Road grime would get into the transmission and cause the belt to slip.{{Sfn|Wright|1987|p=84}} A new transmission, with the primary drive sealed in an oil bath, was introduced for 1961.{{Sfn|Ismon|1961|p=18}}

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, a reusable foam air filter, and revisions to the cylinder ports and air intake tube.{{Sfn|Ismon|1961|p=18}}

A detuned version of the Topper was also available, with the power restricted to {{convert|5|hp|kW|abbr=on}}.{{Sfn|Ismon|1962|p=13}} This was advertised as the "Topper U".{{Sfn|Hicks|1961|p=229}} The detuned Topper was made to comply with laws in some states in the United States that allowed motorcycles with rated engine power below a stated maximum to be operated without a license{{Sfn|Wright|1987|p=84}} or to be operated on a special license by riders at a younger age than would be allowed a regular motorcycle license.{{Sfn|Ismon|1962|p=13}}

A Topper was used by the Milwaukee Brewers as a bullpen car from 1959 through 1995.{{Cite web|url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/life/green-sheet/2016/08/09/our-back-pages-county-stadiums-pioneering-bullpen-cart/88374212/|title=Our Back Pages: County Stadium's pioneering bullpen cart}}

In 1959 a Topper was ridden from Bakersfield, California to Death Valley and back without repair or adjustments requiring tools. The route went through Trona, to Stovepipe Wells, then to Badwater Basin, then to Whitney Portal, {{convert|7851|ft}} above sea level on the side of Mount Whitney. It then returned to Bakersfield.{{Sfn|Ismon|1959b|p=35}}

• Zündapp Bella – a German scooter with similar front suspension and cooling system
• List of motorcycles of the 1950s
• List of motor scooter manufacturers and brands

{{Reflist|30em|refs=

Lambretta Model E – Lambretta Club of Great Britain

}}

;Print

• {{cite journal |last= Arctander|first= Erik H.|date=June 1959|title= New U.S. Scooter Shifts for Itself|journal= Popular Science|volume= 174|issue= 6|pages= 64–65|publisher= Popular Science Publishing|editor1-first= Howard|editor1-last= Allaway|issn= 0161-7370|access-date= 2012-07-25|url= {{Google books|NSYDAAAAMBAJ|Popular Science Jun 1959|page=64|plainurl=yes}}}}
• {{cite book|last=Dan|first=Michael|title=The A-Z of Popular Scooters & Microcars: Cruising in Style!|date=2007-05-01|publisher=MBI Publishing|isbn=978-1-84584-088-4 |page=138|quote=The enclosed engine did not have a cooling fan which, on occasion, led to overheating problems.}}
• {{cite journal |date=April 1961|title= More power to you! on the new Harley-Davidson Topper H motor scooter|journal= Popular Mechanics|volume= 115|issue= 4|page= 229|editor1-first= Clifford B.|editor1-last= Hicks|issn= 0032-4558|access-date= 2012-09-02|url= {{Google books|et8DAAAAMBAJ|Popular Mechanics|p=229|plainurl=yes}}|quote= A 5-hp Model "U" Topper is also available to comply with junior licensing laws in some states.}}
• {{cite journal|date=November 1959a|title=1960 Harley-Davidsons |journal=American Motorcyclist |volume= 13|issue=11|pages= 12–14|location= Westerville, OH USA|publisher= American Motorcyclist Association|editor1-first= Alton|editor1-last= Ismon|issn= 0277-9358|access-date= 2012-07-25|url= {{Google books|UPoDAAAAMBAJ|American Motorcyclist Nov 1959|p=12|plainurl=yes}}}}
• {{cite journal |date=December 1959b|title= Topper Makes Test Run at Death Valley|journal= American Motorcyclist|volume= 13|issue= 12|page= 35|location= Westerville, OH USA|publisher= American Motorcyclist Association|editor1-first= Alton|editor1-last= Ismon|issn=0277-9358 |access-date= 2012-09-02|url= {{Google books|UfoDAAAAMBAJ|American Motorcyclist Dec 1959|p=35|plainurl=yes}}}}
• {{cite journal |date=May 1961|title= Topper H Sports Improved Features|journal= American Motorcyclist|volume= 15|issue= 5|page= 18|location= Westerville, OH USA|publisher= American Motorcyclist Association|editor1-first= Alton|editor1-last= Ismon|issn=0277-9358 |access-date= 2012-09-02|url= {{Google books|yPoDAAAAMBAJ|American Motorcyclist May 1961|p=18|plainurl=yes}}}}
• {{cite journal |date=November 1962|title= '63 Harley-Davidsons|journal= American Motorcyclist|volume= 16|issue= 11|pages= 12–13|location= Westerville, OH USA|publisher= American Motorcyclist Association|editor1-first= Alton|editor1-last= Ismon|issn=0277-9358 |access-date= 2012-09-02|url= {{Google books|fPoDAAAAMBAJ|American Motorcyclist Nov 1962|p=13|plainurl=yes}}}}
• {{cite journal |date= October 2004|editor-last= Wood|editor-first= Bill|title= 1960 H-D Topper: Milwaukee goes scootering|url= {{Google books|k_YDAAAAMBAJ|1960 H-D Topper: Milwaukee goes scootering|page=67|plainurl=yes}}|department= Museum Classic|journal= American Motorcyclist|type= Members' magazine|location= Pickerington, OH US|publisher= American Motorcyclist Association|volume= 58|issue= 10|page= 67|issn= 0277-9358|access-date= 2015-04-19}}
• {{Cite book|last= Wright|first= David K.|title= The Harley-Davidson Motor Company: An Official Eighty-Year History|chapter= Chapter Three: Iron|pages= [https://archive.org/details/harleydavidsonmo0002wrig/page/46 46–97]|year= 1987|edition= Second|orig-year= 1983|publisher= Motorbooks International|isbn= 0-87938-245-7|quote= William H. Davidson told directors that 10,000 were made and sold in the first seven months of 1947.|chapter-url= https://archive.org/details/harleydavidsonmo0002wrig/page/46}}

;Online

• {{cite web | url =http://www.harley-davidson.com/content/h-d/en_US/home/museum/explore/hd-history/1960.html | title =Harley-Davidson Timeline 1960s | work =Harley-Davidson Timeline | publisher =Harley-Davidson | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20061029110044/http://www.harley-davidson.com/wcm/Content/Pages/H-D_History/history_1960s.jsp?locale=en_US | archive-date =2006-10-29 | url-status =dead | access-date =2015-04-19 | quote =The Harley-Davidson Topper motor scooter is introduced and is the only scooter platform the Motor Company ever produced. | year =2015 | ref ={{harvid|HD|2015}} }}
• {{cite web | url =http://auto.howstuffworks.com/1963-harley-davidson-topper.htm | title =1963 Harley-Davidson Topper |date =2007-09-18 |author =The Auto Editors of Consumer Guide | work = How Stuff Works | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20091203112128/http://auto.howstuffworks.com/1963-harley-davidson-topper.htm | archive-date =2009-12-03 | url-status =live | access-date =2015-04-19 | quote =Its 165-cc two-stroke single was started with a recoil starter, like a lawn mower, and drove through a variable-ratio automatic transmission called Scootaway Drive.|ref={{harvid|AECG|2007}} }}
• {{cite web | url =http://www.ilambretta.com/lambrettascooters/modele.html | title =Lambretta Model E | work = Lambretta Club of Great Britain | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20100623043225/http://www.ilambretta.com/lambrettascooters/modele.html | archive-date =2010-06-23 | url-status =live | access-date =2012-12-24 | quote =To start the scooter a pull cord (like that found on chain saws) was mounted in front of the magneto, the ignition on the E could be advanced and retarded for ease of staring (sic) on the pull cord, this ensured the machine did not 'kick back' injuring the person while starting it.|ref= LCGBmodelE}}

{{Harley-Davidson model families}}

Topper

Category:Motor scooters

Category:Motorcycles introduced in 1961