Bad Ass Motorcycles For Sale
Specification Sheet for our
1961 Harley-Davidson Topper
Year: 1961
Model: Topper Motor Scooter
Builder: Harley-Davidson (believe it or not!)
History:
From 1960 until 1965, Harley-Davidson built Topper Motor Scooters, and it was the only scooter platform that The Motor Company ever produced. The exact total of production numbers have been lost to history, but are estimated to be somewhere between a low of 3,500 to a high of 8,000 for all the model years combined. There are probably less than 100 of them in running condition today, making them extremely rare.
The scooter uses a CVT (constant velocity transmission), so there are no gears as such; just roll on the throttle and it takes off. It has a rope recoil starter similar to a lawnmower, which makes it somewhat unique, since most scooters from other manufacturers of that era were fitted with kick starters. It sports a single-cylinder 165CC two-stroke engine, another item that was generally considered not the norm for Harley-Davidson, which runs on a pre-mix fuel.
The front body and front fender and floorboards are made of stamped steel, and the engine cover and body are made of chopper gun-sprayed fiberglass. Here again, fiberglass was a somewhat unusual material for scooter manufacturing at that time. All of this attaches to a large, single-tube steel frame that also mounts the front suspension and rear swingarm. The wheels are also made of stamped steel.
This vehicle was found in its original condition with less than 2,400 original miles on the odometer, sitting in a camera store, where it had been parked for some years. It was disassembled down to bare components, then correctly restored to better than new condition. All of the original hardware was replated with cad plating as it was done originally by the factory. The frame, front and rear suspension, wheels, and miscellaneous brackets were all powder coated, but in the original correct colors. The front shock absorber is new, and all the suspension hardware was replaced with new nuts, bolts and washers; all the ball bearings in the front-end fork assembly have been replaced as well. Care was taken to ensure that all the replaced hardware "matched" the originals, however. All the wiring is period correct, with original cloth-covered wiring in the proper color codes.
The scooter was repainted in the original two-tone Roman Red and Desert Sand color scheme, but modern two-stage paint with a clear coat was used for a high-gloss finish, rather than the original lacquer paint. All chrome-plated pieces were stripped and re-chromed, and handgrips, passenger pegs, and floorboards were fitted with new replacements. The seat cover is a new replacement that was found at a Harley dealer in Oklahoma.
The tires and tubes were replaced with original tread design tires from Coker Tire Company, and they are period-correct as well. The brake drums were refinished, and new brake shoes were installed along with all new wheel bearings and seals, plus new front and rear brake cables. The speedometer cable was replaced with a new unit in the correct factory finish, and the speedometer itself was refinished and the face repainted in the original colors. The speedo head itself was completely rebuilt, and the original mileage was left intact.
Everything on this scooter functions correctly. All the lights work, the horn is operational, and it runs perfectly. It starts on the first pull of the starter and can be ridden on a daily basis. It is an extremely rare piece of Harley-Davidson history that a lot of people did not even know existed. It is in stunning condition and is probably the best example of this model in existence.
The scooter has a clear California title and is currently registered and available for immediate delivery. A custom-made cover goes with the scooter at the time of sale, and copies of the original service and parts manuals, along with a new original owner's manual, are included as well. There is a list of spare parts that go with the scooter including extra ignition and lighting point assemblies, condensers, extra drive belt, 6-volt bulbs, etc., all of which are indigenous to these rare scooters and very hard to come by. We can assist with crating and shipping if necessary at additional cost. This is a one-time opportunity to own a fun bit of history that will only appreciate in value.
