When people think of Harley-Davidson, images of choppers, cruisers, and classic American-made Milwaukee power typically come to mind. The brand's influence on pop culture is often celebrated, but scooters rarely enter the conversation. In fact, many Harley enthusiasts might be surprised to learn that scooters are part of the company's rich history.
Scooters certainly aren't a major chapter in Harley-Davidson's 120-plus-year story, as the legendary brand has primarily focused on producing some of the most beloved motorcycles to ever hit the road. True to that legacy, Harley-Davidson's design team only produced a single scooter model, which rolled off the assembly line nearly 60 years ago. This unique venture into the scooter market was known as the Topper, debuting in showrooms in 1960.
The compact Topper undoubtedly stood out among Harley's larger, more powerful motorcycles. With its single-cylinder, 165cc 2-stroke engine and a lawn mower-style hand-pull recoil starter, it wasn't exactly what riders expected from a brand synonymous with muscle. However, despite its unconventional design, the Topper received positive reviews when it first appeared on the scene and seemed poised to make a splash in the growing American scooter market.
If you're familiar with Harley-Davidson's history, you might recall that 1960 was also the year the company acquired a 50% stake in the Italian motorcycle manufacturer Aermacchi. While it might seem logical to assume that Aermacchi played a role in developing the Topper, Harley-Davidson was already well into the scooter's development, showcasing prototypes as early as the summer of 1959.
The Topper made an early public appearance during a 1959 Major League Baseball game, where it served as a bullpen car for the Milwaukee Brewers, marking one of the first instances of such a vehicle in a National League game. Despite its notable debut and favorable reviews, the '60 Topper faced a significant design flaw: its engine, inadequately cooled, was prone to overheating, which likely deterred some potential buyers. Harley-Davidson addressed this issue by redesigning the engine for the 1961 Topper H, resolving the cooling problems.
Unfortunately, the Topper never quite gained traction with Harley-Davidson's core fan base, nor did it attract many new fans in the scooter market, which was and remains dominated by celebrated European brands like Vespa. In the end, Harley-Davidson produced only around 3,000 Toppers between 1960 and 1965. Today, these rare scooters are coveted by dedicated Harley collectors.