Museo Stradale

Dominic's Auto Museum
One man's passionate quest to survey finest motorcars in the world

#0055 - Harley-Davidson ST-165 Hummer, 1959

Photographed: Radnor Hunt Concours d'Elegance, 2009

The Hummer Name Game: The 'Hummer' name seems to apply, without much controversy, to 125cc Harley-Davidson motorcycles built between 1955 and 1959. These bikes of the latter part of the chrome era were dubbed with the official 'Hummer' name by the Harley-Davidson factory. However, the name was also applied retroactively to Model 125 bikes produced as early as 1948. These under-developed 125 motorcycles differed by leaps and bounds from the later Hummer models, primarily in the front fork, which was dampened by a primitive system of five rubber bands rather than proper shock absorbers. The rubber bands were replaced in 1951, thereby hoisting Harley's bargain basement model at least up to the ground floor.

Then in 1953, Harley-Davidson revamped the 125, increasing capacity to 165cc which, in turn, boosted power from 3 ½ horsepower to 6 ½ horsepower. Small beans indeed, but these bikes were simple, sporting, and affordable. In terms of the name game, 'Hummer' is often adapted to the 165, however appropriate, due to the overall similarities in design. And, where substance is concerned, this practice is acceptable—perhaps even preferable.

Regarded as the first model name applied to a Harley-Davidson, (as opposed to numerical designations), the spirit of the Hummer comes from an Omaha, Nebraska dealership owner named Dean Hummer. Hummer, the man, was not only the national leader for sales of the Harley-Davidson 125 and 165, but was perhaps the only effective means of distributing these little bikes to the public. Simple and cheap though they were, Harley-Davidson faced a barrage of competition, first from British marques and later from Japanese manufacturers, most of which produced faster, more refined motorcycles at an even cost. But Hummer was willing to sell small Harleys for little or no profit, in part motivated by the strength of foreign sales, but also by rival Cushman, a small motorcycle manufacturer building bikes right up the street in Omaha. By undercutting the competition, Dean Hummer's popularity grew, attracting a national reputation to the point that Harley president Walter Davidson contacted Hummer and invited him to Milwaukee. Finding the situation somewhat incredulous at first, Dean eventually made it to the factory where the name 'Hummer' was unveiled on the fuel tank of new Harley-Davidson.

Harley Lightweights: Both the 125 and 165 are two-stroke, single-cylinder motors requiring a mixture of petrol and motor oil to run smoothly. Some examples carry a paraphernalian oil can to emphasize the dated operating requirements, usually attached to the rear skirt. The basic design, American flair aside, comes from German DKW motorcycle plans appropriated at the close of World War II. These particular plans informed many different small capacity bikes during the post-War era, many of which were competition for the small Harleys, as we've mentioned. But this is to say nothing of the well established single-cylinder motorcycles of the pre-War era. Although less well represented in the post-War era, the Italians pioneered performance motorcycles before World War II, with names like Benelli, FB, and Moto Guzzi dominating international competition. Britain, too, had a formidable presence before the War, with Norton, Triumph, and Velocette all seeing international success.

In these bikes is the root of the post-War single-cylinder. And, not to belabor the point, post-War reconstruction was such that bikes like the Harley-Davidson 125 and 165 weren't any further developed from their pre-War ancestors—and in many cases, less so.

That said, servicemen returning from World War II exposed America to small capacity European motorcycles in a manner nearly identical to the small roadster boom that struck during the same period, (primarily with MG). Harley-Davidson responded to this interest in single-cylinder bikes, only that the market proved difficult to please. Perhaps the Hummer and its ilk were not superior products, but the positives of these lightweight Harleys were plenty. Simplicity made the bikes affordable, compliant, and versatile, and they maintained an ardent following, if a bit misunderstood by fans of the mainstay V-twin. A young Elvis Presley was counted among lightweight owners, and a growing interest in flat track racing led to the conversion of many Hummers into competition bikes. (Hummers were stripped down quite a lot to begin with.) By the early 1960s, Harley-Davidson were producing a number of race-ready bikes based on the small capacity motors, and the line of lightweights had grown both in the number of models offered, and in their cubic capacity.

Sources:

Harley Hummer Club: Featuring a brief history of Harley lightweights

Harley Hummer Nut: With a bit of entusiasm, parts, and resources for Harley Hummers

Radnor Hunt Concours d'Elegance: The concours featured Harley-Davidson in 2009, and always does a stellar job of promoting vintage motorcycles.

 

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