Heathkit Hilltopper
HEATHKIT HILLTOPPER
CYCLE WORLD IMPRESSION
A Maxi-Mini That Needs Some Fine Tuning
THIS IS a ya-gotta-have-a-gimmick world. Right? Then what does a straightforward, super-simiple minibike like the Heathkit Hilltopper have going for it?
Ah, straightforward and super-simple price must be the gimmick.
Wrong! At $299.95, without the optional lights or front ski, the Hilltopper is competing directly with more sophisticated micro-cycles like the SL70 Honda or Yamaha's Mini Enduro.
Well, price is out, but there is a gimmick. The Heathkit Hilltopper comes in kit form only, and one thing cannot be denied. The kit is well thought-out. Packaging is logical and all boxes are clearly labeled. Both the directions and the exploded-parts diagram are painstakingly clear and explain the assembly of every bolt, nut, screw, and wire. A child could assemble the bulk of it. Teeny-boppers should be able to build the whole thing by themselves.
As for tools, the only thing required, other than a minimal selection of openend wrenches and a screwdriver or two, is a soldering gun for electrical connections.
Even more impressive is the ease in which the various parts bolt together. With the exception of the front brake cable housing, which had to be shortened an inch after the lighting kit was installed, everything went together easily without any bending or hammering. What's more, most of (he nuis are self-locking, eliminating the need for safety wire, Locktite, or what have you.
Calling the Hilltopper a mini, however, is misleading. A l 71-lb. machine is definitely out of that class. And, small diameter wheels keep it out of the trailbike class, even though Heathkit prefers to advertise the Hilltopper as such.
Because of these super-fat tires of varying diameter (the rear tire is considerably larger in diameter than the front, which is the exact opposite of normal), slow speed handling is unusual. On off-camber hills, the Hilltopper oscillates in a sort of slow-motion speed wobble. This is not particularly dangerous, nor does it result in a crash, but it is a trifle unsettling. Turns must also be approached with caution, and at a reasonable speed. It’s definitely not a slider.
The Hilltopper does have one redeeming characteristic, though. It is a natural hillclimber with that 8.5Ü-8 in. rear tire. The Heathkit mini climbs somewhat slowly and ponderously, but it will go up anything but sand hills or other loose-traction surfaces which require speed and momentum to conquer.
As for high speed handling, it simply does not exist, as the transplanted 5 bhp lawnmower engine does not have the steam to drive the machine fast enough to find out. Its top speed of some 30 mph is, however, in line with the capabilities of the brakes and suspension.
Heathkit has incorporated both a front and rear brake in their design. Both fade fairly rapidly on long downhills, and both require rather frequent cable adjustment. The front brake is a 4.5-in.-diameter internal expanding drum which would benefit greatly from the installation of an additional return spring. Without this additional spring, the brake shoes constantly rub on the drum, causing premature wear and excessive drag.
The rear brake is a jackshaftmounted band type. It consists of a lined 3/4 in. wide, flexible U-bracket which is drawn tightly around the solid pully by means of a cable attached through the open ends of the bracket. It looks rather inefficient, but it is capable of locking up the rear tire from top speed. Both brakes are actuated by handlebar-mounted levers.
Suspension on the Hilltopper is disappointing, when one considers the price of the kit. The main complaint is lack of damping. Damping in the front forks is nonexistent. Damping in the rear shocks is minimal. The ride, therefore, is bouncy kind of like a pogo stick. Spring rate, though, is soft, and thanks to the huge 1 1-in.-wide seat, rider comfort is better than average for a bike of this type.
The front forks consist of two sets of upper and lower tubes and two 16-in. springs which look like the ones that make garage doors easier to lift. The springs, attached to the upper and lower tubes of each fork leg by throughbolts, are the only suspension.
Should a throughbolt or spring break during one of the Hilltopper’s rare airborne moments, the front wheel assembly would drop to the ground. Both throughbolts and springs, therefore, should be inspected periodically.
The swinging arm is interesting in that it has four mounting points for the rear shocks. As the shock absorber is moved to the rear, or farther from the verticle, the ride is made softer, due to the swinging arm’s increased leverage against the shock absorber. This is a clever way of adjusting the ride without
going to adjustable shock absorbers.
The frame is made of the same diameter tubing as are the forks and swinging arm. It's of double-cradle design with sturdy bash bars up front to protect the engine in case of a fall. The engine is bolted to a slotted steel plate welded to the frame cradle. The slotted plate allows adjustment of the belt which connects the variable-ratio, Comet centrifugal clutch with the jackshaft. The final drive chain is adjusted at the rear axle, as is common motorcycle practice.
Because of the docile engine and centrifugal clutch, riding the Hilltopper is incredibly easy. Pull the recoil starter rope once or twice, and the Tecumseh four-stroke settles down to an even idle. Rotate the motorcycle-type twistgrip throttle to go. Grab the handbrakes to stop. For safety, a kill button is located on the handlebars. About the only problem with the engine/power transmission package is a tendency for the clutch to grab suddenly if the throttle is opened quickly from a standing start.
The handlebars fold down to make the Hilltopper more compact for carrying it in car trunks. This isn’t a bad idea
except for three things: First, the locating screws that keep the handlebars upright allow too much movement, unless the handlebar clamps themselves are cinched up tight. If this is done, the handlebars will not move after the locating screws have been removed until the clamps are loosened again. So, lowering the bars is more time-consuming than need be. Secondly, with its 44-in. wheelbase, the Hilltopper is too big to fit in most car trunks easily. Finally, the 1-gal. plastic gas tank does not have a fuel tank shut-off valve built in.
As is obvious, the Hilltopper is not particularly an exciting package, but it will last a long time and it does have several features and/or options which add to its versatility. In this age of land closure, the most important of these is the quiet muffler.
A lighting kit is available for an additional $19.95, and it’s a worthwhile option for night trailing. And, for winter, another $19.95 will purchase a front ski assembly.
When viewed as a completed vehicle, Heathkit’s Hilltopper is a heavy package both in weight and in price. But, it’s the only kit mini in town. [O]
