Harley’s Shortster Was the Perfect Campground Bike

By Cameron Vanderhorst - December 3, 2019

Built back when mini bikes ruled the world, this tiny terror had a ton of features and a clever name.

Are you familiar with the concept of a campground bike? It’s not an official designation, but if you’re into motorcycles and you enjoy spending time outdoors, you’re likely well aware of what we’re talking about.

The ideal campground bike is small, lightweight, and nimble enough to traverse dirt, mud, and grass. It’s got a small tank and a small engine that sips fuel, and oftentimes a somewhat goofy, hunched-over riding position that’s more “circus bear” than “sportbike.”

A campground bike can be anything from a minibike to an old dirt bike. You can even use a moped or a small scooter. Many would say, however, that bikes like the Honda Mini-Trail, which were popular in the 1970s, remain at the peak of campground transportation.

As it turns out, Harley-Davidson got in on the small bike trend back in the early 1970s. Through their Italian manufacturing arm, Aermacchi, they produced the MC-65 Shortster.

The MC-65 Shortster was only produced in 1972, and was soon replaced by the similar, slightly larger X-90. As you can imagine, a bike this rare and unusual is in high demand by collectors. We found this example on Bring A Trailer, where it sold in mid-October for $2,800.

The Shortster was powered by a tiny 65cc two-stroke, single-cylinder engine, breathing through a downright microscopic 18mm Dellorto carburetor. That puny powerplant is coupled with a widely-spaced three-speed transmission that makes the most of its meager power output.

The Shortster rode on 10″ wheels with reasonably knobby tires, with an upswept exhaust and a braced handlebar. The somewhat cartoonish-looking bike ended up resembling a scrambler that got shrunk in the dryer.

While it may look silly, the riding position worked reasonably well for everyone from kids to adults. A surprisingly full-featured bike, it came with a speedometer, an odometer, a headlight and taillight, as well as a license plate mount. That’s right, folks — the Shortster was, and is, street legal.

With small bikes making a comeback, is it time for Harley-Davidson to build something like this again? Let us know in our forums!

Photos: Bring A Trailer