Looking to buy an Indian 50cc

project racer 8/14/2016 10:03am
8/14/2016 10:03am
I want to say it was all about branding. MM5A, Mini Mini, Bambino were the same. There were updates ,such as telescopic forks , on later models. The Italjet version of the bike was nearly the same.

One of the last events I attended where Indians were still a force was in 1973 at the Mini Winter Nationals in Jacksonville ,Florida, North Florida Raceway in Palm Valley. This was the fore runner event to what has now become the Florida Mini O's in November.

Kurt Hendricksen, son of NMA founder Ron Hendricksen won the short track for the little guys on an Indian Mini, I believe. Or at least that was what it started life as. I think the Morewoods had gotten ahold of it , and it was far from stock. That is Paul Denis on the #91.

Also, Mike Brown was nearly unbeatable that weekend on his Indian . I believe it was one of the MX74 model ,70cc Fuji's. He , Rhett Radford, and another guy were battling it out for the win in the final moto, all three tangled over a jump right where we were standing.

Radford had to be carted off, Brown laid there, apparently knocked out, the other guy got up ,and continued on. Brown snapped to in about 30 seconds, jumped up, and continued on to finish well enough to get the overall in class.

Kind of a hairy scene remembering back on it.

Kurt Hendricksen , Paul Denis on the #91


Mike Brown on the #0, Rhett Radford behind.



project racer 8/14/2016 10:10am
8/14/2016 10:10am
F150Motocrosser wrote:
Very good call, Project. I can appreciate your scrappy desire to learn every nugget of info you can about the history of the bikes. Really hope...
Very good call, Project. I can appreciate your scrappy desire to learn every nugget of info you can about the history of the bikes. Really hope to get one in my collection some day. Is the Mini Mini the same as the Bambino? Also, is "mm5a" an Italjet specific term, or more so to the Morini motor version of Italjet/Indian clone models?

Very cool restoration build photos here: https://revivalcycles.com/pages/1972-indian-bambino-50
That bike turned out beautifully. I have a ton of photos of my build, but some of the work was actually done in a very basic, almost primitive manner. Not real interesting to most, but the final result was satisfying to me.

Ever see this Sports Illustrated cover with a young Kurt Hendrickson ?


feelnjstfine
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feelnjstfine 8/14/2016 11:30am
8/14/2016 11:30am
Looks like you may be in luck. I have one that I am wanting to part with.













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cali11
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cali11 8/14/2016 5:45pm
8/14/2016 5:45pm
cali11 wrote:
Where do you live now, if you don't mind me asking? I'm also from Bakersfield.
project racer wrote:
I lived right off of Niles , near Hort elementary in Bakersfield. Miles of foothill riding , just outside the garage door. About as far from...
I lived right off of Niles , near Hort elementary in Bakersfield. Miles of foothill riding , just outside the garage door.

About as far from Bakersfield as you can get now. I am in the Tampa Bay area of Florida.

I still have family in Bakersfield, Arcadia, Goleta, Santa Barbara.

You ever make it to Sprockets Park ? Ever ride at Outlaw ? I loved the Bakersfield area back in the late 60's early 70's.

Here is a shot of my older brother at Sprockets in 1970. He is on a 1970 Kawasaki G31M Centurion ( Greenstreak).

This bike was purchased the same day, from the same shop as my Indian. Long gone now. He has a very complete, original 1971 G31M, that I would love to get my hands on, and give a proper clean up.

I just recently found the Premier helmet that I got along with the Indian way back. It is rough, but I am going to straighten it up as best I can.


I never raced at Sprockets but did go watch when I was a kid. I have climed outlaw on my CR250 about 20 years ago. My dad use to hill climb there back in the 60ds and 70ds. Do you remember Dick Oxford from Oxford cycles? My dad was friends with him they use to race together.
project racer 8/14/2016 7:01pm
8/14/2016 7:01pm
cali11 wrote:
I never raced at Sprockets but did go watch when I was a kid. I have climed outlaw on my CR250 about 20 years ago. My...
I never raced at Sprockets but did go watch when I was a kid. I have climed outlaw on my CR250 about 20 years ago. My dad use to hill climb there back in the 60ds and 70ds. Do you remember Dick Oxford from Oxford cycles? My dad was friends with him they use to race together.
Have heard of Oxford but did not know him personally. Ed's Honda, Custom Engineering, North Chester M/C , Mel Dinesen Yamaha ,Cycles Unlimited were shops I recall doing business with in Bakersfield.

Outlaw in the 60's ,early 70's was a pretty neat place. When they started the excavating up top, that was the beginning of the end.

Recall colliding with a guy on a Yamaha YG-1 while riding my Indian up by the water tanks near the end of College avenue way back when. Then, upon coasting home down the side streets, crashed it again right in front of some dude's house who was out in his front yard. He drug me up into the yard, gave me some water from the hose, and I continued on home.

I was about 6 years old at the time. Things were much different then. I was probably 2-3 miles from home, on a motorbike, by myself.
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Moto75
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Moto75 8/14/2016 9:24pm
8/14/2016 9:24pm
Adding to the thread. Have 2, sort of. One has been hanine in my garage forever. The other my dad converted to a kiddie ride. It didn't have an engine so he mocked it up out of wood. My brother has a ride just like it & my dad still has our original 50 hanging in his garage.



GalagaOnMYArm 1/6/2017 9:28am
1/6/2017 9:28am
Sitting on one in in my profile pic. The same Italiajet that they overpaid for on that stupid show.
feelnjstfine
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feelnjstfine 1/6/2017 9:46am
1/6/2017 9:46am
Mine went for $1100 on Ebay a couple of months ago, incase anyone was wondering what going rate is.
F150Motocrosser 1/6/2017 10:42am
1/6/2017 10:42am
feelnjstfine wrote:
Mine went for $1100 on Ebay a couple of months ago, incase anyone was wondering what going rate is.
Good to know, thanks.. What model was it? Bambino?
feelnjstfine
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feelnjstfine 1/7/2017 8:56am
1/7/2017 8:56am
feelnjstfine wrote:
Looks like you may be in luck. I have one that I am wanting to part with. [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2016/08/14/147085/s1200_DSCF8560.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2016/08/14/147086/s1200_DSCF8563.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2016/08/14/147087/s1200_DSCF8561.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2016/08/14/147088/s1200_DSCF8562.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2016/08/14/147089/s1200_DSCF8571.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2016/08/14/147090/s1200_DSCF8566.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2016/08/14/147091/s1200_DSCF8572.jpg[/img]
Looks like you may be in luck. I have one that I am wanting to part with.













73-76 M5-A, not sure of exact year. As you can see, was all intact but not in the greatest of shape. New owner and I were happy with what we both got in the deal so I guess that's all that matters.
SCR
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SCR 1/7/2017 10:01am
1/7/2017 10:01am
project racer wrote:
I want to say it was all about branding. MM5A, Mini Mini, Bambino were the same. There were updates ,such as telescopic forks , on later...
I want to say it was all about branding. MM5A, Mini Mini, Bambino were the same. There were updates ,such as telescopic forks , on later models. The Italjet version of the bike was nearly the same.

One of the last events I attended where Indians were still a force was in 1973 at the Mini Winter Nationals in Jacksonville ,Florida, North Florida Raceway in Palm Valley. This was the fore runner event to what has now become the Florida Mini O's in November.

Kurt Hendricksen, son of NMA founder Ron Hendricksen won the short track for the little guys on an Indian Mini, I believe. Or at least that was what it started life as. I think the Morewoods had gotten ahold of it , and it was far from stock. That is Paul Denis on the #91.

Also, Mike Brown was nearly unbeatable that weekend on his Indian . I believe it was one of the MX74 model ,70cc Fuji's. He , Rhett Radford, and another guy were battling it out for the win in the final moto, all three tangled over a jump right where we were standing.

Radford had to be carted off, Brown laid there, apparently knocked out, the other guy got up ,and continued on. Brown snapped to in about 30 seconds, jumped up, and continued on to finish well enough to get the overall in class.

Kind of a hairy scene remembering back on it.

Kurt Hendricksen , Paul Denis on the #91


Mike Brown on the #0, Rhett Radford behind.



Man, that brings back memories. Remember Rett Redford article in Minicycle magazine and his super trick sl70. Remember Jack Irons?
I started riding and racing in SoCal in 72-73. There was a 5 yr old kid name Michael Commans that I think won the first couple World Mini Grand Prix Pee Wee titles on one of those trick Cycle Town MM5 Indians .
Remember Paul Denbis in about 76 doing unbelievable laps on the International track at a Indian Dunes night race on a trick Italjet in the 60cc class. I think it was the same night Kuertie Hendrickson looped out a yz80 half way to the first corner and cleaned out me and 4 or 5 other guys. I went home with a broke nose. Kuertie was lined up next to me and I remeber thinking he was way to small for that 80. I was right.
Remember riding past Mike Brown standing on the side of the track with his Indian MX 74, 75 ? Broke in half at the rearing head.
If I had a time machine I would go back to 72 and do it all one more time.
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Jec_James221 1/20/2019 11:34am
1/20/2019 11:34am
DanDunes818 wrote:
My first bike ever was Indian 50 and I would give anything to find it. Not sure what year, but I had it in '75.. I...
My first bike ever was Indian 50 and I would give anything to find it. Not sure what year, but I had it in '75.. I just wish I could find a side view pic. My pops had it painted to look just like his Husqvarna. Had the little chrome plate on the tank.



kage173
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kage173 1/22/2019 9:48am
1/22/2019 9:48am
This is awesome. I just started thinking about this when there was a thread on "Your first bike" and it reminded me of my Indian 50. I actually found one on local Craigslist, but it had a Briggs & Stratton motor bolted onto it. I'd pay some money to buy one that was closer to complete.

Thanks for making this thread
lvchopjaw
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lvchopjaw 1/31/2019 11:08am
1/31/2019 11:08am
I have one that I could part with if anyone is interested.

PM me and we can talk.

Thanks.
Scott_Poore
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Scott_Poore 1/31/2020 11:06pm
1/31/2020 11:06pm
I've got a mm5a that was running and riding last year. Ain't touched since. But it's time to let go after 44 yrs
yoDMC714
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yoDMC714 7/26/2020 11:39am
7/26/2020 11:39am
MohMoto14
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MohMoto14 7/26/2020 2:19pm
7/26/2020 2:19pm
F150Motocrosser wrote:
Good call, project... The morini came in the LEM kids motocross bikes too I believe. So after the Italian/Morini motor, were the Taiwanese motors Fuji's?
Yup had a 96 LEM Sr version. One of 3 to go to Loretta's, there was a lot of yellow on that gate.

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Dropbear
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Dropbear 7/27/2020 3:05pm
7/27/2020 3:05pm
newmann wrote:
The motocross version? Good luck, even finding a photo is hard. Trick little bikes! [img]http://www.indiandirtbikeparts.com/sitebuilder/images/indian_80a-600x450.jpg[/img] Italjet had a trick one too. [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2014/08/25/63387/s1200_italjetpw50.jpg[/img] [img]http://cybermotorcycle.com/gallery/italjet/images/Italjet-Mini-MX.jpg[/img]
The motocross version? Good luck, even finding a photo is hard. Trick little bikes!



Italjet had a trick one too.



Loved my Italjet Tarbo 50.

kevinaw323
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kevinaw323 1/21/2021 3:48pm
1/21/2021 3:48pm
newmexico wrote:
Been looking for about a year, just fishing to see if anyone has a lead on an Indian 50cc.
I’ve got one for sale if you’re still looking.



kevinaw323
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kevinaw323 1/21/2021 3:49pm
1/21/2021 3:49pm
kage173 wrote:
This is awesome. I just started thinking about this when there was a thread on "Your first bike" and it reminded me of my Indian 50...
This is awesome. I just started thinking about this when there was a thread on "Your first bike" and it reminded me of my Indian 50. I actually found one on local Craigslist, but it had a Briggs & Stratton motor bolted onto it. I'd pay some money to buy one that was closer to complete.

Thanks for making this thread
I’ve got a 1970 all original.

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