Indian Models

August 3, 2014

updated 2020-04

 

 

 

 

 

 

All Indian mopeds have the same model name, “AMI-50 Chief”, or just “AMI-50”. The service manual cover mentions a “AMI-50 2S”. This was the 2-speed that never materialized.

The 1978-81 Indian AMI50 engine is a remake of a 1975-77 Honda PC50K1 or 1975-78 Honda PF50R engine. The main difference is the Indian left case has Bosch-compatible stator plate mounts, while Honda has no stator plate. Other than the magneto-generator, and the Mikuni version head and intake, everything else is interchangeable.

Indian models are like a fast food restaurant menu, many variations from just a few ingredients.

 
The 1978 Indian Parts Manual lists the following frame colors: black, silver, burgundy, blue.
The first 1978-79 Indians had a Tillotson “pumper” type carburetor. That had problems.
Later 1979 Indians had a Keihin carburetor, with lever choke, same kind as Honda PC50.
The only 1978 decals listed are the left and right Indian heads on the tank.
The only 1978 wheels are the spoke wheels with 90mm brake drums.
 
The 1979 Indian Parts Manual lists the following frame colors: black, silver, burgundy, blue, green, white.
The 1979-later Indians had a wider rear luggage rack.
Some 1979, and all 1980-later had a Mikuni 10mm carb, with cable choke.
Early Mikuni versions had the same black-painted cylinder head with the same flange angle.
Later Mikuni versions a different silver-painted head with a flange angle more side-facing.
Those late-Mikuni silver heads came with valve stem seals, unlike the older black heads.
The 1979-later Sport Mag II aluminum wheels have the same 90mm brakes as the spoke wheels.
The 1979-later Mira Enterprises aluminum wheels have 100mm brakes, different than the others.
 
“Script” version had gold script Indian decals on the tank, and gold script Indian on the engine covers (sides).
“Stripe” version had either “warm” or “cool” color stripes, and “FOUR STROKE” in yellow slanted on the sides.
 
The 1980 Indian Parts Manual lists the following frame colors: blacksilver, burgundy, blue, green, white.
Some 1979, and all 1980-later had the improved two-coil WTEMCO magneto. See Wiring Diagrams for that.
 

1978-79 Indian AMI-50 Chief  (head logo, spoke wheels) 

1978 Indian AMI50 white with spoke wheels Indian head logo on tank no other stickers

1978 Indian AMI-50
white with spoke wheels
Indian head on tank
old “four stroke” on sides

1978 Indian AMI50 black with spoke wheels They rust easily.

1978 Indian AMI-50
black with spoke wheels
Indian head on tank
  rusted bad, too bad!

1978 Indian AMI50 silver with spoke wheels Indian head logo on tank

1979 Indian AMI-50
silver with spoke wheels
Indian head on tank

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


1979-80 Indian AMI-50 Chief (gold script, spoke wheels)

1979 Indian AMI50 burgundy w/spoke wheels Indian gold script on tank

1979 Indian AMI-50
burgundy with spoke wheels
gold script on tank and sides

1979 Indian AMI50 burgundy w/spoke whls

1979 Indian AMI-50
burgundy w/spoke whls
gold script on tank+sides

1980 Indian AMI-50 black with spoke wheels gold script on tank + sides

1980 Indian AMI-50
black with spoke wheels
gold script on tank+sides

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


1979-80 Indian AMI-50 Chief (color stripes, spoke wheels)

late 1978 Indian AMI50 green with spoke wheels color stripes removed

1979 Indian AMI-50
green with spoke wheels
color stripes removed

1979 Indian AMI50 burgundy w/spoke wheels warm color stripes

1979 Indian AMI-50
burgundy w/spoke whls
with warm color stripes even on engine covers

1979 Indian AMI50 white with spoke wheels with cool color stripes gold script on sides

1979 Indian AMI-50
white with spoke wheels
with cool color stripes
gold script eng covers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


1979-80 Indian AMI-50 Chief (gold script, Sport Mag II “8 ray” wheels)

1979 Indian AMI-50 black Sport Mag II whls gold script tank + sides

1979 Indian AMI-50
black Sport Mag II whls
gold script tank + sides

1980 Indian AMI-50 black Sport Mag II whls gold script on tank gold script on sides

1980 Indian AMI-50
black Sport Mag II whls
gold script tank + sides

Some Indians had Sport Mag II cast aluminum wheels, made in Placentia CA USA, near Myrons Mopeds. These were pretty much the only aluminum “mag” type wheel on any Indian mopeds originally sold is Southern California. For the rest of the country, the Mira Enterprises (Taiwan-made) aluminum wheels, that look like snowflakes, are the most common type of Indian moped “mag” wheel. This is easy to see in a Google image search for “indian moped”. Maybe, this was because American Moped Associates, in Irvine CA, had to unpack the bikes and swap the wheels with the local-made aluminum ones (that need all the brake and axle parts transferred from the old spoke wheels). So they only sold units with Sport Mag II wheels to local deliveries, while for far away deliveries they would sell the units with Mira snowflake wheels. That way the packaging crate was undisturbed from Taiwan, and able to withstand another long distance shipment. What you see on opposite coasts of the USA is sometimes different, like these wheel styles.

Die cast aluminum wheels for Indian mopeds made by Sport Mag II, Inc. Placentia, California

Cast aluminum wheels
for Indian mopeds

Sport Mag II wheels for Indian mopeds right side view

Sport Mag II wheels
for Indian mopeds
right side, silver or black

Sport Mag II wheels for Indian mopeds left side view

Sport Mag II wheels
for Indian mopeds
left side, silver or black

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sport Mag also made dual chain Puch and Peugeot 17″ wheels, and others. See Wheels.

 


1979-80 Indian AMI-50 Chief (color stripes, Sport Mag II “8 ray” wheels)

1979 Indian AMI-50 black Sport Mag II whls with warm color stripes

1979 AMI-50, black
black Sport Mag II wheels, warm stripes

1979 Indian AMI50 silver Sport Mag II whls with cool color stripes (from 1981 accessories catalog cover)

1979 Indian AMI-50
silver S. Mag II wheels
“cool” stripes, from
’81 access. catalog

1979 Indian AMI50 burgundy w/warm stripes silver Sport Mag II whls

1979 Indian AMI50
burgundy, warm stripes
silver Sport Mag II whls

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

American Moped Associates was already proud that the Indian was American-designed. With it’s long bench seat, extra large 1.6 gallon gas tank, heavy weight carrying capacity, motorcycle type forks, and plenty of chrome it was an American moped. It was a pretty good frame with a classic moped design, functional and fun to look at. Now, with the USA-made Sport Mag II wheels, the product was almost living up to the company name, American Moped.

 


1979-81 Indian AMI-50 Chief  (color stripes, Mira “snowflake” wheels)

Indian AMI50 2014-08-25 003

1980 Indian AMI-50
black with warm stripes
Mira aluminum wheels

Indian AMI50 2014-08-25 002

1980 Indian AMI-50
black with warm stripes
Mira aluminum wheels

Indian vin plate

1980 Indian, made
by Mira Enterprises

Somehow the maker of the Indian moped changed from Merida Industry Company Ltd, in 1978-79, to Mira Enterprises Ltd, in 1980-81. But nothing physically changed on the bike except the ID plate. More about this will follow…

 

 

 

1980 Indian AMI-50 white with Mira wheels warm color stripes

1980 Indian AMI-50
white with warm stripes
silver Mira “snowflakes”

1980 Indian AMI-50 black with cool stripes silver Mira snowflake whls

1980 Indian AMI-50
black with cool stripes
silver Mira snowflake whls

1979 Indian AMI50 black with warm stripes silver Mira "snowflakes"

1979 Indian AMI50
black with warm stripes
silver Mira “snowflakes”
optional front foot rest

1981 Indian AMI50 white with cool stripes Mira aluminum wheels

1981 Indian AMI50
white with cool stripes
Mira aluminum wheels

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


1980-81 Indian AMI-50 Chief  (gold script, Mira “snowflake” wheels)

1981 Indian AMI50 white with gold script silver Mira "snowflakes"

1981 Indian AMI50
white with gold script
silver Mira “snowflakes”

1981 Indian AMI50 black with gold script Mira snowflake wheels

1981 Indian AMI50
black with gold script
Mira snowflake wheels

1980 Indian AMI50 burgundy w/gold script Mira snowflake wheels

1980 Indian AMI50
burgundy w/gold script Mira snowflake wheels

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


1981 Indian AMI-50 Chief  (head logo, Mira “snowflake” wheels)

1981 Indian AMI50 white with head logo Mira snowflake wheels

1981 Indian AMI50
white with head logo
Mira snowflake wheels

1981 Indian AMI50 black with head logo Mira snowflake wheels

1981 Indian AMI50
black with head logo
Mira snowflake wheels