In 1973, many minicycles
looked more like minibikes. The
Honda Mini-Trail 50, the CT70,
and others had small wheels,
fold-down handlebars, automatic
clutches and low seat heights.
The Indian SE-74, along with
the Honda SL70 and the Suzuki
TS50, looked and felt like a real
motorcycle. "Not a minibike, but
a motorcycle that shrunk," they
wrote. "It's about a 50 percent
reduction version of an off-road-
oriented enduro machine."
The engine manufacturer was
Minarelli, and like the Italjet mini
MX'ers of the day, the Indian was
a performer, with Cycle News
stating that "it just may be the
fastest thing in its class." The
stats show that the Indian had
about eight horsepower, which
would have made it faster than
the Honda. The staffers all agreed
that it could've used an extra gear
(or two), though that was the only
complaint about the engine.
Handling was first-rate. "It
handles bumps, jumps and
ripples with aplomb," even with a
170-pound rider in the saddle. The
crew even suggested that the Indi
-
an probably handles better than it
needs to! "The tread pattern, which
is a cross between a trials and
universal pattern leaning toward
the trials end, will hold or slide
depending mainly on the speed
and angle at which you have the
scooter. It would corner inside of
most anything else on the track."
Good handling and plenty
(relatively speaking) of power
make for a good motorcycle,
though not necessarily one that
everyone wants to ride. What
made the Indian SE-74 great was
the fun factor. "The big kids, 25
and older, were roaring around
like a bunch of idiots, dragging
their feet and throwing the little
bugger around with the throttle
wicked to the stops." When the
crew finally released the bike to
their 9-year-old tester, he dis
-
appeared on the track (Indian
Dunes, of course), returning
some time later as a seasoned
pro, "sliding it around corners
and flying through the tall grass."
The big boys then took over "…
intimidating the little kid until he
gave it back, we went off and had
a grand old time the rest of the
afternoon, running up on 100s
and 125s and throwing it into the
corners underneath them."
Clymer Indians, as they are
sometimes known, disappeared
in the early '70s, when Floyd suf-
fered a fatal heart attack, making
the Indian brand a nomad once
again. The little two-strokes
make an appearance in market-
place ads now and then, usually
in pretty rough condition, which
is as it should be. Fun motor-
cycles should have all the fun
wrung right out of them.
CN
VOLUME ISSUE APRIL , P145
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(Left) The 70cc two-stroke Indian
SE-74 minibike was brought to
market by Indian Motorcycle owners
(1963 to 1977) Floyd Clymer and
Alan Newman to revive the brand.
(Right) The "Super Enduro" SE-74
was manufactured in Italy by Italjet
Moto and it had a Minarelli engine.
