Norberts Maico collection and the German Motorcycle Museum in VMX Mag

[KTM47]

In the latest VMX Mag there are two features with Maicos in them. The feature on the 1979 works 250 does raise a question from me. Why did Maico make the 1980 model the way they did? Why didn't they just up grade the 79 models to the same as the works bikes, that would have been a better bike. What were the 1980 works bikes like? 

I'll have to make a rear brake lever like the works ones. They look trick (LOL).

Maico are my favourite brand, but they did do some strange things.

I posted similar questions in another post but didn't really get any replies. Probably just read by those who don't get Maicos.

Kevin

[suzuki59]

I am afraid I have no idea,but that factory rear brake lever sure was functional but ugly...

[Ktm181]

I wondered that myself, somebody cocked up, Maico history, family run and in-fighting, i am a conspirosy theorist!!!  Maybe FATHER FIRKO might have some input?

 Firko?

Kt "i must change my name"181

[KTM47]

I bought a 440 in 1980. While it wasn't a bad bike it was no where near as good as the 490 turned out to be. I didn't buy a 490 until about twenty years ago. I really wish I bought one in 1981 and I really wish I could take the one I've got now, with all the alloy bits, back to 1981. As I guess, we all would like, I'd like to be 27 again back in 1981 with a brand new 490 Maico.

[Ktm181]

now there's a question, WHAT IS THE BETTER HANDLER, the '79 Magnum 440,or the '80 440 ? NOt suspension, just the steering, flickability? if thats a word???   For that matter which steers better out of all 3 when you include the 81 490? I think i remember G.B. saying the 79 he rode at the isde was a favourite but it was a 501 special if i remember right?

Kt.

[firko]

I've spoken to Ballard a few times on this subject and he reckons the Magnum is by far the best frame geometry of all of the Maicos. I've owned '79 400, '81 490, '82 490 twin shock reed valve and '83 500 and even though I'm a rear of the pack mug, I felt more at home on the Magnum than any of the others so I'm in the same school of thought as GB.

[VMX Andrew]

Does Brad 090 race a 79 Magnum in the Evo class ??
Pretty sure I saw a pic of him on one at last years MR VMX at Raymond Terrrace roosting some guy...
Must be a good bike if Brads racing the Magnum instead of the 81 490 !!!

[odd1]

Just raced over in the Uk this year at the welsh 2 day my class was filled with 79 magnum enduro's only 2 where 81's

[paul]

 I think it a franken bike  (magnum 490)

[shelpi]

when did the first watercooled Maico engine come out ? 

[KTM47]

Brad's bike is a magnum with 490, engine, forks, swing arm and shocks. Although I think Brad has got foreign forks on the bike. The bike sits lower than the 81. In some respects it is a replica of the 1979 works bike in VMX, except that one is a 250. But again that bike appears to have a pre-production 1981 frame. You can even see the lower bracket for the full side cover for an 1981. To me it still raises the question WHY did Maico make the 1980 model the way they did and not just update the 1979. Don't get me wrong the 1980 440 was still a reasonable bike, but nowhere near the 1981 490 or probably a updated 1979 model.

Which handles better? Probably the 1979 mainly because it sits lower. It can also be argued that a 1977 model steers and handles better than them all.

Just a side note I remember racing against Paul Stacker at a Thumper Nats once at Albury. His bike was a magnum with mega 2 forks, swingarm, shocks etc. It was probably taken out to 490 also.

Kevin

[JohnnyO]

Yeah Kevin the reason Stacker rode a 79 Magnum was the main class in Vic at that time was pre 80 and not Evo. I think that bike had 490 forks and engine..
Brads bike is basically a 81 490 with a 79 frame and YZ front end, I think it'll probably end up with the 81 frame eventually like his 81 250.. He may even comment on this

[shelpi]

  spoke to frank Hofmann so all sorted 

[KTM47]

Yeah Kevin the reason Stacker rode a 79 Magnum was the main class in Vic at that time was pre 80 and not Evo. I think that bike had 490 forks and engine..
Brads bike is basically a 81 490 with a 79 frame and YZ front end, I think it'll probably end up with the 81 frame eventually like his 81 250.. He may even comment on this

So the bike Paul was riding was legal for EVO but illegal for Pre 80.

[JohnnyO]

Yeah Kevin the reason Stacker rode a 79 Magnum was the main class in Vic at that time was pre 80 and not Evo. I think that bike had 490 forks and engine..
Brads bike is basically a 81 490 with a 79 frame and YZ front end, I think it'll probably end up with the 81 frame eventually like his 81 250.. He may even comment on this

So the bike Paul was riding was legal for EVO but illegal for Pre 80.

The thumper nats was Evo so all good there, don't know what configuration it was in for the Vic pre 80 races..